Image by Pixabay

Pep Guardiola made history after Manchester City faced Inter in the 2022-2023 Champions League final. With this achievement, Guardiola is on his way to becoming the first coach to have a treble from two different clubs. 

 

So, what made him such a good manager? Guardiola shared his secret about why he thinks he could reach the heights he’s currently at. Here are several reasons why Guardiola is an exceptional manager. 

Pep Guardiola’s Coaching Style

Many fans closely follow Guardiola’s teams’ matches, which makes sportsbooks and promotions like MostBet Promo Code Bangladesh popular. Sports fans who are betting enthusiasts keep track of their favourite team’s achievements, and Guardiola has been doing the same. 

Data-Based Decisions

In 2019, Manchester City disclosed that it has a data scientist who works closely with its coaching staff. Although Guardiola never clearly states that his decisions are based on these data, it’s expected that the data significantly affects his strategies. 

Committed and Inspiring

Pep Guardiola has shown that he’s a leader with a strong sense of direction. He has ambitious goals and can inspire his team to deliver the best output. He can apply his philosophy and create a cohesive playing style for his teams. He then drives those under his management’s individual and collective performances to deliver to the best of their abilities. 

Adaptable and Versatile

Guardiola can produce versatile tactics and showcase quick adaptability as the football scene is ever-changing. His decision-making ability is extraordinary. He can continuously improve his teams’ performances and navigate complex situations confidently despite the changing obstacles. He understands well how to make effective strategic choices. 

Focusing on Individual Performances

Guardiola often focuses on improving individual players’ performance and empowering them to make a development. He knows that each member’s success contributes to the team’s success. He prioritises nurturing talent and building an environment where everyone feels valued. It leads to each of his players knowing that they can contribute their unique skills to the whole team. 

Effective Deliveries

Guardiola has been proven to have high emotional intelligence and communication skills. He can build strong relationships with his players, so his words can inspire and motivate them. Due to his talent in communication and high emotional intelligence, Guardiola can make his players feel heard. It makes it easier for him to resolve conflicts and create a collaborative work atmosphere. 

The Secret of Guardiola’s Success

Although many have seen how outstanding Guardiola is at leading his teams, he has stated that work ethic isn’t the primary key to his success. He admitted that work ethic is essential, but he felt like the quality of his players mattered most. 

 

He also stated that with so many matches going back-to-back, he hasn’t had many chances to reflect on his past decisions. His plans don’t always work. Manchester City’s loss against Chelsea in 2021 was one of them, but he felt like the things that had passed would be forgotten immediately, good or bad. 

 

He said his players understand what he wants and can quickly adapt to changes. This fact leads him to believe that players’ quality contributes the most to his success. If he stays consistent and has quality players, they can sustain his teams’ performances for the long run. The coach also added that he likes it when his players can keep the ball as it’s the best way to defend. 

——–

 

Image by Pixabay 

Video Assistant Refereeing has been both a blessing and a curse for the football industry. Some think using VAR could help make fair judgements, but players and fans have been audiences to controversies coming from Video Assistant Refereeing. 

 

There have been various instances where VAR leads to unfair and inconsistent decisions. It had disallowed goals for marginal offside infractions and more. Most football fans know the frustration PSG faced when they received a penalty against them due to VAR judgment. Let’s dive deeper into VAR controversies.

The Beginning of the Controversies

Football fans have always kept a close eye on the game results. Some are doing their due diligence to make the right bet besides looking for promotions like 1xBet Promo Code Bangladesh, but no matter what the reason is, everyone involved wants fair results. 

 

When the technology was introduced in 2016, everyone felt it was the answer they’d been looking for. Several judgements from the referee’s naked eye have been proven detrimental in matches. Many started seeing the method as outdated. However, VAR’s glory didn’t last long. 

 

Controversies started popping up in the 2019-2020 season. There were subjective interpretations of apparent errors, causing delays in the gameplay. Even with VAR, referees still have to interpret whether the mistake is obvious, leaving room for argument. VAR’s precision leads to disallowed goals for offsides that are barely noticeable in real-time, like when an attacker’s nose is ahead of the defender. 

