Alex Hess
Has Soccer Developed an Unhealthy Obsession With Grief?
Football is being consumed by grief, with public acts of mourning fast becoming a weekly occurrence. But the increasing frequency reduces the impact of these displays and, over time, could serve to rob them of meaning altogether.
Bayern Munich's Next Great Talent: The Inexorable Rise Of Joshua Kimmich
If versatility used to be a mixed blessing for young footballers, it's the hallmark of the modern game. Joshua Kimmich has it in abundance, and is using it to take the Bundesliga by storm.
Domestic Drudgery Makes Leicester City's Heroics All the More Wondrous
While Leicester City are flying high in the Champions League, they sit only two points above the relegation zone at home. But perhaps this just serves to make their Premier League title triumph and European exploits seem all the more wondrous.
Risen From Réunion: Dimitri Payet's Winding Journey to the Top
Part of the magic of football is that the route to the top is a magnificently inexact science. Dimitri Payet is now firmly established as one of Europe's most gifted players, but his rise to international success was neither simple nor fast.
How Ronald Koeman Became the Netherlands' Top Managerial Export
As a player, Ronald Koeman's route to success was fairly straightforward. But, as a manager, he's followed a far more interesting path to the top – and is a better boss for it.
The Curtain Falls On Yaya Toure: Bidding Farewell To A Premier League Icon
Though Yaya Toure's Manchester City career appears to be nearing a rather bloated, undignified end, we'll never forget the swagger and spectacle of his glory years in the Premier League.
The Rise and Fall of Mido, the Man Who Out-Gunned Zlatan
Fifteen years ago, Ajax were blessed with two brilliant young talents. In a 20-year-old Zlatan Ibrahimovic, they had a tantalising prospect; in Ahmed Hossam Hussein Abdelhami – Mido for short – they had an even better one.
Could Leicester's Shock Title Win Become a Regular Thing?
Has Leicester's title win fundamentally changed the way we think about the Premier League? After all, if Wes Morgan can captain his club to glory, what's to stop Grant Leadbitter or Scott Dann doing the same?
"These Things Happen" – How Hodgson's England Were Doomed From Day One
Roy Hodgson's record at major tournaments demonstrates that a man who convinces himself defeat is unavoidable will encounter it quickly, brutally and very, very often.
Andriy the Icon: Ukraine's Greatest Football Hero is Back on the Big Stage
The low-key job of assistant coach is in some ways apt for Andriy Shevchenko, who was perhaps the most inconspicuous superstar footballer. He might not be playing a supporting role for long, however.
"Swiss On Paper Only"? Identity, Immigration and the Swiss National Team
When Switzerland line up at Euro 2016, their national team will have a distinctly multiracial identity. Does that suggest that Swiss society is well integrated, or is it merely superficial?
England Since Euro '96: A Nation's Fortunes Played Out On The Pitch
Euro '96 was a high point for English football, and reflected the national mood as a whole. It's all gone rapidly downhill from there, but can England turn things around at Euro 2016?