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THE MODERN FOOTBALLER T H E G E T F O O T B A L L P E R I O D I C A L

ISSUE ONE A Get Football Group Publication - © 2020 CONTENTS 6 - UP FRONT: A selection of stories from around the leagues, in brief.

18 - Velodrome: Mohammed Ali on FFP issues for AVB’s resurgent Marseille.

21 - Il Biscione: Richard Hall talks Inter’s revolution under new ownership.

24 - Dream Team: Adam White compares the sackings of Valverde and Robson.

28 - San Paolo: Raphaël Jucobin worries about Gattuso's Napoli.

31 - 1970: Adam White hails Leonardo’s return to PSG as sporting director.

34 - Säbener Strasse: Daniel Pinder champions Bayern Munich striker Lewandowski.

38 - The Old Lady: Sam Brookes sees an opportunity for .

42 - Galacticos: Kieran Quaile looks at Zidane’s second (or third) coming in .

47 - Yellow Wall: Axel Falk sees issues ahead for Lucien Favre and Dortmund.

50 - Gerland: Eric Devin is excited about Lyon’s teenage stars. 54 - Drew Thompson highlights the importance of Sebastian Deisler. 58 - Adam White recounts 's days. 63 - Tom Scholes looks back at . 67 - Adam White on Toulouse's great escape under Pascal Dupraz. 73 - Tom Fenton on the rise of Suat Serdar. 76 - Tom Wiseman confesses his love for Angers and Baptiste Santamaria. 79 - Sam Brookes profiles Juve new boy Dejan Kulusevski. 82 - Ryan Plant talks Fede Valverde's dramatic breakout season. 85 - Rich Allen looks back at ’s spectacular year. 88 - Tom Fenton is in awe of .

91 - Tom Canton evaluates ' chances of a Spain call up. 94 - Kaustubh Pandey compares Sandro Tonali to a couple of AC Milan greats.

97 - Cameron O’Mara considers giving the benefit of the doubt. 100 - Kaustubh Pandey likes Marcus Thuram’s attitude, and his celebration.

103 - WRITERS: A look at every journalist who contributed this issue. Give them a follow. UP FRONT

A selection of stories from around the leagues, in brief. Featuring: Chimy, Rennes, Iličić, Hansi, Getafe, Ferri, Zlatan, Eintracht, Simeone, Reims, Eriksen, Rheinderby, Copa del Rey, DF1 & Monaco.

HEARTBREAK FOR CHIMY ÁVILA secured, San Lorenzo agreed to Having signed the Argentine striker extend his loan. A host of from San Lorenzo in the summer spectacular goals and assists made of 2019, Osasuna’s Ezequiel ‘Chimy’ him a local hero in the northern Ávila has been one of the players city of Huesca and he quickly of the season in . Ávila grew caught the eye of Osasuna, earning up in Empalme Graneros, a poor a €2.7m move. Osasuna sporting neighbourhood in Rosario, an director, Braulio Vázquez, said: inland port city and home of Lionel “Chimy was born to play for Messi. The 25-year-old would ride Osasuna.” A low centre of gravity a horse to get to football training and thick-set thighs that make him so his mother could use his bus explosive; he leads the line by fare to buy food for a family of pressing hard. In 2019/20 he has nine. Loaned to Segunda Division notched 11 goals, nine in the side Huesca from San Lorenzo in league and two in the Copa del 2017, he helped the club achieve Rey. That -scoring run ended promotion to the Spanish Primera abruptly however when he Division. After swearing that he ruptured his ACL in a league match would stay on if promotion was with Levante in January. 6 up front

Disappointingly for Chimy, that were involved in a recent game same week his agent Jorge Bilicich away at Nice, eight were academy was in the offices, players. Eduardo Camavinga has speaking to club representatives obviously taken the plaudits this about a potential €25m move to season, but the likes of Adrien Barcelona to play alongside his Hunou and have compatriot Messi. made their marks too. Stéphan has been all too aware of the need to Kieran Quaile add experience to this group of @kquaile90 talented youngsters. Defenders Damian Da Silva and Jérémy Morel plus recent loan signing and World RENNES FIND BALANCE Cup winner certainly Two injury time goals for Rennes add that. When mixed with other gave them a dramatic win in the established players such as Breton Derby against rivals Nantes , M’Baye at the end of January. The victory Niang and Édouard Mendy, it looks ensured Rennes maintained their like a squad in good shape. Vital to position in third place after an any coach is an element of good impressive run of form. After the fortune and with goals in the 93rd derby win, Julien Stéphan's side and 97th minute against Nantes, to had lost just twice in their previous go with late winners against 12 games, winning nine, as Toulouse, Saint-Étienne and Lyon they took the lead in the race to recently, it is clear Stéphan has keep pace with Marseille in managed to keep luck on his side. second. Whilst performances might not have been at the absolute top level Despite the surprise dismissal of yet, Rennes results have been on club president Olivier Létang in the whole more consistent than February, Stéphan looks to be most and, although Monaco and taking great strides in his push to Lille are right with them, the take the team forwards, having realistic reward of Champions' been in the job just over a year. League football is looking less and Building on last season’s Coupe de less of a pipe dream for the Breton France win, the squad has been side. moulded carefully to reap the benefits of the famous Rennes Rich Allen academy. Of the 14 players who @rich_allen85 7 THE MODERN FOOTBALLER: ISSUE ONE

ILIČIĆ FINALLY GETS CREDIT League places once more. His Atalanta have been the feel good recent hat-trick against Torino in a story of Italian football in recent 7-0 win drew widespread attention times. A relatively small club that as he netted a free-kick from the has shot to prominence playing a halfway line. An extraordinary piece brand of attacking football that can of improvisation, but that is simply only be admired. At the heart of what Iličić does, and more and their rise has been Josip Iličić. The more people are starting to take forward arrived in Bergamo in the notice. As a 32-year-old, Iličić is summer of 2017 having impressed finally starting to get the plaudits at Fiorentina and Palermo. Yet that his undoubted talent has long there were still questions about deserved. whether he could find the consistency to take his game to the Sam Brookes next level. He has answered @FRcalcioSam emphatically. HANSI HERE TO STAY? It is not easy to stand out in this “We have a good relationship with Atalanta side. With Alejandro him, his tactical and footballing Gómez shining on the left wing and knowledge is at a high level and, in a Duván Zapata becoming a goal short time, he has shown us what we scoring machine since joining in can do to improve our play,” said 2018, Iličić could be forgiven for about Hansi struggling to make his mark. That Flick when he took interim charge has not been the case at all of Bayern Munich. Germany’s though. former assistant coach has certainly earned the respect of Having scored 11 goals in his Bayern Munich players during his maiden campaign for short tenure in charge of the Atalanta, he followed that up with a club and it wouldn’t be further 12 last season, and at time too far-fetched to say he could of writing already has 14 goals with oversee the club beyond this 16 games remaining this year. season. When Zapata was forced to sit on the sidelines for three months The 54-year-old lost just two of his through injury, Iličić stepped up, first 15 games in charge of Munich ensuring that Atalanta remained in all competitions whilst he’s re- firmly in the hunt for a Champions' energised this side who looked lost 8 up front under former coach Niko Kovač. Having not previously managed in Flick has established a possession La Liga, Bordalás developed a based game, re-installing a Mia San reputation as a second tier Mia (the club motto, meaning: ‘we specialist. Four years later, having are who we are’) mentality back repeated the feat with Getafe - into the squad. Bayern’s compact returning the Madrid outfit to La midfield of , Thiago Liga at the first attempt - the Alcântara and a fit again Leon Champions' League now awaits. Goretzka has allowed to flourish at left-back - When Bordalás took charge in another master stroke from Flick. September 2016, the Madrid club He’s getting the best out of were second bottom of the second Thomas Müller too, something division but, incredibly, at the start Kovač failed to achieve. of February this year Bordalás’ band of misfits and unwanted Under Flick, Bayern haven’t journeymen sat third in La Liga. struggled to find the net and the This was no fluke. On the final day goals are shared across the team of last season the unfashionable despite what Lewandowski’s tally Getafe spent 20 glorious minutes this season may suggest. Over the inside the top four. Although course of Flick’s first 15 games, Valencia eventually squeezed them Bayern found the net on 48 out, this season their form has occasions, beginning Flick's tenure continued unchecked despite with four consecutive clean sheets juggling a successful Europa – including a 4-0 win over Der League campaign. Klassiker rivals . Flick’s Bayern are on the charge Although Getafe are accused of once more. being an overly aggressive, streetwise and fiercely functional Daniel Pinder unit, their results are astonishing. @DanielJPinder Especially when considering they’ve achieved their success with the GETAFE CONTINUE TO SHOCK 16th biggest budget in La Liga (as Having won the Segunda division in of last season) and with the most 2016 and returned Alavés to the eclectic group of players. Primera for the first time in ten Uruguayan Mauro seasons, José Bordalás was sacked Arambarri was unwanted by amid tension with the club's board. Bordeaux but is now an ever 9 CLUBS

MARSEILLE 18 INTER 21 BARCELONA 24 NAPOLI 28 PSG 31 JUVENTUS 34 BAYERN MUNICH 38 REAL MADRID 42 DORTMUND 47 LYON 50 RICHARD HALL: INTER'S NEW DAWN

IL BISCIONE

Inter Milan have been reborn. An arduous decade has culminated in a new and exciting side, a revamped project and a promising future.

