Latest news with #JuanMata
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Eric Cantona and Ella Toone help meld football and art for Manchester festival
An installation created for the exhibition by Stefano Boeri and Eduardo Terrazas with the former Italian player Sandro Mazzola. An installation created for the exhibition by Stefano Boeri and Eduardo Terrazas with the former Italian player Sandro Mazzola. Photograph: Courtesy of Stefano Boeri Architetti 'Everybody needs his own ritual or way of preparing,' says the former Dutch footballer Edgar Davids. 'Those minutes that you're in the tunnel is where we're going to start.' Davids is talking about a piece he has worked on alongside the artist Paul Pfeiffer in which the pair recreate the tension of the tunnel before a big game. Advertisement The work will serve as the passageway into the 'set piece' of this year's Manchester international festival – Football City, Art United – where the beautiful game is moving off the pitch and into the artist's studio. 'It's now more important than ever to bring things together,' says Hans Ulrich Obrist, who has co-curated the exhibition alongside Josh Willdigg and the former Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata. 'There's a lot of separation and it's important to connect worlds that wouldn't necessarily talk to each other. It's exciting to do it with sport.' For Football City, Art United, Pfeiffer was paired with the former Juventus midfielder Davids, who has a significant art collection of his own and suggested recreating the intensity of the tunnel as players prepare to walk out into a stadium. 'He referred to it as the moment of greatest tension,' says Pfeiffer. 'Even more so than being on the field itself.' Advertisement Visitors to the Aviva Studios in Manchester, where the exhibition is being held, will be immersed into a tunnel, with audio of crowd noise that Pfeiffer and his team recorded live at the San Siro stadium during the Milan derby earlier this year. Davids, who also played for both Milan sides during his career in Italy, was able to pull strings to get the artist's team pitchside. Pfeiffer calls it a mix of the 'preparation and interior space of the individual player' versus 'the sound of 100,000 fans permeating the wall'. There are 11 'pairings' in total, with footballers and artists put together according to interests. Arguably the most anticipated work for locals comes from the United fan favourite and Manchester United bete noire Eric Cantona, who alongside the British conceptual artist Ryan Gander explores the effects of fame on a player. The work features three parts: an automated spotlight that will pick out visitors at random so they can experience the 'isolating glare of celebrity'; a song performed by Cantona, Les Temps Passe or Time Passes, will play; and a number of match tickets from the French forward's final appearance at Old Trafford will be handed out to every 100th visitor replete with a message from him. Advertisement Perhaps the most intriguing work is a collaboration between the Berlin and London-based artist collective Keiken and the England star Ella Toone. Visitors can step on to a podium and interact with a mask inspired by Toone's 'spirit animal', the shetland pony. 'The idea is that football is for everyone and art is for everyone,' says Obrist. 'We're here to create a bridge of possibilities. There are moments of epiphany in football and art, and hopefully we can create some in Manchester.' This is not the first time Obrist has embraced football. He was a passionate backer of Douglas Gordon and Philippe Parreno's film Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait, which he describes as a masterpiece. He has also had a long-running collaborative relationship with Mata, after the pair messaged each other on Instagram when the footballer began liking Obrist's studio visit posts. This year's project is the latest instalment of The Trequartista: Art and Football United, a multi-part exploration of the sport and artistic practice. Advertisement After connecting with Mata, the Serpentine curator invited him to collaborate with the German-Indian artist Tino Sehgal at the 2023 Manchester international festival. The resulting work, This entry, features Mata alongside a trick cyclist, a freeform footballer, a violinist and a dancer. Obrist described the 2023 work as a teaserfor what's to come later this summer. The Honolulu-born, New York-based Pfeiffer's work often intersects with sport. He has used digital editing to make it seem as if a boxer is being hit by an invisible opponent and removed audio from NBA games, creating eerie portraits of players. As one critic put it, Pfeiffer 'strips away the pageantry' of sport and in so doing shows 'the pain and contradiction that draw people in'. The Swiss Uruguayan artist Jill Mulleady once met Diego Maradona, and she is using that chance encounter as the basis for a 'holographic illusion' of the footballer, which will recall his controversial 'hand of God' goal against England at the 1986 World Cup. Advertisement Alvaro Barrington teams up with the 90s Brazil star Raí to create a 'large green felt banner' that will hang about the space, while the architects Stefano Boeri and Eduardo Terrazas have created a work on the floor of the Aviva Studios with the former Italian player Sandro Mazzola where visitors can recreate some of his goals. Other work includes the manga artist Chikyuu no Osakana Pon-chan recreating scenes from the life of the former Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa; the Zidane co-creator Parreno and Marco Perego present a Sims-style video game where visitors can explore the 'physical geography' of the former Everton and Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti. The US artist Suzanne Lacy, the Manchester City and Netherlands star Vivianne Miedema and the Angel City FC and New Zealand captain Ali Riley have created a film; Bárbara Sánchez-Kane and the former Mexican goalkeeper Jorge Campos have created a flamboyant mascot named Brody; and the British artist Rose Wylie worked with the Arsenal and England defender Lotte Wubben-Moy to turn moments from her daily life as a footballer into paintings.
