But, like his team, there's no doubt Boekhoorn also has a flair for the remarkable. After buying Ouwehands Zoo in Utrecht in 2000, he campaigned China's government for 16 years to move two pandas to it. Finally, in 2016, he was successful; pandas Xing Ya and Wu Wen moved over to the Netherlands in a deal signed in front of president Xi Jinping. His office at Ouwehands Zoo is above a gorilla enclosure; a hatch on the floor can be opened so you can throw food through it, and several N.E.C. players have done so after signing their contracts. Not everything the billionaire touches turns to gold though, as he once got stung in a deal to bring in a rare white crocodile; after paying for it to be imported, a rain shower revealed that it was a regular croc that had been painted white.

Come for @stighefootball.bsky.social’s report on what makes NEC Nimegen Europe’s most wildly attacking team.

Stay for the introduction to the club’s eccentric billionaire owner, Marcel Boekhoorn.

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We surveyed LALIGA players to rank how they feel about their fellow contemporaries 👀 spr.ly/6017B6XUn

NBA greats Kerr, Nash on ups and downs of owning Spanish soccer team Mallorca Steve Kerr and Steve Nash own Mallorca with a former USMNT international and an ex-tennis pro. What has it taught them about sport, leadership and life?

Brilliant insight into what it's like coming in from outside football to take over a club. @sidlowe.bsky.social sat down with Mallorca's owners, as they celebrate 10 years in charge, for a 1-hour TV special and this fascinating written feature.

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Real Madrid fired Xabi Alonso after 233 days. Where did it all go wrong? Xabi Alonso returned to Real Madrid as a club legend and one of the most sought-after coaches around, but he lasted less than a year. What happened?

Xabi Alonso returned to Real Madrid as a club legend and one of the most sought-after coaches around, but he lasted 233 days. What happened?

Great job from ESPN's @alexkirkland.bsky.social, Rodra and Rodrigo Faez laying bare how Xabi's reign was doomed from the start.

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ESPN Associate Editor at DISNEY Learn more about and apply for the ESPN Associate Editor job at DISNEY here.

This is an amazing opportunity to make your mark on ESPN's football coverage. If you can be based in London, then this could be you: jobs.disneycareers.com/job/london/e...

How Arsenal's new signing Viktor Gyökeres became Europe's top striker Viktor Gyökeres was in England's second tier a few years ago but he was Europe's top goal scorer last season and is now a major addition for Arsenal.

How Viktor Gyökeres became a goal machine, and what he’ll bring to Arsenal.

Top work by @jamesolley.bsky.social, @stighefootball.bsky.social and @tkkarlsen.bsky.social

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Man United fans' breakaway club, FC United of Manchester, still protesting after 20 years FC United, founded in opposition to the Glazers' Man United takeover, were told they wouldn't last 'til Christmas. Two decades on, they're still here.

FC United of Manchester, founded in opposition to the Glazers' Man United takeover, were told they wouldn't last 'til Christmas. Two decades on, they're still here. Great piece by @paul-c-watson.bsky.social

How Xabi Alonso made his rapid rise from rookie coach to Real Madrid Less than three years into his career as a top-level coach, Alonso is returning to Real Madrid, the most pressurized job in football. He's earned it.

Few players can match Xabi Alonso's CV, and he's already among the elite in his second career as a manager. Here's the full story of his rapid rise in the coaching world, with brilliant reporting and analysis from @alexkirkland.bsky.social and @espnbillc.bsky.social

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How Hansi Flick won the LaLiga title and took Barcelona back to the top No one knew how successful, if at all, Hansi Flick would be at Barcelona, but he's won LaLiga with Europe's most thrilling team. Here's how he did it.

A year that started with Raphinha weighing up an exit, Lamine taking exams & Szczesny on a beach in Marbella has ended with the LaLiga trophy & a domestic treble.

