MANCHESTER UNITED, KIERNAN
Posted: November 24, 2011 Filed under: Manchester United Football Club | Tags: fans, football, jersey, Manchester United, Montreal, photography, portrait, soccer 4 Comments »
Manchester United. Kiernan. West Hill/Biermans, Montreal, 2011
Why Man United? I asked.
“I like Rooney.”
I might not like Rooney but I understand how a kid growing up in the last decade would start supporting Man United, considering all the success the club has had. Kiernan plays hockey, and plays it well, but he also follows soccer. I would never swap my shirt with him but I would definitely trade my hair for his.
CHELSEA, JASON
Posted: November 22, 2011 Filed under: Chelsea Football Club | Tags: Chelsea, fans, football, jersey, Montreal, photography, portrait, soccer, street 2 Comments »
Chelsea. Jason. Monkland/Old Orchard, Montreal, 2011
Why Chelsea? I asked.
“Back in school days, my French teacher was a Chelsea fan, and somehow I got into supporting them as well.”
This Sunday I walked into a local pub to watch Chelsea-Liverpool. There was already a group of guys with the same idea, some in LFC and some in Chelsea shirts. It was a particular pleasure, at halftime, after Maxi gave Liverpool a lead, to get out for a smoke with a Chelsea fan. Jason’s started Chelsea supporter’s club here in Montreal and goes to watch a game at Stamford Bridge twice a year. He was born in Montreal but his parents come from elsewhere. His mother is from Croatia and Jason described his father’s roots as ‘Irish/English’. And just as it happens often, Liverpool beat Chelsea, and David Luiz, Jason’s favourite player, didn’t really have a great match.
Chelsea. Jason. Monkland/Old Orchard, Montreal, 2011.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR, ANDREW
Posted: November 20, 2011 Filed under: Tottenham Hotspur Football Club | Tags: Chicago, fans, football, jersey, photography, portrait, shirt, soccer, street Leave a comment »
Tottenham. Andrew. Ridge/Clarke, Chicago, 2011
Why Spurs? I asked.
“It’s my team and I like the shirt.”
I found the answer a bit odd since once you like the club you must love the shirt regardless of how ugly, or beautiful, it could be. But there was no opportunity to talk about Andrew’s motives a bit further. He, just like the rest of this Chicago crew shows up every Saturday morning at 7h30, throughout the year, to play. Respect! And he is my first Tottenham fan. I have to admit though, watching them play from afar, I thought the guy was running around the left wing in a Lazio shirt.
INTERNAZIONALE, ZAIN
Posted: November 17, 2011 Filed under: Football Club Internazionale Milano | Tags: fans, football, Internnazionale, jersey, Montreal, photography, portrait, Ronaldo, soccer Leave a comment »
Internazionale. Zain. West Hill/Biermans, Montreal, 2011
Why Inter? I asked.
“I lived in Milano when Ronaldo played for Inter and I started supporting the club.”
Yes, the real Ronaldo (not that other guy) was a great player and I can see how one could become Internazionale fan in his days. Zain studies physics and coaches a hockey team for which my son plays. He proudly wears his Movember moustache. While the moustaches are temporary, this jersey has been with him for many years, which became obvious as soon as he turned his back to the camera.
Internazionale. Zain. West Hill/Biermans, Montreal, 2011
JUVENTUS, TERRY
Posted: November 14, 2011 Filed under: Juventus Football Club | Tags: Chicago, fans, football, jersey, Juventus, photography, portrait, soccer, street 2 Comments »
Juventus, Terry. Ridge/Clarke, Chicago, 2011
Why Juventus? I asked.
“I played for an Italian team here in Chicago when I was younger.”
So it could have been any other Italian team jersey. The guys get together every Saturday at 7h30, throughout the year, to play. This time it was a beautiful November morning but that’s going to change soon; they will keep coming though. I was there to watch, my torn ACLs, in both knees, kept me away from joining them. All I could do is kick the ball back to them when it gets out of play.
Chicago, November 2011
LIVERPOOL, SANJIN
Posted: October 17, 2011 Filed under: Liverpool Football Club | Tags: fans, football, jersey, Liverpool, photography, portrait, Sarajevo, soccer, street 2 Comments »
Liverpool. Sanjin. Sarajevo, 2011
Why Liverpool? I asked, even though I knew the answer.
“Keegan, Toshack… I was a kid. Do I need to say more?”