The Guardian
17 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Eric Cantona and Ella Toone help meld football and art for Manchester festival
'Everybody needs his own ritual or way of preparing,' says the former Dutch footballer Edgar Davids. 'Those minutes that you're in the tunnel is where we're going to start.' Davids is talking about a piece he has worked on alongside the artist Paul Pfeiffer in which the pair recreate the tension of the tunnel before a big game. The work will serve as the passageway into the 'set piece' of this year's Manchester international festival – Football City, Art United – where the beautiful game is moving off the pitch and into the artist's studio. 'It's now more important than ever to bring things together,' says Hans Ulrich Obrist, who has co-curated the exhibition alongside Josh Willdigg and the former Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata. 'There's a lot of separation and it's important to connect worlds that wouldn't necessarily talk to each other. It's exciting to do it with sport.' For Football City, Art United, Pfeiffer was paired with the former Juventus midfielder Davids, who has a significant art collection of his own and suggested recreating the intensity of the tunnel as players prepare to walk out into a stadium. 'He referred to it as the moment of greatest tension,' says Pfeiffer. 'Even more so than being on the field itself.' Visitors to the Aviva Studios in Manchester, where the exhibition is being held, will be immersed into a tunnel, with audio of crowd noise that Pfeiffer and his team recorded live at the San Siro stadium during the Milan derby earlier this year. Davids, who also played for both Milan sides during his career in Italy, was able to pull strings to get the artist's team pitchside. Pfeiffer calls it a mix of the 'preparation and interior space of the individual player' versus 'the sound of 100,000 fans permeating the wall'. There are 11 'pairings' in total, with footballers and artists put together according to interests. Arguably the most anticipated work for locals comes from the United fan favourite and Manchester United bete noire Eric Cantona, who alongside the British conceptual artist Ryan Gander explores the effects of fame on a player. The work features three parts: an automated spotlight that will pick out visitors at random so they can experience the 'isolating glare of celebrity'; a song performed by Cantona, Les Temps Passe or Time Passes, will play; and a number of match tickets from the French forward's final appearance at Old Trafford will be handed out to every 100th visitor replete with a message from him. Perhaps the most intriguing work is a collaboration between the Berlin and London-based artist collective Keiken and the England star Ella Toone. Visitors can step on to a podium and interact with a mask inspired by Toone's 'spirit animal', the shetland pony. 'The idea is that football is for everyone and art is for everyone,' says Obrist. 'We're here to create a bridge of possibilities. There are moments of epiphany in football and art, and hopefully we can create some in Manchester.' This is not the first time Obrist has embraced football. He was a passionate backer of Douglas Gordon and Philippe Parreno's film Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait, which he describes as a masterpiece. He has also had a long-running collaborative relationship with Mata, after the pair messaged each other on Instagram when the footballer began liking Obrist's studio visit posts. This year's project is the latest instalment of The Trequartista: Art and Football United, a multi-part exploration of the sport and artistic practice. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion After connecting with Mata, the Serpentine curator invited him to collaborate with the German-Indian artist Tino Sehgal at the 2023 Manchester international festival. The resulting work, This entry, features Mata alongside a trick cyclist, a freeform footballer, a violinist and a dancer. Obrist described the 2023 work as a teaserfor what's to come later this summer. The Honolulu-born, New York-based Pfeiffer's work often intersects with sport. He has used digital editing to make it seem as if a boxer is being hit by an invisible opponent and removed audio from NBA games, creating eerie portraits of players. As one critic put it, Pfeiffer 'strips away the pageantry' of sport and in so doing shows 'the pain and contradiction that draw people in'. The Swiss Uruguayan artist Jill Mulleady once met Diego Maradona, and she is using that chance encounter as the basis for a 'holographic illusion' of the footballer, which will recall his controversial 'hand of God' goal against England at the 1986 World Cup. Alvaro Barrington teams up with the 90s Brazil star Raí to create a 'large green felt banner' that will hang about the space, while the