“I never realised that to be a jockey you had to be a horse first.” Those were the words of Arrigo Sacchi when he was appointed Milan coach in 1987. At the time, he was a relative unknown in the world of football. Born in 1946 in Fusignano, a community of 7,000 people in the province of Ravenna, Sacchi never really made it as a footballer. The sport had been an obsession from an early age but, at first, his enthusiasm did not translate to skill on the pitch. A defender, Sacchi worked hard but could not progress from amateur level, spending most of his playing career with local club Fusignano ..read more

There are some goals which transcend football. The kind which showcase a unique talent and an unmatched level of execution, reminding us of the talent and athleticism required to make it as a top-level footballer. Thanks to Santiago Vergini, these goals don’t even have to arrive at the right end of the pitch. When Sunderland travelled to Southampton’s St Mary’s Stadium in October 2014, they were on as much of a roll as could be expected of any Sunderland team this decade. The first seven games of the season had brought one win, one defeat and five draws, and the three matches ahead of the long ..read more