INTER'S old President Massimo policy all failed and produced some Moratti, either got it wrong or of the worst Inter teams in recent could not afford to address the years. facts. Inter’s treble winning team of 2010 was the end of an era, not Eventually, Suning Holdings Group the beginning. A decade on from and Chairman Steven Zhang, took those incredible scenes in Madrid, control of the club. The marketing, it is only now that the Nerazzurri PR and structure improved, they finally believe they can break had to battle financial fair play yet Juventus’ stranglehold on Serie A. they knew, if they succeeded, the Even more than this, they have economic power behind the group faith, that, with one or two more was immense. Perhaps the transfer windows, they could even shrewdest move came when Zhang push deep into Europe’s elite hired Beppe Marotta as CEO for competition. What has changed? sport. The ex-Juventus executive Arguably, everything. knew how to win - he had the blueprint. Ownership of a club can only affect so much. When Moratti eventually Moratta only wanted one man. parted with his family club in 2013 Whilst had done - his father was president between an incredible job by getting Inter 1955 and 1968 - the Indonesian into the Champions' League, he businessman Erick Thohir, tried to had run out of ideas and oversaw a build a club of the future but failed. disunited and fractious squad. His choice in sporting directors and Enter stage left, . The coaches as well as his transfer serial Serie A winner and champion 21 THE MODERN FOOTBALLER: ISSUE ONE of the , a proof of this was in rocketing disciplinarian with a clear idea of attendances. A corner had been how to play and how to act. turned.

The change was immediate. All Recruitment as mentioned, has teams, from the primavera to the also been improved. Romelu first team to the kids, would all play Lukaku perhaps being the symbol a version of his iconic 3-5-2. Conte of this. Reborn under Conte, his too immediately identified the ‘bad relationship with Lautaro Martínez apples’ and axed the likes of Ivan is an extra benefit that has brought Perišić and Mauro Icardi. Both goals. Loan deals and big money were exiled on loan, despite being have brought in quality. Alexis two of the club’s best players, but Sánchez, Nicolò Barella, Christian he didn’t care and Marotta was Eriksen, Stefano Sensi and Diego right behind him. Now Conte was Godín are just some of the arrivals able to recruit players with tactical that have impressed. Conte has knowledge, intensity and work rate. been vocal about a deep squad The results have spoken for and even and Victor themselves. Moses have been brought in as back up in January and have looked There was one more thing that impressive early on. Now they are Conte and his team wanted to close on the heels of Juventus and change. The culture of the club. are putting up a serious fight for Inter have been walking out to the the Scudetto. song ‘Pazza Inter Amala’ for years. Conte wanted to take the crazy out The Marotta blueprint has put the of the Nerazzurri. After all, the Nerazzurri into overdrive. An Milanese’s best periods in their interesting element for this new history have come when they have Inter is that Suning were ranked been organised and efficient. The second among China's top 500 reigns of , Giovanni private enterprises in 2018. This Trapattoni, and José Mourinho are meant that they had an annual testament to this. No longer would revenue of ¥557.875bn Moratti be splashing money on (approximately €77bn). As a result exciting front men whilst neglecting the Milanese will be able to the back. That was the old Inter, compete with anyone in Serie A, the new one will be modern, and most foreign clubs, in the exciting and they would fight. The transfer market. 22 RICHARD HALL: INTER'S NEW DAWN

The future is bright. The verge of becoming a European elite transformation has been long club once more and a decade of awaited and you can sense the discontent may soon be forgotten. excitement in the city. Football is fashionable again, Inter are on the Richard Hall @RichHall80

Inter Milan Seasons Since 2010 Treble SEASON SERIE A POINTS COPPA EUROPE 10/11 2nd 76 WINNERS CL - QF 11/12 6th 58 QF CL - R16 12/13 9th 54 SF EL - R16 13/14 5th 60 R16 - 14/15 8th 55 QF EL - R16 15/16 4th 67 SF - 16/17 7th 62 QF EL - GROUPS 17/18 4th 72 QF - 18/19 4th 69 QF CL - GROUPS

23 THE MODERN FOOTBALLER: ISSUE ONE

DREAM TEAM

Although more than two decades apart, the sackings of and raised many of the same questions at Barcelona.

"FOR the worst coach in the world, brash and rather disrespectful. it’s going really well.” Whistles after Robson’s success had become 6-0 wins, constant criticism from irrelevant, it was the method of the press over a lack of identity that success that proved pivotal. and his sarcasm aside, Bobby Building on his spell as a Barcelona Robson was right. It was going well. player in the 70's under the The English coach secured a Cup similarly influential Dutch coach Winners’ Cup triumph, won the , Cruyff’s playing style Spanish Super Cup and led proved revolutionary as his ‘Dream Barcelona to one of their greatest Team’ won the club’s first ever victories - at least in an European Cup in 1992. During emotional sense - as they lifted the Cruyff’s eight year reign as coach, Copa del Rey at the Bernabeu. The Barcelona’s identity became Catalan club’s famous anthem evermore fiercely entrenched and blared over the speakers at the intrinsic to the club's ideology. home of their eternal rivals amid Although Barça were trophy-less wild celebrations. But Robson for the final two years of Cruyff's survived just one season as Barça reign, Robson - perceived as old manager. The problem was fashioned in Spain - could never obvious - he wasn’t . stand up to Cruyff’s legend.

