10 Random Soccer Facts You Didn’t Know

 

1. The Name Soccer Originated In England.

While being most associated with the American football culture, the name has its roots in the English game as an abbreviation of association football. It was a way of differentiating different games as there was no set of agreed rules in both rugby and what we know as soccer. The FA ratified rules and the two sports were known as they are today. The games and their rules spread to the United States and became American Football and Soccer

2. Rogelio Ceni Is The Top Scoring Goalkeeper With 131 goals

Spending a bulk of his 25-year career in Sao Paulo, and earning 18 caps for Brazil Ceni, managed to reach a tally of goals some striker’s dream of. The former Flamengo coach was a dead ball specialist and was his team’s official penalty and free-kick taker since 1997 until he hang up his gloves in 2015 at the age of 40.He was always comfortable with the ball at his feet and also an exceptional shot stopper which was evident in the Club World Cup Final win against Liverpool in 2005.

3. The Second Most Decorated Coach Is Mircea Lucescu

The world is familiar with the most decorated coach Sir Alex Ferguson and his exploits with the red devils amassing a legendary 49 titles in his career.Second to the Scottish tactician is the Romanian doyen of the game, Mircea Lucescu who has stockpiled a total of 37 trophies since he started managing in 1979 to his current stint in Dynamo Kyiv in Ukraine.He has held the reigns of giants of Europe such as Internazionale and Galatasaray to national teams like Turkey. He may not be a household name but the record books will lay have his name engraved.

4. The Highest Soccer Jersey Number For Official Competitions Was 121

Thomas Oar had the honor of wearing the highest official soccer jersey due to the Asian Football Federation (AFC) requirement for players to keep the same squad number throughout the preliminary rounds of the AFC Asian Cup.Although higher squad numbers have been seen in commemorative matches this was a record-breaker as it was backed up by official rule.

5. Lutz Pfannenstiel Is The Only Pro Soccer Player To Play In All 6 continents

The current St. Louis City managing director played for Orlando Pirates (Africa), Wimbledon (Europe), Vancouver Whitecaps (North America), Calgary Mustangs (Oceania), Geylang FC (Asia), Hermann Aichinger (South America), and 21 other clubs in his career.The former professional goalkeeper has also served as an expert on various soccer channels as well as part of the coaching staff of various teams.

6. FIFA Has More Countries than the UN

While the United Nations recognizes only sovereign countries that prove legitimacy, FIFA gives leeway to dominions, unrecognized countries, and territories to compete in the beautiful game. With a total of 211 national associations compared to the UN’s 193.From Chagos Island in Africa to Kurdistan in Iraq, these territories are able to compete in their own right.

7. Pedro Is The Only Player To Win Every Team Trophy In Club Soccer

After Mauricio Sarri led Chelsea to a Europa League win in 2019, a record was cast with his tricky winger, Pedro Gonzalez.At that point, he was the only player to win everything club football had to offer at the professional level, with many stars lacking the Europa League Cup in their cabinet.The current Roma player has won the world cup with Spain, 3 Champions leagues, Euro Cup, Club World Cup, La Liga, and Premier League trophy. A real team player indeed.

8. Marcus Bent Has Played For The Most Premier League Teams

When it comes to journeymen, Marcus Bent takes the crown for his journey among the elite.The striker has played for Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers, Charlton, Crystal Palace, Everton, Leicester, Ipswich Town, Wigan, and Wolves; 8 teams in total in the top flight.This record will be hard to break due to the high turnover of talent and greener pastures abroad..

9. Mark Hughes Played For Bayern Munich and Wales National Team On The Same Day

The famed Premier league manager showed his work ethic in soccer by appearing for both club and country in the same day.On November 11, 1987, he represented his country as Wales faced Czechoslovakia in Prague for a Euro qualifier match, and after the game; he flew back to Germany and appeared as a substitute against Borussia Monchengladbach for the second round cup replay that evening.

10. The Richest Soccer Player Is Faiq Bolkiah

The debate will always rage on between Messi and Ronaldo in how their performances affect their income and who makes more. But the richest soccer player is former Leicester City reserve player Faiq Bolkiah.Though most footballers derive their earnings from the game, the player derives his from family possessions. The player is nephew to the Sultan of Brunei and is worth an estimated 20 billion dollars. His family have a hold in the country’s oil reserves and control a lot of its wealth. The dedication to the game has been appreciated by critics since he can comfortably live on what his family owns but continues to train and play.