Barça defied their longest title odds in 15+ years to become youngest champs this century

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How Barcelona's fitness guru got them sprinting to top of LaLiga Barcelona are approaching the business end of the season top of LaLiga and looking strong in Europe. Here is the inside story of their fitness revamp.

One of Barça’s big strengths, says the Rayo coach, is that Flick has convinced them to run more than almost anyone. On their sprinting stats, a fitness team led by Julio Tous & keeping players like Pedri injury free. Help from Victor Moses, Luis García & Ronald Araújo global.espn.com/soccer/story...

Want to join the ESPN FC team? We are now looking to fill a U.S.-based Associate Editor role to work on our digital soccer coverage. disney.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/disneycareer...

People's Puskas Award: Watch the nominees for world's best amateur goal of the year The People's Puskas award is for the world's best goal of the year scored in an amateur match caught on a Veo camera. Here are the eight finalists.

These are the greatest goals of the year that you've never seen.

The People's Puskas Award is for the scorer of the best goal in an amateur game captured on a Veo camera, and the 8 nominees are incredible.

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Cristiano Ronaldo has been such a constant, dominant presence over the past two decades that it’s hard to do the story of his career justice. But we did, thanks to the excellent work of so many great people across ESPN.

Cristiano Ronaldo's career on his 40th birthday Cristiano Ronaldo, who turns 40 on Feb. 5, is one of the GOATs of the sporting world, but he's still chasing the one milestone no one has ever managed: 1,000 career goals. We look at his career to dat...

Love him or loathe him, you can't doubt the juggernaut that is Cristiano Ronaldo.

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Barcelona enter free fall, whereas Atlético Madrid flex title credentials Barcelona's inconsistency continues as Atlético Madrid's last-second 2-1 win over the Blaugrana see them move atop of LaLiga.

Barça were 10pts clear of Atlético in November. After losing to them, they end year 3pts behind them having played a game more. Flick was proud of performance but it was a 3rd straight defeat at home, Sorloth’s 90th minute winner proving wild ending to intriguing game global.espn.com/football/sto...

Barça took 33/36pts from first 12 LaLiga games, but just 5/18 from next six. What's happened to Flick's team ahead of huge game v Atlético?

High line analysis from those who've taken points from them, staggering offside stats & 10 players already on 1,500+ minutes:

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Spain, Sevilla legend Jesús Navas retires: 20 years of trophies, records and history From Spain's triumphs at the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2024, to four Europa League titles with Sevilla, Jesús Navas was always there. Now he's retiring.

Jesús Navas is retiring. The only player who links Spain 2010 with Spain 2024, and a record-breaking legend with Sevilla. Wrote about him for ESPN FC ⬇️
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How late bloomer Viktor Gyökeres became Europe's most-wanted striker Viktor Gyökeres was playing in England's second tier 18 months ago. Now, aged 26, he's wanted by Europe's elite. What's behind his rise, and where could he go?

An in-depth look at how Viktor Gyökeres seemingly came from nowhere to be the striker wanted by Europe's elite. The story of his early career by @jamesolley.bsky.social, technical analysis from @tkkarlsen.bsky.social and number crunching by @stighefootball.bsky.social.

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Valencia's first game since devastating floods was an emotional release for club, players and city After last month's flooding claimed at least 221 lives, Valencia's return to action at Mestalla provided a place for unity, support and respect.

Went to Valencia for their first game since fatal flooding in the region last month. An emotional day, lots of tears, a beautiful homage & a fitting first scorer in Tárrega, whose family home was among those flooded… plus a first (much needed) win since September

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Problems are piling up for Real Madrid, from thin squad to $1bn stadium A struggling team, legal action blocking events at the Bernabéu, the Ballon d'Or PR disaster: Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez has lots of issues to address.

The squad, the stadium, the Ballon d’Or, the Super League: the issues facing Real Madrid, and what's next www.espn.com/soccer/story...

Introduce yourself with four footballers: