The Latest Fashion from Milan

In a post I wrote last year on the top five jerseys in European football, I noted the contrast between tradition-rich home kits and the carnival of absurd designs that make up the away jerseys. The batch of offerings for 2010-11 are out and if you'd like to update your wardrobe with something flashy, there's no shortage of options.

You can dress like a carved Halloween pumpkin (Chelsea), have Italian lightning bolts running down your chest (Juventus) or pass yourself off as a bottle of mouthwash (Barcelona).

But the owners of gaudiest road kits for 2010-11 have to be Inter Milan. As if inspired by one of Marco Materazzi's tattoos, the reigning European champs have a dragon/serpent running down the side of their white shirts. Perhaps a good look for a night at a techno club, but not what I'd expect to see on the pitch. Then again, who am I to criticize Italian fashion?

Italy: 2009-10 Serie A Preview

In 2003 Italian club football reached its peak when AC Milan and Juventus met in the Champions League Final in Manchester. Six years later, that same Final was held in Rome, but Italian sides were nowhere to be found. All of them had left the competition following the Round of 16. The 2008-09 campaign was a step back for Serie A. A combination of bad economics and aging stars has lead many observers to predict more of the same this season.

Struggles in Europe don't rule out an entertaining league competition, though. Inter Milan are seeking their fourth-straight scudetto, but domestic honors won't be enough for Jose Mourinho in his second season in Italy. The Special One was brought in to succeed where his predecessors could not- in the Champions League. Another early European exit soured an otherwise successful campaign. After the Zlatan Ibrahimovic for Samuel Eto'o swap, the champs will adjust to a new style of play. (Odd photo choice for Jose in that Soccernet piece, no?)

If Inter is to be challenged, the threat will come from Juventus. A mix of veterans and newcomers have the Turin squad poised for success. Fabio Cannavaro is back in black and white and Juve have one of the world's best goaltenders in Gigi Buffon.

Inter's San Siro roommates, AC Milan, have captured only one league crown this decade, and would love to put a stop to their rival's run. But under new Brazilian manager Leonardo, the Rossoneri are a team in transition. Leaders both on the field (Kaka) and in the locker room (Paolo Maldini) are gone, and Milan are among the many teams exercising more fiscal responsibility this year, so it could be a rough go.

Fiorentina have made a habit of earning European berths, but have yet to put together a title run. AS Roma are traditional contenders, but a messy financial situation there undermines their hopes. Teams dead set on making a run in Europe often do so at the expense of the domestic campaign, and if Inter have all eyes on a May date in Madrid, that could open the door for Juventus to take back the scudetto.

The Top Five Jerseys in European Club Football

I received my latest Eurosport catalog earlier this week, one of the highlights of my mail for nearly two decades. How smart are the Eurosport folks? They locked down the URL soccer.com before anyone else. Flipping through the catalog and looking at the jerseys, I was inspired to post my take on the top five jerseys in European club football.

A note before I start the list: all the jerseys listed below are the team's home kits. For reasons I don't understand, European home jerseys are rich with tradition, but for the road versions, anything goes. Squads change looks on an annual basis, and some traveling selections leave you questioning the tastes of team management.

#5: Valencia: The shirts themselves are fairly standard- white with orange trim, the latter no doubt inspired by the local fruit export. What puts these jerseys among the best is the crest. How many other teams have something as cool as a bat perched on their kits? Not many. Inspired by the city's coat of arms, the presence of the bat gives "Los Che" an intimidating look.

#4: Liverpool and Chelsea: Separately neither of these two jerseys are standouts. But when they come together, as they have so often in recent Champions League matches, the contrast is perfect. Liverpool in all red; Chelsea in all blue. Nothing looks better on a European night.




#3: Barcelona: The FC Barcelona crest squeezes a lot of symbolism into a stylish design. According to the team web site, the crest "honours the sporting dimension of the club as well as its connection to its city and country." With the crest set on bold blue and burgundy shirts, the reigning European Champs have an umistakable look. Barca also deserve credit for forgoing corporate sponsors on their shirts and instead promoting UNICEF across the front.

#2: Inter Milan: My love of Inter Milan's kits dates back to an Absolut vodka ad that cleverly pitted Inter and AC Milan on a foosball table. (I was a fan of the ad campaign long before I could legally drink the vodka.) The black and blue in the Nerazzurri's jerseys represent the night and the sky. These colors work so well together, I'm surprised more teams don't go this route.

