By Khaled Itani | Staff Writer
“I stopped playing football because I no longer recognized it,” said Miroslav Klose, a football legend who holds the record for the highest-scoring player in World Cup history with 16 goals. Another football legend, Thierry Henry, mentioned that football has lost its talent, where you see fewer players with actual talent and they all seem like robots. In modern football, players focus more on technical skills and pace which make most of the games now look similar or sometimes feel the same. In many eyes of professionals and fans, football is losing the spark it once had.
In a recent interview, Lionel Scaloni, a known and world-renowned manager who won the World Cup with Argentina in 2022, mentioned how “We are losing the essence of football. Not only at a professional level but also with kids,” he criticized how kids are learning football where they are overwhelmed with information. “It’s a message for the future, this is a sport, and the beauty of football should not be lost,” he said, showing clear concern for the advancement of football.
Thierry Henry echoed similar sentiments, highlighting the perceived decline in intuition and talent on the pitch. Showing his fears for the current growth of the sport, he mentions that players seem more robotic, and they all feel and look mechanical. In current games, players seem to only care about their statistics such as how many goals they scored or how many dribbles they completed. On the other hand, players such as Ronaldinho and Okocha played for the sake of entertaining the crowd and enjoying themselves, while also playing their best and scoring goals.
Pep Guardiola, widely regarded as one of the greatest tacticians of the modern era, has spoken about the challenges of coaching in an environment where the emphasis on results often overshadows the pursuit of aesthetic excellence.
Guardiola’s sentiments are restated by other managers such as Jurgen Klopp, who have both expressed concerns about the growing influence of analytics and data-driven strategies in shaping the modern game. He argues that while these innovations have brought advancements in areas such as player development and tactical analysis, they have also contributed to a reduction in the spontaneity and unpredictability that once defined football, stating that “Football is always evolving. You have to adapt and innovate to stay ahead. But at the same time, we must not lose sight of what makes the game beautiful – the creativity, the flair, the unpredictability.”
Moreover, the commercialization of football has added another layer of complexity to the sport, with financial considerations often taking precedence over artistic integrity. Commercial pressures have significantly influenced the sport, leading to a prioritization of results over entertainment due to the pursuit of profit. In the face of these challenges, many within the football community advocate for a return to the values and traditions that have defined the sport for generations. Football players seem to care more about their public image than playing the game, the relentless focus on public image and social media can sometimes detract from players’ focus and dedication to their craft. The pressure to maintain a flawless image can be mentally and emotionally draining, leading to distractions from players’ performance on the pitch. Moreover, the constant comparison with peers and the pursuit of validation through social media metrics can create a culture of insecurity and anxiety among players.
In conclusion, the perspectives of legends and managers within the football community offer valuable insights into the challenges facing the football world. The concerns of the fans who fell in love with this sport, players, and managers who gave their lives to this sport should be addressed and talked about more. Football will always be a big part of almost everyone’s life and because of that, we should keep the beautiful game alive.
Sources:
https://azscore.com/news/football/43714-miroslav-klose-i-said-that-i-stopped-playing-football-because-i -no-longer-recognized-it
https://tribuna.com/en/news/football-2024-01-29-we-are-losing-the-essence-lionel-scaloni-explains-ho w-modernday-football-is-ruining-the-f/
Thierry Henry: During one of CBS’ Champions League Coverage episodes.
Pep Guardiola: During a post-game interview
Jorgen Klopp: During a post-game interview