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With the announcement on Friday that Alex McLeish was set to take up the vacant managerial role at arch rivals Aston Villa, we take a look at some of the other controversial moments within the history of the English Premier League. Following victory over overwhelming favourites Arsenal in the League Cup, McLeish subsequently suffered a terrible run of form in the Premier League resulting in his Birmingham team getting relegated on the last day of the season. Although the board confirmed that he would keep his job, McLeish sent…

You know what it’s like. Your flight arrives on the tarmac, you fight your way through the throngs of people trying to get their baggage from the conveyor belt – at least you do once it’s been unloaded and hopefully in one piece – and by the time you’ve gone through the customs area you find the taxi ranks have a snake of people all wanting to get to their hotels, just the same as you.

The soccer ball’s history is as rich, protracted and varied as the game it serves. Although their evolution can be traced to ancient history and cultures, the history dates back to more recent times – the 19th century. Indeed, soccer is well over a century old and the modern, high-tech ball has come a very long way from the irregular-shaped pig’s bladder.

Of all the continents, soccer has the highest profile in Europe. It is not surprising that the old world has some of the most historic and prestigious stadiums in the world. Although Asia has some of the largest facilities used for soccer, none are more renowned than the best that Europe has to offer.

There are several soccer stadiums in the world that are historic and majestic; others are known primarily for their size. While Europe is the bastion of world football, no European football stadium is in the top five. Barcelona’s Camp Nou (capacity 98,772) is the largest European soccer stadium, but comes in at number 7 in the world list.

What makes soccer so universally appealing that children in the remotest parts of the world know who Lionel Messi is? The 5 foot 6 inch tall FA Barcelona forward is small, even by soccer standards. But Messi’s diminutive size in no way diminishes his effectiveness on the field of play. In fact, soccer is one of the few sports where smallness of stature can be an advantage, if it is accompanied by quickness, intelligence, vision, and extraordinary eye-foot coordination, which results in exceptional ball control and dribbling. Messi possesses all these attributes. And because he does not look like a magnificent athlete, but like a regular guy, millions of regular guys, and gals, around the world can relate to him. He makes the sport more accessible to the average person. This average person can triumph on the field against larger athletes vicariously through Messi.

This is it, this is the signing that all West Ham fans have been waiting for, Kevin Nolan… That is the name that will be filling the air inside our beloved Upton Park. The big scare at Upton Park since the day we were confirmed as relegated has been the fact we are going to lose our leader.

At the end of May 2011 we were treated to the spectacle of two of Europe’s best teams facing each other in the Champions League final at Wembley. FC Barcelona beat Manchester United 3-1 and despite a few worrying minutes while they took some time to find their feet, Barça ran rings around their English competitor. Clearly Pep Guardiola’s team were at the top of their game.

Successful in Scotland, winner of the League Cup with an average midlands side – it’s just a shame that Martin O’Neill has already been Aston Villa manager because otherwise he might be the sort of person they’re looking for. In his absence (and ignoring the midlands rivalry for the moment) is McLeish really that bad a choice as the new Aston Villa manager? His record, broadly speaking, is one of achievement.

After conceding the Premier League title to Chelsea during the previous season, many doubters raised questions about the quality of Sir Alex Ferguson’s team and the strength of the squad, making comparisons with successful Manchester United teams of previous years. The Reds, however, went onto win a historic 19th League title, overtaking arch rivals Liverpool’s record of 18 league titles.

With the summer transfer window now open there is a hive of activity amongst the Premier League clubs. As the top clubs compete against one other to attract the big name players, the transfer fees and huge wage bills puts some of our top clubs more and more in debt. Utilising figures collated by Deloitte, we have a look at the ten clubs with the most debt in the English Premier League based on the financial year 2009-2010.

Spain has a chance to be the first soccer nation to win three consecutive major international trophies if it manages to defend its title and win the 2012 European Cup. How have they been able to do it? By perfecting the possession, quick pass, often one-touch style of play that wears down a defense. What the Spanish media calls tiqui-taca.