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The Gaffer's Football Trivia Archive
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Sunday October 25
Gary: Hi gaffer, great site! Which player had the shortest duration at a Premier League club?
The Gaffer says: You could have one of two for this. Dietmar Hamann (left) signed a pre-contract for Bolton, but moved to Manchester City within 24 hours. And there's the famous case of the incompetent Ali Dia (George Weah's cousin don't you know!) who played 20 minutes for Southampton before being whisked off by a red-faced Graeme Souness. Then there's Robert Jarni, the left-back who moved to Coventry briefly (without playing a game) from Real Betis after the 1998 World Cup before joining Real Madrid. Some believe that it was a tactic from Coventry and Real Madrid as Real Betis did not want to sell Jarni directly to Madrid.
Goica: Is there any clubs that have won a league title in a country that wasn't their own? I know of Monaco and Derry City and im sure there was one in Belgium or Germany. Any ideas?
The Gaffer says: AS Monaco have won seven French league titles and Northern Ireland's Derry City, who were elected to the League of Ireland (i.e Eire) second division in 1985, ultimately won the top league title in 1989 and 1997. Rapid Vienna won the German League in 1941 although this enters something of a grey area as Austria was annexed by Adolf Hitler in 1938 so you could argue that it wasn't really a different country to Germany. I don't know of any teams not from Belgium to win the Belgium.
Tony, Doncaster: Can a number of players be sent off causing that game to be ended prematurely?
The Gaffer says: The key aspect of this ruling is that a team must have seven or more players on the pitch for the match to continue. So if a team has five sent off, the match would be abandoned. However, a team could also be reduced to six through a combination of injuries and dismissals. The most famous recent example was the clash between Sheffield United and West Brom in 2002 when the Blades had three sent off and suffered bad injuries to Michael Brown and Robert Ullathorne having already made three substitutions. Sheffield United were fined £10,000 and the 3-0 win for the Baggies stood.
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Saturday October 24
Lee Matson: Hi Gaffer, what's the most amount of losses a club has had in the competition yet still gone on to win the Champions League/European Cup?
The Gaffer says: AC Milan incredibly lost five games during their victorious 2002-03 campaign and they didn't even 'win' the final. Real Madrid are next worst with four in 1999-2000.
E Johnston: Who is the only footballer to have been sent off four times in a Premier League season?
The Gaffer says: Five players have been sent off three times: Vinnie Jones (95-96), David Batty (97-98), Slaven Bilic (97-98), Craig Short (01-02) and Franck Queudrue (02/03). However, no player has received four red cards.
Pete Smith: Hey Gaffer, I was just wondering if you knew what the largest number of hat-tricks in one game were? It wouldn't have happened in the Australia vs Samoa thrashing a couple of years back would it?!
The Gaffer says: 'Only' three players scored three or more in that 31-0 win over American Samoa - Archie Thompson (13), David Zdrilic (8) and Con Boutsianis (3). This matches the English Football League record of three, achieved on three occasions according to the history books. 1) 1909 Forest 12 Leicester Fosse 0, Enoch West, Billy Hooper and Alfred Spouncer. 2) 1962 Wrexham 10 Hartlepool 1, Ron Barnes, Wyn Davies and Roy Ambler. 3) 1987 Man City 19 Huddersfield 1, Tony Adcock, Paul Stewart and David White.
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Friday October 23
Worzel: Who is the only coach to manage five teams at the World Cup?
The Gaffer says: Bora Milutinovic (Mexico, 1986; Costa Rica, 1990; United States, 1994; Nigeria, 1998; China PR, 2002).
Top dog: Who is the youngest player to score in the World Cup and has anyone ever scored two or more hat-tricks in the same tournament?
The Gaffer says: Pele is the youngest at 17 years and 239 days when he scored for Brazil against Wales in 1958. Sandor Kocsis (Hungary, 1954), Just Fontaine (France, 1958), Gerd Muller (West Germany, 1970) have all scored two hat-tricks in one tournament.
Mike: Who is the only player to have played non-league football, 3rd division, 2nd division, 1st division and in the Premier League, plus UEFA Cup and Champions League?
The Gaffer says: Old one. Steve Finnan.
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Thursday October 22
Andrea: Which three players have won the Premier League, been relegated and scored in the World Cup finals?
The Gaffer says: There are four: Damien Duff (won title with Chelsea, relegated with Newcastle, scored in 2002 World Cup); Joe Cole (won title with Chelsea, relegated with West Ham, scored in 2006 World Cup); Alan Shearer (won title with Blackburn, relegated as manager of Newcastle, scored in 1998 World Cup); Bryan Robson (won title with Man Utd, relegated as manager of Middlesbrough, scored in 1982 World Cup).
Michael, Rochdale: Clearing out the spare room at home the other day, I found this football question on a torn piece of paper with no answer. It’s been driving me crazy since!!! "Arsenal can’t do it unless Wenger leaves. Man United have done it more than any other British club. Everton, Charlton and Oldham have done it, but Wimbledon will never do it unless Crystal Palace go bankrupt. Man United did it in 1992; Aston Villa did it at their first attempt. Spurs, Wolves, Leeds, Newcastle, Man City and West Ham have all done it. Liverpool did it in an unusual way. No one did it last season and no one is expected to do it this season."
