サッカーと英語 // Football & English

Is there anything more fun in football than witnessing a goalkeeper score? Every time the No 1 is seen sprinting upfield for a late corner or free-kick, fans and neutrals alike inch closer to the edge of their seats, silently praying the unthinkable happens. And last weekend, it did happen. With West Brom and Liverpool drawing 1-1, Trent Alexander-Arnold swung in a hopeful corner and goalkeeper Al...

Inter v AC Milan. Celtic v Rangers. Tottenham v Arsenal. Boca v River. City v United. There's nothing quite like a football derby. It is more than just a football match. It is a day when the city comes to a stop. When colleagues become enemies. When families split. The fans hate each other, and violence can sometimes happen. Derbies are about more than just winning the match; they're about braggin...

Jose Mourinho has been appointed Roma manager from the start of next season. The 58-year-old has signed a three-year deal with the three-time Serie A champions. "The incredible passion of the Roma fans convinced me to accept the job and I cannot wait to start next season," said Mourinho. Mourinho was recently dismissed after 17 months in charge of Spurs following a poor second half of the season i...

Jリーグのユニークなファン文化について。先週に引き続き、ジャパンタイムズのジャーナリトとして活躍するダン・オーロウィッツさんをゲストに迎えて、ダンさんご自身の経験、Jリーグがアジアでの人気の理由についてを語ります。// Part 2 of our discussion with Japan Times writer Dan Orlowitz covers the unique fan culture of the J.League, why it's popular around Asia, and Dan's experiences as a writer and photogra...

The J.League is often rated as the best league in Asia and has produced Japanese superstars like Shinji Kagawa, Shinji Okazaki, Keisuke Honda, and many more. It is renowned for its high-quality play, technically gifted players, and, as with anything Japanese, the quirky side is also picked up on a lot. In recent years, J.League support has grown, especially outside of Japan. Areas of Asia and even...

The term ‘New Manager Bounce’ has become part of football vocabulary over the past few years. Given the new TV deal and the number of opportunities to make money by staying in the Premier League, there is ever-increasing pressure on managers to deliver results fast. A few wins on the trot could be the difference between survival and relegation. Clubs turn to new managers hoping for quick results a...

The lights at the Allianz Stadium cut out, and the music swelled. The center circle started to pulse and ripple. And then the grass itself appeared to get pulled away, as if it were nothing more than a tablecloth. Three words ran around the electronic advertising boards: “History. Passion. Lols.” The extravagant buildup did not seem to match the occasion. Juventus was at home to Genoa, a standard...

Nine different players got on the scoresheet as Japan thrashed Mongolia 14-0 in a World Cup 2022 qualifier. Mongolia, who are ranked No. 190 in the world, registered just two shots compared to Japan's 34. It is Japan's second-biggest win, only behind a 15-0 win over the Philippines in 1967. Having gone into the halftime break five goals to the good, the second period saw a further nine goals for t...

The dressing room is football's inner sanctum, a place which can be defined by great togetherness or deep division, where games can be won or lost before a ball is even kicked. What goes on between players and managers behind closed doors is often speculated on. There are endless rumours of fights, arguments and practical jokes, but the reality is rarely discussed. Matt Jarvis, previously of Wolve...

With great responsibility comes doubt. When the happiness of thousands of fans depends on what you and your teammates do on the pitch, it is no wonder that footballers quickly abandon trusty old devices such as logic and embrace a weird world of mumbo jumbo. Superstition plays a big part in the lives of many footballers. Some have lucky pairs of underwear that they swear by. Why would you change t...

Every year, anywhere between June and September, and again in January, the football world turns into a frenzy. Club chairman and directors engage in poker battles with each other, trying to get the next superstar on the cheap. Agents, forever working away in the background, become central figures, negotiating deals for their clients, and never forgetting to look after themselves in the process. An...

Chinatsu Kira is a professional footballer, currently playing for Melbourne City in the Australian W-League. Originally from Oita, Japan, Chinatsu spent around 10 years playing for Urawa Reds before moving to Australia in late 2020. Having made her national debut against New Zealand in 2014, she has represented her country 12 times, scoring 5 goals in that time. Most notably, she played at the U17...

