The Football Faithful’s Advent Calendar: December 14th

We’re now a fortnight through our advent calendar with the countdown to Christmas drawing ever closer.

Four more festive footy fragments below for you to feast your eyes upon!

The Football Faithful’s Advent Calendar: December 14th

Shirt Number: 14

You’ve heard of football clubs retiring numbers for legends but when a country does it, you know an individual has had a profound impact on an entire nation.

Dutchman Johan Cruyff and Liberian George Weah have both been honoured with this recognition for their countries.

Cruyff is largely renowned as one of the most technically gifted players to ever touch a football. He won the Ballon d’Or in 1971, 1973, and 1974 and is credited with being a primary influencer and innovator of the tactical side of the sport.

The Ajax legend is synonymous with the number 14 and his country immortalised his legacy in 2007 by making sure no one could ever wear the number again for Oranje. In their eyes, no player is worthy of that jersey.

George Weah is a man who likes to test the parameters of possibility.

The lethal striker is comfortably the greatest player to represent Liberia and for that, his trusty number 14 is reserved for only him.

Weah is a popular figure not only in Liberia but also on the entire continent of Africa. He is the only African in history to win the Ballon d’Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year Awards.

At the age of 51, he featured in a friendly for his country against Nigeria, which made him the oldest international from a FIFA recognised country on record.

George Weah’s bond with his country goes further than just the number.

In 2008, he became a household name in politics as he was chosen to be the 25th president of Liberia.

Match on this Day: Manchester City 6-3 Arsenal

Back on this day in 2013, Manchester City were on the positive end of a nine-goal thriller as they put six past Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.

Just shy of the quarter of an hour mark, Sergio Aguero volleyed home after a corner had reached him at the back post to give the hosts the lead.

15 minutes later, Yaya Toure was caught in possession which resulted in Theo Walcott’s deflected effort finding its way past Costel Pantilimon to level matters.

City responded quickly with Alvaro Negredo putting them back in control with a smart finish from Pablo Zabaleta’s cross.

Careless play from the visitors gave Manchester City the opportunity to double the deficit.

Mesut Ozil’s loose pass was beyond Mathieu Flamini which allowed Fernandinho to repossess the ball before curling in his first goal for the club.

Walcott pulled one back for Arsenal with a sumptuous effort into the top corner before David Silva cancelled out the goal with a controlled shot into the roof of the net.

With two minutes remaining of the contest, both defences would crumble to provide the crowd with some late action.

Firstly, Fernandinho recorded his second with a delicate chip before Niklas Bendtner had a header disallowed for offside.

Per Mertesacker then grabbed Arsenal’s third in the fourth minute of stoppage time but City would breach the Wojciech Szczesny’s net once again with Toure dispatching a penalty.

Nine goals and constant attempts to attack the opposition. A great advertisement for the Premier League. Manchester City were worthy winners of the English top-flight by the end of the campaign.

Footballer Born on this Day: Michael Owen

On this day in 1979, the last Englishman to win the Ballon d’Or was born in Chester.

Michael Owen burst onto the scene at Liverpool and in his first full season in senior football, he shared the Premier League Golden Boot award after netting on 18 occasions.

He was also making waves on the international scene and in 1998 he became England’s youngest player and scorer at the time. And of course, who could forget his mesmerising run and finish against Argentina in the World Cup?

In 2001, the striker was an integral part of Liverpool’s treble-winning campaign, as Gerard Houllier’s side won the FA Cup, UEFA Cup and League Cup.

Owen was recognised as the greatest player on the planet for that year, becoming the fourth Englishman to win the Ballon d’Or after Sir Stanley Matthews, Sir Bobby Charlton and Kevin Keegan. Esteemed company.

His reputation had gone global, which prompted Real Madrid to make Owen a Galaticio. However, he returned to British shores only a year later after an underwhelming spell.

He then spent time at Newcastle United and Manchester United, but injuries started to take their toll on the marksman.

Owen was forced into a premature retirement due to these injuries, aged 33, and Stoke City was his last club before he hung up his boots.

His life post-football has certainly been entertaining. He has delved into racehorse breeding, and inspired the nation with riveting punditry and his daughter, Gemma, appeared on Love Island.

Iconic Performances: The ‘Michael Owen FA Cup Final’

Stat: Teddy D-Rakes in the Goals at Villa Park

On yesterday’s edition of the advent calendar, we told the story of a parachute jump gone wrong at Villa Park.

Today, the scene is set once again at the home of Aston Villa, where a record that still stands today was recorded.

On this day in 1935, Arsenal emphatically beat Villa 7-1 away from home with striker Ted Drake netting all seven.

The Englishman’s scoring spree is the most goals scored in a match by a single player in top-flight history.

Drake is the fifth-highest goalscorer in Arsenal history as he scored 124 times for the Gunners.

Aston Villa 1-7 Ted Drake. Talk about a one-man band.

Read – The perfect gift for a football fan? Noughties Nines out now

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