Those Gone....But Not Forgotten

2011 has been a year tinged with sadness ; from legendary Brazilian midfielder Socrates to  up and coming Wales manager Gary Speed, to the vastly experienced Croatian coach Tomislav Ivic. This year football has lost some of its most iconic figures  and in a list that is by no means exhaustive, FIFA.com pays tribute to those servants of the game who are sadly no longer with us.

Players

Brazilian football lost one of its brightest talents this year with the death of Socrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza, the player known simply as Socrates. With his effortless style and statuesque poise, the midfielder was a shining light on the pitch, notably for A Seleçao, for whom he scored 22 goals in 60 appearances between 1979 and 1986.

Socrates’ list of career honours is, however, surprisingly short in comparison to his towering talent. His most successful club spells came at Botafogo and later Corinthians, where he spent the bulk of his career, and he represented Brazil at two FIFA World Cups™, in 1982 and 1986.Socrates also captained Brazil for a time, as did his younger brother, Rai, but never won an international title.

'The Doctor', as he was known during his playing days in recognition of his medical qualifications, went on to practise as a sports medicine specialist after his retirement in 1989. He eventually succumbed to an intestinal infection on 4 December this year.

Former Hungary international Florian Albert, regarded as one of the most elegant players ever to have graced the game, died in October at the age of 70. Albert was a natural heir to the Magical Magyars of the 1950s, with his exceptional close control, explosive pace, vision, passing ability and powerful shot making him a peerless performer. A one-club man, Albert played for Ferencvaros from 1958 to 1974 and scored 31 goals in 75 appearances for the Hungarian national team.

Albert was elected European Footballer of the Year in 1967 and picked up two prizes at the 1962 FIFA World Cup Chile, sharing the Golden Boot with five others and winning the Best Young Player award. It was at Wembley in 1966, however, that Albert enjoyed perhaps his finest hour, inspiring Hungary to a 3-1 win over Brazil. A day of national mourning was observed in Hungary after his death earlier this year.

Powerful Russian forward Valentin Ivanov, who died in November aged 76, spent his entire career at Torpedo Moscow, scoring 124 goals in 287 games and winning two domestic league titles. Ivanov also enjoyed a successful coaching career, adding a league title and three cup triumphs to his list of honours.

Slovakian defender Jan Popluhar, who represented Czechoslovakia 62 times between 1958 and 1967, died in March at the age of 75. Popluhar played in the 1962 FIFA World Cup final, and in 2004 was voted Slovakia’s best footballer of the 20th century. His former international team-mate, Ladislav Novak, also passed away just a few weeks later. Novak, a left-back, won 75 caps and also appeared in the 1962 final, before going on to pursue a career in coaching. Another famously solid defender, Bosnian Josip Katalinski, died earlier this year aged 63. Katalinski represented Yugoslavia 41 times between 1972 and 1977, scoring ten goals.

Cuba international Juan Tunas, another of football’s legendary figures, died earlier this year at the age of 98. Tunas scored twice in Cuba’s 2-1 victory over Romania in the first round of the 1938 FIFA World Cup France to help create one of the first major upsets in the competition’s history. Tunas, until his death the last surviving member of the 1938 side, was known as El Romperredes (The Netbuster) for his powerful shot, which did once break a net during a league match. The year also saw the passing of Jean Daniel Eboue, a player known as “Iron Lungs”. The powerful midfielder, famed for his versatility and tireless work-rate, played for Canon Yaounde in the 1970s and 80s and won the very first Cameroonian Ballon d’Or award.

Former England defender Laurie Hughes, who played in the Three Lions’ famous 1-0 defeat by USA at the 1950 FIFA World Cup Brazil, died on 9 September at the age of 86. Hughes was also part of Liverpool’s historic, title-winning side of 1947.

Naoki Matsuda, capped 40 caps for Japan between 2000 and 2005 and a linchpin of former club side Yokohama F Marinos, died in January at the age of 34. Matsuda passed away two days after suffering a heart attack in training with his club, Matsumoto Yamaga. Costa Rican international Dennis Marshall, 25, died in a car accident near San Jose on 23 June, just five days after he scored against Honduras in the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarter-finals.

Coaches

Tomislav Ivic, a modestly-talented player who enjoyed a long and fruitful career as a coach, passed away in June at the age of 77. The Croatian coached at 19 clubs across Europe, winning eight league titles in six different countries.

