I live in Camden Town, but Europe is my playground. I spent last season studying Italian football, and Spain is now the focus of my attention. Recently, I have been spending unusual amounts of time charting the progress of Sporting Gijon.

I worship two gods, Roberto Baggio and Zinedine Zidane, but, at different times, my faith has been tested by Giuseppe Signori, Roberto Mancini and David Villa. At other times, my will to live has been tested by Sam Allardyce’s Bolton Wanderers, Egil Olsen’s Norway and Harry Redknapp.

Favourite bet: taking Kaka to be top-scorer in the 2006/07 Champions League at 210. I think he had just scored a hat-trick against Anderlecht, so it was less to do with any great foresight on my part and more to do with a layer who was behind the eight-ball. But they all count.

Least favourite bet: someone once told me the Boston Red Sox were a sure thing at home to the Tampa Bay Rays. I backed them at [1.60]; they lost 9-1.

Finally, one other sportsman who should be mentioned in this particular despatch: Djamolidine Abdoujaparov. Chapeau.

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