Football is a universal language. Or is it? There is undoubtedly a common understanding between players as soon as they cross the white line onto the pitch; often you don’t need words to be able to play well as a team. But it does help. With the professional game never more eclectic than it is now, where, for example, over 60% of players playing in the Premier League are foreign, having players wh...

Every week, in just about every country in the world, millions of footballers take the pitch playing the game they love. 22 players put their heart and soul into the match, to try and walk away with victory. No matter the age, the level, the country or the match result, there’s always one thing you can guarantee: the referee will be a talking point. Referees are so crucial to football. Competitive...

Mizuki Ito, or Micky as his friends call him, was born in 1988 and grew up in Saitama Prefecture. He graduated with a masters in Physical Education, and focused on sports science and coaching. His first role as a professional football coach came whilst he was still studying in 2013, when he worked at Albirex Niigata Singapore. Following his graduation in 2016, he moved to Sydney, Australia and now...

Mizuki Ito, or Micky as his friends call him, was born in 1988 and grew up in Saitama Prefecture. He graduated with a masters in Physical Education, and focused on sports science and coaching. His first role as a professional football coach came whilst he was still studying in 2013, when he worked at Albirex Niigata Singapore. Following his graduation in 2016, he moved to Sydney, Australia and now...

Soccer –  or football, as most of the world calls it – is the most popular sport in the world. As in other major sports, advanced data analytics are being used more frequently in football, both in the front offices and by the media reporting on the sport. Football clubs and journalists alike are always searching for an upper hand, be it in squad-building and scouting or in commentary and analysis...

Shimizu S Pulse announced their new slogan for season 2021 and the reaction on social media has been fierce to say the least. The club explained the meaning behind the slogan on their website: “no matter how big the wall is, supporters and the club will work together to break it down.” The official definition of the word “PENETRATE” is “to go through something”, however, the word is often used as...

"Like a human sling," said David Moyes. "The best Scud missile I have ever seen," added Sam Allardyce, a heavy hint of jealousy in his voice. For Luiz Felipe Scolari, it was more difficult to describe. "I have never seen anything like this in my life," said the newly-arrived Chelsea boss. Scolari was not the only one left dumbfounded by Rory Delap's long throws when Stoke City shoulder-barged thei...

With Britain leaving the European Union, there are new laws as of January 1 - and that means new regulations in this month's transfer window, which could have previously restricted the signings of Paul Pogba, Cesc Fabregas and Hector Bellerin among others. Premier League clubs are to be limited to three U21 signings each transfer window with all foreign players subjected to a point-based threshold...

2020 was a strange year for us all. The coronavirus pandemic has caused havoc and death all over the world and unfortunately it doesn’t look like ending anytime soon. However, in the middle of it, Tommy and Tomo met on Twitter and this podcast was born. We’ve never met in person and are podcast amateurs, but somehow the podcast has gone very well and each week we find more and more listeners. Than...

ゲスト回の斎藤兼さん（後編）。ケンさんのこれまでのキャリアを聞きました。リヴァプール大学MBA、サッカービジネス、スポーツテクノロジー、英語との向き合い方などについて。ノースロンドンダービーにも少し触れています。// Ken Saito joins us once more to talk about his football-related career, how he learnt English and a little bit of reaction to Spurs winning the North London Derby

This weekend’s North London derby is intriguing as ever. Spurs, at home, going to the match in 1st place, unbeaten in the league since the opening day and with a forward line that most teams would dream of. On the contrary, Arsenal have been extremely poor lately. They've only won one match in their last 5 in the league, scoring just 2 goals in that period. Whilst their Europa League form has been...

JOIN OUR LEAGUE! Simply click here or enter code 5kfxvq to join. See you on the fantasy pitch! こちらのリンク もしくは、コード 5kfxvq で検索してみてください。ファンタジーピッチでお待ちしております。 -------------------------- On Friday evenings between August and May, in living rooms, bedrooms and offices around the world, millions will be in the final throes of frantically tinkering with a global...

先週に引き続き、アジアサッカー連盟(AFC)の技術部にてグラスルーツ発展業務を担当されている椙山正弘さんにお話を伺います。今週は、椙山さんがAFCに入った経緯、英語との向き合い方などについてお話します。// Part 2 of our interview with Masa Sugiyama, talking about his career in football, living all around the world and learning English.