The death of Wales manager Gary Speed, 42, on 27 November triggered a huge outpouring of grief in the British Isles and beyond. Former midfielder Speed was Wales’ second most capped player, and, in December 2006, he became the first player to make 500 Premier League appearances. He retired from playing in 2010 having scored 134 goals in 834 club appearances, as well as seven in 85 internationals for Wales.

Finally, former Uruguay international and head coach Hector Nunez, who led La Celeste to Copa America glory in 1995, died in Spain on 19 December.

Directors and referees

Dario Borgogno, former General Secretary of the Italian Football Federation under the presidency of former UEFA president Artemio Franchi, died in January at the age of 87. Borgogno was a member of the Organising Committee for the 1990 FIFA World Cup, which Italy hosted. The Football Association of Wales, meanwhile, lost former secretary general Alun Evans, who died at the age of 69. Evans occupied the post from 1982 to 1995.

Isaac David Sasso Sasso, a former member of the FIFA Executive Committee and the vice-president of CONCACAF between 1990 and 2007, passed away in Costa Rica at the age of 85. After a successful business career in Costa Rica, Sasso Sasso spent the best part of 30 years putting his skills to use for the benefit of national and international football. Meanwhile in Spain,Fernando Vara de Rey, a former vice-president of the FIFA Appeal Committee and a member of the Spanish Football Association for 21 years, passed away on 18 July at the age of 74.

Leo Kirch, described as “the father of German private television”, died on 14 July at the age of 84. In 1984, Kirch and his company KirchMedia helped to launch commercial television in Germany, before later buying broadcasting rights to German football matches and Formula One races.

Finally, referees around the world paid tribute to Russian official Vladimir Pettay, 38, who was one of 44 killed in a plane crash in Petrozavodsk on 21 June. Pettay was on his way back from officiating a league match between Dinamo Moscow and Rubin Kazan.

McCoy Suspected Broken Ribs

Tony McCoy has been taken to hospital with suspected fractured ribs after a final-fence fall at Taunton on Friday.

The 16-time champion jockey was riding Laudatory in the Steve Logan Memorial County Contractors Handicap Hurdle.

Clerk of the course Michael Trickey said: "He had some morphine and they've taken him to hospital. He has suspected cracked ribs."

McCoy is due to be in action at Warwick on Saturday, where he has four rides.

However, he gave up his final ride of the day, Hopeful Start, in the totetrifecta Handicap Chase.

An on-duty medical officer at Taunton added: "He's fallen off his horse and appears to have been kicked. He's now been taken to Musgrove Park Hospital."

O'Connell Named Irish Captain

Lions skipper Paul O'Connell will lead Ireland for the 2012 Six Nations campaign as regular skipper Brian O'Driscoll is out injured.

Centre O'Driscoll will miss the entire championship as he recovers from a shoulder operation.

Limerick-born lock O'Connell, 32, led the British and Irish Lions on their tour to South Africa in 2009.

Ireland's first match is against Wales at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Sunday 5 February.

After that, Declan Kidney's men face France in Paris, then host Italy and Scotland before finishing the tournament with a St Patrick's Day clash against England at Twickenham.

The Ireland squad's preparations for the championship started on Friday with a two-day training camp near Dublin.

Current Munster captain O'Connell has led his country in the past - against France in 2004, and also when Ireland played England during their World Cup warm-up series four months ago.

"To captain Ireland is a huge honour for me and I was delighted when Declan asked me to," said O'Connell.

"We are lucky in the Ireland squad that we have a couple of outstanding leaders across the pitch, and I know that I will be relying on them during the championship."

"It was good to come back together for the first time since the World Cup, and I am now just looking forward to February and to the challenge of the championship."

Henry Set to Join Statue at Emirates

Thierry Henry will sign a two-month loan with Arsenal if insurance can be arranged with the New York Red Bulls, Arsene Wenger has confirmed.

The former Arsenal captain, 34, has been training with the club during the Major League Soccer off-season.

Gunners boss Wenger said: "For two months it certainly will happen. I don't take care of the agreement and insurance and that is not completed.

"We cannot announce anything [now] because the paperwork is not done."

With Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh set to depart for the Africa Cup of Nations in January, the Frenchman would offer back-up to captain Robin van Persie.

Henry is Arsenal's all-time leading goalscorer, with 226 goals in 370 appearances for the club before he moved to Barcelona in June 2007.

