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The Football Faithful’s Advent Calendar: December 12th

It’s Day 12 of our Football-themed Advent calendar which represents the halfway point on the journey through the festivities.

Here’s another portion of stunning goals, peculiar facts and birthday celebrations!

Number: 12

Bundesliga outfits Bayern Munich and Werder Bremen have retired the number 12 shirt as a gesture to their loyal fanbase for being their ‘12th man’.

In Germany, supporters are seen as paramount for football clubs. The 50+1 rule is a prime example of the nation’s recognition of the importance of fans.

This rule requires club members to own over 50% of the club. It is designed to ensure fans retain overall control of their club.

It’s refreshing to see in modern-day football, where owners often let greed override the interest of the institution.

Laura Holiday was the first player in National Women’s Soccer League history to have a number retired when Kansas City preserved her number 12.

The American international was a midfielder, two-time Olympic gold medalist, and a Women’s World Cup winner.

Happy holidays to Laura!

Goal: Figueroa’s Surprising Strike

Some goals just leave you speechless.

Maynor Figueroa did just that 15 years ago with an inspired goal.

Back in the 2009/10 Premier League season, Stoke City hosted Wigan Athletic. Pretty inconspicuous.

In the second half, Wigan were awarded a free-kick a few yards inside their own half over on the left flank. The crowd lulled as the players jogged back into position.

One of the best long-range goals you’ll ever see 😵‍💫

Maynor Figueroa, take a bow! pic.twitter.com/RpWk7cBVtJ

— Premier League (@premierleague) December 12, 2022

No one was expecting what would happen next. Figueroa took one look to spot Thomas Sorensen off his line before unleashing a raking effort that flew over the Dane and into the back of the net.

A moment of quick thinking and unbelievable execution from the Honduran, whose effort deservedly won Goal of the Season.

Footballer Born on this Day: Michael Olise

Happy 23rd birthday to Michael Akpovie Olise.

The English-born Frenchman has had a meteoric rise in football. Just three years ago, Olise was a fledgling young talent at Reading.

After a successful spell at Crystal Palace, the 23-year-old is now a key component in Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich.

Just last night, Olise recorded two goals and an assist against Shakhtar Donetsk, as his Bayern team beat the Ukrainian outfit 5-1 in the Champions League.

So good from Michael Olise. 🤩#UCL #BBCFootball pic.twitter.com/kENkq7vep6

— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) December 11, 2024

There are a few other former Premier League players celebrating their birthday today.

Ex-Chelsea and current Sheffield Wednesday player Nathaniel Chalobah turns 30, Premier League winner Victor Moses is 34 today while Danish centre-half Daniel Agger has reached four decades on the planet.

Stat: Celtic playing a home game at Old Trafford?

Celtic are based in Glasgow, some 210 miles away from Manchester United’s home, Old Trafford.

However, 40 years ago, the Hoops were forced to host Rapid Vienna at the Theatre of Dreams in the European Cup Winners Cup.

How did this happen?

The Austrian club had won the first leg of the second round 3-1 in Vienna before Celtic overturned the deficit in the second leg to triumph 4-3 on aggregate. Or so they thought.

In a dramatic turn of events, UEFA ordered the second leg to be replayed entirely at a different venue due to crowd trouble at Celtic Park.

The linesman was pelted with projectiles and a bottle was thrown on the pitch.

40,000 Celtic fans travelled to see Rapid Vienna win the replay to win the tie 4-1 on aggregate.

More trouble in Manchester saw UEFA inflict a stricter punishment on the Scottish club as they were ordered to play the next home game behind closed doors.

Rapid Vienna would reach the final of the competition that campaign which they lost to Everton.