 

Although VAR aims to fix unfair refereeing, it brought new controversies about subjective calls, game pace and microscopic marginal decisions on offsides. These weaknesses frustrate fans and players alike, as VAR brings new problems to the field instead of fixing the initial ones. 

Referee’s View on VAR

Although VAR has been seen as a disadvantage, not everyone is against using it. The former Premier League referee, Mark Halsey, felt the technology helps in quick matches. With how fast the game moves, it’s difficult for the human eye to keep up with every step.  Halsey’s words are backed up by statistics, with the Premier League stating that VAR’s use increases the percentage of correct critical match decisions by 12%. 

Should Football Rethink VAR? 

It’s undeniable that VAR helps make quick and unbiased judgments. Despite the technology’s disadvantages, it’s only used in big tournaments and leagues. Still, even if the technology is a considerable help for referees, it requires multiple improvements to avoid bringing more controversies and frustrations. 

 

Clear communication is essential when using the VAR. It should be clear when the technology is used, why it’s necessary and what they’re looking at should be announced to avoid confusion. There also should be an explanation for the final decision, if it changes or remains the same. 

 

Operating VARs mean the referee would also go the extra mile. They must work long hours for the VAR, which might lead to fatigue that can affect their judgement. Not to mention, analysing the VAR takes 90 minutes, if not longer. 

 

Trained staff is a must to ensure they can make the technology beneficial rather than disrupting the game. Some had also said that having an ex-player inside the VAR room would help provide more knowledge, as some referees aren’t players. 

 

Still, even with improvements to VAR, football will always go hand in hand with controversies. These improvements can help, but they won’t eradicate every controversy surrounding the technology.  

 

 

  When we consider that football is the “most popular game in the world,” it is obvious that it also attracts the maximum number of betting enthusiasts. With sports becoming a worldwide pastime, more people than ever are now indulging in making money from it. Thanks to technology and the ever-growing number of online casinos and bookmakers, the process of investing in sports betting has become much easier. Now, punters can place bets at any time and from anywhere. In fact, they can also bet on a live football game, while enjoying the match in a stadium or when watching it on television.   The lure of sports, especially football, is such that making money from it is second nature for many fans. There are, of course, different ways that a person can earn from sports through exciting jobs. However, nothing beats the ease and thrill of sports betting, not to mention that the returns are almost instant. So, if you are someone contemplating betting on an upcoming football match, here are some points to keep in mind to help you make that winning bet.

Pick the Right Bookie

The most important aspect of sports betting is finding the right partner. Choosing the best bookie or online casino can make your entire experience hassle-free. First, ensure that the casino is legal, has excellent customer support, and comes with an easy to use interface that includes having a mobile app. You can also search the internet and read reviews to get a better understanding of how other gamblers rate the casino. Once you are satisfied, only then join them.

Use the Bonuses

Any leading online casino will undoubtedly offer its new customers an abundance of bonuses. It is one reason why online betting is so popular. Therefore, make sure you compare different bonuses and make the most of what is technically free money. You can then use this money to increase your profits, or use the casino’s no-deposit offers to test the waters. Do remember that it doesn’t pay much to switch casinos again and again. Instead, stick with one or two, as most establishments also reward their returning patrons.

Play Long

To win in football betting, a punter needs to play the long game. You are already aware that football competitions take place around the globe at different times of the year. There are specific tournaments, such as the ever-famous Premier League, which occupy the fancy of fans year and again. Then there are other competitions like the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship that attract worldwide viewership. However, when looking at making money, it is worth checking out smaller leagues in play. Bookmakers, nowadays, offer odds for all types of regional league games, and in most cases, the odds for such competitions favour the bettors.  

Do Your Research

Even though sports betting is as easy as tapping a few tabs on your smartphone, it is worth doing your research before placing any bet. Whether you check out sports betting sites, news articles, or club websites, there is a lot of information available on player health and team changes, than can help you make the right wager. By using this information, you can bet on who will win the match, is likely to score a goal, and if a particular player is expected to be transferred away from the team soon.

