The best soccer leagues every fan should follow

There is no disputing the fact that soccer is the king of sports when it comes to global popularity. The World Cup alone beats every sporting event, including the Olympics, in terms of overall viewership and sales. The dozens of leagues around the world have their own legions of fans who follow their favorite teams religiously.

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On that note, here are three of the leagues every soccer fan should know. John Eilermann.   

German Bundesliga

The German Bundesliga is one of the top European leagues and is home to some of the best European teams in history. Teams such as Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, and Hamburger SV, have all made waves on the European scene and have dominated a league filled with formidable teams. John Eilermann.

English Premier League

As far as numbers are concerned, the English Premier League is the world’s most popular league. Hundreds of thousands of fans fill up the stadiums while millions more watch games on television. And why not? The EPL has always had some of the brightest and most interesting soccer superstars and coaches in the world. John Eilermann.

Spanish La Liga

The teams from La Liga in Spain have the most awards in both European and world leagues. The records of Real Madrid and FC Barcelona have remained unmatched for decades. La Liga is both fun and intense, and like the other leagues on this list, home to many of the greatest soccer players in history. John Eilermann.

What to look forward to when playing football later in life

Soccer, or football in other parts of the world, is an obsession all over the world. People from all walks of life band together to watch their favorite teams dominate the field. From young kids to older adults, the sport makes the body and mind stronger. John Eilermann.

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Many adults have played football when they were younger, but have given up the sport as they aged. Playing football later in life may be a health risk for others. For some, the mere idea of getting on the field and tumbling while kicking the ball is a fair ground not to get involved in the sport. The main thing that can hold one back from enjoying the game is the fear of getting injured. If one takes that out of the equation, they can reap the benefits of playing the sport. John Eilermann.

During the British Science Festival in Birmingham back in 2010, scientists contented that middle-aged and older adults should play football, as it would promote better health. Research published in the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science discovered that untrained men and women who took part in regular soccer two to three times a week for one to two hours each session have shown improvements in their cardiovascular health and bone density. John Eilermann.

Older adults who play football will have fewer chances of having broken bones when they age. In addition, there are mental and social health benefits in participating in regular soccer later in life. John Eilermann.

Soccer as a hobby for people in their 30s and 40s

What makes soccer such a popular sport is that it can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Kids play in summer leagues while teens who train intensely in it go on to play varsity.

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However, soccer can also be a game for adults. Even if a person has never really played the game, he can still learn. John Eilermann.

Fitness plays an important role in adult life, especially considering that the body changes. Metabolism slows down, and the muscles and joints need constant movement to stay in shape. Soccer provides the perfect avenue for exercise.

Playing pick-up games, even if only once or twice a week, can have a huge impact on a person’s health. In fact, it’s great cardio routines that can even double as high-intensity interval training (HIIT) with the occasional sprinting. John Eilermann.

However, adults need to understand that though soccer is an extremely simple sport, it’s highly physical. There’ll be bumps and bruises along the way, which are all part of the fun. And every game affords a new experience. Sometimes, if they’re lucky, adults may even experience games in the rain. John Eilermann.

Now, all one needs to do is buy the proper gear. Soccer boots, shin guards, and a ball will suffice. And if one has enough space near their area, they can practice dribbling through some drills, and strengthen their legs by kicking the ball toward solid walls that bounce the ball back. John Eilermann.

Football in the rain: How hard is it?

John Eilermann. Anyone who’s ever played football (or soccer as it is known in the U.S.) will testify to how much the game changes with the weather conditions. Typically, football players get to play in clear conditions. But every now and then, the skies darken, and the downpour begins to drench the field.

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John Eilermann. However, even with all the challenges rain presents to people playing football, many players welcome it. For one, the water pouring down cools their bodies, which are hot from all the activity on the field. And if the game is played between friends, it becomes a lot of fun.

Many people have even likened playing in the rain to beach soccer. The ground becomes unstable, and the ball doesn’t bounce around as much, as the surface absorbs the impact. John Eilermann.

