MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : FOOTBALL EUROPE – FEBRUARY 1998

Peter Schmeichel is the cover star of Football Europe in the early months of 1998, as the magazine looks at the season so far across Europe.

There are four pages dedicated to the draw for Euro 2000, with all nine groups being previewed.

Getting just the three pages is Lillian Thuram, who will be joined at Parma by Faustino Asprilla, who returned to the club from Newcastle United this month.

There are six pages dedicated to the season so far in Europe, in all the major leagues.

Meanwhile in France, Basile Boli has been forced to retire as a result of a head injury while Sean Dundee wants to leave Kalrsruhe after a poor run of form.

Mouscron are making a complaint to UEFA after they weren’t allowed to play a home UEFA Cup tie against Metz in Lille.

As preparation for the World Cup nears, it has emerged that Scottish FA officials have booked flights home two days after their last group match, while Andy Hunt of West Bromwich Albion could be heading to the World Cup with Austria, after his Austrian Granny contacted Austria’s manager.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : MANCHESTER UNITED – NOVEMBER 1998

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the cover star in the early months of a season that he would write himself into United folklore in the final minute of it.

In news, Old Trafford is being expanded, and there is the possibility of there being a Singing Section when the work is complete.

Martin Edwards gets interviewed to discuss the attempted takeover by Rupert Murdoch, addressing fears regarding team selection, kit colours, home venues and the appointment of Alex Ferguson’s successor.

The letters page is dominated by this issue, with letters coming in both for and against Murdoch.

Cover star Solskjaer is interviewed, stating that nothing put him off signing for Spurs that summer, he just wanted to play for United.

There is a five page feature looking at how United rank as a brand in comparison with other big European clubs.

Gary and Phil Neville are bringing a diary out of the 97/98 season in Europe, and there is a serialisation of it in this magazine.

12 years after his departure as manager, there is an interview with Ron Atkinson looking back at his time with United.

There is a round-up of recent results of United’s Under 19 team, with goals in this run coming from John O’Shea, Luke Chadwick and David Healy, who would all go on to play for United’s first-team.

There is a review of United’s games in September 1998, as well as a preview of games coming up in October and November that year.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : MANCHESTER UNITED – JUNE 1998

New United signing Jaap Stam is the cover star of the club’s official magazine, billed as “Europe’s finest defender”

In news, it was the circle of (football) life as Brian McClair is leaving the club, while Wes Brown made his debut.

Looking to the future, there is an advert for the new United kit, modelled by David Beckham.

Alex Ferguson gets five pages as he reviews the season just passed, saying that failure will make United stronger.

Jaap Stam is the subject of a five page interview, where he reveals he supported United growing up, and turned down the opportunity to sign for Liverpool and Newcastle.

David Beckham gets only four pages as he is interviewed to coincide with the release of his autobiography.

Brian McClair signs off with his final diary, while there is a review of radios for those who enjoy listening to the radio at matches.

Future United manager Louis Van Gaal gets a feature in the European round-up, described as the toast of Catalunya following Barcelona’s title win.

Towards the end of the magazine, United’s final games of the 1997/1998 season get reviewed, a season that United finished 2nd.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : FOOTBALL EUROPE – MARCH 1998

Alan Shearer is the cover star of Football Europe as Europe’s three main competitions are set to return from Winter hibernation.

Fabrizio Ravanelli gets a four page profile as he aims to get into Italy’s World Cup squad.

The Quarter-Finals of the three main European competitions get previewed, with England being represented by a team in each competition.

The preview for Aston Villa’s tie against Atletico Madrid billed it as Brian Little’s toughest test in Europe as Villa manager. By the time of the first leg, he had resigned as Villa manager and was replaced by John Gregory.

Hoping to win the UEFA Cup, Lazio get a three page profile as they hope their big spending will be rewarded with trophies.

Off the pitch, figures at UEFA are fearful that Joao Havelange is planning to hold onto power at FIFA, despite announcing his retirement.

In Scotland, Alex McLeish has been appointed manager of struggling Hibernian, while Barcelona manager Louis Van Gaal has hit back at critics who say he is trying to turn Barcelona into Ajax.

Another Dutch manager outside his homeland will be Dick Advocaat, who has announced he will be leaving PSV Eindhoen to join Rangers next season.

As the countdown to the World Cup continues, Ciro Ferrera (Italy) and Juninho (Brazil) are facing a race against the clock to be fit for France.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : MANCHESTER UNITED – OCTOBER 1998

“NEW YORKE” is the headline of this cover, but it’s nothing to do with America, it’s new Manchester United signing Dwight Yorke, who is also the cover star.

The early pages of the magazine is dominated by players staying at United – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer saying he wants to stay and fight for his place, and David Beckham signing a contract to stay with United until 2003.

Around this time, Paul Hayward was a columnist in the magazine, and he uses his column to comment on the number of clubs who are quick to sack their manager.

One United player with a keen interest in the European Cup group stage draw was Jordi Cruyff, who will be facing former club Barcelona.

United are a club who are constantly linked with players, with Andy Mitten writing a full page on the wonderful world of transfer rumours.

Dwight Yorke gets a five page feature, with an Aston Villa fanzine editor contributing his analysis of the player.

There is a look at United’s upcoming European Cup group games, with Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Brondby getting a full page preview each.

Eric Cantona gets three pages as he makes his final appearance at Old Trafford in a friendly to commemorate forty years since the Munich Air Disaster.