Tips on How to Score When Betting on Football

 

The IPL is the most popular cricket league on the planet. About 10 years ago, it was the first sports event to be broadcast live on a YouTube channel. One of the reasons for the amazing popularity of the IPL is the array of world-class players that gather in India every year to play in the T20 cricket tournament. Undoubtedly, India has the greatest cricket following on the planet. The IPL is the number one league in the country with far more followers than the famous Indian Super League. During its history, a number of great players have competed for various clubs in the sport and below is a compilation of some of the very best that the IPL had produced.

1. Suresh Raina

Raina is the most capped player in IPL history. He is one of the few players who has an aggregate of more than 5000 runs. With his club, the Chennai Super Kings, he emerged the top scorer in two consecutive editions, winning the IPL trophy in 2010 and 2011. After a short stint at the Gujarat Lions, Raina returned to the Super Kings and won another title with the club in 2018. At 193 caps, he still holds the record for playing the highest number of games in the league.

2. Lasith Malinga

The Sri Lankan Malinga is one of the few players who has taken over 100 wickets in the IPL. He is the greatest all-time wicket-taker in the competition with 170 wickets since the competition started in 2008. His unusual and fast bowling style has struck fear in many a batsman and earned him the nickname Slinga Malinga. Indeed both fans and bettors alike have wholeheartedly embraced the bowler and his name appearing on the betting guide of the Indian Premier League is rightly justified. Malinga also has the IPL’s best bowling average of 19.80. It’s also noteworthy that this Mumbai Indians star has played fewer matches than any of the other top five bowlers. He also played a crucial role in the victory of Mumbai Indians over the Chennai Super Kings in the 2019 league final.

3. Mahendra Singh Dhoni

He is the first and only captain who has won the IPL trophy back-to-back (in 2010 and 2011). Dhoni has provided excellent leadership and served his team as a superb batsman. Dhoni is a famous cricket player, dearly loved by fans who gladly chant “Dhoni, Dhoni, Dhoni” when he walks onto the field. Dhoni is the 7th highest run-getter and has smashed the 3rd most sixes in the IPL. He had been a captain for 11 out of 12 seasons – a clear demonstration of his exceptional leadership skills and talent.

4. Rohit Sharma

A super talented batsman who has played regularly since the first season of the IPL. Sharma is one of the few players to have scored over 100 wickets in IPL history. As a captain, he has won the most titles in the IPL. Sharma propelled the Mumbai Indians from a team desperate to win the title to one that eventually lifted the trophy four times. Sharma lifted his first IPL trophy with the Deccan Chargers in 2009. Thereafter, he won four titles for the Mumbai Indians over seven seasons, from 2013 to 2019.

5. Virat Kohli

The skipper of the Indian cricket team is the undisputed best-limited overs batsman. His team, the Royal Challengers have not won the IPL title, but their talented skipper is still one of the league’s best batsmen. Kohli is the only player that has played for his club for 12 consecutive seasons. Kohli had an unprecedented season in 2016, where he had 973 runs with an average of 81.08. He earned the most valuable player (MVP) of the tournament that season.  

6. Chris Gayle

He is one of the most powerful batsmen in the sport. Chris Gayle hails from the West Indies and he has a brilliant performance at the IPL. In his powerful hard-hitting style, he hit 175 against Pune in 2013 and made the highest score in IPL history. Known for being able to single-handedly deal with the opposition, he had his best season in the league in 2011, when he made 608 runs from 12 games.

7. David Warner

Arguably, David Warner is the best foreign player to play in the tournament. A gifted left-handed player, he has been consistently ranked among the top five all-time run-scorers. Warner will always be remembered for leading Sunrisers Hyderabad to their only IPL victory in 2016. That year, he was the third foreign captain to lift the trophy.

8. Sachin Tendulkar

A legend of the sport, he is the first Indian player to win the tournament MVP award. Tendulkar has earned many batting awards and he is one of the most adored cricketers in the world. Until his retirement, his batting was underscored by the purest principles: precision strokes, perfect balance, minimal movement, and anticipation. His last appearance was playing for the Mumbai Indians in 2013.   Those are some of the greatest cricket players that have played the world’s most popular Twenty20 cricket league. Obviously, there are other players that have had great performances in the league from 2008 to date. But we can’t talk about the IPL without mentioning the eight players listed above.  

