Rogan Taylor explains the enduring appeal of a football genius and the era he came to represent

When Ferenc Puskas came to London recently to launch a new book about his life, there was a lunch organized at Wembley to celebrate his approaching 70th birthday. Sir Stanley Matthews turned out to honour the great Hungarian player, along with Jackie Sewell and George Robb. All three were members of that England team which was taught a footballing lesson back in 1953, when Puskas and his mates beat them 6-3.

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Simon Kuper pays a 50th birthday tribute to Dutch legend Johan Cruyff

This month the Dutch celebrate two birthdays. 30th April, the day that Juliana, the Queen Mother, Iights her candles is traditionally the main national holiday, with market stalls, beer and orange flags.

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Newcastle 's decision to sack Ossie Ardiles heralds the return of Kevin Keegan, reports Ian Cusack

It was Liam O’Brien who diverted a 91st minute own goal past a bemused Tommy Wright to completed the unsavoury metamorphosis of a 3-0 lead into a humiliating 4-3 defeat against Charlton on 18th January 1992. The 15,663 crowd, less say 500 Robins, screamed and howled at the injustice of it all and more importantly the inadequate defending that had lead to this sorry outcome. Little were we to know that this game, give or take a defeat on penalties in an FA Cup replay against Bourne-mouth the following weekend, would be the last home humiliation under Ardiles’ stewardship. Apparently, Ardiles entered the dressing room after the team, stood facing the door, presumably expecting an irate John Hall to come and punch his lights out, lit a cigarette and burst into tears.

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Simon Knott revels in Cambridge's revitalisation at The Den

In the late 1980s Cambridge United were a bottom division club, regularly put out of the FA Cup by non-League sides.

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The signing of Martin O'Neill lit a fire for Norwich City's season, says Joe Ferrari

Some say every successful team needs at least one ‘battler’ in midfield, one leathery, hard bastard who elbows and nuts his way through the opposition defence before his hobnailed boot emerges from a pile of bodies and scuffs the ball home from two yards. And there are others who argue that this sort of player is all well and good, but you also need to have at least one ‘creative’ player some willowy slip of a lad who stifled a yawn before skipping past bonecrunching tackles and playing a devastating 40 yard pass with the outside of his boot.

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