# 7

George Best – Manchester United
David Beckham – Manchester United, England
Ronaldinho – Brazil
Luis Figo – Inter Milan, Portugal
Christiano Ronaldo – Manchester United, Portugal
Eric Cantona – Manchester United
Raul – Real Madrid, Spain
Franck Ribery – Bayern Munich
Andriy Shechenko – AC Milan, Chelsea

# 9

Ronaldo – Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid Corinthians, Brazil
Zlatan Ibrahimovic – Inter Milan, Barcelona
Cristiano Ronaldo – Real Madrid
Fernando Torres – Atletico Madrid, Liverpool
Samuel Eto’o – Barcelona, Inter Milan
Filippo Inzaghi – Juventus, AC Milan

# 10

Pele – Brazil
Maradona – Agentina
Michel Platini – France
Zico – Brazil
Roberto Baggio – Italy
Zinedine Zidane – France
Ronaldinho – Brazil
Wayne Rooney – Manchester United
LionelMessi – Argentina
Luis Figo – Real Madrid
Kaka – Brazil
Francesco Totti – Roma
Juan Roman Riquelme – Argentina

Valuation: $1.835 billion

1 Year Change: -2%

Revenue: $459 million

Operating Income: $150 million

2.Real Madrid

Valuation: $1.323 billion

1 Year Change: -2%

Revenue: $563 million

Operating Income: $130 million

3.Arsenal

Valuation: $1.181 billion

1 Year Change: -2%

Revenue: $369 million

Operating Income: $102 million

4.Barcelona

Valuation: $1 billion

1 Year Change: 4%

Revenue: $513 million

Operating Income: $113 million

5.Bayern Munich

Valuation: $990 million

1 Year Change: -11%

Revenue: $406 million

Operating Income: $61 million

]]> http://www.soccermanual.com/2010/04/22/worlds-wealthiest-soccer-clubs/feed/ 0 http://www.soccermanual.com/2009/12/14/most-expensive-soccer-transfers/ http://www.soccermanual.com/2009/12/14/most-expensive-soccer-transfers/#comments Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:20:04 +0000 Soccer Manual Team http://www.soccermanual.com/?p=16 1. Cristiano Ronaldo: Manchester United to Real Madrid 80 million  (2009) 2. Zlatan Ibrahimović: Internazionale to Barcelona 60.7 mil (2009) 3. Kaká: Milan to Real Madrid 56.1 mil (2009) 4. Carlos Tévez: MSI Inc.* to Manchester City 47 mil (2009) 5. Zinédine Zidane: Juventus to Real Madrid 45 mil (2001) 6. Luís Figo: Barcelona to Real Madrid 37 mil (2000) 7. Hernán Crespo: Parma to Lazio 35.5 mil (2000) 8. Gianluigi Buffon: Parma to Juventus 32.6 mil (2001) 9. Robinho: Real Madrid to Manchester City 32.5 mil (2008) 10. Christian Vieri: Lazio to Internazionale 32 mil (1999)   * On loan at Manchester United ]]> http://www.soccermanual.com/2009/12/14/most-expensive-soccer-transfers/feed/ 1 http://www.soccermanual.com/2008/03/31/world-cup/ http://www.soccermanual.com/2008/03/31/world-cup/#comments Tue, 01 Apr 2008 01:18:33 +0000 Soccer Manual Team http://www.soccermanual.com/?p=15

Clear the Ball: Instructing a player to kick the ball out and as far as possible. To kick the ball out of danger at all cost.

Diagonal run: A term used when the player is not on ball. A run that is made at an angle instead of straight up the field. It should be made behind a defender. This will help in beating an offside call.

Don’t let him turn: To put pressure on the player with the ball, when his back is to you.  With pressure on his back it will be harder for him to turn and create an attack, this will force him to play back.

Down Line: To play a ball down the line, either a throw in or a pass. This will create width and it’s a great set up for a cross. This is a very effective tactic.