 

Many people dream of becoming a professional sports bettor – what’s better than getting to watch your favourite sports all day and make money at the same time? Of course, its not always that easy as you need to have the right funds behind you and some knowledge that will give you the edge against the bookies. To help you become a professional sports bettor, we have put together some tips. Keep reading if this is a possible career move for you or if you are simply interested in how it works.

Look At Your Bank Account

The first thing you are going to need to do to become a professional sports bettor is to have a look at your bank account. Without the right funds behind you to start off with, you won’t get very far. You need to calculate exactly how much disposable income you have that you are willing to lose if everything goes wrong.

Never bet all of your money away as this will cause serious problems in the future. We recommend that only those who are able to get funding from somewhere or have spare cash should try out sports betting as a career. Do the math and see if it is possible for you to try out something like this.

Find The Right Site

Once you know just how much you have to spend before you’ve made anything back, you need to think about where you are going to place your bet. Sites like Stakers are great for getting into sports betting because they show all of the odds in a clear interface and give you the best possible view of what you can place your bet on. It is really important that you choose a site that appeals to you and that you can understand properly.

The site that you choose is going to be your office, its where you get the odds, its where you place your bets and where you get bonuses for being a loyal player. This is an important tool for any professional sports bettor so make sure to choose wisely.

Find Your Sport

While professional sports bettors can be successful when placing bets on multiple sports, it can be advantageous to choose one to be your specialism. This will help you to understand the sport completely and ensure that you know what you are betting on. Professional sports bettors will struggle with placing bets and winning cash on sports that they aren’t sure of.

Have a think about the sports that you enjoy watching to make this career something that you enjoy doing. Of course, if you think there is a sport that could make you a lot of money then this is the one to start with. Once you have become successful you can branch out and try betting on different sports. We recommend trying football or horse racing for the most lucrative bets.

Do Your Research

Once you have the sport that you are going to focus on, you need to make sure that you do as much research as possible. You need to understand the game inside out and know which bets are going to have the biggest payouts. Sports like football have so many possible outcomes in terms of betting markets so understanding this is part of the job.

When it comes to research, you also need to make sure that you are constantly researching the teams or players you are betting on. Any sort of inside knowledge that you can find can be very useful in boosting your career as a professional sports bettor. Keep an eye on the news, social media and read tips to make sure you are placing the right bets.

Staking Method

The staking method that you decide to use on your bets is really important as placing a huge bet on the begging can be very risking. There are many different methods of staking with some people choosing to bet on a winner while others place some cash on both teams if possible. There is a lot of strategy in this industry and if you want to make it as a professional then you need to understand the types of staking methods. Do your research and you should be able to figure out what is best for you through trial and error.

Measuring Success

Our final tip for becoming a professional sports bettor is to make sure that you are measuring your success. When you are placing a lot of bets, it can be difficult to keep track of what you are losing and winning. Make sure to keep a betting record and calculate just how much your overall profit is each month. This will help to show you if you are succeeding and will indicate if you should continue with what you are doing.

Measuring success is a very important part of this and if you neglect this then you could end up with less money that you started off with – regardless of how it seems at the time. Make sure to keep your betting and personal funds separate and calculate your overall profit each month to make sure you are measuring your success as a professional sports bettor.

Final Verdict

If you are thinking about becoming a professional sports bettor, then you should make sure to take on board all of the tips that we have given you in this article. Think about how much spare cash you have right now and how much of it you would be willing to lose if everything goes wrong. Aim high but manage your stakes and you should be able to see success in this profession.

If you aren’t convinced that this is for you then make sure to try out casual sports betting because it can still be very fun. Who knows, you might even become very good at it over time and you’ll be a professional without even trying! Try sports betting today to see what you could win.

 

 

Watch online best FIFA World Cup theme songs

Every FIFA World Cup is not only about football. It is also about art, music, and people who create that art. Each tournament has its anthem and song as a symbol of nations’ unity and peace. Every time we listen to those songs, they take us back in time to some most spectacular matches and tournaments. Are you ready to get into our musical time machine? Benefit from the list of most popular FIFA World Cup anthems, official songs, and videos.

