Ronaldo, IL FENOMENO

Ronaldo; Credit HERE

On this Valentines day, February 14th 2011, the original Ronaldo, il fenomeno, retired. It brings the career of a legend to an end, arguably the greatest striker/player of all-time.

He started his professional career in his home country of Brazil, where he played for Cruzeiro. He made 14 league appearances that season and scored 12 goals. However, when you add in cup competitions and the goals he scored in Campeonato Mineiro 1994, the total came to 44 goals in 44 appearances.

Before joining Cruzeiro, Ronaldo was turned down by the team he supported as a child, Flamengo. Fortunately Jairzinho saw his great potential and gave him his chance. Cruzeiro went on to win their first Copa  do Brasil championship.

He was picked for Brazil at the age of 17 in the 1994 World cup, but never played. It was at the World cup where another Brazilian legend, Romario, advised a young Ronaldo to join PSV Eindhoven to kick start his European career. So after just one season at Cruzeiro Ronaldo signed for PSV, where he would carry on his scoring success.

In his first season in Holland he managed a 35 goals in a total of 36 appearances, picking up the Eredivisie top goalscorer award. 18 years-old and running riot, the footballing world was beginning to see the class that everyone would soon see more of in the future.

Unfortunately, his second season in Holland was injury ridden, Ronaldo managed just 21 appearances, however he did score 19 goals. It would be his last season with PSV and he finished his career there by winning the Dutch cup.

The next step up was Barcelona, the Catalan giants, his first spell in Spain was probably his best in his career. The World was about to take note of IL FENOMENO. His first season at the Camp Nou he achieved a goal scoring record that blew everyone away, an incredible 47 goals in 49 appearances in all competitions. Until the 2008-2009 season, Ronaldo remained the last player to score more than 30 goals in a La liga season.

He became the youngest FIFA World player of the year in 1996, and he capped off the season by helping Barcelona to win the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de Espana. A truly marvelous season. His time at Barcelona was brief, and in the summer he moved to Inter Milan after failing to re-negotiate a contract with Barca.

His success continued, he won the World player of the year for a second time in a row. In Italy he started to develop his game even further, he racked up more assists and started taking and scoring free-kicks and penalties. He was becoming the most well rounded player in football.

In 1999 in a game against Lecce, Ronaldo fell to a serious ruptured tendon. An injury that would plague his career and in his first comeback vs Lazio in the first leg of the cup final, after just seven minutes he was injured  again. Two operations and many months of rehabilitation kept him out of the game and was just what he needed to comeback.

In 2002 Ronaldo returned in fantastic fashion and his player of the tournament performance at the World cup in Korea/Japan, helped Brazil to their fifth World crown. He finished top goalscorer of the tournament, including the two goals that won the final against Germany.

It lead to his third World player of the year title and a 39 million euros move to Real Madrid, where he would become a part of a Galaticos team which included Zidane, Figo and Raul. Further injury problems marred his time at Real Madrid, however he still helped los Blancos to two La liga championships, the intercontinental cup and Spanish super cup.

One of his greatest moments in the white of Real Madrid was his Hat-trick vs Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Champions league. Marked by a standing ovation from all corners of the ground as he was subbed off. A great performance by a great player.

Injuries disrupted the rest of his career, which lead to weight issues that forced him out of favour at Real Madrid. His career took him back to Italy where he played for AC Milan and then back home to Brazil. He finished off his career with Corinthians, and he will be sorely missed.

He finishes with a career total of 352 goals in 515 games and the World cup all-time top goalscorer with 15 goals.

Skill, pace, balance and an eye for goal like no other. He has the ability to take on players like Maradona and the incredible talent of scoring for fun like Pele. People still say Maradona or Pele is the greatest of all time, in my opinion Ronaldo, R9, Il Fenomo, is the greatest of all time!.

Watch this video, which proves my point

A wise look at Super bowl XLV

Vince Lombardi
Credit HERE

Sunday sees the Green Bay Packers face-off with the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dallas to determine the winner of Super bowl XLV. When trying to decide who I think will win I decided to think who the wise choice would be. They did not come much wiser than Vince Lombardi and that is where I seeked guidance.

The former coach was at Green Bay for almost a decade in his career as a coach and he won two Super bowls and five NFL championships, as well as being inducted into the hall of fame in 1971. And of course the Super bowl itself is named after Vince Lombardi.

With all that experience his wisdom has more authority than anyone, and because of that I will look at some of his genius to help me pick a winner.

"People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problems of modern society. "

It will come down to this most important fact. The only problem is how can you decide between the Steelers and the Packers based on team work? Furthermore both teams have, as Lombardi puts it, 'complex football defenses'. It is one of the main reasons why they are both where they are. In this case it will be down to the better defence on the night, who can step up when it really matters?

For me Green Packers wins this round. With Aaron Rodgers they have the better quarterback, and the team work the better for it. As for the defence both have one that can make the play when it matters most but the Packers, throughout the play-offs, drove them to Dallas with a number of match winning plays. None more important than BJ Raji's touchdown against the Chicago Bears.

"The achievements of an organization are the results of the combined effort of each individual. "


'Achievements', only one of these teams has had multiple achievements in recent years and that is of course the Pittsburgh Steelers. Two Super bowl titles in the last five years, looking to make it three in six. A dynasty with the experience that could take them to victory, they have been through all this before and know that the 'combined effort' is what wins titles.

"It's not whether you get knocked down, it's whether you get up. "

Both teams have come back from losses obviously, but I think what is more impressive is how the Green Bay Packers have come back. Losing to Detroit Lions in week 14 and the New England Patriots in week 15 was almost a crisis for the Packers, they needed to win both of their last two games. Against the Giants and their biggest rivals the Chicago Bears it was never going to be an easy task.                                                                                    

They overcame New York with a massive 45-17 victory and managed to beat the Bears 10-3. What was more impressive was their 48-21 victory against the Falcons, a team with a 13-3 record. They lost two games in a row and they have come back stronger, topped off with winning the NFC Championship @ Chicago.

Another obstacle they have overcome in a general term is the loss of Brett Favre. They have moved on, they were down without him but the Packers, with Rodgers as quarterback, are a well lead team. Not many thought they would be able to fill the gaping hole that was left by Favre.

"Confidence is contagious. So is lack of confidence."

Confidence is key in any sporting match, at this stage both teams will be full of confidence so it all depends on  which team asserts themselves earliest. The team who receive the ball first have the first chance but Aaron Rodgers is not one to play aggressively from the start, although the Championship game vs the Bears was an exception.

I believe Pittsburgh will be the more assertive early on, as they were against the Jets. The confidence will also come from the big match experience the Steelers have, which is why familiarity with how to play at the Super bowl is such a key factor in who will win.

It is because of this I think the Steelers will win. Wisdom is the theme of this blog post, and with their previous appearances in recent Super bowls I believe Pittsburgh are a team full of wisdom that will win them the game. Proven big game players in the biggest game of them all. That alone is enough to swing my view.