Open Play by Panos Bletsos

Europe is the home of soccer, as well as Soccer365's contributing writer Panos Bletsos. A Euro 2012 commentator with Greece's public TV, ERT, Panos has a 15+ - year experience in covering the Beautiful Game for a number of newspapers, radio stations and web portals, including Goal.com and will be dealing with the most intriguing European football issues.

  • Mourinho Takes the Easy Way Out

    Saturday, 8. June, 2013

    Some might call it Marriage of Convenience. It's true that Chelsea will probably rediscover their stability by taking José Mourinho back. But Soccer365's Panos Bletsos thinks much more is at stake for the Portuguese mastermind as he seeks to confirm his authority, his Special One brandname.

  • The Heynckes Paradox and Other Weird Stories

    Sunday, 2. June, 2013

    Bayern Munich have just completed their most fruitful campaign ever and will be welcoming Pep Guardiola soon. However, Jupp Heynckes is not the first Champions League winning coach to be replaced. As Panos Bletsos explains, stranger things have happened.

  • England’s Lost Generation

    Monday, 27. May, 2013

    David Beckham went out with a bang, while Michael Owen, Paul Scholes and Jamie Carragher in a more humble fashion. As Rio Ferdinand and John Terry are also out of the national side scheme, Soccer365's Panos Bletsos looks back on the careers of six stars who simply failed to shine in the England jersey.

  • Football is Unfair: The Roberto Mancini Affair

    Saturday, 18. May, 2013

    In an unusual move Roberto Mancini has thanked Manchester City fans for their great support. It did take the club nearly half a billion dollars to climb up the hierarchy of European football, but this is not what he's being criticised for. Soccer365's Panos Bletsos reflects on "four unforgettable years" for the blue half of the city.

  • Will Benfica Ever Break Guttmann’s Curse?

    Friday, 10. May, 2013

    One of Europe's biggest brandnames will return to a UEFA competition final for the first time in 23 years next week. But it may take something special for Benfica to win the Europa League, as they will not only have to break down Chelsea, but also end a hoodoo which has haunted them for more than 50 years! Soccer365's Panos Bletsos explains.

  • YGWYPF

    Thursday, 2. May, 2013

    ... or otherwise You Get What You Pay For. One of the unwritten rules of life - and apparently of professional football as well. Or not? Soccer365's European correspondent Panos Bletsos breaks down the facts.

  • Sir Alex and the Gordian Knot

    Friday, 26. April, 2013

    Yes, Premiership champions again! But what about Europe? Manchester United have faltered overseas in the past couple of years and Soccer365's Panos Bletsos suggests Sir Alex Ferguson has to invest heavily on new stars to match German and Spanish opposition. Especially if Rooney leaves...

  • Champions League Climbers and Divers

    Saturday, 13. April, 2013

    As the UEFA Champions League reaches its climax a number of European clubs may look back on a job well done. But where there are winners there are also losers, as Chelsea, Manchester United and Milan may assure you. Soccer365's Panos Bletsos grades the Big Boys' performance.

  • The Bayern Blunder

    Tuesday, 9. April, 2013

    Fact: Pep Guardiola was the coach everyone wanted to hire. Fact: Bayern Munich are one of very few sides able to dethrone Pep's brainchild, Barcelona. And they may do it with his help. So surely letting Jupp Heynckes go is the right thing to do. Or maybe not. Soccer365's Panos Bletsos shares his thoughts.

  • Balkans on the Rise

    Saturday, 30. March, 2013

    The former Yugoslavia came close not once, not twice, but six times in the past. No country from the Balkans has ever won the FIFA World Cup, but perhaps Brazil 2014 may signal the peninsula's best ever overall outing, as Soccer365's Panos Bletsos points out.

  • Is Football Selling Out its Soul?

    Wednesday, 20. March, 2013

    They say money makes the world go round. Indeed it does. But football isn't just about money. It's about the people playing it and watching it - and Soccer365's Panos Bletsos suggests that the World Game supremos might just have taken the wrong path.

  • The Element of Surprise

    Tuesday, 12. March, 2013

    Shiny star players, quality football and international success has seen a handful of European clubs turn into global brand names. But can the game survive with Goliaths alone? Soccer365's Panos Bletsos suggests a few more Davids are needed.