Shakira – Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) – World Cup 2010 song

FIFA World Cup 2010 brought so many surprises despite the heat and dry weather. Once again, La Furia Roja had no rivals. The Spanish team won the tournament. It appeared to be a huge present for Shakira from her boyfriend Gerard Pique for singing the FIFA in exchange for her WAKA WAKA song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRpeEdMmmQ0

Live It Up – Nicky Jam feat. Will Smith & Era Istrefi – World Cup 2018 song

“Live It Up” is an uplifting song by Nicky Jam featuring Will Smith and Era Istrefi. From this moment, it will always be associated with the French glorious win in the FIFA 2018 Finals against Croatia. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V15BYnSr0P8

 

We Are One (Ole Ola) – FIFA World Cup 2014

This song by Pitbull will always remind Brazilian fans about their team’s failure. FIFA 2014 in Brazil appeared to be an epic fail for entire Latin America. Argentina lost against Germany in the finals, while Brazil even failed to take third place in the match with the Netherlands losing 3-0. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TGtWWb9emYI

 

Celebrate The Day – FIFA World Cup 2006

Although FIFA 2006 took place in Germany, its anthem sounds like traditional BOSSA NOVA vibes taking us to the sunny beaches of Sao Paolo. The tournament brought a bunch of sensational and memorable moments out of the box featuring the Italian team’s win in the finals and Zidane punching Materazzi and getting the red card. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1PUo0lpR18

Vangelis – Anthem FIFA World Cup 2002

Taking place in Korea/Japan, FIFA 2002 appeared to be the last (we hope not the least) glorious tournament for the Brazilian international team. They managed to beat Germany in the finals with Ronaldo scoring 2 goals. The anthem represents some light techno sounds combined with slow-motion video. Get into the time machine! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcbGxT7nG60

 

Un Estate Italiana – Gianna Nannini & Edoardo Bennato – FIFA World Cup 1990

FIFA 1990 anthem is probably the most melodic and beautiful track ever made for the major football tournament. The award-winning duo featuring Gianna Nannini and Edoardo Bennato made their best to make us feel the thrill of the upcoming battles and Germany winning 1-0 against Argentina in the final match. Italy took third place after beating England. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTbMwJMqilI

   

The Ramblers – El Rock Del Mundial

Are you ready for an ultimate FIFA 1962 party? The Ramblers will rock the house with their essential anthem called “El Rock Del Mundial”. The song was to commemorate FIFA 1962 taking place in Chile. Some of the countries do not exist anymore. However, the most dedicated football gourmets will never forget the epic final between Brazil and Czechoslovakia. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_yafwjcf-w

   

New Order – World in Motion – World Cup 1990 Official Music Video

The beginning of the 90s represented the evolution of brand new music styles. For this reason, FIFA 1990 has several official songs and anthems. Apart from the Italian duo, the crowd craved for some more up-to-date and moving sounds. This is where New Order found its niche with its World in Motion song. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Re4aDJL3heA

 

K’NAAN – Wavin’ Flag – World Cup 2010 song

K’NAAN Wavin’ Flag is more associated with FIFA 2010 than Shakira’s WAKA WAKA. Both refer to the same tournament. However, Wavin’ Flag gained worldwide popularity. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTJSt4wP2ME

   

Ricky Martin – La Copa de la Vida – World Cup 1998 song

Although released 8 years ago, this song by Ricky Martin is still associated with FIFA 1998 and football in general. The epic fail of the Brazilian international team against France has been forgotten over the years. But the uplifting vibes and sounds of La Copa de la Vida can still be heard on world’s famous arenas across the world in different variations. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BkYKwHLXiU

Download FIFA World Cup songs to your devices

Shakira – Waka Waka

We Are One (Ole Ola)

Un Estate Italiana

El Rock Del Mundial

New Order – World In Motion

K’NAAN – Wawin’ Flag

Ricky Martion – La Copa de la Vida

Live It Up – 2018 FIFA World  Cup

 

Roberto Firmino, who has been pivotal to Liverpool’s impressive displays scored his 23rd goal in all competitions on Saturday night against Watford, which is the highest amount of goals the Brazil international has managed in a single season.