Wenger said: "To cover for two months is ideal. He has the experience and the quality. He knows the club and can help the players on and off the pitch.

"He has exceptional talent and is a very intelligent man. It can only be positive.

"He still has class, pace and quality. He is here to help the club he loves. But we must not put too much pressure on him, he is 34. He needs two good weeks' work. He is here to help - not suddenly be the main player."

The French forward does not have to return to the New York Red Bulls until March, which means he could feature in seven Premier League games, including key encounters against Manchester United and Tottenham, as well as FA Cup ties and the first leg of Arsenal's Champions League last-16 clash against AC Milan.

If agreement is reached with the Red Bulls, he could feature in Arsenal's FA Cup third-round tie against Leeds on 9 January.

A statue of Henry was recently installed outside the Emirates Stadium.

G'Day for Simon Whitlock

Simon Whitlock withstood a terrific fightback from Michael van Gerwen to book his place in the quarter-finals of the Ladbrokes World Darts Championship with a 4-3 victory over the Dutchman.

Whitlock looked to be cruising to an easy win as he took advantage of an erratic display early on from van Gerwen to pull into a 3-0 lead.

Van Gerwen kicked off the match with a maximum on his first visit but still ended up losing the leg after missing four darts at a double.

That rather summed up his display for the first three sets as he mixed numerous 180s with even more missed doubles allowing the clinical Whitlock to take complete control.

With the darts in the fourth set, the Australian looked poised to close out the match, especially after taking the opening leg.

But van Gerwen suddenly found his form and, after hitting back in the next, he checked out 72 and then 53 to get on the board at 3-1.

That breathed renewed life into the contest as the resurgent Dutchman began to find the accuracy on his doubles to match his heavy scoring.

After taking the last two legs of the fifth set to stay alive, he breezed through the sixth without dropping a leg to level at 3-3 with Whitlock suddenly cutting a fragile figure.

But, having got back on terms, the Dutchman lost his way in the decider after being broken in the opening leg.

Whitlock checked out 96 to move within one of victory and then, after van Gerwen missed a dart at tops to stay alive, took out 52 to get over the line.

"Relief is the biggest thing, Mikey came back at me so well and he played some fantastic darts - I've just got to take my hat off to him," the Australian told Sky Sports afterwards.

Of his broken ankle, he added: "The ankle feels good actually, the pain disappears when you win!

"I believe I can win this tournament now, I'm throwing good darts, you've just got to believe in yourself."

Anderson in a hurry

Gary Anderson conjured a quite sensational display to seal a showdown with Whitlock in the next round as he brushed aside Colin Lloyd 4-1.

The Scot started sluggishly and was rather fortunate to pinch the first set after hitting double-one in the deciding leg.

But he then produced an extraordinary display of darts to double his advantage, producing legs of 11, 12 and then 10 darts to wrap up the set in just 4 minutes and 13 seconds with a three-dart average of 125.5.

His standards slipped in the next as he required a whole 5 minutes and 23 seconds to extend his lead to 3-0, this time averaging 107.

The Scot took the opening leg of the fourth to make it eight legs in a row, but Lloyd showed some character to stop the rot and even fought back to take the set against the darts.

But it proved a temporary reprieve as Anderson rediscovered his flow in the next, taking it three legs to nil to clinch victory and finish with an overall three-dart average of 101.

The Scot said afterwards: "We're warming up now, I struggled the first two games but I think I've woken up so we'll see what happens now. I'm looking forward to it."

Of his clash with Whitlock he added: "He's doing alright for playing on one leg, if it's that sore I'll give it a kick and really see how sore it is!"

Easy for Hamilton

The other match of the evening session was a far less tense affair as Andy Hamilton comprehensively beat Dave Chisnall 4-0.

Chisnall never came close to hitting the heights of his victory over 15-time world champion Phil Taylor in the previous round and departed the tournament with barely a whimper.

Indeed, Chisnall managed just five legs in the entire contest as he was blown away by Hamilton who now meets Belgium's Kim Huybrechts in the last eight.

The decisive moment of the match came in the second set when, having taken out 127 to move two legs to one ahead, Chisnall allowed Hamilton to come from way back to steal the final two legs and the set - the Hammer checking out 120 to ease 2-0 up.

From that point he was always in control and almost closed out the match with a 170 finish only to hit the inner ring with his third dart. But he duly returned a couple of visits later to seal a facile triumph.