Bringing Football Alive
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ISSUE 1 SEASON 2015/16 AUGUST 15 KICK-OFF BRINGING FOOTBALL ALIVE JESUS’ MIRACLE MOVE STERLING OVER-VALUED? FFP BAN LIFTED FOR PSG REAL AND BARCA CAN JUVENTUS’ DO BATTLE STREAK BE STOPPED 1 Welcome to Kick-Off The essential guide KICK-OFF to the new football season! BRINGING FOOTBALL ALIVE Our experts from around Europe have compiled their thoughts and key anal- ysis on the top leagues throughout the Contents continent for your enjoyment. Czech Republic p4 Follow Barcelona’s moves as they try to match last season’s treble and FC Volun- England p5-p8 tari’s preparations for their first ever sea- son in the Romanian top flight, we have France p9 -p11 you covered from every angle. Tracking Europe’s big money moves you will also learn how Jesus has parted a city and Germany p12-p14 where the youngest Hazard brother is kick-starting his career. Hungary p15 Explore the major summer headlines from the biggest the leagues in the world Italy p16-p18 but enjoy the lighter side of football too. Within these pages discover the small- Netherlands p19-p20 est village in Europe to boast a top flight team and follow clubs’ who were on the Poland p21-p22 edge of financial ruin as they fight their way back to the big leagues. Get all this information and more right here Portugal p23-p25 This season promises to be a festival of Romania p26-p27 football and don’t miss the opportunity to register on page 10 for you exclusive gift from our sponsor! Spain p28-p30 Chief Editor: Phil Carpenter Editor: Gabor Hujber, Dominic Poyntz Design: Ryan Simmonds, Rodrigo Valle Velazco, Marco Di Natale Content: Dani Martinez, Boris Olympio, Dorota Faron, Alex Barry, Pedro Moita, Michael Follett, Gabor Hujber, Jiri Petrasch, Luis Santos Publisher: Jeremy Fall Marketing & Circulation: Jeremy Fall [email protected] Images: Imago, Action Images Editorial: BC Global Services Limited, 100 Hammersmith Road, London W6 7JP, United Kingdom BEG 2015 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without the express prior written consent of the publisher. The contents of Kick-Off are subject to reproduction in information storage and retrieval systems. 3 CZECH REPUBLIC ENGLAND Liga Favourites iktoria Plzeň are favour- ites to win the Liga, the VCzech first league, for a sec- ond consecutive season. The team from Pilsen in the west of the Czech Repub- lic, won their third title in five years, beating AC Sparta Pra- ha by 5 points with a superior goal difference (+46 compared to +37). Last season was Viktoria Plzeň’s widest winning margin, but they have failed to win two titles in a row, perhaps due to the pressure of Cham- pions League football. their record to 13 league to have won the Czech first Despite being the highest titles. league in the last decade, who scoring team last season with finished disappointingly in 12th 70 goals, only one Viktoria Pl- In between Viktoria Pl- place last season. Having al- zeň player managed to reach zeň’s last two league titles, ready beaten Slovan Liberec in double figures with attacking Sparta won the top-tier di- the Czech Supercup this sea- midfielder Daniel Kolář find- vision by an impressive 13 son, Viktoria Plzeň are looking ing the net 11 times. Manag- points with a huge +59 goal good to secure a second con- er Miroslav Koubek however difference. secutive league title. does not appear to be con- cerned as he has focused on A key figure in Sparta’s Fernando Torres and Andriy goalkeepers the Premier strengthening his midfield and chances of regaining the title Side Notes Falcao to Chelsea Shevchenko who both spent League has seen, leave. defence with the most notable will be last season’s league highly barren spells at Stam- signing, or rather re-signing of top scorer David Lafata, who ford Bridge after coming in “Petr Cech found himself left back Václav Pilař from VfL netted 33 goals in all com- Top Trio fter his disastrous stint with high expectations. Wolfsburg, who never actually petitions. To support Lafata, Aat Manchester United expendable at started a game for the German manager Zdeněk Ščasný has Only 3 teams, Viktoria Plzeň, last season Colombian star With Diego Costa already Stamford Bridge” outfit following a lengthy injury. signed Nigeria striker Kehin- Sparta Praha & Slovan Liberec striker Radamel Falcao established as the number 9, de Fatai from Romanian club, have won the league title in has sealed yet another loan Falcao may find it tough to get Petr Cech found him- Sadly for Viktorka fans, Astra Giurgiu for a