Jaap Stam debuts as a columnist for the magazine, expressing his surprise that Patrick Kluivert didn’t sign for United.

If you’re going to a game at Old Trafford, there is a review of pubs in the city for you.

There are reviews of United’s early season games, while the magazine ends with a quiz between Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt, with Giggs winning by 5 to 4.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : FOOTBALL ITALIA – OCTOBER 1998

Christian Vieri is the cover star of this edition of Football Italia having just signed for Lazio.

Vieri’s move from Atletico Madrid to Lazio gets covered in news, as does Patrick Kluivert’s move from AC Milan to Barcelona, who areunder pressure to replace Ronaldo, who left the previous year.

Three pages are dedicated to Italy’s opening Euro 2000 game, a 2-0 win over Wales at Anfield, Dino Zoff’s first as manager.

There is also international action being reviewed in terms of Italian sides in the three main European competitions, with Juventus getting off to a slow start in their European Cup group.

Also getting reviewed is the early rounds of the Coppa Italia.

Inter Milan get a five page profile, which includes interviews with Roberto Baggio and Ronaldo.

Also getting a five page profile is Fiorentina, under new manager Giovanni Trappatoni.

Oliver Bierhoff gets profiled, having moved from Udinese to AC Milan.

Staying in Milan, there is a profile of Guiseppe Bergomi of Inter, one of the veteran players in Serie A.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : MATCH – 21.11.1998

This week, Match has an exclusive interview with Pierre Van Hooijdonk, labelled “Britain’s most dangerous footballer” after going on strike at Nottingham Forest due to a dispute.

Leeds United players go to a computer class as part of a community project, while Alexi Lalas has released an album called Ginger.

Dwight Yorke drew a crowd in Dublin as he paid a visit to sign autographs for fans.

Elsewhere in news, Eric Hall has brought out his autobiography, while Frank Lampard described abuse from his own fans when he broke into the team at 17 as character building.

Van Hooijdonk’s interview sees him deny reports of a rift with Forest team-mates, and claim Forest priced him out of a move to a club outside England.

John Robinson of Charlton is this week’s subject of Job Swap, where he reveals if he could be a Football Legend, he would be Kenny Dalglish, and if he was a Pop Star, R Kelly.

Another Dutch player getting interviewed in this edition if Jaap Stam of Manchester United.

There is a double page interview with Hearts duo Paul Ritchie and Gary Naysmith, who say that Hearts are noe considered a big scalp for rival clubs, as much as Rangers and Celtic.

Match goes behind the scenes with Ian Wright as he prepares for his acting debut, staring in an advert for Chicken Tonight.

David Batty gets interviewed where he says he wants to revive Newcastle’s season. Within weeks, he had rejoined Leeds United.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : FOOTBALL EUROPE – JANUARY 1998

David Beckham is the cover star of Football Europe at the start of a World Cup year.

The editorial looks forward to the year ahead, predicting that an English club would win a European trophy, a prediction that would come true when Chelsea win the European Cup Winners Cup.

Diego Simeone, captain of Argentina, gets a three page interview as the gets ready for the Summer’s World Cup.

Talking of the World Cup, that gets a six page profile, with the draw for the finals having just been made.

Another draw, for the Euro 2000 Qualifiers, is on the horizon, and UEFA have announced that England would be a top seed.

Dynamo Kiev get a three page profile, described as a “dark horse” for the European Cup having beaten Barcelona home and away in the group stages.

Looking back at that group stages, there is a three page review of the group stages.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : MANCHESTER UNITED – APRIL 1998

The 97/98 season is approaching the final straight, and Andy Cole is the cover star of Manchester United’s official magazine.

As you open the magazine, there is an advert for a video game called Three Lions, the official video game of the England football team.

In news, United look set to add to the Norwegian contingent at Old Trafford with the signing of 17 year old Erland Hanstveit.

Cover star Cole gets interviewed, revealing that his best goalscoring season at United is due to the team playing to his strengths.

It was recently the 40th anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster, and the commemorations were covered in a three page feature.

There is a profile of Raimond Van Der Gowu, dubbed the most patient man at Old Trafford due to his role as sub keeper.

In reviews, the guide to food at football grounds gets four stars out of five.

The magazine ends with a Q and A with Peter Schmeichel, who reveals that he wouldn’t go on TFI Friday.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : FOOTBALL EUROPE – NOVEMBER 1998

David Beckham is the cover star of Football Europe as 1998 nears it’s end, but the 1998/1999 season is already in full swing.

As you open the magazine, there is a double page review of how Euro 2000 Qualifying has gone so far. Most teams have played three games, and the picture as to who will go to Holland and Belgium is anything but clear.

Headliners getting profiled include Artur Jorge, who is returning to manage PSG, and Mark Bosnich, likely to leave Aston Villa, but to Roma, who were put off by some of his behaviour on the pitch. He ended up signing for Manchester Untied in the summer of 1999.

Jose Antonio Camacho is the new manager of Spain, and Football Europe looks at the first battle he must win, against the Spanish media.

Someone else who has the media on his back is Alessandro Del Piero, after a poor run of form, and he gets a double page profile.

There is six pages of coverage profiling the group stages of the European Cup so far.

That final would be played in Barcelona, having just been announced by UEFA.

UEFA were also in the news as they tried to avoid a European Super League by getting rid of the European Cup Winners Cup and expanding the group stages of the European Cup to 32 teams.

There is a look at the season so far in Germany, and the question is asked if anyone can stop Bayern Munich.