His previous best tally in a single season was 22 goals, which he managed in the 2013/14 Bundesliga season at Hoffenheim. Jurgen Klopp’s direct style of play has allowed Firmino to flourish this term alongside Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah. Firmino now looks like he has a guaranteed spot in Brazil’s World Cup team due to his exceptional performances for the Reds in the English top flight as well as the Champions League. Following the huge win, Liverpool currently occupies 3rd place in the Premier League standings having garnered 63 points and scored 73 goals in 31 games – only Manchester City (85) have scored more goals than Liverpool in the 2017/18 Premier League campaign. Whilst Champions League qualification is the best Liverpool can hope for on the domestic front, they’re still in with a shout of winning the Champions League having been drawn with Manchester City in an all-English Quarter-Final tie. It’s worth noting that Liverpool have already beaten Manchester City this season in the Premier League, hence, their Champions League clash will certainly be an intriguing affair.  

Liverpool's Firmino Breaks Personal goalscoring Record

 

With the football that you play, or watch – that’s all about strategy. It looks cool, but it’s about winning. Then there’s the other kind, when right in the middle of a match a Neymar or a Ronaldo will pulls off a trick that will see jaws drop, some amazing manoeuvre that takes the game to a whole new level. Let’s take a look at the history of the football trick and the finest examples that history has indeed given us. Many countries and their players claim to have invented different football tricks. The scissor kick or “bicycle kick” could be described as just a way to score against the odds, but what an ostentatious way to do it! The first time this was seem during a match is said to be in 1914, when Ramon Unzaga scored in Chile, and perhaps one of the clearest examples was undoubtedly by Ronaldinho. The best advice for those aspiring to learn it is to pretend you’re in the Matrix about to dodge some bullets, and to begin by pushing off your kicking foot. Another trick that can be super effective during play is the Rainbow, where you flick the ball over your head and the head of the defender challenging you. It’s risky, but looks stunning if it works. Jay-Jay Okocha, player for PSG and the Nigerian National team, among others, made the move popular. The best advice here is that practice makes perfect! There’s no doubt that tricks like these have been part of professional and amateur football for most of the last two and a half centuries. However, the first player to have a move named after him is almost certainly ex Real Madrid icon Ferenc Puskas. The fashion escalated from there and now skilled moves and feints come as standard. The logical evolution of all this invention is Freestyle Football, a sport made up entirely of the mastery of tricks and moves with payers battling on stage to do the most exciting moves with the ball. There are some great players out there, not least Andrew Henderson, winner of several world championships with world ranking no. 1 and master of several impressive tricks of his own. He and his opponents are inspiring players around the world to bring their skills to another level. What if you don’t feel like devoting your time to achieving 108 “around the worlds” at one time (Henderson again). The truth is that the most amazing freestyle work wouldn’t wash on the pitch, right in the middle of a match. If you think about it, the heat of the match and competitive play that makes football so gripping doesn’t allow for too many neck stops or extended hot-steppers. Football tricks are at their most thrilling when they are integrated into normal play and make that play amazing. So what’s next? Frank Ribery of FC Bayern has reportedly invented a new trick. For a player coming towards the end of his career, this invention is clearly the culmination of years of practice and of developing his skills – so don’t be so quick to throw in the towel if results aren’t forthcoming after a few weeks. The history of football tricks is complex; maybe it’s always felt like a natural thing to do, so no one kept a record. Who knows, even when guys in the Middle Ages ran around after a pig’s bladder, there must have been someone showing off. If so, there was someone else watching from the sidelines, planning their own next move.  

 

Over the years the world has seen the invention, innovation and evolution of numerous sporting disciplines. One of the disciplines that have endured the test of time is Football or soccer depending on your continent of origin. Since the official recognition of Football as a legitimate sporting activity in the late 1860s, its evolution can only be described as phenomenal. With time technology, professionalism, economy and other factors have caught up with the sport to an extent where the sport has become a social, economic, political, cultural and environmental pillar of the world. In South America some countries regard the sport as part of their culture and traditions. The support for football in this region is almost religious. The sport is also played in most if not all countries in the world. This is why the sport is the most popular sporting activity in the world. One of the sport’s major tournaments – the World cup – attracts record breaking viewership every four years across the world. Some of the sports superstars both past and present have become global icons with sway to effect change and opinion in whatever cause they take up case in point is the sway Pele, Ronaldo, Messi among others holds on given issues. A recent study of the hundred most influential people in the world listed eight players on the list.One aspect of professionalism that is mostly overlooked is the kit more specifically their shoes, boots or studs depending of the continent of origin. Football shoes or studs are just different terminologies used to describe the same item. Since football shoes is the most commonly used terminology this article will adopt its usage. The choice of footwear by a player is an indicator of the level of professionalism for that particular player.

