Sexy Football

Ruud Gullit coined the term 'sexy football' back in the 1990s. Sexy football was epitomized by another Chelsea great, Gianfranco Zola, whose penetrating run, (slipping the ball through the legs of  West Ham defender Julian Dicks along the way) and  low finish past the goalkeeper was the wonder goal which marked the change in emphasis in English football from physical exertion and aggression to skill. 

Sex sells, and sexy football sells too.  A noticeable trend over the past couple of seasons is that clubs are trying to appeal to both existing fans and potential new fans by placing a greater emphasis on attractive football. Tony Pulis was spurned at Stoke because of his style of play, Allardyce at West Ham has been coerced into playing more attractive football and Mourinho has made Chelsea more exciting to watch, for example. It is noticeable that Pulis wasn't mentioned for the Manchester United or Spurs jobs this summer despite recently winning Manager of the Year. The reason though is obvious; if Arsene Wenger is the lingerie wearing, husky voiced Gisele Bundchen of sexy-football managers then Pulis is Nora Batty. 

In fact, I would argue that in the long run, playing sexy football is actually more important than winning games and trophies. Franco Baresi won more medals during his career than Maradona and Gary Pallister won more than Paul Gascoigne. Yet Maradona and Gascoigne are the ones we can't forget while Baresi and Pallister just couldn't get us up (out of our seats, that is). Posterity doesn't remember numbers or statistics, it remembers sex appeal.

A fundamental misunderstanding which people have about the Premier League is that it is a results business. It is not; it is an entertainment business. So can we forget the obsession in the Premier League with getting results, winning trophies, qualifying for the Champions League etc etc and concentrate instead on sexy?