With hovering and Although Robson was regarded as the club’s intention to shuffle a father figure by many of his Robson upstairs after the 1996/97 players - including Ronaldo Nazário campaign a long-standing one, the - liked by those at the club and Englishman’s ousting was public, handled himself with dignity 24 ADAM WHITE: VALVERDE AND ROBSON throughout, he simply became with Euro 2020 on the horizon. collateral damage in the Barcelona And he knew that third choice hierarchy's desperate search for an Quique Setién was all but ideological successor to Cruyff. confirmed as his sucessor. Although often at odds personally with Cruyff, Van Gaal’s style was After two disastrous Champions' more suited to Barcelona’s identity League collapses to Roma and but, despite claiming the next two Liverpool, the 3-2 Spanish Super league titles - although neither Cup semi-final loss (Barça had led points total came close to the 90 2-1 with ten minutes left) to point haul under Robson - further Atlético Madrid accelerated the Champions' League success was club’s plans to replace Valverde not forthcoming. The drought next summer. Although he had eventually lasted fourteen years somewhat miraculously survived and eight further managerial the last off-season, Valverde, like appointments. Robson, had always been on the edge. He too has long been More than two decades later, criticised by more puritanical fans Barcelona found themselves at a and journalists for not strictly similar crossroads. A successful, adhering to that intrinsic Cruyffian dignified coach, adored by many of philosophy despite capturing the his players but berated for a lack of last two La Liga titles. Valverde’s philosophy by fans and media, main problem? He wasn’t Pep unceremoniously and publicly Guardiola. sacked with his team leading La Liga. Ernesto Valverde’s final Nearly twenty three years apart, training session must have been a the dismissals of Valverde and surreal experience. He, like his Robson raise the same question. players and the rest of the world, What’s more important; winning or knew that Hernández - the playing well? Despite being a coach embodiment of the philosophy of who failed with mid-table , Cruyff’s true last term, Setién's style of play has successor - had refused the led many a Barcelona traditionalist chance to replace him. Valverde to champion him for some time. also knew Netherlands coach Perhaps illustrating that winning is - iconic scorer of less important than widespread ire the only goal in the 92 final and over a lack of recent European Cruyffian disciple - had also said no success had suggested. 25 THE MODERN FOOTBALLER: ISSUE ONE

Transversely, despite the Messi- Messi, Iniesta, Piqué and Xavi. Suárez- trio hitting form Valverde meanwhile has suffered plus the likes of Andrés Iniesta and with frustrating returns from three Sergio Busquests in their prime, nine figure signings; Ousmane was also painted as a Dembélé, Philippe Coutinho and, to more direct, vertical and pragmatic some extent, . coach but his first season treble in Not to mention the decline of 2015 bought him time and capital Iniesta, Luis Suárez and Busquets. he likely wouldn’t have been The extent to which Robson’s afforded otherwise. success (and also, intriguingly,

'More than two decad es later, Barcelona

found themselves at a similar crossroads. A successful, dignified coach, adored by

many of his players bu t berated for a lack

of philosophy by f ans and media, unceremoniously and publicly sacked.'

Although it may be perfectly perhaps even his lack of style) is understandable for a club like down to translator/assistant coach Barcelona to demand both style José Mourinho’s embellishment of and success, there has to be some his instructions when relaying elasticity between the two and them to his players is also open to some recognition that both can debate. rely on factors besides managerial genius. For example, although their Although Barcelona’s labyrinthine pioneering status is undeniable, mesh of political, sporting and Cruyff and Guardiola both enjoyed ideological motivations beyond the outstanding generations of players; relative status of Cruyff and Koeman, Laudrup, Stoichkov and Guardiola, such as Madrid’s relative Guardiola (the player) versus European success, contributed to 26 ADAM WHITE: VALVERDE AND ROBSON

both dismissals to varying degrees, and Valverde shouldn’t be so the worst thing that happened to swiftly dismissed in favour of a Valverde and, earlier, Robson was maniacal search for the next still Guardiola and Cruyff. Although Guardiola or Cruyff. Although many Robson boldly stated at his first Barça fans celebrated the exit of Barcelona press conference: “I am Valverde, he came closer than they not afraid to follow him. When the seem to recall to UCL success. A president of the United States leaves, simple square ball from Dembélé they have to get another president of to Messi in the final seconds of the the United States.” he later wrote first leg of last year's Champions that Cruyff still “haunted my early League semi-final and Barcelona days” at the Nou Camp. would have gone to with a 4-0 advantage. Psychologically an Future Barcelona coaches will feel insurmountable lead? Maybe. What the same pressure. Although that is for sure is that another fourteen devotion to style is admirable and year wait would be a disaster. inexorably linked to the club, the successes of the likes of Robson Adam White @_Adam_White_

Select Barcelona Coaches MANAGER GAMES WIN % TROPHIES LIGAs Cruyff 430 58.1 11 4 Robson 60 65 3 0 Guardiola 247 72.5 14 3 Valverde 145 66.9 4 2

Trophies include Super Cups.

