Hi all, welcome to All Football's On This Day! Let's find out what happened today (February 20th) 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 2017 - Theo Walcott scored 100th goal for Arsenal
On 20 February 2017, Walcott scored his 100th goal for Gunners in the 2–0 victory over Sutton United in the fifth groud of the FA Cup. And at that season, Walcott helped Arsenal win the FA Cup.
Walcott's 100th goal for Arsenal
On this day in 2000 - John Terry netted first goal for Chelsea
Terry's first goal wouldn't come until some 15 months after his debut for Chelsea during an FA Cup win over Gillingham. Her ran out to the stand and celebrated with supporters. He went eventually go on to score 65 more goals for Chelsea across all competitions.
Terry's first goal for Blues
And in that match, Gianfranco Zola started as Chelsea captain for the first time.
On this day in 2007 - Liverpool signed Mascherano
On 10 February 2007, Liverpool added Mascherano to their UEFA Champions League squad and gave him the number 20 shirt. Eventually, on 20 February 2007, Mascherano's move to Liverpool became official after the Premier League accepted Liverpool's request to register the player at Anfield.
Mascherano made his debut for Liverpool against Sheffield United on 24 February 2007, and was praised by the Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez and team captain Steven Gerrard after Liverpool's 4–0 victory. On 29 November 2009, Mascherano claimed the first goal in the 2–0 win against Everton at Goodison Park when his 30-yard shot appeared to be heading just off target before it took a wicked deflection off Joseph Yobo before finding the net.
After making 139 appearances and 2 goals for Reds, Mascherano left Liverpool to join Barca On 30 August 2010.
On this day in 2018 - Messi finally scored against Chelsea at 9th attempts
In 8 meetings between Barcelona and Chelsea before, Messi hadn't scored even one goal. Instead, the first goal Messi scored against Chelsea in nine games and 730 minutes – the 98th of his Champions League career – came from a rank poor pass from Andreas Christensen.
It was the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash, and in the second leg, Messi scored two to knock Blues out of the UCL.
Messi's goal against Blues
On this day in 1971 - Finnish legend Jari Litmanen was born
On 20 February 1971, Finnish striker/midfielder Jari Litmanen was born in the city of Lahti. He went on to become the national team's all-time leading scorer, playing for them in four different decades.
He began his professional career in 1987 and spent time with Finnish clubs Reipas (1987-90), HJK (1991), and MyPa (1992) before joining Ajax, where he rose to international prominence. Between 1992 and 1999, he scored 135 goals in 253 appearances or Ajax, winning four league titles and the 1995 Champions League final.
After leaving Ajax, he one and a half relatively quiet seasons with Barcelona, then joined Liverpool in January 2001. In his first season there, he collected four trophies--the UEFA Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, the FA Cup, and the League Cup--then won a fifth--the Community Shield--at the start of the next season.
He returned to Ajax in 2002 and won another league title in 2004, then moved again to a series of clubs that included Lahti (2004, 2008-10), Hansa Rostock (2004-05), Malmö (2005-07), and Fulham (2007-08) before moving to his current club, HJK, in 2011 at the age of 40. Along the way, he made 137 appearances for Finland from 1989 to 210, scoring a record 32 goals.
