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86 Football Research Lab - 86足球研究室, Kluang (2025)

08/11/2025

Happy Birthday to Alessandro Del Piero (born 09 November 1974), a retired Italian footballer who played as a second striker and attacking midfielder, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of his generation.

He was born in Conegliano, Italy, and began his youth career with San Vendemiano and Padova. He made his professional debut with Padova in 1991 before joining Juventus in 1993, where he played for 19 seasons, scoring 290 goals in 705 appearances, both club records. He won six Serie A titles, one Coppa Italia, four Supercoppa Italiana, the 1996 UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, Intercontinental Cup, and UEFA Intertoto Cup. He was Juventus captain for 11 years and played a key role in their domestic and European successes.

Del Piero later played for Sydney FC (2012–2014), scoring 24 goals in 48 matches, and Delhi Dynamos (2014), before retiring in 2014. He scored in every competition he participated in and totaled 462 career goals.

Internationally, Del Piero earned 91 caps and scored 27 goals for Italy between 1995 and 2008. He played in three FIFA World Cups (1998, 2002, 2006) and four UEFA European Championships (1996, 2000, 2004, 2008). He won the 2006 FIFA World Cup and was runner-up at Euro 2000. He is Italy’s joint fourth-highest scorer alongside Roberto Baggio.

08/11/2025

Happy Birthday to Sabri Lamouchi (born 09 November 1971), French football manager and former midfielder, currently managing Diriyah Club in Saudi Arabia.

He was born in Lyon and began his youth career with AS Lyon-Duchère and Cascol Oullins. His senior career spanned from 1990 to 2009, with 470 league appearances and 79 goals. He played for Alès, Auxerre, Monaco, Parma, Inter Milan, Genoa, Marseille, Al-Rayyan, Umm-Salal, and Al-Kharitiyath. He won Division 1 titles with Auxerre (1995–96) and Monaco (1999–2000), the Coppa Italia with Parma (2001–02), and the UEFA Intertoto Cup with Marseille (2005).

Internationally, Lamouchi earned 12 caps and scored 1 goal for France between 1996 and 2001. He was part of the Euro 1996 squad and included in the preliminary list for the 1998 World Cup, though he was cut before the tournament.

Lamouchi began his managerial career with Ivory Coast in 2012, leading them to the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He later managed El Jaish in Qatar, winning the Qatar Crown Prince Cup in 2016. He coached Rennes, Nottingham Forest, Al-Duhail, Cardiff City, and Al-Riyadh, before joining Diriyah Club in July 2025.

08/11/2025

Happy Birthday to Sergio Batista (born 09 November 1962), Argentine football manager and former player. He played as a defensive midfielder and began his professional career with Argentinos Juniors in 1981, winning the 1984 Metropolitano, 1985 Nacional, 1985 Copa Libertadores, and 1985 Copa Interamericana. He later played for River Plate, winning the 1989–90 Argentine Primera División, and also had spells with Nueva Chicago, PJM Futures in Japan, and All Boys.

Batista earned 39 caps for the Argentina national team between 1985 and 1990. He was part of the squad that won the 1986 FIFA World Cup and finished as runners-up in 1990. He also participated in the 1987 and 1989 Copa América tournaments.

After retiring, Batista managed several clubs including Bella Vista, Argentinos Juniors, Talleres, Nueva Chicago, and Godoy Cruz. He coached Argentina’s U-20 and Olympic teams, leading the latter to a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He served as head coach of the Argentina national team from 2010 to 2011, overseeing notable victories against Brazil and Spain before stepping down after the 2011 Copa América.

Batista later managed Shanghai Shenhua, Bahrain, and Qatar SC. In 2023, he was appointed general manager of the Venezuela national team.

08/11/2025

Remembering Andreas Brehme (09 November 1960 – 20 February 2024), German footballer and manager, best known for scoring the winning goal in the 1990 FIFA World Cup final.

