World Soccer (magazine)

''World Soccer'' is an English-language football magazine, published by Kelsey Media. The magazine was established in 1960 and is the oldest continually published football magazine in the United Kingdom. It specialises in the international football scene. Its regular contributing writers include Brian Glanville, Keir Radnedge, Sid Lowe and Tim Vickery. ''World Soccer'' is a member of the European Sports Magazines (ESM), an umbrella group of similar magazines printed in other languages. The members of this group elect a European "Team of the Month" and a European "Team of the Year".

Since 1982, ''World Soccer'' has also organised "Player of the Year", "Manager of the Year" and "Team of the Year" awards.

History

The magazine was first published in London in October 1960, by Echo Publications. The first edition featured an image of Titus Buberník and Svatopluk Pluskal on the front cover. It was edited by Robert Bolle, with Graham Payne, editor of weekly sister publication ''Soccer Star'', as features editor; Jack Rollin, who later edited '' The Football Yearbook'' for many years, as home editor; and Eric Batty as overseas editor. Batty, who later edited the magazine, published an annual World XI from 1960 to 1992. Brian Glanville has written a column for the magazine since April 1963. In 1970, ''Soccer Star'', which was first published on 20 September 1952 as ''Raich Carter's Soccer Star'', was incorporated into ''World Soccer''. Keir Radnedge, who had been associate editor, took over from Philip Rising as editor in the late 1980s and was replaced by deputy editor Gavin Hamilton in January 1998 and became executive editor. Radnedge continues to have a monthly column in the magazine.

TI Media (formerly IPC Magazines, IPC Media and Time Inc. UK) published the magazine until the May 2020, issue with Kelsey Media taking over the following issue after acquired the title from Future plc, the successor of TI Media. Hamilton, who had worked for ''World Soccer'' for 26 years, stepped down as editor after publishing the 60th anniversary edition in June 2020.

Other regular contributors have included Paul Gardner, with a focus on football in the United States; David Conn; Jonathan Wilson; Mark Gleeson on African football; Tim Vickery, Brian Homewood and Eric Weil on South American football.

Award winners

Men's World Player of the Year

All-time wins

=By player

=

= By country

=

By League

Young Player of the Year

Men's World Manager of the Year

All-time wins

=By manager

=

= By country

=

Men's World Team of the Year

By team

Women's World Player of the Year

* 2020 – , Wolfsburg and Chelsea
* 2021 – , Barcelona

Women's World Manager of the Year

* 2020 – , Lyon
* 2021 – , Barcelona

Women's World Team of the Year

* 2020 –
* 2021 –

Referee of the Year

* 2005 – (31%)
* 2006 – (39%)

Greatest XI of All Time

''The list is based on the voting poll consisted of 74 experts (journalists, TV pundits, current and former players and managers) from around the world.''

''(Published July 2013)''

Goalkeepers

Full backs

Central defenders

Midfielders

Strikers

Greatest Managers of All Time

File:SAF CL semi 2009 (cropped).jpg, Alex Ferguson
File:Koppen Nederlandse voetballers Rinus Michels, Bestanddeelnr 254-9536 2.jpg, Rinus Michels
File:Sacchi.jpg, Arrigo Sacchi
File:1973–74 Inter Milan - Helenio Herrera (cropped).jpg, Helenio Herrera
File:Valeri Lobanovsky.jpg, Valeriy Lobanovskyi

''The list is based on the voting poll consisting of 74 experts (journalists, TV pundits, current and former players and managers) from around the world with each having been allotted 5 managerial picks.''

(''Published July 2013'')

Key
:Managers in bold are ranked by World Soccer, France Football and ESPN
:

Greatest Players of the 20th century

In the December 1999 issue, a readers' poll listing the 100 greatest football players of the 20th century was published.

World Player of the Decade 2000 to 2009

In 2009, a World Player of the Decade was announced based on the reader's votes from 2000 to 2009 in the annual Player of the Year polls.

Eric Batty's World XI

Since the first year of publication of ''World Soccer'' and over a 30-year period, overseas editor Eric Batty published his team selection of the best players over the season.

By player

See also

* FIFA World Cup All-Time Team
* FIFA World Cup Dream Team
*FIFA 100
*FIFA Player of the Century
* World Team of the 20th Century
* ESM Team of the Season

References

External links

The online edition of World Soccer Magazine

{{DEFAULTSORT:World Soccer (magazine)
1960 establishments in England
Association football magazines
Football mass media in the United Kingdom
Magazines established in 1960
Monthly magazines published in the United Kingdom
Sports magazines published in the United Kingdom