Evolution Of The Football Shoe

Since the late 1860s the sport has evolved in tandem with technology. This means that pitches, balls, architecture, rules among other aspects have evolved too. Football shoes have not been left behind in that aspect from the early leather shoes to the modern swooshes and f-50s. These shoes have evolved to match all the changing aspects of the sport. The old school leather shoes were just normal boots fitted with metal cleats to match the sport. As time passed a few specifications started being altered to match a pitch and players playing style. This era ushered in the conical cleats with differing screw in cleats. Cleats ranged from plastic to rubber and metal. Then came the texture variations on the shoe from rubber to leather and synthetic plastic. Innersole, shoe laces, designs and vamp variations followed suit. It’s all these variations over time that laid the concept for the modern boot/shoe as seen in the picture below. One of the game’s legends (Sir Bobby Charlton was) was quoted saying that modern footwear has made the sport quicker and simpler.

Anatomy Of The Football Shoe

A football shoe has various parts as listed below; *The upper

*Outsole

*Inner sole

*Midsole

*Heel counter and Cushioning

*VampUpper

*Cleats

All the pictures in this subtopic were sourced from www.soccer.com/guide/soccer-shoe-guide/  

Factors To Consider When Choosing Football Shoes

Choosing a shoe is very important for various reasons as listed below;

A shoe to prevent injuries

The selection of footwear for given match is as essential as the choice of officials, location, time or any other aspect that could determine the outcome of that match. Over the years the world has seen players get serious injuries by selecting the wrong shoes to wear during matches. A recent study by BBC sport showed that some of the injuries players pick up are down to the wrong choice of football shoe. Alan Hodson – A top sports medical researcher – attributed some of the injuries to wrong choice of boots during a match or pre-season training. This means that for player to avoid unnecessary injuries shoe selecting should take priority in every player’s daily routine. Hodson recommends that players wear shoes that fit properly to avoid foot movement in the shoe in case a player has sweaty feet or a rainy match day. Players should also select shoes with proper heel counters and cushioning to support the ankle and avoid minor injuries.

A shoe to match the weather

Some of the best players of this generation have missed essential free kicks and penalties due to a poor selection of shoes. David Beckham – a very accurate free kick taker – once missed a sensitive free kick for Manchester United during a rainy match. That miss condemned the team to a draw in a game they were expected to win. That miss came down to a poor selection of shoes. He slid just before striking the ball which resulted in a terrible miss never seen before form him. The shoes had little grip on a slippery surface owing to the short cleats. Another world class player (Wayne Rooney) in his youth missed a few penalties for both Manchester United and England due to poor shoes selection. Both players later admitted on post match interviews that their shoe selection was poor. Comments like those were the foundations for Nike, Puma, Adidas and other manufacturers to produce weather sensitive boots. Hodson also recommends that players select footwear with long and metal cleats during rainy match days to avoid such mishaps and injuries. *A shoe to match the modern ball Another casualty of time and technology has been the ball itself. From the leather and tube days to the modern semi plastic ball as seen in the Pictures below. The evolution of the ball has come with its consequences. The ball has become lighter, smoother, and harder to control, harder to shoot, pass and cross accurately, more dependent on wind fluctuations among other benefits and drawbacks. To match these changes, the shoes have also evolved to match the ball. The shoes have become lighter to reduce drag in running players to match ball speed, smoother to ease deflection while striking the ball, different shapes and size to match a player’s feet and meet all their individual needs among other variations to ensure the shoes evolve with time.  