27 THE MODERN FOOTBALLER THE GET FOOTBALL PERIODICAL - ISSUE ONE

40,000 WORDS OVER 100 PAGES DEDICATED CLUB COLUMNS HISTORICAL FEATURE ARTICLES DETAILED PLAYER PROFILES NEWS ROUND UP

Hard Copies: £8 +£2 post Digital: £3.50 FEATURES

DIESLER AND DESPRESSION 54 LINEKER AT BARCELONA 58 CALCIOPOLI, 14 YEARS ON 63 TOULOUSE'S GREAT ESCAPE 67 THE MODERN FOOTBALLER: ISSUE ONE

More Than A Distant Memory WHAT FOOTBALL CAN LEARN FROM the story of SEBASTIAN DEISLER.

THE annals of football history are Forest in the small city of Lörrach, littered with stories of what could Deisler began his footballing have been. We can all cite former education like most other kids, for players who showed powers a small local side (FV Tumringen) at beyond understanding, but never the age of five. After further stints quite made it for one reason or with TuS Stetten and FV Lörrach, another. Everyone remembers Deisler signed with Borussia Denílson during his time at Real Mönchengladbach when he was Betis; how he dazzled with his 15. sheer mastery of a football. There was also Ricardo Quaresma, who His introduction to top level some thought to possess even football came at the age of 18, greater potential than Cristiano when Deisler made his debut for Ronaldo. There are other names as Gladbach in 1998. After making well, both in recent memory and seventeen appearances and from days gone by, but one in bagging one goal in the process, he particular will be remembered in would move on to Hertha Berlin Germany rather well; Sebastian the following summer after Deisler. Gladbach failed to avoid relegation. Unknowingly, his second season of Born in the foothills of the Black professional football would be a 54 DREW THOMPSON: DEISLER AND DEPRESSION harbinger of things to come. to Bayern Munich in the Summer of 2002. Even if, once recovered, it As his reputation in German was presumed that he would not football continued to grow - as be able to reach his full potential evidenced by being capped at all while with the Bavarians. 259 days German youth levels by 1999 - later, and now a Bayern player, Deisler was hit with his first serious Deisler was finally able to try and injury; a cruciate ligament rupture. establish himself and make good It would not be the last time he on his potential. He would never would lay on a treatment table. Just be successful in this endeavour. a year later, Deisler tore muscle fiber in his knee during the The following season he yet again 2000/01 ruckrunde, leading to one tore muscle fibers and, despite of the most turbulent periods of being unavailable for only four of his career the following season. Bayern’s fixtures, the mental and emotional strain he began to suffer By now he was being hailed as one on account of these recurring of a new generation of German injuries and being under pressure footballers; players who were to deliver as a player began to meant to push the nation forward manifest itself in a serious struggle in the new millennium. It was this with depression that would potential and subsequent eventually spell the end of his expectations and pressure placed career. on him that he would struggle with down the road. After months of treatment, he would yet again return to playing In October 2001 he suffered a duties for Bayern. But the storyline capsular tear that would keep him would only read more heartbreak out of contention for 25 matches as he - yet again - suffered another for Hertha until March of 2002. serious knee injury, making him After recovering, disaster would unavailable for over 240 days. One befall him yet again; this time, month after finally recovering, a damaged cartilage would result in final muscle tear would be the last Deisler being sidelined for the he would allow himself to suffer. At longest single period in his career. just 27 years of age, during his prime playing years, Sebastian Despite being injured, it would not Deisler retired from football in stop him from completing a move 2007. Citing exhaustion and not 55 THE MODERN FOOTBALLER: ISSUE ONE being able regain confidence in his struggled with depression and ability to stay fit, Deisler only alcoholism that took years to logged 195 appearances in a control, if it could be controlled at career that spanned nine seasons. all. And of course, the tragic death of Gary Speed just two years after Two years later, and Enke’s. German international keeper Robert Enke committed suicide. Deisler is lucky, but also deserves His wife later confirmed that he too an enormous amount of credit for had been suffering from putting his well-being before a depression ever since the death of sense of service that many players his daughter three years prior. have regarding their club and it’s Though not tied to football, Enke’s supporters. He would later remark; death was not taken lightly; the “I always repressed things and seriousness of depression among thought: ‘the club needs me to professional footballers was soon perform.’ It could not continue like to come to the fore. this.”

