MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : 90 MINUTES – 23.3.1996

It’s the 300th edition of 90 Minutes, and it’s the League Cup Final between Leeds United and Aston Villa, but 90 Minutes cover image is of who 90 Minutes has compiled as the ultimate footballer.

In news, Mick Harford is in trouble with the FA for making rude hand gestures to Chelsea fans.

Macclesfield Town and Kidderminster Harriers have had their grounds approved to play in the Football League, should they win the Conference.

There is a three page feature, compiling the best attributes of Premier League players to create the best and worst footballer possible.

England are warming up for Euro 96 with a friendly against Bulgaria, and this game is previewed, including an interview with Bulgaria’s formerly bald but now hairy goalkeeper Bobby Mihailov.

There is a full page profile on Jan Molby, newly appointed as manager of Swansea City, playing in front of 2,000 people in the lower leagues, and the culture shock having spent most of his career at Anfield.

There is a double page feature on the League Cup Final between Leeds United and Aston Villa, focusing on the key battles that will decided the game.

90 Minutes Live is at West Ham v Middlesbrough, asking fans which footballer they would like to live next door to.

There is an advert for another football magazine, a monthly title called Goal, whose April edition has Stuart Pearce as it’s cover star.

The magazine ends with an ad for the forthcoming edition of World Soccer, which has a Euro 96 preview.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : WORLD SOCCER – NOVEMBER 2003

This week, we go back to November 2003, a month when Juan Sebastian Veron of Chelsea was the cover star of World Soccer.

Brian Glanville’s column focuses on the “loutish” Behaviour of Arsenal players in their recent match against Manchester United, described as a “contrast” to the behaviour of their manager.

Wenger is also the subject of another columnist, who compares him to Eric Cantona, due to his “underachievement” in European competition.

In Spain, Barcelona and Real Madrid’s duopoly at the top of the table is being threatened by Valencia and Deportivo La Coruna.

In Italy, the death of a Napoli fan outside an away ground has created fears that hooliganism is returning to Italian football.

Hooliganism is a theme of this issue, with violence taking place at matches in Argentina.

Staying in Argentina, Juan Sebastian Veron gets a two page profile, after winning over Argentina fans after being a symbol for the national team’s failure at the previous year’s World Cup.

Arsene Wenger gets interviewed, he’s quite prominent in this issue, and talks about Arsenal’s proposed new stadium at Ashburton Grove.

Euro 2004 countdown has a profile of Bulgaria, their first tournament since the 1998 World Cup, and Czech Republic.

There is a look at the bids to host the 2010 World Cup, which will be held in Africa, with Libya, Egypt, Morocco, South Africa and Tunisia hoping to host it.

Holland have been forced to make do with a play-off place in Euro 2004 Qualifying, and with turmoil in the camp, there is serious concern they could miss out on a second successive tournament after missing out on the 2002 World Cup.

In Scotland, the big transfer news is that Fabrizio Ravanelli has signed for Dundee.

Eric Abidal gets profiled after being set to become to first Lille player to play for France since 1979.

There is a review of the Euro 2004 qualifiers, with eleven out of the sixteen teams confirmed, and previewing the play-offs which will determine the other five qualifiers.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : WORLD SOCCER – AUGUST 1986

It’s the summer of 1986, and Diego Maradona, holding aloft the World Cup is the cover star of World Soccer, with Mexico 86 still a recent memory.

As you open the magazine, there is a tribute to former FIFA President Sir Stanley Rous, described as “The Father Of Football”, who was taken ill in Mexico, and died a few weeks later on his return to London.

World Soccer views Mexico 86 as a success, but the tournament was not without flaws. Having 24 teams in the finals and allowing some 3rd placed teams to qualify, in their view, encouraged Bulgaria to employ negative tactics against Argentina, as a narrow defeat would put them through.

Azeglio Vicini is the favourite for the Italy job, should Enzo Bearzot leave his job as manager of the recently dethroned champions.

