Excuse the informality of the title, but that’s how I felt when I saw Manchester United hoisting yet another 2008 championship trophy. The Red Devils are the most recent champions of the FIFA Club World Cup, played in Japan this year, which pits the best club teams from each continental region. That gives Sir Alex Furgeson’s club four trophies in 2008: The Premier League, the Community Shield, UEFA Champions League, and now the Club World Cup.

The world of club soccer has taken some time for a new guy like me to figure out. A few things kept me from having any real interest in it prior to the 2006 World Cup.

1) Television and information access. There just was not enough games on television (in English) to keep me interested. Thank you Fox Soccer Channel and the internet for changing that.

2) Following the players. Why do many of us love sports? We love the players. At times, some feel more loyal towards a player than a team. There are so many soccer players in so many leagues, it’s hard to keep up with who’s who. Again – thank you, Internet, for changing that. And the most obtrusive reason of all…

3) The number of leagues and tournaments. Is it possible to keep up with all of these? England, Spain’s La Liga, Italy’s Serie A and what else have you. I had no idea what to follow. And even when one favors a particular league, there are so many other tournaments that these clubs participate in.

After a couple of years now following England football, I thought I had every title and tournament figured out.

Of course everyone has their league title. There will be leagues underneath the top flight league that also have their own title, much like minor leagues for major league baseball. From there, countries will have an FA Cup where all club teams regardless of level will vie for bragging rights. England also has the Carling Cup, which is a sieved version of the FA Cup (only teams from the top two tiers of football play in this, whereas in the FA Cup ALL teams, regardless of professional level participate).

Then I found each region has some form of a Champions League which involves the best of the best clubs from each country’s top flight league. In Europe, teams who just miss out may play in the UEFA Championship, kind of a consolation prize for almost qualifying for the UEFA Champions League.

I thought the Champions League for any region might be the Holy Grail. I began to notice that not all teams in Europe necessarily talk of winning their league, but of securing one of those top spots that would qualify them for “European play.” This means extra revenue for the club, more exposure, and proving one’s club against the best. Here is where I previously thought club competition ended. It is televised by ESPN and seems to be the guiding motivation of such power clubs like Chelsea, AC Milan, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

Now here I am just realizing that there is, in fact, a tournament to determine the world’s best club team and not just Europe’s or Asia’s or South America’s. I suppose it is logical; FIFA simply sets up a bracket based off of each region’s champions league winner (CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, UEFA, and others from Asia, Africa and the Oceania region). With this being the case, it does not take any importance away from Champions League play because a club only qualifies for the FIFA Club World Cup if it wins its respective region.

Getty Images

It amazes me how many of these tournaments a team like Manchester United can play in a year’s time compared to other less successful clubs. Conceivably, they could win six trophies or championships in a year. I’m starting to notice, however, that such a feat is not necessarily valued.

Teams like United seem to put the most worth into Champions League, and with good reason. The FA Cup in England, which is the most fun for this fan, is not necessarily lauded as a top priority by teams playing in UEFA Cup or Champions League. Because of this, you’ll often see altered lineups depending on the competition. I heard of Arsenal having lineups depending on the tournament, playing their less experienced players for games in the Carling Cup and their best players for Premier League games and Champions League games.

So I guess now we can officially say that Manchester United is the best club football team in the world having defeated the Ecuadorian club, LDU Quito, 1-0 in the Club World Cup. That is, unless, there is some intergalactic club competition I have not been made aware of yet.

Vince Lombardi. Tom Landry. John Wooden. Joe Pa. These coaches built and molded magnificent teams. They laid the groundwork for successful players with assembly line-like precision season after season. Now-a-days more credit is given to the General Manager for a team’s short lived success. Longevity is in the coaches, though. The coaches.

