Latest Articles
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Trek to Tannadice
Football is nothing without fans. This is one of the most tiresome phrases that we have heard since lockdown hit the UK in March. It is up there with “the new normal” and “these are unprecedented times”, as a truly used-to-death phrase. It is tiresome because it feels like everyone, absolutely everyone, has uttered this…
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Canadian Premier League profiles: Atlético Ottawa
Ottawa – the federal capital and political hub of Canada. Sure, other parts of the country get more attention and for their own good reasons. The breathtaking scenery in the west with the Rocky Mountains; the impressive falls of Lake Niagara; the cultural epicentre that is Toronto and others besides. However, if you want quintessential…
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Barack Obama and the 2008 Euros
The 21st of June 1964, a balmy evening in the Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid. Marcelino pops up with a goal in the 84th minute to break Soviet Union hearts, and to ultimately give Spain their first major trophy; the European Nations’ Cup. It was reckoned at the time that this would be the first of many…
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FM20 Challenges: (5) Supporter Ownership, Phoenix Clubs and Academies
If the global covid-19 pandemic has shown anything about the sport we love, it is how important the role of clubs are in the lives of fans, and vice versa. Empty stands are just not the same; clubs that rely on matchday income are gasping for breath; even the extraordinary sub-culture of esoteric random that…
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FM20 Challenges: (4) Financial & stadium issues
Project Restart is now in full swing as the Premier League is set to return on 17 June, while the Danish Superliga is the latest to resume action with AGF vs Randers FC tonight. One common theme of concern among clubs of almost all levels and leagues has been the financial impact the lockdown will…
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FM20 Challenges: (3) Fallen Giants
As leagues across Europe tentatively edge back towards action, fans are likely to be a notable absence from games for quite some time yet. Empty stands filled with little more than artificial crowd noise and advertising boards cast an eerie disconnected atmosphere. It may well take some time before football as we know it returns…
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FM20 Challenges: (2) Extraordinary geographical and script-busting tasks
Bit by bit football edges back to normality. The Bundesliga has exploded with goals, while the Italian and Spanish associations are looking to return to top-flight action within the next three weeks. On the other hand, leagues in Scotland, the Netherlands and Belgium have already been prematurely ended. To help you cope we have prepared…
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FM2020 Challenges: (1) Capital city, dominance-breaking and through-the-leagues
After more than two months without football due to global covid-19 pandemic, we at Heart of Football share the frustrations of millions longing for its return. To satisfy your footballing fix during the suspension, why not engage yourself in Football Manager 2020? We’ve decided to break down a series of challenges into bite-size chunks to…
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Matchdays: Pyongyang
By Rishi Chowdhury 4pm, 08 October 2015 – Kim Il Sung Stadium – Pyongyang, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea One hour in North Korea (DPRK) and I’m outside the Kim Il Sung Stadium, being handed a ticket to watch a 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifier between North Korea and Philippines. Earlier that day in Beijing…
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CM/FM Legends: Will the real Mark Kerr please stand up?
Determination – 20 Off the ball – 20 Teamwork – 20 Work rate – 19 Technique – 18 Stamina – 18 Preferred foot – either These are not merely stats, these are blueprints to a world-class midfielder; the type of player who, once signed, would be the first name on the team sheet. Think Kevin…
Heart of Football 