Give and Go: A play requiring 2 teammates to work together, 1 to make the pass and break immediately into space, and the other to pass the ball into space for the player making the run. Also known as Give and Go, A one-two pass, or wall pass.

Man on: Yell this to warn a teammate that he has an opponent closing in.

Push Up: A defensive tactic to get the defense out of their own half. Use this to keep their forwards out of your half, and close the gap between your defenders and midfielders.

Turn and go: Yell this to a teammate that is receiving a ball. This is to tell him he has space to turn and go up the field.

Time or You’ve got time: Yell this to a teammate that is not receiving pressure. This is to inform him he doesn’t need to rush anything.

4-4-2
This is the most common formation. Its one of the safest defensively. This can be used with first time players. This is the foundation for many formations.
How to Play: The safest way to play this formation is with a “Sweeper” in defense. This player is the last defender and should not have to mark anyone, his job is to clear everything out of the back. The other 3 defenders should worry more about marking. The Midfielders should be spread out across the field, the 2 center midfielders should play side to side, if your playing with a sweeper. The 2 forwards should be about 10-15 yards from each other and shift together, to play off of each other. See Illustration.
Pros: Its simple to teach and learn, it gives you  a lot of safety in the back.
Cons: Its very predictable, it doesn’t give you any element of surprise

3-4-3
A more attack minded formation, you give up a little in defense but you gain a third forward. Most teams play with 2 forwards, some may argue that 4 defenders to cover 2 forwards is not logical.
How to Play: To play this formation you should have a really strong and fast defense, your center midfielders should be staggered ,one should play as a defensive center-mid and the other as an attacking center-mid. Your forwards should constantly be making runs, staying with in 10-15 yards of each other.  Forwards should also be staggered. The center forward should play above the 2 wide forwards. He should also constantly be making diagonal runs.  Remember to always make triangles.
You Must: Communication between goalie and sweeper is key. The sweeper needs to be extremely fast.
 Pros: You almost always have numbers when attacking.
Cons: When a team counter attacks, you could be very vulnerable.

4-2-2-2
A defensive formation, But it works very well for distributing.
How to Play: With 4 flat defenders to watch the back, the advantage to this formation are the 2 defensive midfielders who will always check and give you more options. This is to eliminate the long ball syndrome. When one of the two center defenders has possession of the ball the outside defender opens up wide, and one of the defensive midfielders checks. This provides 2 very easy and clear options for the man on the ball. The job of the defensive midfielders is to distribute to one of the outside midfielders. The defensive midfielder should not have to take more then 2 touches, and he should always look to distribute to the wings.
You Must: You must have smart defensive midfielders, not necessarily fast or big. Players that are comfortable with the ball at their feet and can distribute well.
Pros: You always have plenty of options to keep possession of the ball. You will be very strong on defense.
Cons: You wont have as many players up top.

5-4-1
Don’t let this formation fool you, a team that can execute this formation is just as if not more dangerous then a team running 3 forwards.
How to Play: The 2 outside defenders make runs all the way up. For this to work, defenders must be in sync. If the left defender makes a run up line, the others defenders shift to the left and become a flat four in the back. The midfielders will make room for the runner (the left defender) by shifting to the right, while the right midfielder becomes the right forward. This causes confusion amongst defenders because they don’t know who they should mark. This will eventually look like a 4-3-3
You Must: You must not use this formation with a defensive mentality, if you do you will be caught in your half the entire game. 
Pros: Opposing teams wont know what hit them. It creates a lot of opportunities by confusing defenders.
Cons: This is a very difficult formation to teach and learn. Players must be in excellent shape.

3-5-2
The objective of this formation is to force the other team down the center of the field.
How to Play: Accomplish this with your forwards, your forwards should not allow the opposing team to create an attack using their wings,  instead make them play down the center of the field where you have more players. When attacking, the two forwards become left and right while the center attacking midfielder becomes the center forward (in theory, unmarked). The defense in this formation works like the 3-4-3 formation, and all the same rules apply. Your defenders must be very fast and skilled. In the midfield, there are 2 defensive midfielders to help in recovering balls, and distributing. When attacking one of the two center defensive midfielders should join the attack .
Pros: If executed properly, you have numbers on offense and you have numbers on defense.
Cons: If not executed properly, counter attacks are deadly, and creating an attack will be difficult.

