Manchester City’s deserved coronation as the new kings of European club football thrilled not only their fans but all the neutrals who had waited impatiently for a fresh name to be engraved among the old Champions League aristocracy.
Victory then for a new name but victory also for the “new football,” a moment in the history of the game which sees nation states deploy unmatched financial muscle to conquering effect with more than mere football glory in mind.
With a poignant coincidence, City celebrated the greatest success in their history on the weekend that immediately preceded the death of Silvio Berlusconi. His Milan piloted the concept of a club as one image-building piece of a corporate jigsaw back in the1980s.
Some analysts, who delighted in the sight of City’s stars racing in deliriously manic relief to all corners of the Ataturk Olympic Stadium, suggested that the football can be divorced from the governance issues and those angrilydenounced115 Premier League charges (that City vehemently deny). Not true. Money is a golden thread. Like pretending no link between politics and sport.
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Going for Gold in Paris- There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer
There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer
Face to face - Tom Sainfiet- The final goal is to reach the World Cup and write history - The Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer
The well-travelled Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer after taking charge of the Philippines-his 11th international coaching role
Inter cruise to title number 20
Simone Inzaghi's Internazionale shrug off all challengers before sealing the Serie A title in style against their biggest rivals
HAT-TRICK HERO
Ademola Lookman wrote his name into European football's history books with a hat-trick in the Europa League final
GOING UP
The story of Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres' career has been one of upward trajectory - and there's plenty more to come from the Sporting superstar
Palau soldier on alone
The isolated Pacific nation faces a long and lonely battle to improve football on the island
Brazilian clubs eye Copa number six
As the Copa Libertadores group stage concludes, a sixth consecutive Brazilian winner is looking likely
AI Hilal sweep to another Saudi crown
The first edition of the Saudi Pro League's glamorous new era ends with a familiar title winner
Disasters brewing
There is still a long way to go in World Cup qualifying, but dysfunction reigns at Cameroon, Congo and Nigeria after four matchdays in the group stage
Second round of World Cup qualifying underway
Favourites perform largely as expected, yet Cayman Islands dominate the headlines