He was born in Hamburg and began his career at HSV Barmbek-Uhlenhorst before moving to 1. FC Saarbrücken (1980–1981) and then 1. FC Kaiserslautern (1981–1986), where he scored 34 goals in 154 Bundesliga matches. He joined Bayern Munich (1986–1988), winning the Bundesliga in 1987, and then moved to Inter Milan (1988–1992), winning the Serie A (1988–89), UEFA Cup (1990–91), and Supercoppa Italiana (1989). He played for Real Zaragoza (1992–1993) before returning to Kaiserslautern (1993–1998), winning the DFB-Pokal (1995–96), 2. Bundesliga (1996–97), and Bundesliga (1997–98).

Internationally, Brehme earned 86 caps and scored 8 goals for West Germany/Germany between 1984 and 1994. He played in three World Cups (1986, 1990, 1994) and three European Championships (1984, 1988, 1992). He scored the decisive penalty in the 1990 World Cup final against Argentina and was named to the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team. He also scored in the 1986 semi-final and 1990 semi-final, both from free kicks.

After retiring, Brehme managed 1. FC Kaiserslautern (2000–2002) and SpVgg Unterhaching (2004–2005), and served as assistant coach at VfB Stuttgart. He was widely respected for his professionalism, composure under pressure, and ability to deliver in crucial moments. He died of cardiac arrest in Munich at age 63.

08/11/2025

Remembering Lei Clijsters (06 November 1956 – 04 January 2009) was a Belgian footballer and manager, best known for captaining KV Mechelen during their European triumphs and representing Belgium in three major tournaments.

He was born in Opitter, Belgium, and began his youth career at Opitter FC before joining Club Brugge (1973–1975). After a brief stint there, he played for Patro Eisden, Tongeren (167 matches, 22 goals), Thor Waterschei, and most notably KV Mechelen (174 matches, 13 goals), where he captained the team to major successes. With Mechelen, he won the Belgian Cup (1987), Belgian First Division (1988–89), UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup (1987–88), and UEFA Super Cup (1988). He also earned the Belgian Golden Shoe in 1988 and was later named to the Platina Eleven in 2003.

Internationally, Clijsters earned 40 caps and scored 3 goals for Belgium between 1983 and 1991. He participated in UEFA Euro 1984, the 1986 FIFA World Cup (where Belgium finished fourth), and the 1990 FIFA World Cup, scoring a header against Uruguay in the group stage.

After retiring in 1993, Clijsters managed several clubs including Patro Eisden, Gent, Lommel, Diest, and Mechelen. He later managed his daughter Kim Clijsters’ tennis career and briefly coached Tongeren in 2007 before stepping down due to illness. He passed away in Gruitrode at age 52 from metastatic melanoma, a recurrence of skin cancer he had battled 25 years earlier.

08/11/2025

Happy Birthday to Luiz Felipe Scolari (born 09 November 1948), Brazilian football manager and former defender, best known for leading Brazil to the 2002 FIFA World Cup title and Portugal to the UEFA Euro 2004 final.

He was born in Passo Fundo, Brazil, and played as a tough, leadership-oriented defender for clubs including Aimoré, Caxias (67 matches), Juventude, Novo Hamburgo, and CSA, where he won the 1981 Campeonato Alagoano.

Scolari began his managerial career in 1982 with CSA and quickly built a reputation for pragmatic, results-driven football. He won domestic titles with Criciúma (1991 Copa do Brasil), Grêmio (1995 Copa Libertadores, 1996 Série A), and Palmeiras (1998 Copa do Brasil, 1999 Copa Libertadores, 2018 Série A). Internationally, he coached Kuwait to the 1990 Gulf Cup and Portugal to the Euro 2004 final and 2006 World Cup semi-finals.

He managed Brazil twice: first winning the 2002 World Cup, and later returning to win the 2013 Confederations Cup before suffering a historic 7–1 loss to Germany in the 2014 World Cup semi-final. He also coached Chelsea, Bunyodkor, Guangzhou Evergrande (winning the 2015 AFC Champions League and three Chinese Super League titles), Cruzeiro, Athletico Paranaense, and Atlético Mineiro, where he stepped down in March 2024.

07/11/2025

Happy Birthday to Joe Cole (born 08 November 1981), English former professional footballer and current coach, known for his creativity and flair as an attacking midfielder and winger.