#1: Celtic: The best jerseys in sports are simple yet distinct; they're immediately recognizable like the New York Yankees pinstripes, the red, white and blue of the Montreal Canadiens, or the Los Angeles Lakers' regal purple and gold combo. Glasgow Celtic, with their classic green and white hoop shirts join that list. The Bhoys' shirts stand out around the world. Little has changed with Celtic's kits since their 1967 European Cup triumph, but the addition of the team crest with a four-leaf clover fits perfectly. As long as there's a Celtic Football Club, these jerseys will top my list.

Let's Make A Deal

Blockbuster trades have become rare in sports. They're especially rare in European football, where a team is more likely to sell a top player and put the transfer fee towards a future acquisition. That's what makes the recently completed Barcelona-Inter Milan swap of Samuel Eto’o for Zlatan Ibrahimovic so intriguing.

While Eto'o and Ibrhahimovic were both accomplished stars in their former homes, a change of venue should be mutually beneficial. The Swedish international has been a part of three-straight Serie A winning sides, but Champions League success has eluded Ibrahimovic. Joining the defending European champs gives him a chance to help bag the continent's top club prize. And though Eto'o was one of Barca's top talents, at Inter he'll have a greater opportunity to play the alpha dog role.

If Zlatan has his wish, his current and former squads will meet in next May's Champions League Final. If both men play up to expectations, that's a distinct possibility.

Transfer-Palooza

Each summer speculation around the European transfer market resembles the board game "Fact or Crap." There are an endless number of rumors, but those stories greatly outnumber the completed deals. Here's a look at some of the players and storylines central to this year's transfer gossip.

Carlos Tevez isn't exactly leaving Manchester United on good terms, taking some parting shots at Sir Alex Ferguson on his way out of Old Trafford. Oddly Tevez ruled out Liverpool as a destination because of their rivalry with ManU, but the Argentine now appears headed to crosstown Manchester City.

Inter Milan's Zlatan Ibrahimovichas been the talk of a move out of Serie A, but Inter's asking price may be too high for potential suitors. In other Inter news, Brazilian fullback Maicon has been linked to a move to Chelsea.

Staying with Barcelona or heading to Manchester City are the two options for Samuel Eto'o. A two-year extension of Eto'o's current deal is the latest offer from the reigning European champs.

Xabi Alonso is the latest target of free-spending Real Madrid. Defender Alvaro Arbeloa could also make the Liverpool to Real leap.

Counting Down the Best European Cup Finals

Wednesday's Champions League Final between Manchester United and Barcelona has the potential to be an all-time classic. All season long, ManU and Barca have stood out as the top two teams in Europe, so if you're not a fan of one of the two sides, you have to hope that Wednesday's meeting in Rome joins the list of great finals. Here's my take on the top 10 European Cup finals of all-time.

10) 1994: AC Milan 4, Barcelona 0: A meeting of the winners of three of the last five cups was noteworthy not for the match's close score line, but for the impressive manner in which AC Milan pounded the favored Catalans. Without star defenders Franco Baresi and Alessandro Costacurta, the Rossoneri scored four times within the first hour en route to their fifth title.

9) 2006: Barcelona 2, Arsenal 1: An early red card against goalkeeper Jens Lehmann left Arsenal down to 10 men, but the shorthanded Gunners shockingly took the lead on a 37th minute goal by Sol Campbell and gamely tried to preserve the advantage. But two goals by Barca in the final 15 minutes- a 76th minute equalizer by Samuel Eto'o and the winner from Juliano Belletti four minutes later- gave the Spaniards their second Cup.

8) 1987: Porto 2, Bayern Munich 1: Just 12 minutes from time, a sublime back heel touch from Porto's Rabah Madjer erased Bayern's first half lead. Before the Germans could recover, Juary put home the winner two minutes later. It would not be the last time Bayern would be victimized by a pair of late goals.

7) 1967: Celtic 2, Inter Milan 1: Another match highlighted by a second-half rally, Celtic broke the 11-year cup dominance of Mediterranean sides, becoming the first British team to win the title. The Celtic roster, made up entirely of players from within 50 minutes of Glasgow, are still celebrated fondly as the "Lisbon Lions."

