In the mixer

In the mixer

From football's sumo fever to Erling Haaland's elephant-sized steaks - we've got all bases covered in this issue's cultural round-up

Issue 25

Cross over

Big in Japan

Sumo wrestling

Here's something we didn't have on our 2025 bingo card: the football world going sumo mad. In case you somehow missed 40 outsize wrestlers bowling about London back in October, the Royal Albert Hall hosted The Grand Sumo Tournament, and Chelsea were quick to get in on the action by inviting current top dog Höshory Tomokatsu down to Stamford Bridge. As it turns out, Höshöry happens to be, quite literally, a massive Blues fan. and couldn't hide his excitement when he was filmed taking in the sights in the style of a Wes Anderson film. If that's not enough, Carlo Ancelotti visited a sumo stable in Tokyo, where he posed for pictures surrounded by giants, celebrating what he calls "Japan's ancient cultural traditions".

Book

The Man Behind the Eyebrows

Carlo Ancelotti

Not content with a new job as Brazil coach, Carlo Ancelotti has got a book out too - The Dream: Breaking Champions League Records. And with seven winners' medals to his name, it's fair to say he's something of a specialist on the matter. Ancelotti's European Cup journey started with a nightmare in 1984, when his Roma side lost to Liverpool on penalties in the final, but what followed was a four-decade love affair with a competition that has defined Don Carlo's legacy. From the most famous final defeat in Istanbul to an era-defining triumph in Lisbon, in this book Ancelotti charts his incomparable Champions League journey - the pursuit, in his words, of "the dream". A dream that came true time and again yet never diminished in its lustre.

Social media

Another side of Haaland

Erling Haaland

When not shattering every goalscoring record under the sun, Erling Haaland has been busy pursuing a career as a content creator over on his brand-new YouTube channel. From ice baths in the middle of the night to guzzling raw milk and tomahawk steaks that look like they've come from an elephant, the Manchester City goal machine is giving fans a fascinating insight into what a day in the life of the No 9 looks like. Just how dressing up as the Joker and haunting the streets of Manchester on Halloween - with a quick stop for nappies and Premier League trading cards - fits into that remains to be seen.

Fashion

Raise a Glass

Juventus

Well, it looks like adidas' third-kit hot streak isn't ending any time soon. Having already put together some all-timers this season for Arsenal, Bayern and kond, tey ve done ll again with Juventus, producing a number that "pays tribute to Piedmont's wine-making tradition". Featuring a vineyard-inspired graphic on a black base and white stripes, accompanied by a retro club badge, it not only celebrates Juventus' history but looks classy while doing so. And whoever made the decision to put Gianluigi Buffon in a neckerchief for the photoshoot definitely deserves a raise.

Competition

Thread Heads

Memorabilia

Remember when Gerard Piqué cut the net off the goal as a souvenir after Barcelona won the 2011 Champions League final? Football memorabilia experts Arena Imaging are now following in his footsteps, offering our readers two great souvenirs from the 2025 UEFA Super Cup. The first: an actual piece of the goal net from that game in a bespoke frame. The second: a panoramic framed photo of the Stadio Friuli as Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur lined up before kick-off, capturing the anticipation of a big European night. The image was taken by a DSLR camera placed on a special robotic plotting arm that spins 195 degrees, snapping 15-20 pictures which have been stitched together digitally to show the fans in full voice, the flags, the tifos, the fireworks and the teams all in their glory. Each frame also has a special embedded plaque with the details of the game - so you have the chance to own a truly unique piece of football history.

Cross over

Big in Japan

Sumo wrestling

Here's something we didn't have on our 2025 bingo card: the football world going sumo mad. In case you somehow missed 40 outsize wrestlers bowling about London back in October, the Royal Albert Hall hosted The Grand Sumo Tournament, and Chelsea were quick to get in on the action by inviting current top dog Höshory Tomokatsu down to Stamford Bridge. As it turns out, Höshöry happens to be, quite literally, a massive Blues fan. and couldn't hide his excitement when he was filmed taking in the sights in the style of a Wes Anderson film. If that's not enough, Carlo Ancelotti visited a sumo stable in Tokyo, where he posed for pictures surrounded by giants, celebrating what he calls "Japan's ancient cultural traditions".

