The History Of Soccer (Football)

The History of Soccer (Football)

Soccer (football) in Ancient Times
A military document showed that a form of soccer (football) was played in China in the 2nd Century B.C and it was called “Cuju.” The Chinese would kick a leather ball through two long poles.

The Ethnological Museum of Germany found a document from 50 B.C. stating that a form of soccer (football) was played by Japanese and Chinese teams. There is actual recorded proof of a soccer (football) game that was played in Japan in the year 611 A.D.

The Romans were known to play a style of soccer (football) where there would be two teams of 27 individuals in the early Olympic Games of Rome.

Mesoamericans (those who live in areas in The Americas that extend from Mexico to Honduras and Nicaragua).

They played a form of soccer (football) that was a combination of soccer, basketball and volleyball. Two teams would have to kick a ball in baskets that were placed on the sides of walls.

Soccer (football) in The Middle Ages
During the Middle Ages in England, a game called “Mob Soccer” was formed and it was a game where the number of people playing was unlimited. The teams would be people from the same villages or towns competing against one another. The rules of the game was to kick the ball near monuments and defend those landmarks.

Probably the most unsual thing about the game was that the ball was made from a pig’s bladder.

The History of Modern Soccer (Football)
The rules and organization of the modern game of soccer really began in England with the man who is considered to be the father of the modern rules of soccer (football) Cobb Marley.

Mr. Cobb Marley created a club called The Barnes Soccer Club, but he felt there should be better rules for his team and the game of the soccer (football) so he placed an ad in a local newspaper for others to help him to start rules for the game of soccer (football) and to began an organized group.

Marley and the founding fathers of other soccer (football) clubs around London met in Freemason’s Tavern in the English Capital to create the first body of organized soccer and the organization would be called FA (Football Association).


Football Association created an established set of rules for soccer (football) which are the standards of today’s modern game.

The laws of the game today are determined by The International Football Association Board which was formed in 1886.

In 1872, the first international game took place between England and Scotland.

In 1888, England started the first Soccer League in Birmingham, England with 12 teams from the Midlands section of England and North of England.

In 1913,The Fedération Internationale de Football Association was formed due to the excitement of international games and they agreed to follow the rules of The International Football Association Board.

In 1913, International games became so popular; representatives from The Fedération
Internationale de Football Association became members of The International Football Association Board.

Soccer is the most famous sport in the world and it is watched my billions of people. More than 200 nations participate in the game and it has created a sense of love and peace across the world like no other sport.

“The Côte d'Ivoire national football team helped secure a truce to the nation's civil war in 2005 and it helped further reduce tensions between government and rebel forces in 2007 by playing a match in the rebel capital of Bouaké, an occasion that brought both groups together peacefully for the first time.”

Soccer Laws
The game of soccer (football) is made up of two teams of 11 players on both sides.

Goal Keeper- Their jobs is to prevent the opposing team from scoring. They are the only one on the team allowed to use their hands during play.

Forwards- Point scorers. Their focus are to constantly get the ball through the goal.

Mid fielders- When they receive the ball their job is to keep it as much as they can, then pass it to the forwards on their team.

Pelé

Pelé

Pelé (Edison Arantes do Nascimento)-Forward
Birthdate: October 23, 1940
Place of Birth: Trés Coracões, Brazil

Known as the master of the “bicycle kick”, Pelé is the name of the greatest soccer player of all time. He is a world ambassador of peace and considered to be a beloved national treasure to his home country of Brazil.

Pelé’s legendary accomplishments in the soccer world go back to the 1950’s where in 1956, he began his career playing for the Brazilian soccer club Santos F.C.

Soon Pelé would win his first World Cup for The Brazilian National Team in 1958.

Pelé went on to win 2 more world cups with Brazil in 1962 and 1970. The World Cup victory Pelé is most proud of his victory over Italy in the 1970 World Cup where he scored the winning goal with his head. This was a proud accomplishment for Pelé because his father was a former soccer player who won five soccer games by using his head. Pelé was hoping to surpass it.

Pelé was heavily scouted by European teams, but Brazil made him an actual national treasurer so European teams could not legally take him as a player.

