The European Super League is dead.
What a whirlwind few days it’s been and most of us would admit that we’ve never know a 48 hours like it.
AFP
Stories leaked on Sunday afternoon about plans for the so-called Premier League ‘big six’ to become founder members of a breakaway competition.
It was seen as a greedy attempt by the billionaire owners of the clubs to grab even more money and influence in world football.
The backlash was fierce. Fans protested. Players revolted. Public figures condemned it.
Just two days after it was announced, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Man City, Man United and Tottenham all announced they would withdraw.
AFP
Owners issued grovelling apologies with relationships with fan bases appearing to suffer irreparable damage.
The fallout is still ongoing and is sure to carry on in the days ahead.
For it to last just two days was pretty spectacular, shorter than most Test matches and golf tournaments.
Here at talkSPORT.com, we’ve taken a look at some memorable moments that seemed short at the time, but in fact lasted longer than the European Super League.
Gary Neville at Valencia – 117 days
Neville is one of the best pundits around, and his criticism of the European Super League captured the mood of the country perfectly.
His foray into management was not quite as successful, though.
He lasted just 117 days at Valencia and had a torrid time in Spain. Neville failed to win any of his first nine LaLiga games, which included a 7-0 defeat to Barcelona.
He was eventually sacked having won just three of his 16 league games, with the club perilously close to the relegation zone.
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John Isner vs Nicolas Mahut – 3 days
Isner vs Mahut at Wimbledon in 2010 was the longest tennis match in history, and longer than the Euro Super League.
The match begun on Tuesday, June 22 and did not finish until Thursday, June 24.
At the time, there was no tiebreaker for the fifth and final set, meaning it went to 70-68 in favour of Isner.
A rule-change in 2019 introduced a tiebreaker, means that it will remain the longest ever game in Wimbledon history.
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Tottenham’s title challenge – 28 days
Spurs fans were getting excited earlier on this season when they topped the league.
A 6-1 win against Manchester United had the north Londoners dream that it might be their year.
But this was a dream that lasted a mere four weeks. They topped the table for gameweeks eight to 12 before falling away.
Jose Mourinho is gone and they are down in sixth place, fighting to get into the top four heading into their final five games of the season.
AFP
Sam Allardyce as England manager – 67 days
Allardyce is the shortest ever serving England manager when his reign lasted a mere 67 days, and covered just one game.
He left by mutual consent back in 2016 following a newspaper investigation claimed he offered advice on how to ‘get around’ rules on player transfers.
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Brian Lara’s record breaking 400* – 3 days
Back in 2004, the great West Indian batsman reclaimed his record for the highest individual score in a Test match when he hit a magnificent 400 not out against England.
He originally had the record for his 375, but was usurped by Australian batsman Matthew Hayden.
The innings lasted three days at St John’s in the drawn Test match.
AFP
Sol Campbell at Notts County – 29 days
Campbell left Portsmouth in 2009 and despite offers from Premier League clubs, he joined League Two Notts County.
Why? A Middle Eastern consortium bought the club and set their ambitions of climbing to the Premier League.
Sven Goran Eriksson was unveiled as director of football and they were linked to the likes of David Beckham and Roberto Carlos.
He was on a reported £40,000-a-week, but played just one game and his spell at Meadow Lane was over after less than a month.
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Ali Dia at Southampton – 14 days
Remember the story of Ali Dia? Graeme Souness famously signed him at Southampton after receiving a phone call from George Weah telling him to sign Dia, who had played for Paris Saint-Germain.
None of this was true, of course, it was a fellow university student that made the call.
Souness signed Dia to a one-month contract and he even came on for an injured Matt Le Tissier against Leeds.
After just 14 days, Dia was released.
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