The Culture of Football Classics

Happy birthday Jürgen Klinsmann. The German striker was a WC winner at Italia’90 & a Euros winner at Euro’96. He scored goals at all of his main clubs: Stuttgarter Kickers, Stuttgart, Inter, Monaco, Spurs & Bayern Munich.

Happy birthday to Miguel Ángel Nadal. aka “The Beast”. Big physical defender, hence the nickname, Nadal started & ended his career with Real Mallorca & had 8 years in between with Barcelona, part of the so-called “Dream Team” of the Cruyff era of the 1990s.

Happy birthday Hansi Müller Gifted midfielder with a sweet left foot, he was one of Europe’s hottest talents after helping West Germany win Europa80 playing alongside fellow youngster Bernd Schuster. Sadly his form dipped after moving from hometown club Stuttgart to Inter in 82

Happy birthday Dino Baggio. Ok, so he maybe wasn't as talented as his namesake, but as a defensive midfielder he was bloody good. 6 years as part of that great Parma side, as well as spells with Torino, Inter, Juve & Lazio.

Happy 124th birthday to Dutch club SBV Excelsior, formed #OnThisDay in 1902 in the Kralingen district of Rotterdam. Nicknamed “The Kralingers”, they were one of the first working-class football clubs of the Netherlands.

🎂 - Emilio “El Buitre” Butragueño One of football’s big names in the 80s, his goals were a key part of the rejuvenated Real Madrid side that won 5 titles in a row in the 2nd half of that decade. Everyone assumed he’d end his career at the Bernabéu but he moved to Celaya in 1995

Classic pre-season photos. 1984, Fiorentina training. Three absolute legends of the game enjoying a breather - Claudio Gentile. Daniel Passarella. Sócrates.

Happy birthday Ubaldo Fillol. Goalkeeping legend of Argentinian & South American football. 3 World Cups - 1974, 78 & 82, winning it on home soil in 78. And a club legend of River Plate - he played 10 years for Los Millonarios between 1973-83.

🎂 - Happy 124th birthday to Fluminense. Formed on the 21st July 1902 by Oscar Cox in the aristocratic neighbourhood of Laranjeiras in Rio de Janeiro. Where does the name Fluminense come from ? It’s the original term given to people from Rio de Janeiro.

Yeah it’s great isn’t it Mark!