6) 1960: Real Madrid 7, Eintracht Frankfurt 3: While many consider this match the greatest final of all-time, the lopsided score keeps it from ranking higher on my list. This was, however, the Real Madrid dynasty at the peak of its power. Ferenc Puskas scored four times and Alfredo Di Stefano added a hat trick as Real captured their record fifth-straight title.

5) 1968: Manchester United 4, Benfica 1, a.e.t.: In front of a pro-ManU crowd at a packed Wembley Stadium, Manchester United found their second wind in extra time, scoring three times in a five-minute span to capture their first title. Bobby Charlton scored the Red Devils' first and last goals, while George Best put home the eventual game winner.

4) 1999: Manchester United 2, Bayern Munich 1: The ultimate late show saw Teddy Sheringham and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer both score in stoppage time to give Manchester United the treble. The shock ending lead to one of the all-time great broadcasting quotes from Clive Tyldesle: "What must Lothar Matthäus be thinking? Well, with the greatest respect, who cares?"

3) 1962: Benfica 5, Real Madrid 3: A meeting of the first six cup winners was a back-and-forth affair. Real took first half leads of 2-0 and 3-2, with all three goals coming from Puskas. After Benfica tied the match early in the second half, Eusebio netted a pair of goals to give the Portugese squad back-to-back titles.

2) 1956: Real Madrid 4, Stade de Reims, 3: The first European Cup Final set a lofty standard for future matches. Real rallied from 2-0 and 3-2 deficits, with Marquitos scoring in the 79th minute to send the innaugural title to Madrid.

1) 2005: Liverpool 3, AC Milan 3 (Liverpool wins on PKs): The two games above were the only time a team had rallied from two goals. Never had a team recovered from a three-goal margin. That was the deficit staring Liverpool in the face at halftime of their final against AC Milan. But as fast as you can say Gerrard, Smicer, Alonso, the Reds leveled the match and hung on for PKs. Two years after sealing a shootout win against Juventus, Andrei Shevchenko saw his spot kick saved, giving Liverpool an improbable fifth title. The match was the highest-scoring European final in 33 years.

If you don't like my list, SI.com has its own take on the Top 10.

Italy: A Special War of Words

I have no ties to any teams in Serie A, but I have a feeling I'll be following Inter Milan a lot more closely this season thanks the ongoing brilliance/antics of Jose Mourinho. The Times of London likened the Special One to Barack Obama this week in terms of his status as a media darling.

The war or words between Obama and John McCain may carry more weight this fall, but likely won't be as entertaining as the one brewing between Mourinho and AC Milan boss Carlo Ancellotti. Having dodged rumors all spring that Mourinho would be taking his job, Ancelotti is no doubt already sick of the charismatic Portuguese manager.  It's not like Ancelotti is some chump manager; he has two Champions League crowns to Mourinho's one. The back-and-forth between these two should add plenty to an always-tense Milan derby.

Let the Transfers Begin

With the focus shifting back to club sides, July will be a busy month in the transfer market. It's always a challenge separating truth from rumor, but here's a look at some of the names and possible moves to watch in the coming weeks.

• Deco to Chelsea: Done deal as of today, as the Portuguese midfielder follows Big Phil Scolari to Stamford Bridge


• Frank Lampard to Inter Milan?: Will Frank take all the pies with him as he re-unites with The Special One?


• Didier Drogba to AC Milan?: The Chelsea makeover continues. Drogba could end up with either San Siro squad, but his Champions League Final red card was most likely his final act for the Blues.


• Emmanuel Adebayor leaving Arsenal?: Chelsea, Barcelona and AC Milan have all been mentioned as possible destinations.


• Ronaldinhio to Manchester City?: Manchester's number two team has some cash to throw around, and although the Brazilian seems past his prime, this would elevate the squad's profile immediately.


• Samuel Eto'o leaving Barcelona?: With Deco gone, the likelihood that either Eto'o or Ronaldinhio stay put seems greater.


• Gareth Barry to Liverpool?: This one's been in the works for awhile. Let's get it done, please.


• Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid?: How will the soap opera play out? If ManU stick to their word, Ronaldo will be back in red this year.