Book

The Man Behind the Eyebrows

Carlo Ancelotti

Not content with a new job as Brazil coach, Carlo Ancelotti has got a book out too - The Dream: Breaking Champions League Records. And with seven winners' medals to his name, it's fair to say he's something of a specialist on the matter. Ancelotti's European Cup journey started with a nightmare in 1984, when his Roma side lost to Liverpool on penalties in the final, but what followed was a four-decade love affair with a competition that has defined Don Carlo's legacy. From the most famous final defeat in Istanbul to an era-defining triumph in Lisbon, in this book Ancelotti charts his incomparable Champions League journey - the pursuit, in his words, of "the dream". A dream that came true time and again yet never diminished in its lustre.

Social media

Another side of Haaland

Erling Haaland

When not shattering every goalscoring record under the sun, Erling Haaland has been busy pursuing a career as a content creator over on his brand-new YouTube channel. From ice baths in the middle of the night to guzzling raw milk and tomahawk steaks that look like they've come from an elephant, the Manchester City goal machine is giving fans a fascinating insight into what a day in the life of the No 9 looks like. Just how dressing up as the Joker and haunting the streets of Manchester on Halloween - with a quick stop for nappies and Premier League trading cards - fits into that remains to be seen.

Fashion

Raise a Glass

Juventus

Well, it looks like adidas' third-kit hot streak isn't ending any time soon. Having already put together some all-timers this season for Arsenal, Bayern and kond, tey ve done ll again with Juventus, producing a number that "pays tribute to Piedmont's wine-making tradition". Featuring a vineyard-inspired graphic on a black base and white stripes, accompanied by a retro club badge, it not only celebrates Juventus' history but looks classy while doing so. And whoever made the decision to put Gianluigi Buffon in a neckerchief for the photoshoot definitely deserves a raise.

Competition

Thread Heads

Memorabilia

Remember when Gerard Piqué cut the net off the goal as a souvenir after Barcelona won the 2011 Champions League final? Football memorabilia experts Arena Imaging are now following in his footsteps, offering our readers two great souvenirs from the 2025 UEFA Super Cup. The first: an actual piece of the goal net from that game in a bespoke frame. The second: a panoramic framed photo of the Stadio Friuli as Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur lined up before kick-off, capturing the anticipation of a big European night. The image was taken by a DSLR camera placed on a special robotic plotting arm that spins 195 degrees, snapping 15-20 pictures which have been stitched together digitally to show the fans in full voice, the flags, the tifos, the fireworks and the teams all in their glory. Each frame also has a special embedded plaque with the details of the game - so you have the chance to own a truly unique piece of football history.

Read the full story
Sign up now to get access to this and every premium feature on Champions Journal. You will also get access to member-only competitions and offers. And you get all of that completely free!

Cross over

Big in Japan

Sumo wrestling

Here's something we didn't have on our 2025 bingo card: the football world going sumo mad. In case you somehow missed 40 outsize wrestlers bowling about London back in October, the Royal Albert Hall hosted The Grand Sumo Tournament, and Chelsea were quick to get in on the action by inviting current top dog Höshory Tomokatsu down to Stamford Bridge. As it turns out, Höshöry happens to be, quite literally, a massive Blues fan. and couldn't hide his excitement when he was filmed taking in the sights in the style of a Wes Anderson film. If that's not enough, Carlo Ancelotti visited a sumo stable in Tokyo, where he posed for pictures surrounded by giants, celebrating what he calls "Japan's ancient cultural traditions".

Book

The Man Behind the Eyebrows

Carlo Ancelotti

Not content with a new job as Brazil coach, Carlo Ancelotti has got a book out too - The Dream: Breaking Champions League Records. And with seven winners' medals to his name, it's fair to say he's something of a specialist on the matter. Ancelotti's European Cup journey started with a nightmare in 1984, when his Roma side lost to Liverpool on penalties in the final, but what followed was a four-decade love affair with a competition that has defined Don Carlo's legacy. From the most famous final defeat in Istanbul to an era-defining triumph in Lisbon, in this book Ancelotti charts his incomparable Champions League journey - the pursuit, in his words, of "the dream". A dream that came true time and again yet never diminished in its lustre.

