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The Red Bull Philosophy

06 Oct, 2022

In recent years, one of the biggest-growing trends seen in football club ownership is the boom in the multi-club ownership model. Back in the day, most football clubs would be owned by a wealthy local business person and/or consortium, but things have changed dramatically, and not just in terms of uber-rich nation states and American billionaires coming into the European game. Multi-club ownership is a business model in which several...

Training Grounds: The Lotus Training Centre, Norwich City

02 Oct, 2022

Ever wondered what goes on behind closed doors at the many elite training facilities used by professional footballers all over the UK? Social media has given football fans more access to footage and photos of training sessions, but many people are still unclear about exactly what facilities their favourite players are using on a day-to-day basis. In our quest to provide as much knowledge as possible on all the behind-the-scenes action that...

Soccer Skills: La Croqueta

02 Oct, 2022

On a cloudy Johannesburg evening in July 2010, Andres Iniesta made history. With just a few minutes remaining of extra time in the World Cup final between Spain and the Netherlands , he picked up the ball in the opposition box before rifling it home to win Spain their first-ever World Cup. It was one of the defining moments of Andres Iniesta's incredible career — but it's not all that he's known for. When you hear the name...

Soccer Skills: The Cruyff Turn

23 Sep, 2022

Soccer skills have an exciting role within the beautiful game. They can light up individual moments in matches, and provide teams with the attacking spark needed to grab a decisive goal. One of the most well-known and simple-to-perform tricks out there is the Cruyff turn, a legendary move that is replicated on parks and pitches on a daily basis. It's so widely accepted, it's crazy to think that there was once a world in which this skill...

Soccer Skills: The Step Over

23 Sep, 2022

The step over is one of the most classic soccer skills there is. A pillar of any technically gifted attacker's arsenal, it's been around for decades. Even though it's rare that modern teams will rely on the individual brilliance of certain players, it's a trick that still pops up on a regular basis in elite soccer. So what is a step over in soccer? In this article, we'll be exploring the art of the step over, looking at the history of the...

Soccer Skills: The Rabona

23 Sep, 2022

Most modern soccer teams are highly-organized tactical machines, built by their coaches to function in a very specific way. Whether it's the German gegenpressing system pioneered by Ralf Rangnick and Jurgen Klopp or the intricate possession-based tactics of Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, the team takes priority over the individual. However, there's still a place within the sport for individual brilliance. Creative flair never...

Soccer Skills: The Rainbow Kick

18 Sep, 2022

Outrageous skills, tricks, and flicks are part of the excitement and drama that makes soccer the world's most popular sport. While dazzling team moves and passing play can lift a crowd onto its feet, so too can a moment of individual brilliance from one special player. And when it comes to impressing fans and teammates alike (although not usually opponents), the rainbow kick is one of the flashiest moves in the book. A super cheeky trick...

Soccer Skills: The Rondo

18 Sep, 2022

The rondo soccer skill is a classic drill that's been around for years. If you've ever participated in a soccer training session, it's highly likely you've seen a rondo in action, even if at the time you weren't sure of the name of it. The rondo is one of the most fundamental soccer drills there is, practiced by elite professionals and amateur kids' teams alike. Whether you're at a Premier League ground waiting for your team to come out or...

The Role of the Attacking Midfielder

08 Sep, 2022

Attacking midfielders are responsible for some of soccer's most incredible moments. Whether it's Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne whipping in a pin-point accurate cross from 50 yards out, or technicians like Luka Modric constructing dazzling tiki-taka moves from central midfield, the attacking midfielder role can bring genuine magic to a soccer field . The attacking midfielder in soccer has a major impact on attacking play. But what...

The Role of the Winger

04 Sep, 2022

When it comes to building a successful tactical setup, many factors come into play. One of the most important things coaches must consider is the formation they play. Formations rely on players being able to perform a specific set of tasks that relate to their positions on the pitch. In our other recent posts about the key positions in soccer , we've already touched on roles such as the full-back and the goalkeeper . Today,...

What Is A Box To Box Midfielder?

04 Sep, 2022

The role of a midfielder has changed a lot in recent years. In the early days of the Premier League, the 4-4-2 formation dominated, with most teams choosing to play with a flat back four, a flat midfield four, and two strikers. As the game has progressed, midfield set-ups have evolved, with many coaches choosing to play a defensive double pivot of two central midfielders, or a single pivot with 'free 8's or one central attacking...

What is a Hat Trick in Soccer?

01 Sep, 2022

Any fan who follows soccer regularly is likely to have heard the term "hat trick" before. And when it appears for the very first time, it can be a little confusing. We all know the beautiful game can have some moments of magic, but when we talk about hat tricks, we're not thinking about magicians conjuring rabbits with a flourish. So what is a hat trick in soccer? In this article, we'll be answering that question. We're going to explain...

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