Italy: Mourinho Doesn't Disappoint

Jose Mourinho no longer wants to be known as "The Special One," but he won't mind you calling him "The Intelligent One." At his introductory press conference today, the new Inter Milan boss displayed the hilarious lack of humility that has made him a media darling. The Independent has the story of Mourinho's first day in Milan.

A flabbergasted reporter from La Repubblica wanted to know how he could speak Italian so well. Never one for false modesty, Mourinho replied "because I'm very intelligent", bringing the first laugh of the morning.

Earlier in the press conference, when asked if he still deserved the self-proclaimed "Special One" tag, the former Chelsea boss responded. "I am Mourinho - period." This should be fun.

Back at his old stomping grounds, the search goes on for the next Chelsea boss. Carlo Ancelotti's denial of any interest in a job outside of AC Milan takes him out of the running. That narrows the apparent field to Portugal's Luiz Felipe Scolari, former Inter boss Roberto Mancini,  and Blackburn's Mark Hughes. Hughes may be headed to Manchester City to fill that opening before Chelsea make up their minds.

Italy: Mourinho at Inter at Last

Inter Milan have finally confirmed the hiring of Jose Mourinho as their manager. The Special One has a three-year deal to take over the three-time defending Serie A champs with a clear mandate to do what Roberto Mancini could not- bring the squad their first European Cup since 1965. The Times Gabriele Marcotti offers Mourinho a word of caution about his new employer.

Mourinho has always been popular with his players, so it will be interesting to watch who follows him to the San Siro. Chelsea stars Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard have already been mentioned as transfer candidates. Mourinho is also popular with journalists for his ability to deliver a memorable soundbite and his introductory press conference tomorrow will undoubtedly peppered with some gems.

Italy: Mancini Out at Inter

The agent for Inter Milan coach Roberto Mancini confirmed today what has seeemed like a foregone conlcusion for months- that the coach of the three-time defending Serie A champs is out at San Siro. He also confirmed the not-so-suprising second part of that equation; the new boss will be Jose Mourinho.

Mancini has emerged as the favorite for the Chelsea vacancy, where the short list includes Blackburn's Mark Hughes, Portugal's Felipe Scolari and former Juventus manager/Chelsea player Didier Deschamps. Mancini no doubt grew tired of the constant talk of Mourinho inheriting his job this past season. One wonders if constant comparisons to the Special One, something that dogged Avram Grant, won't be a deterrant to him moving in at Stamford Bridge.

Italy: Inter Hold on to Scudetto

Despite some late-season struggles, Inter Milan held on to win their third-straight Serie A title with a 2-0 win over Parma.  A pair of second-half goals by Zlatan Ibrahimovic were enough to give the Nerazzuri their 16th title.

Their pursuers, AS Roma, applied the pressure by taking a 1-0 lead at Catania Calcio in the 8th minute.  A Roma win and an Inter draw would have sent the crown to the capital city, but with their title hopes dashed once Inter took a 2-0 lead, Roma surrendered a late equalizer to draw 1-1.

The day's other significant result saw Fiorentina hold off AC Milan for fourth place and a spot in next year's Champions League.  Milan trailed Udinese 1-0 at the half, but four second-half goals sparked a 4-1 rout.  That put the pressure on Fiorentina to get a win at Torino, and Pablo Osvaldo's 76th minute strike was all the Viola needed to secure fourth.   

Race Continues in France, Italy

The races in Italy and France will go down to the final weekend, as neither Inter Milan nor Lyon could wrap up consecutive titles Sunday.  Inter missed out on a chance to secure the Scudetto for the second straight week, drawing 2-2 at the San Siro against Siena.  Roma's 2-1 win over Atalanta brought them to within a point of Inter with one game to play.  Both teams are away to relegation-threatened sides next week; Inter face Parma, while Roma finish at Catania.  

In France, Lyon defeated Nancy 1-0, but Bordeaux remained two points back of the six-time defending champs with a 2-0 win over Sochaux.  Next week, Lyon are at Auxerre, while Bordeaux visit Lens.

Inter, Roma to Battle for Coppa Italia

Form has held in the Coppa Italia semifinals.  Serie A's top two teams will meet in the May 24 final when Inter Milan face Roma for the fourth consecutive year.  Roma's 1-1 draw with Catania today was enough to see them through 2-1 on aggregate.  Yesterday, Inter defeated Lazio 2-0 to win on aggregate by the same score.

