Hi all, welcome to All Football's On This Day! Let's find out what happened today (November 29th) in football history. If you have more stories and news that happened on this day in history, please post them in the comment area and share them with AFers!
On This Day in 1899 - Juan Gamper established FC Barcelona
Joan Gamper found the illustrious Football Club Barcelona. Happy Establishment anniversary to one of the greatest clubs in the world!
The team was founded in 1899 by a group of Swiss, English and Spanish footballers led by Joan Gamper. The club played amateur football until 1910 in various regional competitions. In 1910, the club participated in their first of many European competitions and has since amassed fourteen UEFA trophies and a sextuple. In 1928, Barcelona co-founded La Liga, the top-tier in Spanish football, along with a string of other clubs. As of 2017, Barcelona has never been relegated from La Liga, a record they share with Athletic Bilbao and arch-rival Real Madrid.
On This Day in 2010 - Barca smashed Real Madrid 5-0
In 29th November, 2010. Barcelona taught Real Madrid a lesson in football at Camp Nou.
Real Madrid Coach, at that time, Jose Mourinho always said that his side would lose one day but he did not expect to lose like this – not after enjoying the greatest start of any coach in Real Madrid's history. His team, so impermeable before, were punctured. Five times. They were sunk. A 5-0 victory for Barcelona was described by the Madrid coach as a "historically bad result" for his club – it was the worst defeat he has suffered in his career.
Before the clash, Mourinho was appointed to help bring a period of Barcelona dominance to an end and re-establish Real as the best team not only in Spain but also Europe.
But the gulf appeared wider than ever as Barca ran riot courtesy of first-half goals from Xavi and Pedro, a double from David Villa after the interval and a late Jeffren strike, while Sergio Ramos saw red for Real.
On This Day in 1998 - Steven Gerrard made his Reds debut
On this day in 1998, Steven Gerrard made his Liverpool debut as a last-minute substitute in Reds' 2-0 defeat of Blackburn Rovers at Anfield.
The rest, as they said, is history.
On This Day in 1973 - Birthday of Ryan Giggs
On 29 November 1973, Ryan Giggs, the most decorated footballer in English history, was born in Cardiff, Wales.
Since making his first appearance for Manchester United senior side in 1991,He is one of only 25 players to have made over 1,000 career appearances! Along the way, he has amassed an impressive collection of silverware that includes thirteen league titles, four FA Cups, and two Champions League trophies. His total of 35 major trophies makes him the most decorated player in the history of English football.
Now, 45 years old, he is currently coaching the Wales international team.
On This Day in 1986 - A Trophy Three Decades In The Making
On 29 November 1986, River Plate finally won their first Copa Libertadores in their third appearance in the final.
They reached the final in 1966 and 1976 before losing to Peñarol and Cruzeiro, respectively, though they forced a replay in both cases. After another ten-year break, they found themselves in the final again, this time against América de Cali, who finished as runners-up in 1985, their only previous appearance in the final.
The two teams met in Colombia for the first leg on 22 November and River Plate won 2-1.
River Plate hosted America at the Estadio Monumental one week later. After a scoreless first half, Funes found the back of the net in the 69th minute. It proved to be the only goal of the match, securing the trophy for River Plate.
Keeping to their ten-year pattern, they returned to the final in 1996 and won it for a second time, again beating América de Cali over two legs. They then won it a third time in 2015.
But, as we all know, their next Copa Libertadores final appeared last week between River Plate and Boca, but it had been suspended 3 times, after violence erupts outside stadium. What a pity.
On This Day in 1978 - Anderson Breaks England's Color Barrier
On 29 November 1978, England beat Czechoslovakia 1-0 in a friendly at Wembley. England's right back that day was Nottingham Forest's Viv Anderson, making the first start by a black player to appear for England in a full international match.
His impressive form during that successful run led England manager Ron Greenwood to call him up for the friendly against the Czechs. Midway through the second half, with the match scoreless, Anderson surged forward to create a opening for Tony Currie, who then crossed the ball into the box where a waiting Steve Coppell knocked home the day's only goal.
Despite his excellent performance, Anderson had to wait until June 1979 for his second England appearance and didn't feature in a competitive match until November 1979. In all, he received 30 caps, the last coming in 1988. He eventually retired in 1995 and was elected to the English Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