There is a double page profile of Argentina’s winning squad.

France get a post-mortem, having reached the Semi-Finals for the second successive tournament, where it is declared that their glorious midfield is a thing of the past.

Denmark get previewed, but are looking forward, not back, to an upcoming friendly against West Germany as they aim for revenge against a team they beat in Mexico. Why revenge? West Germany manager Franz Beckenbauer described their style of play as primitive.

England’s post-mortem focuses om the future of Bobby Robson, with writer Eric Batty saying he must stay in the job.

Bayern Munich get a double page feature as they aim to win the European Cup. They came close, losing to Porto in he final that season.

There is a feature on two young Scottish managers in big jobs, Kenny Dalglish who won the League and FA Cup in his first season as Liverpool manager, and Graeme Souness, given his first job at Rangers, and caused a stir by calling them the biggest club in Britain.

In Yugoslavia, Partizan Belgrade have been stripped of the league title as a result of alleged match fixing.

The draws for the 1st Round of the three European trophies are reviewed, with the tie of the round being the meeting of PSV Eindhoven and Bayern Munich in the European Cup.

There is a feature about club football in Canada, or rather, the lack of, something which World Soccer says is vital is they want to capitalise on reaching their first World Cup.

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : SHOOT – 21.6.1986

Action from the opening game of Mexico 86 between Bulgaria and Italy is on the cover of Shoot, as they bring you the latest news from the ongoing World Cup.

England are hoping to win it for the first time since 1966, and their winning captain that day, Bobby Moore, is now a columnist for Shoot, and he lists the players that have impressed him in the opening games, such as Socrates, Maradona, Platini, Papin, Boniek, as well as Randy Regan and Bruce Wilson of Canada.

Bryan Robson is hoping to emulate his fellow Shoot columnist by lifting the trophy, but it hasn’t got off to the best of starts, as he writes of his frustration of England failing to win their first two games, but predicts England will reach the knock out stages. Beside his column is an advert for New Balance, which he endorses.

There is a double page interview with Jim Leighton, where he reveals that he didn’t want to be a goalkeeper.

News from Mexico includes that Fenerbache made approached Franz Beckenbauer to quit West Germany and become manager of Fenerbache, while in Italy, there is a potential match fixing scandal about to blow open.

Italy’s group opponents Bulgaria haven’t made many friends, by holding training behind closed doors and having armed guards outside their training facilities.

Shoot’s man in Mexico, Bill Day brands England’s performances “A disgrace”, while being complimentary about Northern Ireland, despite losing 2-1 to Spain.

Ray Daly from County Offaly writes to Jimmy Greaves to suggest that when Ron Atkinson’s inevitable departure as Manchester United manager is confirmed, the job should go to United legend Lou Macari.

There is a round-up of results from the 1985-1986 Scottish League seasons, with Steve Cowan of Hibs being top scorer, 2 ahead of Brian McClair. Both men would go on to win league titles outside their native country, Cowan with Portadown and McClair with Manchester United.

Outside of the World Cup, Republic Of Ireland are making progress under Jack Charlton, already lifting a trophy by winning a triangular tournament in Iceland against the hosts and Czechoslovakia.

Steve Hodge gets a full page profile having broken into the England squad in time to head to Mexico. A potential Aston Villa team-mate of Hodge’s is John Hewitt, in a contract dispute with Aberdeen, which gets a full page feature. Discussions are on hold at the moment, due to Aberdeen manager Alex Ferguson being in Mexico in his role as Scotland manager.

Nigel Winterburn of Wimbledon, looking forward to playing in the top flight for the first time, gets a full page interview, where he credits his former manager at Birmingham, Jim Smith, with saving his career.

There is also a full page profile of League of Ireland champions Shamrock Rovers.

In club news, Alex Ferguson spoke of his dislike for agents after Eric Black moved to Metz, while Liam Brady was leaving unsubtle hints for Arsenal to buy him back.