Football players need to adjust once the rain starts pouring. They have to anticipate that passes from teammates won’t go as far and that they may need to kick the ball a bit harder than normal.

All in all, playing football in the rain is a whole lot of fun. It’s just important to stay safe. When there are lightning strikes all around or when the rain turns into a storm, then it’s best to pack up and head to the nearest coffee house for some hot tea. John Eilermann.

Soccer training: The weak foot

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Having a weak foot in soccer is perfectly normal. Even the greatest players in the world have a weak foot which of course, over time they’ve trained to make it stronger. And so should you. Here are a few pro tips on increasing the proficiency of your weak foot.


Juggle with the weak foot as often as you can.

Juggling is a great way to increase your control over the ball, and it’s as dazzling to see as it is to do. As such, having your weak foot get used to juggling will make it more adept in overall control when it comes to kicking.


Practice trapping and catching with the weak foot.

Trapping is such an underrated skill for soccer players. Toss the ball up and kill the bounce as soon as it lands with your weak foot. Another way of killing the bounce is catching the ball with your weak foot. Alternate between trapping and catching to increase the weak foot’s control.

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Dribble with the weak foot.

Try running at different speeds, but instead of dribbling the ball forward using both feet, use only your weak foot. This is another great drill for control.


Practice free kicks using the weak foot.

This drill improves control and increases power of the weak foot. Experiment with your shots as though you were using your strong foot. Watch your form as you do this drill.


Hello, I’m John Eilermann, a World War 2 and soccer enthusiast. Follow me on Twitter for more updates.

World Cup: The future of English football is here

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Millions of hearts were broken all across England when their team lost against Croatia in the World Cup semifinals by the slimmest of margins. Up to that point, fans of the England team all over the world were hopeful that their footballers could get the job done and see it through all the way to the finals, and bring home the Cup after half-a-century.


However, the sting of the 2-1 defeat to Croatia was only temporary as English fans knew their team had arrived. Truth be told, the English team was the youngest fielded in this year’s World Cup, which only meant that in four years, they would be mature enough to perhaps win it all.

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This is a huge boost for a team that saw superstars such as Beckham, Rooney, and Gerrard one by one leave international competition. The new captain is the 25-year-old Harry Kane, who in this year’s competition showed that not only was he capable of leading this young team, he was capable of leading them to the brink of a final showdown against eventual winners, France.


Together with other young, up-and-coming football stars, Kane looks to return to the grand stage and make a run at sports’ ultimate prize. Perhaps 2022 is the year the World Cup finally comes home.


Hello, I’m John Eilermann, a huge fan of the beautiful game, football. I’m also a World War 2 enthusiast. Learn more about me and the stuff I love by following me on Twitter.

The importance of Lionel Messi to Barca

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Lionel Messi is considered to be one of the best footballers, not just of this generation, but of all-time. He has won dozens of awards, with only the World Cup eluding him. Be that as it may, Messi is still a hero in his home country of Argentina. And on the club level, he is considered a football god.


However, beyond the stats, awards, and accolades, just how important is Messi to the football club and the city? The short answer is, very.


The president of the football club himself, Josep Maria Bartomeu, has worked doggedly to keep his Argentine superstar in the team. With greats such as Luis Suarez and Ivan Rakitic in the roster, having Messi means the organization can keep its spot atop European club competition.

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Barcelona is just as thankful of Messi as the superstar of the city. Since joining the city’s football club in 2001, he was shown up for the team over 350 times and scored over 300 goals. He has won the Ballon d’Or on multiple occasions and has been assured of his spot in the team as long as he is able to play the game.


While much of Barca’s success in the 2000s is attributed to the trio of Messi, Xavi, and Iniesta, not having the Argentine in the group would not translate to as much success.


Hi! I'm John Eilermann, a huge football fanatic. Check out my Twitter page for more on the stuff I love.