After a few breathless months – the World Cup, the end of the domestic season in South America and the culmination of league games in East Asia and Eastern Europe – we are trying to sum up this topic. Keir Radnedge takes a look at the post-Qatar world football landscape, Glenn Moore tackles the issue of player burnout in women’s football, and Jamie Evans analyzes the trends of the last January transfer window – along with highlighting the biggest and most intriguing deals.
But the relentless machine that is the football calendar is in full swing. Nick Bidwell poses the big questions ahead of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 – and focuses on the players to watch in the knockout rounds of the Europa League and Europa Conference League – as Jonathan Wilson analyzes Arsenal’s Premier League title challenge and John Duerden looks at the impact that the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo could have on the Middle East.
Finally, we reflect on the life of the late, great Gianluca Vialli, who made an indelible impact on the lives of many Italian and English football fans, with Paddy Agnew writing a tribute to the memory of the Italian icon. Vialli’s most recent and notable contribution to football was helping Italy to glory at Euro 2020 as part of Azzurri backroom staff in 2021 and countdown for the next Euro hosted by Germany in 2024, we will focus on our next issue. Still enjoy riding the football juggernaut.
Stephen Fishlock, group editor
CONTENTS
THE WORLD THIS MONTH
10 From the Editors
11 A month in numbers
January 12 transfer window
13 Jim Holden Eddie Howe
14 Keir Radnedge Football in Qatar
16 by Jonathan Wilson Arsenal title credentials
18 entrances and exits
20 obituaries
21 NMS XI
HEADLINES
22 Gareth Bale
23 Guillermo Ochoa
24 Luis Suarez
25 Albania
EYEWITNESS
26 Greece Athenian derby
30 Switzerland Many club owners
34 Georgia Dynamo Tbilisi Academy
38 Republic of Ireland League of Ireland 2023 preview
42 Italy Como, the richest club in Italy
EUROPEAN FOOTBALL
50 Champions League Announcement of the knockout stage and discussion points
58 Europa League The only thing to watch
60 Europe Conference League The only thing to watch
CHARACTERISTICS
46 Face to face Simon Mignolet
62 Top 6 January transfers
64 Special feature Tribute to Gianluca Vialli
WOMEN’S FOOTBALL
68 Player burnout
WORLD SERVICE
74 Saudi Arabia Ronaldo in Riyadh
76 Africa CHAN 2022 review
78 Iraq Gulf Cup 2023 Review
80 Southeast Asia AFF Championship 2022 Overview
82 CONCACAF Champions League Announcement
84 United States MLS 2023 Announcement
86 Japan J.League 2023 Announcement
88 Brunei Starting from scratch