*******IN ALL FORMATIONS COMMUNICATION IS CRUCIAL******

Lampard kisses his ring finger

Kaka points at the sky

What do all these celebrations mean……………

When a soccer player celebrates by sucking his thumb, it means he has a new born. As seen by Robinho

If a player rocks his arms back and forth, like rocking a baby. It means he has recently become a parent. This was originated by Bebeto in the 1994 World cup and has recently been used by Schevchenko of Chelsea.

The latest way to celebrate parenthood has come from Carlitos Tevez who sucks on a pacifier, which he keeps in his shorts

If a soccer player kisses his ring finger, the goal is meant to salute his wife. As seen by Lampard, Raul, Kuyt and Totti.

When a soccer player brings his finger to his lips after scoring a goal, its to silence his critics.

If after scoring a goal the player puts his hand to his ear, it is to taunt his critics who have suddenly gone silent after his goal

Messi has been known to kiss his Barcelona Badge after scoring a goal, this is to show his love for the club

Ronaldo of AC Milan jogs with a smile on his face and wags his index finger, as if to say “I told you so” 

Ronaldinho will run to a corner flag and perform a Samba routine, to pay tribute to his native Brasil.

The very religious Kaka jogs and points to the sky with both index fingers, to thank God.

The famous soccer celebration when a player runs, dives, and slides across the pitch with both arms extended was made famous be Jurgen Klinsmann. Reportedly to play on his reputation for diving to win free kicks and penalties.

The world’s top football league has suggested adding one more round of fixtures to their schedule, with 10 games to be played at five different venues outside England from 2011.

Asian cities touted as possible venues include Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, Melbourne, and Singapore.

While football’s elite league is already hugely popular in the region, with fans flocking to watch the likes of Manchester United and Liverpool when they visit on pre-season tours, Bin Hamman is unimpressed.

He fears that the popularity of English football is already acting as a barrier to the development of Asia’s own leagues and national sides and said he would recommend his executive committee throw out the plans.

“I always welcome the exchange of knowledge and expertise between foreign football associations and clubs,” he said in a statement emailed to AFP.

“And I support matches organised between AFC and other confederations which benefit the development of our clubs here in Asia.

“But at the present time, I can’t see the wisdom in the proposed plans.

“With relation to the overall principle, it is my belief that it is not a good idea to organise domestic leagues in other territories other than their own,” he added.

“If this principle is accepted, then the FA Premier League must accept reciprocal arrangements within their own territory.

“Saying that, my recommendation to the AFC executive committee would be to reject any initiatives of this nature.

“And we would urge the AFC member associations to protect their own national leagues and clubs within their territories. This is our position.”

English media and supporters groups have also flayed the proposals but influential figures within English football, including Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, have welcomed the initiative.

Bin Hammam’s opposite number at UEFA, Michel Platini, described the plans as “comical.”

Platini believes there is no chance of the sport’s world governing body FIFA backing the plans when their executive committee meet on March 14 in Zurich.

“It’s a strange and comical idea,” the former France and Juventus playmaker said over the weekend.

“I was laughing. I laughed because it will never be received by FIFA, by the fans and by the national associations. It’s a nonsense idea.

“Soon you will have in England no English presidents, you already have no English coach, you have no English players and maybe now you will have no clubs playing in England. It’s a joke.”

Nevertheless, English Premier league chief executive Richard Scudamore has vowed to push on with the proposals.

The matches would help consolidate the popularity of English football around the globe and boost club revenues by increasing the value of broadcasting/new media rights and attracting new sponsors from the markets concerned.

The sale of overseas broadcasting rights is already the fastest-growing source of revenue for the league, particularly from armchair fans in Asia and the Middle East.

Scudamore estimated that the clubs could generate more than five million pounds (10 million dollars) each for their one trip.