architects Stefano Boeri and Eduardo Terrazas have created a work on the floor of the Aviva Studios with the former Italian player Sandro Mazzola where visitors can recreate some of his goals. Other work includes the manga artist Chikyuu no Osakana Pon-chan recreating scenes from the life of the former Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa; the Zidane co-creator Parreno and Marco Perego present a Sims-style video game where visitors can explore the 'physical geography' of the former Everton and Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti. The US artist Suzanne Lacy, the Manchester City and Netherlands star Vivianne Miedema and the Angel City FC and New Zealand captain Ali Riley have created a film; Bárbara Sánchez-Kane and the former Mexican goalkeeper Jorge Campos have created a flamboyant mascot named Brody; and the British artist Rose Wylie worked with the Arsenal and England defender Lotte Wubben-Moy to turn moments from her daily life as a footballer into paintings. Football City, Art United is at Aviva Studios, Manchester from 4 July to 24 August
The Courier
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Courier
Who is Zac Sapsford? Dundee United's new derby specialist with Juan Mata secret handshake
Dundee United have bolstered their strike options with the capture of Australian forward Zac Sapsford. The energetic attacker became the Tangerines' first summer signing on Tuesday afternoon, sounding the starter's pistol on what is guaranteed to be a busy period of recruitment. But what can eager Arabs expect? From his penchant for a goal on derby day to his friendship with Juan Mata, Courier Sport profiles the man from Sydney. This will not be Sapsford's first foray into the British game, albeit the last was rather brief – linking up with the Chester academy in 2019. Aside from that stint in Cheshire, his development took place in his home city of Sydney, crafting a burgeoning reputation as one to watch amid the Hakoah Sydney City East youth ranks. Football was combined with futsal as he honed his skills, with Sapsford also linking up with the Australia U/17 set-up. Goals flowed at state league level (semi-professional), eventually catching the eye of city big guns Sydney FC in 2021. Sapsford's progress would prove to be inextricably linked to the Sky Blues – but not in the way he might have imagined when first joining the club. The tireless frontman didn't make a single appearance for Sydney FC. He was prolific in their U/23 side, but hungry for the opportunity to make his bow in the professional game. Sapsford found that opportunity just 18 miles across the city, joining fierce rivals Western Sydney Wanderers. And he appears to have an extra spring in his step every time derby day rolls around. Sapsford's maiden professional goal came against Sydney FC, with the fresh-faced forward notching a 77th minute winner in November 2023 after climbing from the bench – silencing the Allianz Arena. Reflecting upon his unforgettable cameo, he said: 'I don't think I could feel any better. It's quite surreal to be honest. Looking around when I scored that goal was the best feeling in the world.' Since then, Sapsford has found the net FIVE times in six games against Sydney FC – 42% of his total goals in senior football. If his derby day efficacy continues in Dundee, the Arabs will have a new hero. Although still very early in his career, Sapsford can say he has played alongside a Premier League, Champions League and European Championship winner following his campaign sharing a dressing room with Juan Mata last term. Indeed, he was quizzed about his 'secret handshake' with the Spain legend during a glitzy awards ceremony last month – much to his own confusion. You can view that moment here. While not possessing the same pedigree as Mata, Sapsford has already starred alongside players with plenty of promise, most notably Nicolas Milanovic who has joined Aberdeen in a six-figure deal. Milanovic made history by becoming the first Wanderer to win the prestigious Johnny Warren Medal, presented to the A-League player of the year. It will be fascinating to see him cross swords with erstwhile teammate Sapsford next term. Sapsford also grabbed a gong at the Dolan Warren Awards (the A-League's end of season ceremony) for 'playmaker of the year' courtesy of his sumptuous back-heel to tee up Jack Clisby to score against Central Coast Mariners. That classy assist can be viewed here. While capable of the sublime, Sapsford also benefited from the ridiculous. He scored one of the most preposterous goals anywhere in the world last term, tapping into an empty net after Anthony Pantazopoulos's booming goal kick travelled the length of the pitch and looped over calamity Central Coast Mariners keeper Adam Pavlesic. The strike has been viewed more than 13 MILLION times. Will Sapsford produce any viral moments at Tannadice?