I noticed the same thing happening in soccer after the 2008 European championship. It bothered me, sure, but it didn’t surprise me. I haven’t been bothered by a managerial move until my post last week on Tottenham. A manager abandoning his team mid-season to join another team? In the same league? Who, by the way, is performing worse than the team he’s currently employed with? No, can’t be true…

Harry Redknapp is apparently a great coach. He’s salvaged a few teams on the verge of relegation, which is what he’s built his reputation on. Ultimately he’s the man responsible for Portsmouth FC’s (or Pompey as their fans call them) success and even existence in the English Premier League. Pompey won the Division One title in 2003 with Redknapp at the helm, thus earning promotion to the Prem. In Portsmouth’s first premier league season, Redknapp left in November, a third into the season, to become Southampton’s manager. Unable to keep them from relegation, he stayed on for one more season and when they did not regain promotion, he left in December 2005 – again, midseason.

Portsmouth welcomed him back with open arms as they had been spending dismal seasons at the bottom of the premier league table. It took some time, but Redknapp had Pompey on the road to success, finishing in the eighth spot which qualified them for UEFA cup, the club’s first European competition in their history (they even went on to win their first game, which sent them to the group stages).

Redknapp with FA Cup

The dream season for Pompey reached its climax in the infamous Wembley Stadium where they won England’s coveted FA Cup, their first. It was doubly sweet because they defeated Manchester United along the way. So all was well in the Port City, and Redknapp and his club went into this season with some high expectations. With England’s own David James in goal, Jermain Defoe, and the addition of Peter Crouch, things were looking up. Many picked them to finish in the top half of the table again, including me.

Perhaps the fear of actually having expectations other than, “just make it so we don’t get relegated, Harry!” scared old Redknapp off. He recently took the offer to manage Tottenham. Yes – the team who spent hundreds of millions of dollars only to be in danger of relegation. Oh – and lest we forget that he once again screwed Pompey by leaving halfway into the season. What was that conversation like?

“Hey Harry, old chap? Stop fulfilling people’s dreams there in Portsmouth and come to North London where expectations are irrationally set by our fans. We’re in dead last and have no money to spend, so you have to win with what we got. And don’t worry about leaving us midseason. If you don’t get the bloody job done, we’ll run you out of here. So what’ya say?” He said yes to this offer? Talk about fear of success, Harry.

But wait – here’s the kicker: Redknapp was given an award by the city of Portsmouth two days after he resigned and took the Tottenham job – and he actually showed up! Don’t believe it? You can watch the video at Dave’s Football Blog.

I’ve read about how Portsmouth has achieved as much as possible - the pinnacle reached - and that they don’t have the money to continue to contend like they’d wish. So it is therefore unforgivable for Redknapp to go to a club that can reach a level of success that continuously qualify them for European play. But to me, it seems like another typical move by a cowardly manager who feared lofty expectations by his own creation.

So what do guys like Harry do? Find a place where there is nowhere to go but

Redknapp with his new club, Tottenham

up so everyone will revel in your brilliance. Such is the current state at White Hart Lane, as Tottenham won their first game under Redknapp’s guidance and then upset Liverpool this weekend 2-1. But don’t stay to celebrate too long, Harry, because you might be expected to actually improve and achieve something other than getting out of the basement.

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On the flip side of Redknapp we have fellow Scotsmen Sir Alex Ferguson and David Moyes. Ferguson, the manager at Manchester United has been there since 1986 and his accolades are unmatched. He’s apparently announced his desire to step down in 2010. Naturally United fans want to know who will replace him. One name that has recently been mentioned is Inter Milan’s manager, Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho is the thriving clubs’ version of Redknapp. He won the Champions League while at FC Porto, then went on to Chelsea and steered them to their

Enjoy this image while it lasts, Inter fans

first premier league title in over fifty years. He won another and then left after some disappointing finishes in Champions League. His departure was perhaps more due to the unrealistic expectations of the fans and owners than Redknapp’s. Now he is at Inter Milan priming them for a return to stardom, trying to solidify the club ahead of traditional Italian powers Juventus and AC Milan.

My advice to United is to keep looking. Apparently there is something with this guy that causes management and fans to turn against him after only a

Sir Alex has brought titles galore to Old Trafford

little success. Don’t make a mess just to temporarily uphold what Ferguson has established at Old Trafford. You have to look at these candidates and think long-term.

