Hi all, welcome to All Football's On This Day! Let's find out what happened today (February 14th) 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 2018, Ronaldo became the first player to score 100 UCL goals for a single club
Cristiano Ronaldo has reached the century mark in goals scored in the Champions League with Real Madrid, becoming the first player ever to accomplish that feat with a single team.
And that spot-kick saw Ronaldo become the only player in history to score 100 goals with the same club in the Champions League, adding to the 15 he had scored with Manchester United prior to his arrival in the Spanish capital.
On this day in 2004, Ronaldo scored as United smashed City 4-2
Manchester United survived Gary Neville's red card to cruise to victory in the FA Cup fifth-round derby against Manchester City.
Ronaldo's cross was turned in at the far post by Van Nistelrooy at 70 minutes.
And the contest was over after 72 minutes when Ronaldo scored from close range after Arason had saved miraculously from Giggs.
Tarnat scored at the far post to give City hope, but it was quickly snuffed out as Van Nistelrooy latched on to Keane's header to score from virtually on the goalline.
On this day in 2005, Arsenal fielded first all-foreign side in English football history
Arsenal, the defending league champions, were hosting newly-promoted Crystal Palace. Their team sheet included players from eight different countries, but not a single one from the United Kingdom. France had the most with six (Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires, Gael Clichy, Pascal Cygan, and Mathieu Flamini), followed by Spain with three (José Antonio Reyes, Cesc Fabregas, and Manuel Almunia) and the Netherlands with two (Dennis Bergkamp and Robin van Persie). The other countries included Germany (Jens Lehmann), Cameroon (Lauren), Ivory Coast (Kolo Toure), Brazil (Edu), and Switzerland (Philippe Senderos).
It wasn't much of a contest, as the Gunners were up 3-0 at the break, then Henry scored brace to seal the final 5-1 margin.
On this day in 2010, Barca suffered their only loss of the season
After only eight minutes in Madrid, striker Diego Forlán put the hosts up 1-0 after picking up a pass from José Antonio Reyes and putting it past Barcelona keeper Victor Valdes. Fifteen minutes later, Atlético doubled their lead with a free kick from Simão, taken at the edge of the box.
Despite going down 2-0, Barcelona quickly regained their composure, getting a 27th-minute goal from Zlatan Ibrahimović. Later, the Swede had two opportunties for an equalizer, but was twice denied by keeper David de Gea. The young Spanish keeper also stopped a shot by Lionel Messi near the break.
As consolation, it was their only loss of the season which ended with the league title. Atlético, meanwhile, improved their own fortunes and finished the season in eighth place.
On this day in 1992, Spurs star Eriksen was born
In 2011, Eriksen was named Danish Football Player of the Year, Dutch Football Talent of the Year, Ajax Talent of the Year and made the UEFA Euro U-21 Team of the Tournament. He also won the Eredivisie with Ajax in 2010–11, 2011–12 and in 2012–13 before departing for Tottenham in August 2013 for a reported fee of around £11.5 million. He won the Tottenham Player of the Year award for the 2013–14 season and in 2015 won his third consecutive Danish Football Player of the Year award.
In the 2018–19 season, Eriksen scored his first goal of the season in the Champions League away match against Inter. The match ended in a 2–1 loss for Tottenham, but in the home game against Inter, Eriksen scored again in the only goal of the game, giving Tottenham a 1–0 victory.
On this day in 1988/1987, PSG's Di Maria & Cavani were born
Di María is a quick, tricky and talented winger who is also capable of playing as a more central attacking midfielder or on either side of the pitch, although he is predominantly a left-footed player.
After beginning his career with Rosario Central, Di María moved to Europe in 2007 to play for Benfica, earning a €25 million move to Real Madrid three years later. He played a major role in the club's 2011–12 La Liga triumph. After winning the UEFA Champions League with Real Madrid, he signed for Manchester United in 2014 for a British record £59.7 million, but joined PSG a year later for around £44 million.
A quick, strong, opportunistic and prolific forward with good technique, Cavani has been described as a "modern striker." He is known for his ability to score impressive goals, both in the air and with his feet, and for his tireless work-rate; he is also an accurate set-piece taker.
In 2010, Cavani signed for Napoli, who signed him on an initial loan deal before buying him for a total fee of €17 million. In the 2011–12 season, he won his first club honour, the Coppa Italia, in which he was top scorer with five goals. On 16 July 2013, Cavani was transferred to Paris Saint-Germain for a reported €64 million, at the time the most expensive signing in French football history. In January 2018, he became the club's all-time top scorer with his 157th goal.
On this day in 2016, Welbeck scored late winner vs Leicester
Danny Welbeck threw the Premier League title race wide open when he scored a dramatic winner with only seconds left as Arsenal beat leaders Leicester City.
Jamie Vardy gave the Foxes the lead with a hotly-disputed penalty on the stroke of half-time after he tumbled over Nacho Monreal's outstretched leg.
Substitute Theo Walcott then set up a frantic final 20 minutes with a side-foot finish from Olivier Giroud's superb knockdown.
Welbeck's intervention left Ranieri and his men desolate after an outstanding backs-to-the-wall performance, exemplified by the brilliance of keeper Schmeichel as he kept Arsenal at bay, with one late save from Giroud world-class especially notable.