Cultured Football #262
Anthony GOrdon. Fall of Ajax. Senegal. Wolfsburg. Mourinho.
Go, Anthony Gordon...
By Matthew Philpotts for True Faith
A year ago, Newcastle fans were - rightly - irrate at the prospect of losing Alexander Isak. That feeling was not mirrored when it emerged that Anthony Gordon was on his way out. Why?
The Fall of Ajax
By Paul Madden & Boardroom Ball for Boardroom Ball
The Eredivisie remains one of football’s great talent factories, but even institutions built on strong foundations can lose their way. Next season Ajax will start their European commitment in the second qualifying round of the Conference League; a humbling fall for a giant of the European game. Their decline should serve as a lesson for plenty of others.
How Senegal became genuine World Cup 2026 contenders – at a cost
By Maher Mezahi for Al Jazeera
As the 2026 World Cup approaches, Senegal arrive with genuine belief and a squad that reflects years of smart planning. Their rise has been fuelled by a mix of homegrown talent and diaspora recruitment, but it also shines a light on a difficult reality. While Senegal continues to produce elite footballers, many of the rewards still seem to flow elsewhere.
Bonus Read: Why you should support Cabo Verde at the World Cup
[Ali Howorth x Ali's African Football]
If you like underdog stories, you will love Cabo Verde at the next World Cup!
Most people find Cultured Football through someone else. Be that link.
Wolfsburg’s Silent Slide
By Benjamin Darby for The Bundesliga Chronicles
Wolfsburg have spent years drifting, too good to go down but lacking the means to push for the top. Until suddenly, the accumulation of bad decisions meant they weren’t too good. A look at how their relegation unfolded.
What are Real Madrid DOING?
By Grace Robertson for Grace on Football
Real Madrid remain one of football’s great exceptions. While much of the game has moved towards systems, structure and carefully rehearsed patterns, Madrid still place extraordinary faith in personalities, relationships and individual brilliance. Their recent managerial appointment, however, will test that faith to the limit.
Bonus Read: From Ruin to Return: Depor Are Back
[Jordan Thomas x La Liga and Beyond]
Jose Mourinho won’t be the only one making a return to La Liga after time away: Super Depor are back too!
Each week on Cultured Football we pick the five great football stories from the previous seven days.
In Case You Missed It Here’s Last Week’s Most Read: The Beating Heart of Phibsborough: How Bohemian FC Refuses to Sell Out
By David Shams for Around the World in Matches
Dalymount Park remains one of those rare grounds where the identity of the club who play there extends far beyond the football itself. Murals, old terraces, travelling supporters and a deeply local political culture give Bohemians a sense of place that many modern clubs spend fortunes trying to imitate. With redevelopment looming, however, there is an underlying tension: whether growth can happen without sanding away the edges that made the club matter.
