John Duerden
@johnduerden.bsky.social
25 years of covering sport and other stuff in Asia and elsewhere for The Guardian, Associated Press, BBC, World Soccer, Deutsche Welle, Nikkei Asia, Arab News, Channel News Asia, Korea Times. Author of 4 books, father of 2 daughters, lover of Shin Ramyun
Is there a more competitive league than the J.League?
12 games to go and 2 points separate the top 6.
Urawa in 7th just 4 off the pace.
howfootballexplainsasia.substack.com/p/japans-jle...
12 games to go and 2 points separate the top 6.
Urawa in 7th just 4 off the pace.
howfootballexplainsasia.substack.com/p/japans-jle...
Japan's J.League: Is there a more competitive league in the world?
With a history of tight title races, seven are in the running this time with just 12 games to go.
howfootballexplainsasia.substack.com
August 20, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Is there a more competitive league than the J.League?
12 games to go and 2 points separate the top 6.
Urawa in 7th just 4 off the pace.
howfootballexplainsasia.substack.com/p/japans-jle...
12 games to go and 2 points separate the top 6.
Urawa in 7th just 4 off the pace.
howfootballexplainsasia.substack.com/p/japans-jle...
Wrote this ahead of the quarter-finals in the Asian CL.
Home advantage for the 3 Saudi teams in the knockout stages, is, well, a huge advantage.
The three games against East Asian teams ended 14-1 for the home teams. It's a problem.
howfootballexplainsasia.substack.com/p/elephant-i...
Home advantage for the 3 Saudi teams in the knockout stages, is, well, a huge advantage.
The three games against East Asian teams ended 14-1 for the home teams. It's a problem.
howfootballexplainsasia.substack.com/p/elephant-i...
Elephant in the Asian Champions League
Knockout stages taking place in Saudi Arabia means big crowds for the local teams but hands them a huge advantage
howfootballexplainsasia.substack.com
April 29, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Wrote this ahead of the quarter-finals in the Asian CL.
Home advantage for the 3 Saudi teams in the knockout stages, is, well, a huge advantage.
The three games against East Asian teams ended 14-1 for the home teams. It's a problem.
howfootballexplainsasia.substack.com/p/elephant-i...
Home advantage for the 3 Saudi teams in the knockout stages, is, well, a huge advantage.
The three games against East Asian teams ended 14-1 for the home teams. It's a problem.
howfootballexplainsasia.substack.com/p/elephant-i...
Some memories of and thoughts on the demise of Guangzhou Evergrande...
"It would be easy to say that Asia’s first superclub flew too close to the sun but when your owners owe amounts that even Elon Musk couldn't cover then a few too many..."
howfootballexplainsasia.substack.com/p/the-rise-a...
"It would be easy to say that Asia’s first superclub flew too close to the sun but when your owners owe amounts that even Elon Musk couldn't cover then a few too many..."
howfootballexplainsasia.substack.com/p/the-rise-a...
The rise and fall of Guangzhou Evergrande -Asia's first superclub
From domination to dissolution in 13 short years, Guangzhou's demise explains much about Chinese football
howfootballexplainsasia.substack.com
January 21, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Some memories of and thoughts on the demise of Guangzhou Evergrande...
"It would be easy to say that Asia’s first superclub flew too close to the sun but when your owners owe amounts that even Elon Musk couldn't cover then a few too many..."
howfootballexplainsasia.substack.com/p/the-rise-a...
"It would be easy to say that Asia’s first superclub flew too close to the sun but when your owners owe amounts that even Elon Musk couldn't cover then a few too many..."
howfootballexplainsasia.substack.com/p/the-rise-a...
First newsletter of 2025:
--Indonesia's sacking of Shin Tae-yong came as a shock but not a surprise.
--Vietnam back in top of Southeast Asia
open.substack.com/pub/howfootb...
--Indonesia's sacking of Shin Tae-yong came as a shock but not a surprise.
--Vietnam back in top of Southeast Asia
open.substack.com/pub/howfootb...
Indonesia's Shin sacking shocking not surprising
Good results not enough for Shin Tae-yong as Indonesia look to Kluivert for World Cup dreams and more. The team and the culture have completely changed and now, so has the coach.
open.substack.com
January 7, 2025 at 5:35 AM
First newsletter of 2025:
--Indonesia's sacking of Shin Tae-yong came as a shock but not a surprise.
--Vietnam back in top of Southeast Asia
open.substack.com/pub/howfootb...
--Indonesia's sacking of Shin Tae-yong came as a shock but not a surprise.
--Vietnam back in top of Southeast Asia
open.substack.com/pub/howfootb...
I have been told that talks between Wolves and Vitor Pereira are at a" very advanced stage". His Saudi club Al-Shabab think that he may well be leaving
December 15, 2024 at 6:37 PM
I have been told that talks between Wolves and Vitor Pereira are at a" very advanced stage". His Saudi club Al-Shabab think that he may well be leaving
The paperback version of Rovers Revolution is finally out!
30 years ago this week, Blackburn Rovers went top of the Premier League and stayed there for the rest of the season.
www.amazon.co.uk/Revolution-B...
Amazon.co.uk
www.amazon.co.uk
November 29, 2024 at 12:58 PM
The paperback version of Rovers Revolution is finally out!
30 years ago this week, Blackburn Rovers went top of the Premier League and stayed there for the rest of the season.
www.amazon.co.uk/Revolution-B...
I talked to friends, team-mates and coaches of Celine Haidar, the young Lebanese international fighting for her life after being wounded in an Israeli attack.
www.dw.com/en/bombs-in-...
www.dw.com/en/bombs-in-...
Bombs in Lebanon ending lives, dreams and football – DW – 11/22/2024
Footballers across Lebanon are hoping national player Celine Haidar recovers after she was wounded in an Israeli attack on Beirut.
www.dw.com
November 23, 2024 at 8:26 AM
I talked to friends, team-mates and coaches of Celine Haidar, the young Lebanese international fighting for her life after being wounded in an Israeli attack.
www.dw.com/en/bombs-in-...
www.dw.com/en/bombs-in-...
I wrote this about Celine Haidar with her friends, team mates and coaches. Such a sad story from what is such a great country. Goes without saying that all hope Celine pulls through
www.dw.com/en/bombs-in-...
www.dw.com/en/bombs-in-...
Bombs in Lebanon ending lives, dreams and football – DW – 11/22/2024
Footballers across Lebanon are hoping national player Celine Haidar recovers after she was wounded in an Israeli attack on Beirut.
www.dw.com
November 22, 2024 at 5:55 PM
I wrote this about Celine Haidar with her friends, team mates and coaches. Such a sad story from what is such a great country. Goes without saying that all hope Celine pulls through
www.dw.com/en/bombs-in-...
www.dw.com/en/bombs-in-...
Tuesday was one of those special World Cup qualification feasts that Asia throws up from time to time.
The action swept west from Jakarta to Vientiane to Abu Dhabi and Riffa...
howfootballexplainsasia.substack.com/p/epic-day-o...
The action swept west from Jakarta to Vientiane to Abu Dhabi and Riffa...
howfootballexplainsasia.substack.com/p/epic-day-o...
November 20, 2024 at 5:27 AM
Tuesday was one of those special World Cup qualification feasts that Asia throws up from time to time.
The action swept west from Jakarta to Vientiane to Abu Dhabi and Riffa...
howfootballexplainsasia.substack.com/p/epic-day-o...
The action swept west from Jakarta to Vientiane to Abu Dhabi and Riffa...
howfootballexplainsasia.substack.com/p/epic-day-o...