Page 11 - Soccer360 Issue 104

BEST COMEBACK - UNAI EMERY
Unai Emery returned to the Premier League in October 2022 to take over the hot seat at Aston Villa and had a massive point to prove in English football after his stint in charge of Arsenal came to an end in 2019. The man from the Basque country led the Villans from the fringes of the relegation zone and into Europe in his first season and they have continued that outstanding into this campaign.
Bayern Munich’s shock 2-1 defeat to third-division FC Saarbrücken in the second round of the German Cup at the beginning of November caught the footballing world’s attention. Coach Thomas Tuchel rested new signing Harry Kane, a decision that would do nothing for the English striker’s pursuit of a first piece of silverware. Germany’s early exit from the Women’s World Cup also stands out.
Spain’s women’s team (below) lifted the World Cup for the first time in the summer, despite an internal dispute between players, technical staff, and their governing body that saw several players refuse to play for their national team until the situation was resolved. Those absences did not disrupt La Roja on the field as they captivated all the way to the trophy.
This summer Saudi Arabia stunned the footballing world by splashing the cash to entice a host of world-class players into plying their trade in the Saudi Pro League. Other than that, the country has brought so-called sportswashing to the next level with one eye on the newly created FIFA World Club Cup and the awarding of the hosting rights of the 2034 World Cup.
Cristiano Ronaldo was the first major Saudi signing
SHOCK OF THE YEAR - SAARBRUCKEN 2-1
BAYERN MUNICH
PERFORMANCE OF THE YEAR -
SPAIN WOMEN’S TEAM
BIGGEST SHAKE-UP - SAUDI ARABIA
SPENDING SPREE
“THIS SUMMER SAUDI ARABIA STUNNED THE FOOTBALLING WORLD BY SPLASHING THE CASH TO ENTICE A HOST OF WORLD- CLASS PLAYERS INTO PLYING THEIR TRADE IN THE SAUDI PRO LEAGUE.”
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