Social media

Another side of Haaland

Erling Haaland

When not shattering every goalscoring record under the sun, Erling Haaland has been busy pursuing a career as a content creator over on his brand-new YouTube channel. From ice baths in the middle of the night to guzzling raw milk and tomahawk steaks that look like they've come from an elephant, the Manchester City goal machine is giving fans a fascinating insight into what a day in the life of the No 9 looks like. Just how dressing up as the Joker and haunting the streets of Manchester on Halloween - with a quick stop for nappies and Premier League trading cards - fits into that remains to be seen.

Fashion

Raise a Glass

Juventus

Well, it looks like adidas' third-kit hot streak isn't ending any time soon. Having already put together some all-timers this season for Arsenal, Bayern and kond, tey ve done ll again with Juventus, producing a number that "pays tribute to Piedmont's wine-making tradition". Featuring a vineyard-inspired graphic on a black base and white stripes, accompanied by a retro club badge, it not only celebrates Juventus' history but looks classy while doing so. And whoever made the decision to put Gianluigi Buffon in a neckerchief for the photoshoot definitely deserves a raise.

Competition

Thread Heads

Memorabilia

Remember when Gerard Piqué cut the net off the goal as a souvenir after Barcelona won the 2011 Champions League final? Football memorabilia experts Arena Imaging are now following in his footsteps, offering our readers two great souvenirs from the 2025 UEFA Super Cup. The first: an actual piece of the goal net from that game in a bespoke frame. The second: a panoramic framed photo of the Stadio Friuli as Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur lined up before kick-off, capturing the anticipation of a big European night. The image was taken by a DSLR camera placed on a special robotic plotting arm that spins 195 degrees, snapping 15-20 pictures which have been stitched together digitally to show the fans in full voice, the flags, the tifos, the fireworks and the teams all in their glory. Each frame also has a special embedded plaque with the details of the game - so you have the chance to own a truly unique piece of football history.

In the mixer

In the mixer

From football's sumo fever to Erling Haaland's elephant-sized steaks - we've got all bases covered in this issue's cultural round-up

Text Link

Cross over

Big in Japan

Sumo wrestling

Here's something we didn't have on our 2025 bingo card: the football world going sumo mad. In case you somehow missed 40 outsize wrestlers bowling about London back in October, the Royal Albert Hall hosted The Grand Sumo Tournament, and Chelsea were quick to get in on the action by inviting current top dog Höshory Tomokatsu down to Stamford Bridge. As it turns out, Höshöry happens to be, quite literally, a massive Blues fan. and couldn't hide his excitement when he was filmed taking in the sights in the style of a Wes Anderson film. If that's not enough, Carlo Ancelotti visited a sumo stable in Tokyo, where he posed for pictures surrounded by giants, celebrating what he calls "Japan's ancient cultural traditions".

Book

The Man Behind the Eyebrows

Carlo Ancelotti

Not content with a new job as Brazil coach, Carlo Ancelotti has got a book out too - The Dream: Breaking Champions League Records. And with seven winners' medals to his name, it's fair to say he's something of a specialist on the matter. Ancelotti's European Cup journey started with a nightmare in 1984, when his Roma side lost to Liverpool on penalties in the final, but what followed was a four-decade love affair with a competition that has defined Don Carlo's legacy. From the most famous final defeat in Istanbul to an era-defining triumph in Lisbon, in this book Ancelotti charts his incomparable Champions League journey - the pursuit, in his words, of "the dream". A dream that came true time and again yet never diminished in its lustre.

Social media

Another side of Haaland

Erling Haaland

When not shattering every goalscoring record under the sun, Erling Haaland has been busy pursuing a career as a content creator over on his brand-new YouTube channel. From ice baths in the middle of the night to guzzling raw milk and tomahawk steaks that look like they've come from an elephant, the Manchester City goal machine is giving fans a fascinating insight into what a day in the life of the No 9 looks like. Just how dressing up as the Joker and haunting the streets of Manchester on Halloween - with a quick stop for nappies and Premier League trading cards - fits into that remains to be seen.