The Gaffer says: This is two 'old chestnut' questions incorrectly joined together. No wonder you're confused! The first part concerns hosting rugby league games - Arsene Wenger reputedly wouldn't allow a London Broncos game to be staged at Highbury, Man Utd, Everton, Charlton and Oldham have all hosted rugby league, while Wimbledon apparently wanted to, but their landlords at the time Palace said no. The second part (from "Man United did it in 1992....") is all about clubs completing the set of the three major domestic trophies, although I'm not sure why Liverpool did it in 'an unusual way'.
James: Who is the youngest player to play in the African Nations Cup?
The Gaffer says: It was Shiva Star Nzighou of Gabon, who appeared at the 2000 tournament aged 16 years, two months and 30 days. He's now 25 and plays for Reims in the third tier of French football.
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Wednesday October 21
Andy: Who has scored the fastest goal in Champions League history?
The Gaffer says: Bayern Munich's Roy Makaay in 10.3 seconds against Real Madrid in 2007.
Wendy, Southport: When was the last time Liverpool lost five matches in a row?
The Gaffer says: Good question Wendy, and one which will bring a tear to all Reds fans' eyes. It was back in 1953, when the five-match losing run began on 29 August with a 2-0 defeat at Bolton. Liverpool then lost 4-0 at Newcastle, 5-1 at home to Preston, 2-1 at Wolves and 2-1 at Tottenham. All those games were in the old First Division. Liverpool were relegated after winning only nine of their 42 games, finishing with just 28 points (two points for a win back then).
Darren, South Wales: Alrite Gaff, which is the smallest country to win the World Cup in terms of population? It must be Uruguay surely?
The Gaffer says: You're bang on the money, Darren. Two-time winners Uruguay with an estimated population of 3,361,000.
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Tuesday October 20
Bladesman: Who is the most caped player still playing in the Premier League, Championship, League One and League Two?
The Gaffer says: Prem: Edwin van der Sar, 130. Champ: Stern John, 109. L1: Rahdi Jaidi, 88. L2: Micah Hyde, 16.
Will, Blackburn: Has any club got through a play-off and gone on to win the World Cup or Euros?
The Gaffer says: No, the best play-off qualifier result was Germany in the 2002 World Cup, when they were runners-up. Croatia and Turkey also reached the semi-finals in 1998 and 2002 respectively after play-off victories. In the European Championships, the best effort is by Holland in 2004. They reached the semi-finals.
Mr Mackem: How many league title winners are now playing outside the top-flight?
The Gaffer says: West Brom, Newcastle, Sheff Wed, Leeds, Huddersfield, Preston, Derby, Sheff Utd, Ipswich, Forest.
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Monday October 19
Mike the barman: Can you tell me which current SPL manager has the best win % in the English leagues?
The Gaffer says: Of all the current SPL managers that have managed in England (Walter Smith, Tony Mowbray, Craig Levein, Jim Gannon, Mark McGhee, Jim Jefferies and Eddie May) it is Jim Gannon who has the best record with 79 wins from 182 games with Stockport (43.4 win percentage). Mowbray is next with 40.27% at Ipswich and West Brom, then Mark McGhee with 39.57% at his many clubs south of the border.
Brendon, Romford: I have heard for a few years that Kettering Town are the highest goalscorers in FA Cup history. Is this still correct? Who are the top ten teams?
The Gaffer says: The last figures I have for this are from 1999. If you can be bothered to find out how many FA Cup goals each of these teams have scored in the last ten years then you have more time on your hands than I! The 1999 table was - Kettering 774, Aston Villa 773, Gainsborough Trinity 729, Tottenham 721, Manchester Utd 689, Kings Lynn 686, Arsenal 676, Everton 671, Blackburn 660, Enfield 645. I would say it's likely some of the Premier League teams had moved up a little!
Shayn: How many nations have been represented so far this season in the Premier League? And what nation has scored the most goals up to last round?
The Gaffer says: There have been players from 63 nations so far in this season's Premier League. You won't be surprised to hear players from England have scored the most goals so far (73 out of the 255 goals have been scored by Englishmen).
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Recent trivia answers from The Gaffer:
12/10/09 - 18/10/09: Long-distance headers, biggest spending Prem clubs and did Maradona play for Spurs? Trivia answers
05/10/09 - 11/10/09: The lowest-ranked team to have beaten England and short-term club owners. Trivia answers
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21/09/09 - 27/09/09: England's one-cap goalscorers, Serie A appearance records and three successive hat-tricks. Trivia answers
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07/09/09 - 13/09/09: Hat-tricks by England midfielders and when the Rest of the World came to Wembley. Trivia answers
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17/08/09 - 23/08/09: Smallest country to provide a Premier League player; most hat-tricks for one club; most relegated player. Trivia answers
10/08/09 - 16/08/09: Club with the worst League Cup record; highest priced uncapped Englishman; Roy Keane conundrum. Trivia answers
03/08/09 - 09/08/09: Played for Man Utd and Barcelona; most headed goals in the Premier League; FA Cup leading goalscorer. Trivia answers
27/07/09 - 02/08/09: European teams to win the treble or quadruple; Frenchmen to play for Newcastle. Trivia answers
20/07/09 - 26/07/09: Most-capped Premier League manager; Europe's record goalscorers; the Brylcream Boy revealed. Trivia answers
13/07/09 - 19/07/09: Brothers in the Prem; most saves in a shootout; Fifa and European player award winners. Trivia answers
06/07/09 - 12/07/09: Longest penalty shootouts; first substitute and perfect Premier League hat-tricks. Trivia answers
Check out much more trivia in the Ask The Gaffer archives >>>
