It isn’t regular for a 24-year-old to be approaching a decade spent within the international public eye. Then once more, Martin Odegaard just isn’t a standard footballer. True, loads of gamers have been hyped and heralded as youngsters, however few have skilled it to the identical extent because the Norwegian. Fewer nonetheless have performed so in the best way that Odegaard did, uncovered to the glare of social media highlight like no prodigy earlier than him. Earlier than Fb, Twitter and YouTube, a Stromsgodset academy participant being recognized throughout Europe would have been unthinkable. But when he made his Norway debut as a 15-year-old in 2014, everybody already knew his title.
With such an immense burden of strain at such a younger age, it could have been straightforward for Odegaard to buckle, to turn out to be one other of soccer’s misplaced abilities; he actually wouldn’t be the primary, and gained’t be the final. On this concern, we may simply as simply be asking: “No matter occurred to that Norwegian wunderkind?” as an alternative of praising him for captaining Arsenal to their finest season in years.
For the Gunners’ Premier League title cost, Odegaard has maybe been second in significance solely to the supervisor, Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard’s apprenticeship beneath Pep Guardiola at Manchester Metropolis is properly documented, however his footballing training and fervour for teaching goes a lot deeper. You may say it’s in his blood; Arteta hails from a tiny nook of northern Spain that may declare to have 9 of its natives at the moment teaching in Europe’s high 5 leagues. We requested Sid Lowe to learn how Gipuzkoa, within the Basque Nation, continues to provide such gifted coaches.
Talking of gifted coaches, we’ve additionally profiled Roberto De Zerbi, the Italian guiding Brighton to unprecedented heights. The Seagulls are certainly one of many sides hoping for giant issues because the season attracts to an finish and, as well as, we’ve tried to cowl probably the most compelling in our annual round-up of the main speaking factors from Europe’s high 5 leagues.
With tales from Ukraine, Brazil, Wales, Portugal, South Korea and India as properly, there’s lots extra to sink your tooth into this concern.
Jamie Evans, Assistant Editor
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CONTENTS
THE WORLD THIS MONTH
12 From the assistant editor
13 The month in numbers
14 Keir Radnedge Gianni Infantino’s re-election
16 Jonathan Wilson PSG’s European failure
18 On The Radar Gabri Veiga
19 ESM XI
EYEWITNESS
20 Brazil 2023 Brazilian league season preview
24 Portugal Benfica’s switch market mastery
28 Wales Wrexham’s
FEATURES
36 Expertise Scout South American U20 Championship stars
39 Season Replace Speaking factors from Europe’s high 5 leagues
50 6 Of The Greatest Lesser league shining lights
52 Particular Characteristic Basque bosses
56 Coach Profile Roberto De Zerbi
72 Flip Again The Clock 100 years of Wembley
FACE TO FACE
60 Osman Bukari The Purple Star Belgrade and Ghana star sits down with World Soccer
64 Armando Broja The highway to restoration for the Chelsea and Albania ahead
68 Mircea Lucescu Life in a conflict zone for the Dynamo Kyiv supervisor
WOMEN’S FOOTBALL
78 Girls’s World Cup preparations
WORLD SERVICE
84 South America Copa Libertadores preview
86 South America Copa Sudamericana preview
88 South Korea Okay-League’s fortieth anniversary
90 India Indian Tremendous League evaluate
92 Congo AS Otoho’s home domination
MY BIGGEST GAME
98 Jens Lehmann