He was born in Paddington, London, and rose through the West Ham United youth system, making his senior debut in 1999. He played 126 league matches and scored 10 goals for West Ham, winning the Hammer of the Year award in 2003. After West Ham’s relegation, he transferred to Chelsea in 2003 for £6.6 million.

At Chelsea, Cole played 183 league matches and scored 27 goals, winning three Premier League titles (2005, 2006, 2010), two FA Cups, and a League Cup. He was named Chelsea Player of the Year in 2008 and included in the PFA Team of the Year in 2005–06. Known for his dribbling and technical skill, he was praised by Pelé as having “the skills of a Brazilian.”

Cole joined Liverpool in 2010 but struggled with injuries and form. He had a successful loan at Lille (2011–12), scoring 4 goals in 32 league matches. He later played for Aston Villa, Coventry City, and Tampa Bay Rowdies, retiring in 2018 with 514 league appearances and 72 goals.

Internationally, Cole earned 56 caps and scored 10 goals for England between 2001 and 2010. He played in three World Cups (2002, 2006, 2010) and UEFA Euro 2004. His volley against Sweden in the 2006 World Cup was one of the tournament’s standout goals.

07/11/2025

Happy Birthday to Luís Fabiano (Luís Fabiano Clemente; born 08 November 1980) is a retired Brazilian striker who scored 28 goals in 45 matches for Brazil and won the 2004 Copa América and 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup.

He was born in Jundiaí and began his career with Ponte Preta (1998–2000), then moved to Rennes in France. After a brief stint, he returned to Brazil with São Paulo, where he scored 63 goals in 87 league matches and became Campeonato Brasileiro Série A top scorer in 2002. He also led the 2004 Copa Libertadores scoring charts.
Fabiano joined Porto in 2004, then transferred to Sevilla in 2005. At Sevilla, he scored 72 goals in 149 La Liga matches, won two UEFA Cups (2006, 2007), two Copa del Rey titles, and the 2007 Supercopa de España. He was runner-up for the Pichichi Trophy in 2007–08 with 24 goals. He extended his contract in 2008 and stayed until 2011.

He returned to São Paulo (2011–2015), scoring 46 goals in 101 league matches, and won the 2012 Copa Sudamericana. He later played for Tianjin Quanjian in China (22 goals in 28 matches) and Vasco da Gama (5 goals in 12 matches), retiring with 422 league appearances and 214 goals.

Internationally, Fabiano debuted in 2003 and was recalled in 2007. He scored two goals in the 2009 Confederations Cup final against the USA and won the Golden Boot with five goals. At the 2010 World Cup, he scored three goals, including a brace against Ivory Coast and one against Chile.

07/11/2025

Happy Birthday to Aaron Hughes (born 08 November 1979) is a Northern Irish former professional footballer who played as a defender and earned 112 caps for Northern Ireland.

He was born in Cookstown and began his youth career at Newcastle United in 1996. He made his senior debut in 1997 and played 205 Premier League matches, scoring 4 goals. He featured in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup, and helped Newcastle reach the FA Cup semi-finals and Intertoto Cup final.

In 2005, Hughes joined Aston Villa, making 54 league appearances. In 2007, he transferred to Fulham, where he played 196 league matches, scored 1 goal, and helped the club reach the 2010 UEFA Europa League final. He also served as captain during his tenure.

After Fulham, Hughes had brief spells with Queens Park Rangers, Brighton & Hove Albion, Melbourne City, Kerala Blasters, and Heart of Midlothian, retiring in 2019 with a total of 525 league appearances and 7 goals.

Internationally, Hughes debuted for Northern Ireland in 1998 and captained the team from 2003 to 2011. He returned from retirement in 2012 and played in UEFA Euro 2016, becoming the first Northern Irish outfield player to reach 100 caps. He scored his only international goal in 2011 against the Faroe Islands.

07/11/2025

Happy Birthday to Guus Hiddink (born 08 November 1946), Dutch former footballer and manager, renowned for his international coaching success with clubs and national teams across five continents.

He was born in Varsseveld, Netherlands, and played as a midfielder for De Graafschap, PSV Eindhoven, NEC Nijmegen, and briefly in the NASL with Washington Diplomats and San Jose Earthquakes, totaling 317 league appearances and 16 goals before retiring in 1982.

