Sunday, February 17, 2008

Di Stefano

On this day, Sunday February 17, 2008, Alfredo Di Stefano was honoured at Real Madrid's Bernabeau with UEFA's President's Award. At the age of 81. While he was still alive.

Here is a description of one of the most beautiful players of all time:

"Those who were privileged enough to see him play say that Di Stefano could be seen covering in defence, charging forward through the midfield, laying on goals for the forwards and smashing shots into the net all in the same game."

Said Di Stefano of the honour:

"I am deeply moved and I laugh to avoid crying with joy...The UEFA award is very special for me because I have received it from [UEFA president] Michel Platini, who has been able to be equally successful behind a desk as he was on the pitch."

Source 1 > 17.02.2008
Source 2 >
Cross-Reference > The Joy of Football

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

That beautiful, doomed...player

James, James, James. Lawton that is. Who better, more beautiful than to capture the Munich Air Disaster just right. By focusing so touchingly, truly, on the late, great, greatest (?) Duncan Edwards. Thank Goodness for words, writing, newspapers, newspaper writers, football writers who really could be writing about "more important stuff".



Thank you Jam-o for this; this bit at the end:


"But then, when tribute is paid to Manchester United tonight, when the intervening years shrivel and so many are young again in the memory of that beautiful, doomed team, inevitably there will be one regret above all others. It was that we never got to see if it was really true that Duncan Edwards was the greatest player who, despite his epic fight, never got to live. Not in the fullness of his talent. Not in the haunting reach of all his possibilities."

And the rest:

Source > 06.02.2008

Cross-Reference > Beautiful Team

Thursday, November 8, 2007

Searching for the most beautiful football player in the world

Messi? Ronaldinho? Or the young Arsenal midfielder Fabregas?

Who gets the most mentions in the search results?

Who racks up the most superlatives, the most positive adjectives?

This search began with The Beautiful Game Search Engine but we aim to expand the project...