25 Jan 1890: Sevilla FC are founded on Burns Night by British expatriates mainly Scots—and Spaniards, later correcting their official founding date from 1905 to 1890 after archive discoveries. We trace Spain’s first official match (Sevilla 2–0 Huelva in 1890), the birth of Real Betis (1907) and the derby’s identity war, and the club’s arc from sporadic domestic trophies to a record seven Europa League titles—including the three-peat of 2014–16.

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24 Jan 1976: at Rockingham Road, non-league Kettering Town walk out vs Bath City with “Kettering Tyres” across the shirt — the first sponsor in English football. Derek Dougan’s loophole (“Kettering T”), the FA’s £1,000 threat, and the 1977 rule change that opened the floodgates. From four figure deals to modern brand battles — and why some clubs now go blank on purpose.

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23 Jan 1939: Matthias Sindelar — Der Papierene, the Paper Man — is found dead in Vienna. We trace the coffeehouse football culture of interwar Vienna, Hugo Meisl’s Wunderteam, Mitropa nights with Austria Wien, the 1931–32 Central European International Cup, and the mythic Anschluss match vs Germany in April 1938. Then the mystery: carbon monoxide, rumors, and a funeral that drew tens of thousands.Tips: [email protected]

22 Jan 1942: at Montevideo’s Centenario, Argentina crush Ecuador 12–0 in the South American Championship (the tournament later renamed Copa América). Guillermo Stábile’s side score six in each half. José Manuel “El Charro” Moreno nets five—including four inside 32 minutes—and Herminio Masantonio scores four in the second half. We trace the Río de la Plata rivalry, the rise of Argentina’s pro-era machine, Ecuador’s early struggles, and the twist: Uruguay still win the tournament.Tips: [email protected]

21 Jan 1962: Ethiopia win the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil, beating the two-time champions United Arab Republic (Egypt) 4–2 after extra time. We trace AFCON’s early years and CAF’s founding moment, Ethiopia’s rise as a pioneer nation, UAR’s dominance, and the names that shaped the week — Luciano and Italo Vassallo, Mengistu Worku, and coach Yidnekatchew Tessema. Then the wider arc: World Cup recognition, and where Ethiopia sits in African football today.

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20 Jan 1987: before dawn, police raid homes linked to West Ham’s Inter City Firm and Millwall’s Bushwackers — 26 suspects arrested in Operation Fulltime after months of surveillance. We trace how 60s terrace trouble became 70s/80s “firms,” why 1985 broke the public’s patience (Luton, Bradford, Heysel), and how crackdowns collided with tragedies and reform. Then: Hillsborough, the Taylor Report, the Premier League remake — and whether disorder is rising again today.

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19 Jan 2010: Olympiacos sack Zico after just four months — despite reaching the Champions League last 16, sealed by a 1–0 home win over Arsenal. We trace Olympiacos’ expectation culture (a domestic hegemon), Zico’s arrival on a two-year deal, the cup shock vs second-division Panserraikos, slipping behind Panathinaikos, the 0–0 at Kavala, and the abrupt dismissal (Bandović/Niniadis in). Then we zoom out: Greek football’s pressure, the 2010 ownership hinge, and why a famous name never guarantees stability.

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18 Jan 1961: English football abolishes the £20 maximum wage after the PFA, led by Fulham’s Jimmy Hill, threatens a nationwide strike. We trace the road from professionalism (1885) to the 1901 wage cap, the welfare roots of the players’ union era (Di Jones, 1902), Hill’s rebranding of the PFA and the brinkmanship of 1957–61 — then the instant symbol: Johnny Haynes becomes the first £100-a-week player. Finally, we zoom out to Eastham, retain-and-transfer, and how this day put football on the path to the Premier League economy.

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17 Jan 2026: Manchester United vs Manchester City is the 200th competitive Manchester Derby — because two forgotten Football Alliance meetings in 1891 (3–1 Newton Heath; 2–2 at Hyde Road) belong in the head-to-head. We trace the rivalry from the first competitive clash in 1891 (with political candidates at the kick-off), through City’s 1900s fire-sale that fed United’s rise, the post war Maine Road ground-share, Denis Law’s 1974 backheel, Keane–Haaland, Neville–Schmeichel, and the modern era of 6–1s and trophies.

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16 Jan 1994: Verdy Kawasaki draw 1–1 with Kashima Antlers at Tokyo’s National Stadium — Alcindo first, then “King Kazu” Miura from the spot — and win 3–1 on aggregate to become the first champions of Japan’s new professional J.League. We trace the long build: Emperor’s Cup roots, the 1936 “Miracle of Berlin,” Tokyo 1964, the corporate JSL (1965), Mexico 1968 bronze, Okudera in Europe — then the 1993 boom of Zico, Lineker, Littbarski and top scorer Ramón Díaz.

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