The Sun
20-05-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Bruno Fernandes is so ‘football sick' his Man Utd team-mates spotted him watching obscure Polish match on train platform
BRUNO FERNANDES watches so much football that he's been accused of being sickeningly obsessed with it. The Manchester United star was recently caught watching a random Polish match while waiting for a train with his team-mates. 4 4 Fernandes ' former Red Devils and Portugal team-mate Juan Mata called the soon to be 31-year-old midfielder "football sick". According to The Telegraph, United players spotted their captain glued to a screen while they waited on platform for a train last month. The squad soon saw that Fernandes was watching an obscure match from Poland's Ekstraklasa while travelling to an away game. No outfield player across Europe's top five leagues has made more appearances (288) or played more minutes (24,474) than the Portugal midfielder since he moved to Old Trafford from Sporting Lisbon for an initial £47 million in February 2020. But as Fernandes prepares for his 63rd and biggest game of another horror campaign, his team-mates will again look to him for all the answers in Wednesday's all-English Europa League final against Spurs in Bilbao. This will be Fernandes' fifth final with United, winning just two and losing the 2021 Europa League crunch clash on penalties to Villarreal. Manager Ruben Amorim, 40, said recently United could do with 'two Brunos' to which one insider quipped: 'How about 10?'. No midfielder in Europe's top five leagues has had more goal involvements since February 2020 than Fernandes's 112. Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne is second with 100, while Fernandes also beats the Belgian's 430 chances created with 535. In another dismal season, Fernandes has 17 goals across all competitions along with 14 assists. Bruno Fernandes matches Cristiano Ronaldo record as he wins Man Utd award - but admits he DOESN'T want it 4 And he equalled Cristiano Ronaldo by winning the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award for a fourth time last week. Amorim 's men have been a different beast in European competition, with Fernandes setting the all-time goal contribution record in Europa League history (41). And club legend Roy Keane believes Fernandes could be the X-factor in Bilbao. Keane, who slammed Fernandes earlier this season, told Sky Sports: "You still have to fancy United. "Someone like Bruno can produce, the history of Manchester United still carries a little bit of weight. "United's history in finals compared to Spurs'. That might edge it for them, and I think Bruno can produce that bit of magic." Journalist Ben Jacobs reports that Al-Hilal are ready to pay Fernandes a staggering £65million per season on a three-year deal. 4
The Advertiser
14-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Mata eyes ALM club investment, in talks over WSW deal
Juan Mata remains keen on extending his time in the A-League Men and has hinted he is open to investing in an Australian club. The 37-year-old World Cup winner has had to contend with cameo appearances from the bench with Western Sydney through most of the season, but revealed he was in talks about extending his time with the Wanderers. The Spaniard is open about his love for life in Sydney, and despite his struggles for minutes at club level has shown a passion to stay connected with the game in Australia. Mata's charity, CommonGoal, which encourages players to invest one per cent of their salary into charitable causes, announced a partnership with the players' union, Professional Footballers Australia, on Tuesday. And the former Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder said talks with the Wanderers were ongoing to determine whether he remains playing in Australia. "We (the Wanderers and I) are having conversations (about extending), and I'm thinking about it," Mata said. "I also have to think about my family and personal decisions but let's see, I've loved being here. "I love the way that Australian football fans have embraced me and my family and all the respect that they have shown me." Mata said of his time with the Wanderers, who were knocked out of the finals in a 2-1 defeat to Melbourne Victory last week: "In terms of playing time, it has been a bit frustrating. "That's the way it is when you don't play as much as you would like. "And like many other teammates in my team, I'm in a time in my career that I also realised the impact that you can have in a football club, not only by playing. "Whether I played more or less I tried to give my best for my teammates and the club, and that's something that still motivates me." Mata is also keen to explore off-field opportunities in Australia. The 41-cap Spanish international bought a stake in Major League Soccer expansion side San Diego FC last year. Mata is understood to have spoken to the Australian Professional Leagues over being part of a consortium to put an A-League Men side in Canberra. "Maybe there is the opportunity to do that in Australia," Mata said. "I think the A-League might be in a difficult financial situation right now and many of the clubs, but I see that as an opportunity that will keep growing. "And it will grow because fans want to see football. I think they want to see better and better level in the A-League. "I think you have everything to do that, you have the infrastructure