Fashion

Raise a Glass

Juventus

Well, it looks like adidas' third-kit hot streak isn't ending any time soon. Having already put together some all-timers this season for Arsenal, Bayern and kond, tey ve done ll again with Juventus, producing a number that "pays tribute to Piedmont's wine-making tradition". Featuring a vineyard-inspired graphic on a black base and white stripes, accompanied by a retro club badge, it not only celebrates Juventus' history but looks classy while doing so. And whoever made the decision to put Gianluigi Buffon in a neckerchief for the photoshoot definitely deserves a raise.

Competition

Thread Heads

Memorabilia

Remember when Gerard Piqué cut the net off the goal as a souvenir after Barcelona won the 2011 Champions League final? Football memorabilia experts Arena Imaging are now following in his footsteps, offering our readers two great souvenirs from the 2025 UEFA Super Cup. The first: an actual piece of the goal net from that game in a bespoke frame. The second: a panoramic framed photo of the Stadio Friuli as Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur lined up before kick-off, capturing the anticipation of a big European night. The image was taken by a DSLR camera placed on a special robotic plotting arm that spins 195 degrees, snapping 15-20 pictures which have been stitched together digitally to show the fans in full voice, the flags, the tifos, the fireworks and the teams all in their glory. Each frame also has a special embedded plaque with the details of the game - so you have the chance to own a truly unique piece of football history.

Cross over

Big in Japan

Sumo wrestling

Here's something we didn't have on our 2025 bingo card: the football world going sumo mad. In case you somehow missed 40 outsize wrestlers bowling about London back in October, the Royal Albert Hall hosted The Grand Sumo Tournament, and Chelsea were quick to get in on the action by inviting current top dog Höshory Tomokatsu down to Stamford Bridge. As it turns out, Höshöry happens to be, quite literally, a massive Blues fan. and couldn't hide his excitement when he was filmed taking in the sights in the style of a Wes Anderson film. If that's not enough, Carlo Ancelotti visited a sumo stable in Tokyo, where he posed for pictures surrounded by giants, celebrating what he calls "Japan's ancient cultural traditions".

Book

The Man Behind the Eyebrows

Carlo Ancelotti

Not content with a new job as Brazil coach, Carlo Ancelotti has got a book out too - The Dream: Breaking Champions League Records. And with seven winners' medals to his name, it's fair to say he's something of a specialist on the matter. Ancelotti's European Cup journey started with a nightmare in 1984, when his Roma side lost to Liverpool on penalties in the final, but what followed was a four-decade love affair with a competition that has defined Don Carlo's legacy. From the most famous final defeat in Istanbul to an era-defining triumph in Lisbon, in this book Ancelotti charts his incomparable Champions League journey - the pursuit, in his words, of "the dream". A dream that came true time and again yet never diminished in its lustre.

Social media

Another side of Haaland

Erling Haaland

When not shattering every goalscoring record under the sun, Erling Haaland has been busy pursuing a career as a content creator over on his brand-new YouTube channel. From ice baths in the middle of the night to guzzling raw milk and tomahawk steaks that look like they've come from an elephant, the Manchester City goal machine is giving fans a fascinating insight into what a day in the life of the No 9 looks like. Just how dressing up as the Joker and haunting the streets of Manchester on Halloween - with a quick stop for nappies and Premier League trading cards - fits into that remains to be seen.

Fashion

Raise a Glass

Juventus

Well, it looks like adidas' third-kit hot streak isn't ending any time soon. Having already put together some all-timers this season for Arsenal, Bayern and kond, tey ve done ll again with Juventus, producing a number that "pays tribute to Piedmont's wine-making tradition". Featuring a vineyard-inspired graphic on a black base and white stripes, accompanied by a retro club badge, it not only celebrates Juventus' history but looks classy while doing so. And whoever made the decision to put Gianluigi Buffon in a neckerchief for the photoshoot definitely deserves a raise.