This is my second and last post from the road, from Bosnia and Herzegovina. Sanjin, a football encyclopedia disguised into a man, must be the biggest Liverpool fan outside of Liverpool, and the most knowledgable when it comes to the Reds. Together, this Saturday, we watched the game against Manchester United and he showed up wearing the jersey. We abused Evra and most of the other Man United players but, strangely, we couldn’t change the outcome of the game. His weekly column about football in a Bosnian online magazine Sutra iz a real treat (for those that read Bosnian and for those who like to torture themselves with a language they don’t understand). My visits to Sarajevo are not complete without watching at least a single game in his company.
BARCELONA, TOMISLAV
Posted: October 10, 2011 Filed under: Futbol Club Barcelona | Tags: Barcelona, Bosnia and Herzegovina, fans, football, photography, portrait, shirt, soccer, street 5 Comments »
Barcelona. Tomislav. Hodovo village, Herzegovina, 2011
Why Barcelona? I asked.
“It’s my favourite team since I was a kid.”
Hodovo is a small village in Herzegovina, near the town of Stolac, not too far away from the city of Mostar which is about two hours drive from Sarajevo. My friend and I were in search of medieval cemeteries (another project) and had to return back from the desired destination since we faced the mine fields (Picture 1). Then, it is fair to say, in the landscape that is, by all accounts, in the middle of nowhere (Picture 2), by the road I saw a group of kids playing the beautiful game. On a brand new concrete surface (Picture 3), with nets, a tall fellow was wearing Barcelona shirt. I stopped the car, naturally. Our conversation didn’t go far but, regardless, I was very happy. There was something magical in seeing these kids running after the ball. Since this is a remote post in a rush, from far away, from Bosnia and Herzegovina (which will beat France tonight and qualify for the Euro), I include a few more pictures that give the idea (but not much more than the idea) of where all of this took place.
Mine fields (Picture 1)
Landscape (Picture 2)
Soccer field (Picture 3)
Greece, Sam
Posted: September 25, 2011 Filed under: Greece | Tags: fans, football, Greece, jersey, Montreal, photography, portrait, shirt, soccer, street 29 Comments »
Greece, Sam. Marcil/De Maisonneuve, Montreal, 2011
Why Greece? I asked.
“My family is Greek and I got the shirt when I visited Greece after they had won European Championship.”
Yes, Greece’d won the Euro, still hard to believe it. No matter what tactics they used to get there, not always a joy to watch, it is an admirable thing. Sam is a great kid, born in Montreal, but proudly shares his origins. He’s been a frequent guest in our home, a great company. Grčka (Greece, as it is called in Bosnian/Serbian/Croatian) appears even more mythical when called in one of these South Slavic languages. Go Grčka!
MANCHESTER CITY, SEAN
Posted: September 21, 2011 Filed under: Manchester City Football Club | Tags: David Silva, fans, football, jersey, Manchester City, Montreal, photography, portrait, shirt, soccer, street 3 Comments »
Manchester City. Sean. Guy/St. Catherine, Montreal, 2011
Why City? I asked.
“That is my name on the back of the shirt.”
I was watching Sean from the other side of the street as he was about to walk into McDonalds. Thankfully he changed his mind and started walking down St. Catherine. I ran across and caught him as he was crossing Guy. Sean Silva was born in Montreal. His parents come from India and Portugal. His favourite player is David Silva and he likes Manchester City because of their motivation and determination to go to the top right away. That is exactly why many others don’t like Manchester City. But David Silva is a great player, no one can deny. Sean also plays football, triple A (AAA) level. North Americans understand the code. To clarify for others, this means Sean is a very good player too.
Manchester City. Sean. Guy/St. Catherine, Montreal, 2011
JUVENTUS, ELIE
Posted: September 16, 2011 Filed under: Juventus Football Club | Tags: fans, football, jersey, Juventus, Montreal, photography, portrait, shirt, soccer, street 1 Comment »
Juventus. Elie. Mackay/De Maisonneuve, Montreal, 2011
Why Juventus? I asked.
“That was the very first club I watched as a child and I fell in love with it.”
Elie could consider himself lucky, the first team he watched could have been Lazio. I was wondering where are the Italians. It’s been more than a month I’ve been doing this and I haven’t seen a single Italian shirt. Then Elie showed up. My first ‘Italian’ is actually from Lebanon. From distance I couldn’t be sure if it was Juventus or Udinese shirt coming my way. I admit there is something seductive about stripes, perhaps it reminds me of my childhood when many more of this type of jerseys were used. This is a very nice shirt, except for the sponsor’s logo, but they are always ugly anyway.
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