Many other high-profile footballers During his ascendancy, the little have come out about their time that we were graced by struggles with mental health in the Deisler’s presence on the pitch was years since. , Aaron exciting. Supremely gifted on the Lennon, Andrés Iniesta, Danny ball, ahead of his time, and hyped Rose, Michael Carrick, Emmanuel to the point where he was dubbed Eboué, and Francesco Acerbi are the saviour of German football, just a handful of footballers at the Deisler's is a cautionary tale of the highest level that have spoken pressures of the modern game. about depression and mental health awareness. Some have He would later reflect upon his suffered because of injuries, others move from Hertha to Bayern, and because of personal issues and the how he was not shielded from loss of family, but all cases are targeted abuse while highlighting compounded by the pressures of the role of Bayern director Uli football at the top level. Hoeneß. “Instead he [Hoeneß] stood by and watched as I was hounded Paul Merson and out of Berlin. That’s what began to meanwhile, two iconic English spoil my view of football. That was footballers of decades past, both my shot in the neck. I know today 56 DREW THOMPSON: DEISLER AND DEPRESSION that that’s the point at which I should technically the best player in have stopped.” Germany” by Beckenbauer, and by Rudi Völler as a player who “would Supporters and clubs alike so often be influential for Germany for ten forget that, though they appear to years,” Deisler’s career path should be superheroes to young and old, be celebrated all the same. footballers are very much human. The constant spotlight, the Though he may not have reached constant attention, and never the dizzying heights that many had having a moment's peace - predicted him to hit, Sebastian whether you are performing or not Deisler remains one of the most - has been an issue for decades. influential footballers of his Deisler’s tale was one of the first to generation. He showed what could truly bring these issues to light. be possible in a period of football that was in desperate need of a After Deisler’s retirement, Hoeneß, refit. He showed us all what was to the man who failed to protect one come. of his own, would remember an opportunity missed; “He is one of Drew Thompson the best players Germany has ever @FMLehrer produced and therefore it is so difficult to comprehend. However, we have lost this battle.” would also weigh in in the wake of Deisler’s decision to hang up his boots, commenting on his personality as a potential cause; “Deisler came to our club an extremely introverted person. But nobody could have predicted that it would have turned out to be a psychological problem.”

But this isn’t just a tale of despair, disappointment, and pain. When thinking of Sebastian Deisler, consider just how gifted he was. Once described as “physically and 57 PROFILES

SERDAR 73 SANTAMARIA 76 KULUSEVSKI 79 VALVERDE 82 CAMAVINGA 85 HAALAND 88 TORRES 91 TONALI 94 BRANDT 97 THURAM 100 THE MODERN FOOTBALLER: ISSUE ONE

Baptiste Angers Santamaria 24

ANGERS are known as a club that, game back in France’s top flight for using their specialised and two decades. This is a rare sophisticated scouting network, achievement in modern football have have an impressive record but cannot be sustained forever. recruit talented players from While Moulin’s tactics and setup French lower league clubs. These can mask some of the individual talents nestle under the wing of deficiencies of the defenders, manager Stéphane Moulin whose Baptiste Santamaria is the primary experience in developing young reason that the defence has players is similarly highly regarded. enjoyed such longevity. The club has a profile based on continuity in almost every aspect Operating as the midfield pivot in a from coach Moulin, a former 4-1-4-1, Santamaria is the sentinel player, who has been back at the in black and white. The 24-year-old club since 2005 and the first team is one of the best in coach since 2011, to General France, his athletic endurance Manager, Olivier Pickeu, also at the alone has earned him the helm since 2005, and his brother, nickname “4X4”. With a passion for Benoît, serving as fitness coach for horse riding, Santamaria’s stamina almost as long. and endurance levels must have been inspired by his own race This continuity trope permeates horse, Déesse de Bouillon. In the into the squad as well. The current 2018/19 season, no player covered starting defence and goalkeeper more distance than the Frenchman has cost the club a grand total of as he averaged 11.65km per match zero in transfer fees and all, apart and this season he continued in from 18-year-old academy grad that same trend. Rayan Aït Nouri, started in the 2-0 victory in round one of the A hard working and organised side, 2015/16 season, the club’s first Angers players are always high in 76 TOM WISEMAN: BAPTISTE SANTAMARIA these types of athletic rankings but drive up field with the ball at his Santamaria is the jewel in their feet and draw players towards him. crown. However, it is not all Previously used as a winger before mindless chasing of the ball. While joining the western outfit from he can be bettered in a one on one Tours, his solid dribbling ability has take on it is his ability to make lent itself well to this task. Now, as recovering tackles and snuff out a concrete tackler, he knows how danger that protects the defence. to read defensive actions and His defensive role is primarily to makes himself difficult to stop incoming attacks but he tends dispossess without being cut not to overly commit and be down. caught out of place or give away a foul in the defensive half. Across There is almost never a drop in his four seasons with Angers he performance from game to game has fouled less often than he has from Santamaria, his consistency is been fouled (1.3 per 90 minutes to one of his assets that people tend 1.4), he has never received a red to forget about. Since joining the card and only been handed 11 club in the summer of 2016 he has yellow cards. only missed seven league games. No outfield player in Ligue 1 has It is not only his defensive and missed fewer in that time. Despite athletic abilities that continue to all the incomings and sales at improve, Santamaria’s passing has Angers over the years, he has always been centred around remained the cornerstone of the keeping the flow of possession club’s over-performance. smooth and comfortable. He has kept these principles while There was interest in the summer developing into an astute long from a host of clubs. Aston Villa passer of the ball, able to switch made a €10m bid and offered four play with ease and when under times his current wage, but Angers pressure. Santamaria has become rejected this wanting more. Napoli the prime source of distribution in were also reportedly an interested a double pivot alongside veteran party. It is common to see a midfielder, Thomas Mangani. player’s performances and their intensity drop after failing to get Even as a defensive midfielder, their desired transfer but there has there have been times where been no sign of this whatsoever. Santamaria takes it upon himself to Still, this will almost certainly be his 77 THE MODERN FOOTBALLER: ISSUE ONE last season at the club, with injury problems and has gained Santamaria stating in recent four full seasons of experience in interviews that he would like to the French top flight, developing play at a higher level. into one of the most underrated midfielders across the continent. Recent interest from Atalanta Replacing him will be a hard task reflects the notion that the 24- for Moulin, Pickeu and the year-old deserves to be playing recruitment team. But if anyone with a club in either European can do it, Les Scoistes can. competition. Angers will most likely aim to receive around €16m for Thomas Wiseman him, a very reasonable fee for a @WYSAF1 player who has never had any