reported the last 10 years. move, this time to defending playing time once again as self expendable at Stamford they will not see Czech won- €500,000. Sparta fans will be Premier League Champions Mourinho likes to play with one Bridge and has moved across derkid Martin Graiciar break- keen to avoid seeing their club Chelsea. up front, although Costa may town to rivals Arsenal. Arsene through to become a first team become runners up for the 7th Attacking Weapons be used more sparingly due Wenger’s biggest summer regular this season as he left time in the last decade. Not nearly the player he to the injuries he suffered last signing so far hopes to build for Arsenal in the winter trans- 18 different players scored for used to be after a serious season. A poor showing in this a solid base for his attacking fer window, where he may one Viktoria Plzeň last season as knee injury that ruined his summer’s Copa America may side. day start alongside another Best of the Rest they won the league title. World Cup dreams in 2014, be of concern, but it is a risk former player, Petr Čech. the Colombian managed a the Champions are willing to With the rise to stardom of wo other teams have an miserly four goals last season take as they start their quest Alexis Sanchez the Gunners’ outside chance of captur- Prolific Striker and found playing time difficult for consecutive titles. fans are optimistic they can Sparta’s Challenge ingT the title. to come by. Chelsea fans are mount a serious challenge this David Lafata has been leading hoping Falcao can rediscov- Chelsea may be taking a season and with the likes of unners-up Sparta Praha FK Baumit Jablonec, who scorer in the Liga 4 of the last er the form that at one point gamble by bringing in Falcao, Wilshere and Walcott, if they Rare close second favour- finished a respectable third 5 seasons firstly for Jablonec made him one of the most but some also feel they are make a better start than last ites to win the Liga this sea- last season and FC Slovan and then for Sparta Praha. feared strikers in Europe. They taking a risk by letting arguably year they could well be con- son as they look to extend Liberec, the only other team do not need to be reminded of one of the greatest tending next May. 5 ENGLAND ENGLAND Manchester Derby ith nearly €130 million spent between the two ManchesterW clubs this sum- mer the red half have spent slightly more than their noisy neighbours. The midfield has been of key concern for Louis Van Gaal, accounting for nearly €60 million, in Schneiderlin, Depay and Bastian Schwein- steiger. At times last season United played the type of foot- ball Van Gaal is known for and had two six game win streak that included victories over Spurs, Liverpool and Man- chester City. “Runners-up City, were involved in the summers blockbuster move” The latter one was fol- lowed by a three game loss run that dented any chance of a title shot and highlight- Despite struggling the defense but it may well be the ed consistency as an area Can anyone gate owners have backed Rodgers same old story without further to address. Runners-up City, crash the Top Four? and have been active in the additions. were involved in the summers transfer market. Capturing blockbuster move and finally n recent years the race for James Milner, Nathaniel Clyne Southampton will be look- captured key target Raheem and Roberto Firmino, they ing to improve upon an impres- Sterling for over €50 million. fourth has turned out to be moreI exciting than the actu- have worked hard to offset the sive first season under Ronald al title race. Last year’s top loss of inspirational captain Koeman, exceeding expec- It put an end to the doubt Steven Gerrard. Even with tations and qualifying for the surrounding his future at Liv- four of Chelsea, Man City, Arsenal and Man United are these additions they will find Europa League. erpool and he now carries the it tough to break into the top tag as the most expensive odds-on to be there again this season, but who will four. The departure of Clyne English footballer in history. and Morgan Schneiderlin won’t Joined by Fabian Delph, City challenge the usual sus- pects? Tottenham contended help but if Southampton have are also gearing themselves deep into the season for a proved anything the last few up for a shot at Chelsea’s Champions League spot fin- seasons it’s that they recruit title, but Frank Lampard’s loan Liverpool dropped out of the coveted top four last ishing 5th, six points behind well after they lose their star move expired and his expe- 4th placed Man United.