Born as Edson Arnates do Nascimneto named after Thomas Edison,. his parents dropped the “I” and named him Edson. There was a mistake made with the birth certificate and the “I’ was not removed, so his birth certificate reads Edison.

Pelé played professionally in Brazil for Santos F.C., from 1956-1974. Pelé retired in 1974, only to return in 1974, to play for a professional team in The United States called The New York Cosmos of The North American Soccer League.

The last game he played for the Cosmos was an exhibition game against his old Brazilian soccer club Santos F.C.

Pelé’s statics as a player includes a remarkable 1,280 goals in 1,360 games scored in 93 full international games.

Pelé statistics with Santos F.C includes:
1959- 127 Goals
1961- 110 Goals
1965- 101 Goals
Two World Club Championships with Santos F.C.

Pelé retired in 1977, only to pursue personal business ventures with him opening a sports markerting firm and a coffee company

1978- Awarded The International Peace award.
1980- Named athlete of the Century.
1993- Inducted into The National Soccer Hall of Fame.
2000- Named second to Muhammad Ali as “Sportsman of the Century.”

Pelé is a spokesman for many organizations and has been a long time contributor of children’s charities especially through UNICEF.

Now Pelé is a delegate for Brazil’s bid to be in the 2016 Summer Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro.



Pelé 1970 World Cup

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQtf-xKNQRI&feature=related

Cobi Jones

Cobi N’ Gai Jones-Midfielder
Birth Date: June 16, 1970
Place of Birth: Detroit, Michigan

Cobi Jones is a native of Detroit, Michigan. His family moved to West Lake Village, California. His great soccer years would began as a college player with the UCLA Soccer Team.

At UCLA Cobi, would lead the Bruins (Bear) to a National Championship and in 1991, he was honored as a College All-American (An honor college athletes receive for a high achievements).

After college Jones tried for the U.S. National Team, but he was cut twice because it was thought he was not ready for international competition.

Jones skills would improve and 1991, he would be a member of The U.S. Pan American team where the team won a gold medal.

In 1992, Jones would realize his dream by becoming a member of the U.S. Olympic team and then he would be chosen as a member of the 1992, U.S .National Team.

Cobi's skill as a player were recognized by other soccer organizations, and he was invited to train with Germany’s F.C. Colgne soccer club.

In 1994, Jones played in The World Cup which was held for the first time in The United States. The U.S. team lost the chance of winning the world cup after losing to very strong teams such as Brazil in the second round. The U.S. Team lost but Jones played a great game.

From his performance in The World Cup The Conventry City soccer team of The British Premier League signed Jones. His first start was a victory over Leeds 2-1.

International success continued for Jones where he scored in what many considered his biggest international goal in a victory over Nigeria in the 1995 U.S. Cup.

Jones’ greatest games were probably in the Copa American games in Urguay where he faced some of the best teams in soccer including Argentina, Mexico, Colombia and Brazil. Jones gave an assist which lead to the winning goal, beating Argentina in the semi-finals which was something that was not done before in U.S. soccer history.

After this Jones would play for The Vasco de Gama soccer club in Brazil, but it did not last long, then in 1996, he played for The Los Angeles Galaxy in Major League Soccer in The United States.

As a player in Latin America, Cobi Jones was a huge sensation and he was known as escobilón (The Swab).

Jones is the only player in MLS history to start with their inaugural (an original team that began with a sports organization) team and to retire with the same team. He retired from The Los Angeles Galaxy in 2007.

Cobi is the only player to have his number retired by a team in Major League Soccer.

As a member of The United States National Team, Jones played in the 1994,1996,1998 and 2002 World Cups.

Holds the record for most caps (international appearances) for The U.S. National Team with 154 and he was named The Best of XI (Best players in a league) at The CONCAF (International competition between the best soccer clubs in North America, Central America and the Caribbean) Gold Cup.

In 2005, he was named US Soccer athlete of the year.

