In 2015, Leicester City completed one of the most remarkable upsets in sports history by winning the Premier League, despite preseason odds of 5000-1 against them.As another week of football drama unfolds, fans around the world are gearing up for more thrilling matches, surprising upsets, and unforgettable moments. But while you’re preparing for the action on the pitch, there are some lesser-known football facts that might just surprise you.
From historical tidbits to quirky records, there’s more to the beautiful game than meets the eye. So, before the next kickoff, let’s dive into some fascinating football facts that even the most dedicated fans might not know.
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Here are the top facts as we head into another week of awesome football.
The Magpies trophy drought
Newcastle United’s last major trophy win was the 1954-55 FA Cup. The Magpies have been runners-up in five FA Cup and Carabao Cup competitions since then.
Simeone’s stint in LALIGA
Atletico Madrid’s Diego Simeone is the longest serving manager in LALIGA, having been in charge of ‘Los Rojiblancos’ since December 2011.
The Old Lady’s dominance in the Turin Derby
Torino have not claimed a win in the Turin derby against arch rivals Juventus since April 2015.
Thomas Frank’s professional journey
Brentford manager Thomas Frank worked with the U-16, U-17 and U-19 Danish national teams and Danish giants Brondby IF before taking up his current position with ‘The Bees’ in 2018.
La Viola’s dominance in Europe
In 2023 Fiorentina became the first team to reach all four major European club competition finals (European Cup/Champions League, the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup, UEFA Cup/Europa League and UEFA Conference League).
Inaugural live football coverage
The first live coverage of a football match was shown on television in 1937. It was a practice game Arsenal played at Highbury stadium.
The Foxes’ greatest ever underdog success story
In 2015, Leicester City completed one of the most remarkable upsets in sports history by winning the Premier League, despite preseason odds of 5000-1 against them.
From Brazil roots to soccer transfer history
The most expensive football transfer in history took place in 2017 when Neymar, a Brazilian footballer, moved from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) for a staggering fee of €222 million. This huge amount made Neymar the most expensive footballer ever.
From conquering the pitch to social media
In 2020, Cristiano Ronaldo became the first footballer to reach 100 million followers on Instagram, cementing his position as one of the most popular athletes in the world.
Battle of the super rich clubs
The 2021 UEFA Champions League final between Manchester City and Chelsea was the most expensive football match ever played, with a total value of €5.5 billion.
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