What chance are there that Sporting will produce another player that's going to end up one of the all-time top-10 (probably in the top half, but I don't want to start a meaningless debate)? They had a fantastic history and yet they've only produced two players that really made the mark on the world football – and with all my love for Figo, he was never in consideration for being the best player of all-time (or even a penultimate player of his generation, that would be Ronaldo followed by Zidane). Let me answer my own hypothetical – those chances are close to zero.
On a side note, I don't think that the club celebrates Sir Bobby Charlton's career enough, the man is a true club legend on and off the pitch and people casually put him in a category with the likes of Ronaldo or Rooney who were great players but aren't SBC.
The exact point I was going to make.
He's as good an advertisement for Sporting's academy as it gets so it's understandable. Might have been a bit more... I don't know, 'natural' if they waited until his retirement though.
I would love it if the training ground was renamed in Sir Bobby's honour.
Yeah. Talent-wise he's behind only Best and Ronaldo (and possibly Edwards, but who knows), but he had spent 20 years with us, beat our appearance and goalscoring records (as a midfielder)... basically a mix between Giggs & Ronaldo in terms of his influence, performance levels and overall contribution. And somehow there's not a clear-cut opinion on who is our greatest (not best) ever player in the fanbase!
Couldn't think of a more fitting name for it, he represents everything the academy stands for. It's true we had plenty of talented players coming out of the academy, most of those fecked the club over at some point though and are heavily disliked. If they called the Luis Figo academy, now that would be heavily controversial.
Its the academy, not the stadium. He joined the academy aged 12, so pretty sure he played a lot for the academy. He’s a Portuguese legend and they’re proud to have been a vital part of his development.. So good on em, world needs a lot fewer people who just like to moan about crap that doesn't affect them.
How about Duncan Edwards or Bobby Charlton
Wouldn't that cause confusion at the dinner table?
Sporting fans are portuguese, he's idolized by Sporting fans similarly to the way that these days he's idolized by loads of Benfica, Porto or Braga fans even if he never played for their clubs. He's not idolized for what he did at club level for us which was next to nothing, although there's obviously a lot of pride in seeing a player have this sort of career after being produced at your club. Same way it happened at a smaller scale with Nani for example or with Rui Costa or now Felix at Benfica, fans understand that the great players will leave and want them to do well after they do.
Ronaldo is arguably the best to ever do it, and he came through their academy. Nothing small time about it.
Possibly, but it's all in the pronounciation. I have the same actual name as my dad for example.
I appreciate the respect you have for Sporting despite them not having won a title in so long.
Not really, it's never too early to give him his flowers nothing is promised in life except for death. He's also Portuguese and one of their own, him playing a few minutes is not a testament of a lack of devotion but rather his talent and ambition was beyond what they could give him.
I can relate to that. As a fan of a club which will likely never win a big international trophy and only has underdog chances of winning the league, you enjoy it if former players (Carvajal, Kroos, Son, Vidal, Havertz) make it to the top, representing your club in a way. However, it still would feel weird to grant such an honor to a player who has only been with the professional team for such a brief period of time. Havertz is probably our best academy product ever and I definitely want him to do well but he's chosen to leave (understandably) and write his legacy elsewhere, so I'd go with a lesser player who devoted his career to the club. We never had such a youth player I believe, so I can't give an example. So yeah, I can see where you're coming from but still feel the admiration a bit one sided.
Don't know how old you are but if your dad had the same idea of (re)naming himself and his children, you're probably called "Diego", "Zinedine" or something?Possibly, but it's all in the pronounciation. I have the same actual name as my dad for example.
It's just the academy, if it was the stadium then it would be stupid but the academy seems fitting. I'm sure if Havertz goes on to have a career comparable to Ronaldo and becomes the best german player of all time then Leverkusen might consider it.
Definitely agree on your second point. I can imagine all the young Portuguese kids that aspire to become footballers will want to train at the Cristiano Ronaldo academy. When you look at it like that it’s a great marketing move.
Fair enough
Which is kind of weird...as Di Stefano didn't come through the Madrid youth system and Cruyff came from Ajax.
yeah it's weird the objections. If there was a player that ever showcased ability, drive and determination to get to the top its Ronaldo. He's literally the perfect football role model on the pitch.