"It is true that it was a special period and I was well highlighted in the transfer market, but I was not destabilised. Quite the contrary. It motivated me to keep giving my best."

- Baptiste Santamaria on his good form resulting in links to the Premier League.

78 THE MODERN FOOTBALLER: ISSUE ONE

Erling Dortmund Haaland 19

NO matter the size of the just about every physical attribute achievement, there will always be you could hope for, big things are detractors. Score 12 league goals always going to be expected of him in 25 games as a 17-year-old? Well from the outset. This is especially it’s only the Norwegian league. true, given that Erling is the son of Score nine goals in one game? It’s former Leeds United defender Alf- only the Under 20 World Cup. Inge Haaland. The Dortmund star Become the third youngest player was actually born in the city of to score a Champions' League hat- Leeds in 2000 - but it was back in trick? It's only against Genk. Now his father’s native country of though, the penny finally seems to Norway that the younger Haaland have dropped. As Erling Braut took his first tentative steps into Haaland tore his way through his the professional ranks. first four opponents in Germany, scoring eight times in the process, He started out at the relatively few were doubting the talent they small Bryne FK, a second division were witnessing this time. side, where he would feature 16 times for the senior team without It seems safe to suggest that registering a goal. It’s interesting to Haaland really isn’t your average note that, despite being earmarked 19-year-old. Here stands a forward, for the top from an early age, who is not only 6’4, but is also Haaland wasn’t especially prolific strong as an ox and can beat a during the early years of his career. defender for pace. Such is his size, A £100k move to Norwegian giants that former team-mates dubbed Molde FK followed in 2017, where Haaland the 'man-child'; not he would again make a modest maliciously, but because he was start, scoring twice in 14 league baby-faced with the accompanying appearances. It wasn’t long before frame of a comic book villain. When Haaland would announce himself a teenage striker is blessed with however, with the following season 88 TOM FENTON: ERLING HAALAND proving to be a defining one. Hwang and Moanes Dabour. He Under the stewardship of manager was going to have to bide his time. and childhood hero Ole Gunnar Then, in the summer of 2019, Solskjær, Haaland took the league came the perfect opportunity for by storm, scoring 12 times in 25 the 18-year-old to showcase his games. A record like talent to the RB hierarchy, and that, from a player yet to celebrate indeed to the wider world. The his 18th birthday, hadn’t gone Under 20 World Cup gave him a unnoticed – the notoriously chance to follow in the footsteps of shrewd RB Salzburg were already , and waiting in the wings. Fikayo Tomori, who all used the stage to their advantage in The decision to join RB Salzburg previous editions. was, on the face of it, a simple one. Few clubs are capable of honing While his Norwegian side largely young talent better than the failed to impress, Haaland most Austrian outfit, who in recent years certainly lays claim to the alone have developed the likes of competition's most memorable Sadio Mané, Naby Keïta, Marcel moment. In the history books, Sabitzer, Dayot Upamecano and Haaland is listed as the 2019 top many more. They are the masters scorer, what that neglects to of signing promising young players mention though is that all nine of from foreign academies and his goals came in just one game, developing them, before finally against Honduras - his ruthless selling them on for a hefty fee a finishing ability and razor sharp few years down the line. Haaland penalty box instincts going into was the latest low risk gamble overdrive. made by RB, who paid €8m for the young forward – a relatively small He returned to RB following that outlay, if the move panned out as historic summer for what would expected. prove to be another ground- breaking campaign. His league Once again, Haaland got off to a form was imperious, with 16 goals solid, but ultimately modest, start in 14 Austrian league appearances, to life in Austria. He played just five a staggering record for even the times in his first six months at the most seasoned forwards. But it club, in large part, due to the form was Haaland’s Champions' League of regular forwards, Hee-Chan form that would truly astound 89 THE MODERN FOOTBALLER: ISSUE ONE onlookers. Eight goals in four Haaland possesses just about games, including a superb hat-trick every attribute needed to succeed against Genk, caught the attention at the highest level. As we’ve of the entire footballing world. He already seen in his opening BVB became the third youngest player salvo, he’s powerful, quick, has an in Champions League history (after eye for goal, and makes intelligent Raúl González and ) runs between the posts. In his to score three in one game. By league debut at Augsburg, Haaland now, the jury was in. Haaland was a provided a stunning late cameo, star in the making. the young Norwegian international scoring a rapid fire, counter Before long, Europe’s biggest clubs attacking hat-trick. were beating a path to agent ’s door. It may be Haaland’s Contrastingly, a week later at home ultimate dream to win the Premier against Union Berlin, the striker League one day, but he resisted proved to be just as effective advances from England in favour of against a low block defence. The the club most likely to take his early signs are ominous – no game to the next level – Borussia matter the scenario, he always Dortmund. Signing for €20m at the scores. Weaknesses remain, as he end of December, it is a deal that still plays with the degree of has the potential to radically alter rawness one might expect from a the futures of both player and club. 19-year-old but if he continues to For Dortmund, he may finally be a improve at the current rate, the sky number nine capable of emulating really is the limit for the Leeds born the likes of Robert Lewandowski sensation. The future is bright for and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Haaland – and, for now at least, the Haaland meanwhile gets to play for future is yellow. a club with a remarkable track record of turning raw potential into Tom Fenton world class ability - @Tomfenton11 being just the latest example.

