The Football Faithful’s Advent Calendar: December 17th | OneFootball

Christmas Eve is now just a week away and we’ve entered the final days of our Football Advent Calendar.

Here’s another segment of quirky facts and stats for you to enjoy.

The Football Faithful’s Advent Calendar: December 17th

Number: 17

Two days ago, we recalled the tale of Leeds United briefly retiring the number 15 shirt. After being docked 15 points for financial issues in 2007/08, the club’s owner at the time, Ken Bates, determined the number 15 was unlucky, so he made the decision to retire the number for the season.

Several seasons later, a new Leeds chief made an even odder decision to banish another number from the squad list. Eccentric Italian Massimo Cellino retired the number 17 shirt in 2014 due to his superstitious beliefs. Cellino, who also has dislike for the colour purple which is considered unlucky in Italy, previously had the seats at his former club, Cagliari, taken out and replaced with 16B.

His beliefs were so strong that he instructed then Leeds coach Dave Hockaday not to select goalkeeper Paddy Kenny – the club’s second-highest earner – after discovering that the goalkeeper’s birthday is on 17 May.

Bizarre.

Goal On this Day: Huddlestone hits sweet strike at the Etihad

Tom Huddlestone could hit a football very, very well.

The former Spurs midfielder compiled a catalogue of clean hits during his career, with perhaps none more impressive than this strike at Manchester City. Arriving onto a clipped centre, he strode onto the bouncing ball and unleashed a half-volley that flew past City ‘keeper Nicky Weaver. It was a stunning strike from Huddlestone, that ultimately proved decisive in a 2-1 win at the Etihad.

Footballer Born on this Day: Martin Odegaard

Happy birthday to Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard, who turns 26 today.

Incredibly, it’s been over a decade since a fresh-faced 15-year-old Odegaard first made waves in his native Norway, earning wonderkid status and a move to Real Madrid. His stint in Spain did not quite work out as hoped, but a transfer to North London has since seen Odegaard begin to fulfil his potential.

A wonderful watch at his best, the midfielder has emerged as one of Europe’s best creators at the Emirates.

Stat: Forest become first team to score at Old Trafford in eight months!

The early seasons of the Premier League era saw Manchester United emerge as the division’s dominant force. Sir Alex Ferguson’s side claimed the first two titles in the rebranded league, including a famous domestic double in 1993/94.

In 1994, the Red Devils incredibly went eight months without conceding a goal at home in the Premier League.

Their 12-match run began with a 2-0 Manchester Derby win in April, with their goal not breached until a spectacular strike from Stan Collymore on December 17th. Collymore’s brilliant goal set Nottingham Forest on their way to a 2-1 win, as the champions suffered their first home loss of the 1994/95 season.

Read – Five things we learned from the Premier League weekend

See more – Premier League awards: The Diallo derby, Marvellous Martinez

The perfect gift for a football fan? Noughties Nines out now

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