Roma took last year's Coppa after Inter captured the previous two.  This year's tournament brings a new format to Italy- a single game final at the Stadio Olympico, abandoning the old two-legged format.  

Triumph for Bayern, Real

It wasn't pretty, but Bayern Munich wrapped up the Bundesliga today with a 0-0 draw away to VfL Wolfsburg. It's the 20th Bundlesliga title for the Bavarians and third domestic double in four seasons.

Later in the day, Real Madrid clinched their 31st La Liga title, coming from behind down a man to post a 2-1 win over Osasuna.

Inter Milan hoped to join the celebration Sunday, but fell in the Milan derby 2-1 to AC Milan. Saturday, a goalless draw against Nice kept Lyon from wrapping up a seventh-straight French Ligue 1 title.

Managerial Shuffle

With the summer approaching, the speculation as to which top managerial positions will become available is in full swing. While much will be decided between now and the Champions League Final in Moscow, there are no shortage of rumors and possibilities.

Barcelona's Frank Rijkaard appears to be a prime candidate to depart after the season. The Catalans La Liga season never really got off the ground and with a great deal of unrest on the Barcelona roster, the Dutchman's days seem to be numbered. It's hard to imagine Rijkaard being fired if Barcelona win the Champions League for the second time in three seasons, but anything less likely means he'll be ousted.

Barcelona may not be the only elite La Liga job opening at the end of the season. Another disappointing European campaign may cost Real Madrid boss Bernd Schuster his job. While Real are all but assured of a second-straight league title, that wasn't enough to keep Fabio Capello around last year, and Madrid fans expect the team to make a bigger splash on Europe's biggest stage.

An elite opening in Spain could be very enticing to Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez. Although he has repeatedly expressed his desire to remain at Anfield, there's no telling what will come of chaos with Liverpool's ownership group. Benitez's stock will be extremely high if he leads Liverpool to another European crown and a top spot back in his home land may be tough to pass up.

It's tough to tell if Chelsea's Avram Grant will be back in charge at Stamford Bridge next season; the next eight days will go a long way in deciding his fate. Chelsea remain alive for a Champions League-Premier League double, but could also end the season empty handed. Grant has had a tough act to follow on the heels of the extremely popular Jose Mourinhio, but deserves a full season in charge to prove his abilities.

And then there's the matter of Alex Ferguson. Obviously the Old Trafford legend will be heading out on his own terms, but the team is already dealing with rumors about his possible retirement. If ManU were to capture a second Champions League title under Ferguson, he may find it's the perfect time to call it a career. If he does, former Ferguson charges Steve Bruce and Roy Keane, currently at Wigan and Sunderland respectively, may be among the candidates.

Finally there's Milan where rumors have surrounded both AC Milan and Inter Milan all season. On Monday, Inter decided they had had enough of the talk of Mourinhio replacing Roberto Mancini next season. If Mancini does return (he quit following Inter's Champions League loss to Liverpool, only to be talked back into his job later that week), he'll be under extreme pressure to improve upon Inter's recent run of poor showings in Europe.

Carlo Ancelotti has also been fighting the shadow of Mourinhio much of the season. The 2007-08 campaign has been a disaster for the Rossoneri, crashing out of the Champions League early and never contending in Serie A. Currently in fifth, Milan are in serious danger of missing out on Champions League football in 2009. But despite the downturn, Ancelotti remains poplar with Milan brass, and his departure seems unlikely.

Checking in on Serie A

With four games to go in the Serie A season, Inter Milan appear poised to capture their third straight Scudetto. The Nerazurri lead Roma by six points, with three of their four remaining matches against teams in the bottom half of the table. The Milan derby is the only challenge left on their schedule. Inter, who drew 0-0 in their Coppa Italia semifinal first leg against Lazio, will look to capture the domestic double on the field for the first time in team history. (Their 2006 double came when they were awarded the Serie A crown after the Juventus match fixing scandal.)

Second place Roma have a firm grip on Italy's second berth in the Champions League group stages, leading third place Juventus by five points. It's an eight-point drop down to fourth where Fiorentina, still alive in the UEFA Cup, will look to hold off AC Milan and Sampdoria for fourth place and a slot in the Champions League qualifying third round. Fiorentina lead both teams by four points and are home to Sampdoria next Sunday.