"It's f****** boring. I'm bored now. How bored on a scale of 1 to 10? 9.9." - Erling Haaland on tiresome transfer rumours. 90 WRITERS Adam White is a European football writer, covers French football for the Guardian, is Chief Features Writer at Get French Football News, Football Radar's Senior Ligue 1 Analyst and editor/designer of this publication. @_Adam_White_ Mohammed Ali is a freelance writer for several publications including Goal, GFFN and the Evening Standard among others. @mohammedali_93 Raphaël Jucobin is an aspiring journalist currently based in London, studying a degree in modern languages and writing about European football. @rafajuc Cameron O'Mara is a neutral Bundesliga fan, although admittedly charmed by the Black and Yellow Wall, hoping to bring the latest German football news to fans around Europe. @Cameron_OMara Kieran Quaile is Editor-in-Chief at Get Spanish Football News. A fan of Spanish football, he is based in Madrid and regularly attends La Liga matches. @kquaile90 Ryan Plant has followed La Liga since being inspired by Real Madrid's Galácticos. He has watched and reported on football around Europe for some of the UK's biggest outlets and clubs, and has a rapidly-growing football shirt collection which includes both Barcelona and Real Madrid Ronaldo strips. @ryanplant1998 Sam Brookes is a senior football analyst, whose focus is on Italy's top division, Serie A. He has covered the league since June 2017. @FRcalcioSam Tom Fenton is a freelance sports writer and regular contributor at Get German Football News. He also writes for the likes of ESPN FC, AVTP and The Video Analyst. @Tomfenton11 Eric Devin has been writing about French football for the better part of a decade. His work can be found regularly on the Guardian, Get French Football News, and WhoScored.com. @ericdevin_ Richard Hall is Chief Correspondent for Football Italia and creator of The Gentleman Ultra. @RichHall80 Drew Thompson is a native New Yorker who has been football-crazed since childhood. He supports Arsenal, holds German football close to his heart, and continues to dispel the notion that Americans have no place in the football community. A seasoned coach at U14 to U18 level, you can find him chatting on Twitter or read his work on GGFN and You Are My Arsenal. @FMLehrer Kaustubh Pandey is a freelance football writer. Published at GGFN, GFFN and GIFN. He has also had bylines at the Times, Manchester Evening News, Man Utd, Calciomercato and more. @Kaus_Pandey17

Rich Allen is a writer and podcaster for Get French Football News. Having begun covering the French top flight in 2013, Rich has made appearances for many outlets including Sirius XMFC, BBC Nottingham and the Liverpool Echo amongst others. @rich_allen85 Tom Canton is a writer and broadcaster, host of the successful analytical Arsenal-specific YouTube channel The Gooner Talk and contributor to many fields surrounding European football. @TheGoonerTalkTv

Daniel Pinder is the editor-in-chief of Get German Football News. With a keen interest in fan culture, Daniel attends several Bundesliga and Champions' League games throughout the year and has had work published in Deutsche Welle and FourFourTwo among others. @DanielJPinder

Tom Wiseman's footballing interest began with a passion for African footballers. Following the legend of Cheikh Ndoye to Angers he quickly fell in love with the club and gained a greater appreciation for the French game. Don't be surprised to find him attempting to push Angers into the spotlight as one of the very few English supporters. @WYSAF1

Axel Falk is a Swedish sports writer with a love for German football as well as a passion for the philosophical side of the game. @Falkfurt

Pierre-Paul Bermingham is a student of Political Science at Columbia University and an orphaned fan of Évian-Thonon-Gaillard. He joined GFFN in 2018 and hosts the GFFN Show. @PPBermingham Tom Scholes is a social media producer for the UK radio station & is also a published author with his book 'Stateside Soccer'. @_TomScholes A Get Football Group Publication - © 2020