Jones is married to former music executive Kim Reese and currently he is an assistant coach for The Los Angeles Galaxy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H20lLi9oK3U A Tribute To Cobi Jones

Mia Hamm

Mariel Margaret Hamm aka:Mia Hamm-Forward
Birthdate: March 17, 1972
Place of Birth: Selma, Alabama

Probably soccer’s greatest female player. Hamm was selected for The U.S. National Team at the age of 15, the youngest ever to do so.

Hamm has a great list of accomplishments that include 2 Gold Medals from the Summer Olympic Games, including one from the 1996 Centennial games in Atlanta,Georgia.

Hamm won four NCCA National Titles with The University of North Carolina, resulting in her becoming The Atlantic Coast Conference’s all time leader in points, assists and goals.

Mia had her number "19" retired at The University of North Carolina.

At the age of 19, Hamm was the youngest player to be on a World Soccer Championship winning team at The World Cup in 1991.

Hamm lead the nation in scoring at the collegiate level in 1990, 1992, 1993).

In 1993,Mia was the leading scorer at The University Games where her team won a Silver Medal.

Hamm was named female athlete of the year from 1994-1998.

Hamm was the first player to score 100 goals at The U.S. Cup in Rochester, New York.

Probably Hamm's biggest accomplishment in soccer was the women's U.S. National Team winning The World Cup in 1999, in a win against China at The Rose Bowl. It was considered one of the most watched women's sporting events of all-time.

In 2000, she became the world’s leading scoring in goals for men and women in international competition with 158 goals.

Mia was a member of the silver medal Olympic team in the 2000 Sydney, Australia games.

Hamm is a founding member of The Women’s United Soccer Association which began in 2001.

Mia played for The WUSA’s Washington Freedom and named FIFA Women’s Player of The Year for 2001 & 2003. The Freedom won The Founder’s Cup Championship in 2002.

Mia won a bronze medal with The U.S National Team in the 2003 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Hamm won Gold at The 2004 Olympic Games and the first soccer player to carry The U.S. flag at the closing ceremonies of the 2004 Olympic games.

Played her last international game in 2004, and in 2007, was elected to the National Soccer Hall of Fame.

In between all of her soccer accomplishments Mia Hamm is a proud mother of two children and she is married to former baseball star Nomar Garciparra.

In 1999, Mia Hamm created the Mia Foundation to help raise money for bone marrow research.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUsH0LfaiTE&feature=related Hamm Tribute

http://www.miafoundation.org/ Mia Hamm Foundation Website.

David Beckham

David Robert Joseph Beckham-Mid-fielder
Birth Date:May 2, 1975
Place of Birth: Leytonstone, London, England

An international star was born when David Beckham began his career with The Manchester Unified in England’s Premier Soccer League in 1993, at the age of 17. Beckham played 11 seasons with Manchester United, scoring 61 caps and he became known as a “free kicker” specialist.

Beckham was disqualified from the 1998 World Cup due to a hard foul against Argentina.

In 2003, Beckham joined Real Madrid signing a 4 year contract and he wore a new number, "23" from his good old luck number from his days with Manchester United.

With Beckham, The English National Team won two worlds cups in 2002 and 2006.

Beckham remained the Captain of The English National Team from 2000-2006.

In one of the biggest deals in soccer history, Beckham left Real Madrid and signed a multimillion dollar contract to play with The Los Angeles galaxy in Major League Soccer.

In 2009, Beckham took a deal to play for AC Milan in Italy on loan while still under contract with The Los Angeles Galaxy. David plans to return in July to play with The Los Angeles Galaxy.

In his personal life David Beckman is one of the most recognized personalities in the world. His good looks and great personality has made him a star beyond soccer. With his world famous singer wife, Victoria Adams also known as “Posh Spice” from the group The Spice Girls.

“Posh & Becks” are one of the most recognized couples on the planet. Both are proud parents of three children. Beckham has made many commercials and he has been seen on television shows and movies.

All of this has made David more than just a soccer player but a well known celebrity as well.

Also,for any child who want learn how to play soccer, they can learn at The David Beckham Football Academy in London, England and Los Angeles, California

Now there is a chance for every child to "Bend It Like Beckham."


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URfiw2eySuk&feature=related