Competition

Thread Heads

Memorabilia

Remember when Gerard Piqué cut the net off the goal as a souvenir after Barcelona won the 2011 Champions League final? Football memorabilia experts Arena Imaging are now following in his footsteps, offering our readers two great souvenirs from the 2025 UEFA Super Cup. The first: an actual piece of the goal net from that game in a bespoke frame. The second: a panoramic framed photo of the Stadio Friuli as Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur lined up before kick-off, capturing the anticipation of a big European night. The image was taken by a DSLR camera placed on a special robotic plotting arm that spins 195 degrees, snapping 15-20 pictures which have been stitched together digitally to show the fans in full voice, the flags, the tifos, the fireworks and the teams all in their glory. Each frame also has a special embedded plaque with the details of the game - so you have the chance to own a truly unique piece of football history.

Read the full story
Sign up now to get access to this and every premium feature on Champions Journal. You will also get access to member-only competitions and offers. And you get all of that completely free!

Cross over

Big in Japan

Sumo wrestling

Here's something we didn't have on our 2025 bingo card: the football world going sumo mad. In case you somehow missed 40 outsize wrestlers bowling about London back in October, the Royal Albert Hall hosted The Grand Sumo Tournament, and Chelsea were quick to get in on the action by inviting current top dog Höshory Tomokatsu down to Stamford Bridge. As it turns out, Höshöry happens to be, quite literally, a massive Blues fan. and couldn't hide his excitement when he was filmed taking in the sights in the style of a Wes Anderson film. If that's not enough, Carlo Ancelotti visited a sumo stable in Tokyo, where he posed for pictures surrounded by giants, celebrating what he calls "Japan's ancient cultural traditions".

Book

The Man Behind the Eyebrows

Carlo Ancelotti

Not content with a new job as Brazil coach, Carlo Ancelotti has got a book out too - The Dream: Breaking Champions League Records. And with seven winners' medals to his name, it's fair to say he's something of a specialist on the matter. Ancelotti's European Cup journey started with a nightmare in 1984, when his Roma side lost to Liverpool on penalties in the final, but what followed was a four-decade love affair with a competition that has defined Don Carlo's legacy. From the most famous final defeat in Istanbul to an era-defining triumph in Lisbon, in this book Ancelotti charts his incomparable Champions League journey - the pursuit, in his words, of "the dream". A dream that came true time and again yet never diminished in its lustre.

Social media

Another side of Haaland

Erling Haaland

When not shattering every goalscoring record under the sun, Erling Haaland has been busy pursuing a career as a content creator over on his brand-new YouTube channel. From ice baths in the middle of the night to guzzling raw milk and tomahawk steaks that look like they've come from an elephant, the Manchester City goal machine is giving fans a fascinating insight into what a day in the life of the No 9 looks like. Just how dressing up as the Joker and haunting the streets of Manchester on Halloween - with a quick stop for nappies and Premier League trading cards - fits into that remains to be seen.

Fashion

Raise a Glass

Juventus

Well, it looks like adidas' third-kit hot streak isn't ending any time soon. Having already put together some all-timers this season for Arsenal, Bayern and kond, tey ve done ll again with Juventus, producing a number that "pays tribute to Piedmont's wine-making tradition". Featuring a vineyard-inspired graphic on a black base and white stripes, accompanied by a retro club badge, it not only celebrates Juventus' history but looks classy while doing so. And whoever made the decision to put Gianluigi Buffon in a neckerchief for the photoshoot definitely deserves a raise.

Competition

Thread Heads

Memorabilia

Remember when Gerard Piqué cut the net off the goal as a souvenir after Barcelona won the 2011 Champions League final? Football memorabilia experts Arena Imaging are now following in his footsteps, offering our readers two great souvenirs from the 2025 UEFA Super Cup. The first: an actual piece of the goal net from that game in a bespoke frame. The second: a panoramic framed photo of the Stadio Friuli as Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur lined up before kick-off, capturing the anticipation of a big European night. The image was taken by a DSLR camera placed on a special robotic plotting arm that spins 195 degrees, snapping 15-20 pictures which have been stitched together digitally to show the fans in full voice, the flags, the tifos, the fireworks and the teams all in their glory. Each frame also has a special embedded plaque with the details of the game - so you have the chance to own a truly unique piece of football history.

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