Iran and the AFC home venues saga, history in the Palestinian national team and the sad story of football in Lebanon. The past week was full of stories in the Middle Eastern football universe. Uri has picked three major of them.
After half a season, Sivasspor and Rıza Çalımbay are leading the Turkish Süper Lig. Is it possible that a manager who never won a title in his career, will lead Sivasspor to a sensational title?
Iran and USA’s recent political feud has spilled over to the football field - the USMNT has canceled it’s planned training camp in Qatar due to security fears, and Sergino Dest from Ajax decided on a similar action. As we already know, it’s impossible to disconnect politics and sports.
Maor Melikson, one of the best Israeli footballers in the modern era, has retired at the age of 35 after a glorious career. Twelve years ago, his career was on the verge of an early end, but one decision has changed his entire path.
2019 was a year of the unpredictable, of new perceptions, of challenges, of ‘no rules’.
The traditional yearly summary of BabaGol is here. Keep it real.