Hiddink began his coaching career as assistant at PSV Eindhoven, becoming head coach in 1987. He led PSV to a historic treble in 1987–88, winning the European Cup, Eredivisie, and KNVB Cup. He also won three consecutive league titles and three Dutch Cups during his first PSV stint.

He managed Fenerbahçe, Valencia, Real Madrid, and Real Betis, before taking charge of the Netherlands national team (1995–1998), reaching the 1998 World Cup semi-finals. He later coached South Korea, leading them to a historic fourth-place finish at the 2002 World Cup, earning honorary citizenship and national acclaim.

Hiddink returned to PSV (2002–2006), winning three more Eredivisie titles, then managed Australia, guiding them to the 2006 World Cup Round of 16. He coached Russia to the Euro 2008 semi-finals, and had two interim spells at Chelsea, winning the 2009 FA Cup.

He also managed Turkey, Anzhi Makhachkala, Netherlands (again), China U21, and Curaçao, retiring in 2021. He briefly returned to assist Australia in 2022 for their centenary matches.

07/11/2025

Remembering Martin Peters (08 November 1943 – 21 December 2019), English footballer and manager, best known for scoring in the 1966 FIFA World Cup final.

He was born in Plaistow, Essex, and began his career with West Ham United in 1959. He played 302 league matches and scored 81 goals, winning the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1965. In 1970, he transferred to Tottenham Hotspur in a record-breaking deal, scoring 46 goals in 189 league matches and winning two League Cups (1971, 1973) and the 1972 UEFA Cup. He later played for Norwich City (207 matches, 44 goals), Frankston City in Australia (5 matches, 3 goals), and Sheffield United (24 matches, 4 goals), retiring in 1981 with 727 league appearances and 178 goals.

Internationally, Peters earned 67 caps and scored 20 goals for England between 1966 and 1974. He debuted in May 1966 and scored in the World Cup final against West Germany, helping England win 4–2. He also played in the 1970 World Cup, scoring again against West Germany, and participated in UEFA Euro 1968. He captained England in the crucial 1973 qualifier against Poland, which ended 1–1 and cost England a place at the 1974 World Cup.

Peters was known for his versatility, intelligence, and technical skill. He played in every position, including goalkeeper, and was a free-kick specialist. England manager Alf Ramsey called him “ten years ahead of his time.”

After retiring, Peters briefly managed Sheffield United and played for Gorleston. He worked in insurance, served on Tottenham’s board, and published his autobiography The Ghost of ’66 in 2006. He was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame and awarded an MBE in 1978.

He was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2016 and died in Brentwood at age 76. His ashes were interred at West Ham’s London Stadium.

07/11/2025

Happy Birthday to Sandro Mazzola (born 08 November 1942), a retired Italian footballer who played as a forward and attacking midfielder, spending his entire career at Inter Milan and earning 70 caps for Italy.

He was born in Turin, a few weeks after his father Valentino Mazzola joined Torino. His father died in the Superga air disaster in 1949. Sandro joined Inter Milan in 1960 and played until 1977, making 417 Serie A appearances and scoring 116 goals. He won four Serie A titles (1963, 1965, 1966, 1971), two European Cups (1964, 1965), and two Intercontinental Cups (1964, 1965). He was Serie A top scorer in 1964–65 and placed second in the 1971 Ballon d'Or.

Internationally, Mazzola played for Italy from 1963 to 1974, scoring 22 goals in 70 matches. He won the UEFA European Championship in 1968 and was runner-up at the 1970 FIFA World Cup. He also participated in the 1966 and 1974 World Cups. His rivalry with Gianni Rivera led to the controversial “staffetta” strategy at the 1970 World Cup, where they alternated halves.

After retiring, he held executive roles at Inter, Genoa, and Torino, and worked as a commentator for RAI. He co-founded the Italian Footballers’ Association (AIC) in 1968. He was inducted into the Italian Football Hall of Fame in 2014 and Inter Milan Hall of Fame in 2022.

86 Football Research Lab - 86足球研究室

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