#69 | How many gloved managers do YOU know?
But first, a word on the Inter Milan re-brand…
Inter Milan’s Chinese owners recently announced that the club will re-brand in March to celebrate its 113th anniversarry. The re-brand will introduce a new crest and a name change, from Football Club Internazionale Milano to the more direct Inter Milano, and is intended to heighten the club’s accessibility to a global audience.
This point invites skepticism: ‘Inter’ never really felt like much to get one’s head around. But without having spent a ton of time gambling on Macau (or similar), it’s difficult to prove that out.
What seems certain is Inter’s classic ‘FCIM’ crest making way for an asset that Nike can more easily leverage into a collaboration with a boutique Japanese hotel, and, presumably at some point in his career, Neymar.
A leaked image of the crest suggests less of a departure from tradition than one might expect. Regardless, you may recall the blowback in 2017 when Juventus dropped its traditional crest in favour of a highly stylized ‘J’.
The move yanked on any number of chains in Turin because you don’t really fuck with the Juve: they wear black and white stripes; they’re sponsored by Jeep (because they’re owned by Fiat-Chrysler); and Gigi Buffon is their reserve keeper through 2084.
But it turns out that the ‘J’ crest is gang, and the fact that the whole identity generally holds water with die-hard support points to the grey line between tradition and the modern realities of the game. Entities like Inter and Juve are clubs and brands, yes. They're also institutions to millions. This makes it tough to strike the right balance, even if technically the ‘right balance’ is always just ‘more cash’.
Those of you interested in reading further would do well to try the Football Trimming's Club Crest Evolution article. Otherwise, we've put you right in on goal with this well-placed little through ball to the 'standom. You little beauty.
Shaun Wright-Phillips was a Premier League winner with the Chezzz in 2005-6 (90 Min)
An email from Sir Dele
Last Wednesday saw a huge email land in l’inbox from longtime Jeaner associate, Sir Dele. The hawk-eyed Arsenalist suggested that references to Ian Wright and Kasper Schmeichel in last week’s issue “reminded me to check to see if any other Father and Sons have won the premier league apart from the Schmeichels [Kasper and father, Peter]. Ian Wright and Shaun-Wright-Phillips are the only other two.”
Cheers for that, Dele. A great bit of sleuthing that made for a big time piece of hard-nosed reporting. Nice one.
They're technical-looking, those Ralphgloves. (Reuters)
Handschue! Where are my Ralphgloves?!!?!?
Ralph Hasenhuttl is having a massive season. His Southampton side are a credible shout for the top six, having beaten champions Liverpool in the league, and vanquished holders Arsenal from the FA Cup. The Austrian manager also had a popular holiday parlour game named for him in these pages not long ago.
On balance, we’re fans of the Huttl, but that doesn’t make his choice of hand attire less confusing. His wide receiver-style Under Armour handschuhe (German for ralphgloves) give him the look of the NFL fan who plays flag football on Wednesday nights. You know the guy I mean: black Steelers jersey, eye black, and one of those play call sleeves on his wrist. I don't even know why this boy bothers turning up. We all know he’s going long. Every goddamn time.
Auba and Thomas Tuchel at Dortmund back when winning was cool (Reuters)
Tuchel to the Chezz
Interesting times ahead for Chelsea, who seem certain to replace the departing Frank Lampard with Thomas Tuchel, a man with a name that is, both tactically and phonetically, hard to resist. I’m curious what the intractable German might be able to extract from the floundering, high-priced Teutonic charges he's set to inherit in Timo Werner and Kai Havertz. But in the end it's Chelsea, so who cares!
Young men idling: the Arse in 1993 (@shirts.v.skins)
This photo is mint- Arsenal 1993 team photo
This shot of Arsenal’s 1993 FA Cup and League-winning side at a team photo call glimpses a fascinating moment: even as the group shows an easy familiarity, each player seems distinctly apart from the next, and looks to be featuring in their own version of the photo. The eye is drawn in particular to John “Faxe” Jensen, who looks completely disgusted with the league trophy, and almost certainly himself. You don't get the nickname 'Faxe' because you're on the session beer, pals.