The Football Faithful’s Advent Calendar: December 23rd

It is officially Christmas Eve Eve which of course means less than 48 hours to December 25th.

It also signifies the final two days of our football-themed advent calendar. Here is our penultimate offering of football facts centred around the number 23.

The Football Faithful’s Advent Calendar: December 23rd

Number: 23

When David Beckham moved to Real Madrid in 2003, it was a transfer that sent a statement around the continent.

Beckham and Madrid just made sense. The former was the most marketable individual in the sport and the Spanish giants were renowned for signing superstars.

The Manchester United academy graduate landed on Spanish shores and chose to wear the number 23. His options were quite limited. Beckham opted for 23 as he was a big admirer of basketball icon Michael Jordon – who famously donned the number.

Thousands of ecstatic Madristas bought Beckham’s shirt with the number 23 printed on the back. The now-retired footballer also decided to keep the number when he made the ground-breaking move to Major League Soccer outfit LA Galaxy.

“I loved the thought of wearing 23 in America, that connection with [Michael] Jordan. I thought it was the right thing to do,” Beckham expressed in an interview.

“Also, Chris Klein was wearing the number seven at Galaxy at the time. I always feel bad taking numbers off people and I’ve never really done it, I wasn’t going to start doing it on my first day!”

Let’s be honest, whatever number Beckham chose it was always going to become iconic.

Midfield Magicians: David Beckham, Golden Balls

Goal on this Day: Paul Scholes’ Greatest Ever Strike

Paul Scholes was an absolute magician.

The ginger midfield maestro netted 107 times in the Premier League, but we think this goal from 2006 is the best of the bunch. And the scorer himself agrees.

Let’s set the scene. It was just past the hour mark and Manchester United found themselves a goal up away to Aston Villa on a wintery December evening.

Ryan Giggs’ in-swinging corner was headed away by Gavin McCann only to be met with might from the right foot of Scholes.

The midfielder stared the ball down from out of the sky before purely striking it from 25 yards out. His volley crashed off the underside of the crossbar and into the net with Villa goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly unable to prevent the missile from finding its target.

Scholes’ thumping strike won the December Goal of the Month, which was probably the most competitive edition of the accolade in the history of the Premier League.

Manchester United’s number 18 beat Michael Essien’s piledriver against Arsenal, Drogba’s stunner away to Everton and several more outrageous efforts.

Remembering December 2006’s Goal of the Month competition

Footballer(s) Born on this Day: Buonanotte, Schlupp and Jovic

Safe to say there are not many footballers born on this day.

Brighton loanee Facundo Buonanotte has put his teenage years behind him today as he turns 20. He currently represents Leicester City and has netted four times in the Premier League this season.

Long-serving Crystal Palace utility man Jeffrey Schlupp is now 32-years-old. The Ghanaian’s greatest achievement in the sport was winning the Premier League with Leicester City back in 2016.

And one-time Serbian prodigy Luka Jovic is celebrating his 27th birthday.

The former Real Madrid striker was once considered one of the hottest prospects in European football with Los Blancos parting ways with €60 million for his services.

The striker recorded 27 goals for Frankfurt in the 2018/19 campaign, but his time in Spain was anything but prolific. The Serbian international is now on the peripheries at AC Milan.

Stat: Injured Goalkeeper’s Heroics in Injury Time

On this day in 2006, Sheffield Wednesday stopper Mark Crossley made the headlines as he equalised in the dying embers.

The Owls were battling it out with Southampton in the Championship, with the visitors leading 3-2 as the contest entered second-half stoppage time.

Wednesday goalkeeper Crossley was nursing a hamstring issue that was clearly causing the Englishman some discomfort.

Despite the pain, Crossley limped the length of the pitch to provide an extra body for a last-gasp corner.

Southampton clearly weren’t concerned at the goalkeeper’s presence as he was left unmarked. But they should have taken proper care as the unlikeliest of scorers headed in the leveller.

A Herculean effort from Mark Crossley.

Fun Fact: Crossley is also the only goalkeeper to save a penalty from Matt Le Tissier!

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