with the stadiums, the football fans and a great lifestyle. "There are many things that will improve and you never know, maybe I'm a part of that." Juan Mata remains keen on extending his time in the A-League Men and has hinted he is open to investing in an Australian club. The 37-year-old World Cup winner has had to contend with cameo appearances from the bench with Western Sydney through most of the season, but revealed he was in talks about extending his time with the Wanderers. The Spaniard is open about his love for life in Sydney, and despite his struggles for minutes at club level has shown a passion to stay connected with the game in Australia. Mata's charity, CommonGoal, which encourages players to invest one per cent of their salary into charitable causes, announced a partnership with the players' union, Professional Footballers Australia, on Tuesday. And the former Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder said talks with the Wanderers were ongoing to determine whether he remains playing in Australia. "We (the Wanderers and I) are having conversations (about extending), and I'm thinking about it," Mata said. "I also have to think about my family and personal decisions but let's see, I've loved being here. "I love the way that Australian football fans have embraced me and my family and all the respect that they have shown me." Mata said of his time with the Wanderers, who were knocked out of the finals in a 2-1 defeat to Melbourne Victory last week: "In terms of playing time, it has been a bit frustrating. "That's the way it is when you don't play as much as you would like. "And like many other teammates in my team, I'm in a time in my career that I also realised the impact that you can have in a football club, not only by playing. "Whether I played more or less I tried to give my best for my teammates and the club, and that's something that still motivates me." Mata is also keen to explore off-field opportunities in Australia. The 41-cap Spanish international bought a stake in Major League Soccer expansion side San Diego FC last year. Mata is understood to have spoken to the Australian Professional Leagues over being part of a consortium to put an A-League Men side in Canberra. "Maybe there is the opportunity to do that in Australia," Mata said. "I think the A-League might be in a difficult financial situation right now and many of the clubs, but I see that as an opportunity that will keep growing. "And it will grow because fans want to see football. I think they want to see better and better level in the A-League. "I think you have everything to do that, you have the infrastructure with the stadiums, the football fans and a great lifestyle. "There are many things that will improve and you never know, maybe I'm a part of that." Juan Mata remains keen on extending his time in the A-League Men and has hinted he is open to investing in an Australian club. The 37-year-old World Cup winner has had to contend with cameo appearances from the bench with Western Sydney through most of the season, but revealed he was in talks about extending his time with the Wanderers. The Spaniard is open about his love for life in Sydney, and despite his struggles for minutes at club level has shown a passion to stay connected with the game in Australia. Mata's charity, CommonGoal, which encourages players to invest one per cent of their salary into charitable causes, announced a partnership with the players' union, Professional Footballers Australia, on Tuesday. And the former Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder said talks with the Wanderers were ongoing to determine whether he remains playing in Australia. "We (the Wanderers and I) are having conversations (about extending), and I'm thinking about it," Mata said. "I also have to think about my family and personal decisions but let's see, I've loved being here. "I love the way that Australian football fans have embraced me and my family and all the respect that they have shown me." Mata said of his time with the Wanderers, who were knocked out of the finals in a 2-1 defeat to Melbourne Victory last week: "In terms of playing time, it has been a bit frustrating. "That's the way it is when you don't play as much as you would like. "And like many other teammates in my team, I'm in a time in my career that I also realised the impact that you can have in a football club, not only by playing. "Whether I played more or less I tried to give my best for my teammates and the club, and that's something that still motivates me." Mata is also keen to explore off-field opportunities in Australia. The 41-cap Spanish international bought a stake in Major League Soccer expansion side San Diego FC last year. Mata is understood to have spoken to the Australian Professional Leagues over being part of a consortium to put an A-League Men side in Canberra. "Maybe there is the opportunity to do that in Australia," Mata said. "I think the A-League might be in a difficult financial situation right now and many of the clubs, but I see that as an opportunity that will keep growing. "And it will grow because fans want to see football. I think they want to see better and better level in the A-League. "I think you have everything to do that, you have the infrastructure with the stadiums, the football fans and a great lifestyle. "There are many things that will improve and you never know, maybe I'm a part of that."