You won’t replace Sir Alex, so don’t try to. Find someone with a little thing called commitment. I hate to say it, but Everton’s David Moyes seems all too perfect for this. He is dedicated, evidenced by recently signing a new contract extension

Next Scotsman at Old Trafford?

for a club that is incessantly inept in off-season acquisitions. Despite this, Moyes praises the club and expresses his dedication to make things right at Goodison Park. I’d love to see him take over Scotland’s national team some day, but with United available, maybe Moyes will be the next Scot to manage at Old Trafford. At least you can trust that he won’t be like Redknapp or Mourinho and leave after what he achieves what he wants.

A bitter, often belligerent past, like that of the Yankees and Red Sox. Short distances causing territorial conflict, like the eight miles separating the campuses of Duke and North Carolina. Desire to claim oneself as the best-of-the-best, like the many championships and Heisman winners between Ohio State and Michigan. And many times it just comes down to tradition, like Harvard and Yale or Army-Navy. We can always expect superhuman efforts from these games and assured overflowing crowds that create an atmosphere unlike any other.

Until you’ve watched a derby game, you truly haven’t given soccer a fair shot. Here’s a rundown of some of the greatest derbies in the UK in hopes you’ll try and catch one this premier league season:

Merseyside Derby
Everton vs. Liverpool
There’s two types of people in Liverpool, England: a blue (Everton) and a red (Liverpool) – two teams separated by ten city blocks and roots deeper than any red oak in California. Many stories surround how these two clubs came to be, but here’s my favorite: Everton was the original club in Liverpool, but after a dispute over the stadium, Everton players bolted across town for a fresh start. Those who stayed began the Liverpool Football Club.

North London Derby
Arsenal vs. Tottenham Hotspur
The only two clubs in the north of London and perhaps the most heated London derby. Tottenham defeated the Gunners last year 5-1 for the first time since the 1999 campaign. Spurs fans hold on to fewer and much older accolades than their neighbors, Arsenal, but this rivalry could be rejuvenated after last year’s result along with Tottenham’s many summer signings.

North-West Derby
Manchester United vs. Liverpool
The two most successful clubs in England have a right to have their own derby, even if they are separated by more land than any of these others.

Tyne-Wear Derby
Newcastle United vs. Sunderland
From the Northwest derby to one in the Northeast of England. Two cities in the same region only ten miles apart. Many factors play into this derby and some run as deep as those supportive of the English Parliament and those supportive of the Royalists.

London Borough Derby
Chelsea vs. Fulham
It’s a treat any time two London clubs get together. This one parallels the small farm school against the big city school. Chelsea is known worldwide and consistently signs top players and enjoys the riches of international success, while Fulham stays humble in a much smaller stadium yet loyal fan base. The allure of this rivalry is the day Fulham can pull of the monstrous upset at their home park, similar to Milan beating Muncie Central, or Hickory defeating South Bend for you movie buffs.

Lancashire Derby (Manchester)
Manchester United vs. Manchester City
The Lancashire region of Northwest England has many derby games, like the battle for Manchester. Usually dominated by United, this derby gained some validity last year when City took the first match against the defending and eventual champions.

Old Firm Derby
Celtic vs. Rangers
This derby comes form the Scottish Premier League and is my personal favorite for several reasons. Both have dominated Scottish soccer, winning a combined 127 Scottish titles. In the late 1880’s when Catholics wanted to play football in Glasgow, the Protestant affiliated Rangers were not very welcoming. So naturally, the Catholics started their own club in 1888 and called it the Celtic Football Club. Nothing more bitter than religious strife! This derby has been a whirlwind, but the mid 1900’s brought change that saw Catholics play for Rangers and Protestants play for Celtic, originally brought about with international signings. The people of Glasgow haven’t forgotten about history and continue to support the club originally allied with their church. My grandfather is a native Protestant of Glasgow and when I asked him if he went to games as a child, he answered with conviction, “I went to Ibrox to support Rangers.” To this day, fans of the away side need police escort to enter the stadium before the game and if you’re an outsider, you’d better know how to dress and not get caught wearing Protestant orange at Celtic Park or green at Ibrox Stadium.