All the pictures in this subtopic were sourced from https://www.football-bible.com/soccer-info/who-invented-the-soccer-ball.html

A shoe to match the modern pitch

As time passes and technology advances so have the nature, form and type of pitches/turfs. Today football has three official turfs available, a natural turf, a synthetic turf and a mix of both as seen on the Pictures below. All these turfs have different texture; ball and shoe bounce and slide effects among other effects on the ball, player and shoe. Every player is well informed on all these turfs by their teams to ensure the all make informed choices on what kits to where on what pitch. Some of the world’s leading managers including Ex England manger Roy Hudgson, Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger among others have been quoted blaming synthetic pitches for their team loses or injuries. On a synthetic pitch players are advised to select shoes with longer and metal cleats with rough texture to boost grip and ball control among other arising challenges. Advice like that could be the difference between a win and a loss on a given pitch.

Above examples are just but a few of the factors to consider when selecting a football shoe. Others are feet specifications, playing style, league, budget, size, durability, texture, manufacturer and other assorted loyalty issues.

Major Football Shoe Manufacturers And Their Ambassadors

Today, every shoe manufacturer has the need to be identified as the best. This means that all shoe manufacturers have embarked on massive promotional strategies among other marketing schemes and advertisement ploys. One of the most common promotional strategies is the use of professional players as brand ambassadors. Every manufacturer tries to use the best players out there as is evident by the largest Football shoes manufacture ring firms today. This article sampled three of the largest firms in the industry, their ambassadors, customer satisfaction and achievements among other aspects. These firms are Nike, Adidas and Puma.

1. Nike

   Nike is an American company invested in the manufacture and sale of sporting kits. This company is the largest market share holder in the sports artier industry. One of Nike’s most marketable products is its shoes. Some of the Nike’s most successful boots are the Mercurial Vapor IX, Swoosh, MVIX, CTR360, T90 Laser IV, CTR360 Maestri III among others have been worn by the world’s best players. The face of Nike Football shoes Cristiano Ronaldo is arguably the best player to ever walk on to a pitch and that makes the brand even more attractive. Nike’s best sellers the MVIX and the Mercurial Vapor IX are personally endorsed by him as the picture below shows. These boots have received glowing reviews on all marketing and sales sites across the world. Customer satisfaction on Alibaba, Ebay, The Sportster, Ispo, and Soccer.com among others is at an all time high. A quick review of Amazon and other sales sites reveals the Nike Mercurial Vapor IX has a 90% approval rate for this boot.

   These are just a few of the positive comment the boot received. To underline the success of the boot, it is worn by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Neymar among other world class players are quoted pointing to the durability, comfort, smoothness, safety and grip of the shoe.

2. Adidas

   Adidas is a German sports artier manufacturing company commonly known for its Football kits products. This company is a giant in this industry and ranks second to Nike in almost all aspects of business and results. The Adidas footwear is almost as popular as Nike and delivers on the pitch time and again. Just like Nike all of Adidas brands are worn by the World’s best. Their face is Lionel Messi one of the best players of this or any other generation as seen in the picture below. One of the most successful Adidas boot is the F50 adiZero.

   These are just a few of the positive remarks left after purchase. Some of the players like Suarez, Diego Costa among others have also given the boot some glowing remarks.

3. Puma

   Puma is the best of the rest of firms in this industry. Just like Nike and Adidas Puma Also attracts the best and delivers on the pitch. Puma uses same strategies as Nike and Adidas. Their Football ambassador’s portfolio is very impressive with the likes of Yaya Toure, Sergio Aguero, and Nemaja Vidic among others. Some of their brands are very successful in the market like the Puma king 2013 and evoSpeed 1. A review of both shoes by Bryan Bryne classifies the boots as ultra light and a perfect fit for the speedsters out there. He calls the boot durable with an unusual strike zone shape that boosts its grip. Ankle support is solid and the boot is made for a modern day midfielder and striker.

  Some of the other manufacturers worth a mention are Umbro, Under Amour, Macron, New balance, Cabrini and Errea.

Conclusion

No matter what one calls this sport’s footwear (shoe or studs) one can’t deny that football shoes play an integral role in the modern game. The choice of boots to wear during a match remains the thin line between a loss and a victory for world class teams.

Football Shoes (Studs), how to choose and what to pay attention to