Stefan Bienkowski
@sbienkowski.bsky.social
UK & Global Area Manager for Transfermarkt. Tend to write about the Bundesliga and Premier League. One half of Gegenpressing Bundesliga podcast.
https://linktr.ee/sbienkowski
https://linktr.ee/sbienkowski
It’s absolutely appalling that FIFA would go ahead with a World Cup hosted by a nation that threatens the sovereignty of a European nation oh wait a minute Russia invaded Ukraine four years before hosting the 2018 World Cup never mind they’ve always tended to not give a fuck.
January 19, 2026 at 1:45 PM
It’s absolutely appalling that FIFA would go ahead with a World Cup hosted by a nation that threatens the sovereignty of a European nation oh wait a minute Russia invaded Ukraine four years before hosting the 2018 World Cup never mind they’ve always tended to not give a fuck.
Warming up to Trump was like the 6th or 7th worst thing about this lot at the time, but since Brexit has already proved the first 5 or 6 things so demonstrably wrong, we can now focus entirely on how profoundly moronic they are for supporting that orange-faced fascist.
Those Brexity pro-Trump people in the U.K. are looking very silly right now. Completely misread almost everything and damaged this country beyond all reason in the process.
January 18, 2026 at 7:59 PM
Warming up to Trump was like the 6th or 7th worst thing about this lot at the time, but since Brexit has already proved the first 5 or 6 things so demonstrably wrong, we can now focus entirely on how profoundly moronic they are for supporting that orange-faced fascist.
Reposted by Stefan Bienkowski
Forget the Saudi Pro League or MLS. The most powerful league outside of Europe is the Brazilian Série A.
More and more money is flowing through its clubs and that's now having a profound impact on its relationship with Europe's top leagues:
More and more money is flowing through its clubs and that's now having a profound impact on its relationship with Europe's top leagues:
Brazilian football's new financial muscle is changing its relationship with European football
When it comes to the January transfer window, most football fans expect a period of intense negotiating and transfers dominated by the deep pockets of Premier League clubs. Few European top-flights ca...
transfermarkt.co.uk
January 17, 2026 at 12:13 PM
Forget the Saudi Pro League or MLS. The most powerful league outside of Europe is the Brazilian Série A.
More and more money is flowing through its clubs and that's now having a profound impact on its relationship with Europe's top leagues:
More and more money is flowing through its clubs and that's now having a profound impact on its relationship with Europe's top leagues:
Finally watched One Battle After Another. What an incredible film. Allegorical given today’s political climate in the US. Which makes it so important. But also just an amazing cast hitting it out of the park with a captivating plot. Best film I’ve seen in years.
January 17, 2026 at 11:55 PM
Finally watched One Battle After Another. What an incredible film. Allegorical given today’s political climate in the US. Which makes it so important. But also just an amazing cast hitting it out of the park with a captivating plot. Best film I’ve seen in years.
This is why we need to get rid of FIFA. Granted, UEFA are far from perfect, but they’re held to account by European federations.
Decentralise football. Let every federation look after itself. Then hold a competition every four years. It shouldn’t be this complicated… or corrupt.
Decentralise football. Let every federation look after itself. Then hold a competition every four years. It shouldn’t be this complicated… or corrupt.
What Europe could do is threaten to boycott the World Cup. It won't. But that might actually work. Trump wants his big show.
January 17, 2026 at 8:30 PM
This is why we need to get rid of FIFA. Granted, UEFA are far from perfect, but they’re held to account by European federations.
Decentralise football. Let every federation look after itself. Then hold a competition every four years. It shouldn’t be this complicated… or corrupt.
Decentralise football. Let every federation look after itself. Then hold a competition every four years. It shouldn’t be this complicated… or corrupt.
Super impressive first half from Leipzig. They’ve taken the game to Bayern and played them off the park. It certainly helps that Kompany has no competent full-backs to play. However, Leipzig have missed a LOT of chances. And they really need another two or three goals if they want to win this game.
January 17, 2026 at 6:20 PM
Super impressive first half from Leipzig. They’ve taken the game to Bayern and played them off the park. It certainly helps that Kompany has no competent full-backs to play. However, Leipzig have missed a LOT of chances. And they really need another two or three goals if they want to win this game.
The Hoffenheim run rumbles on with a 1-0 win over Leverkusen. Not the most exciting of games, but Ilzer’s side could have scored more and deserved all three points. Flekken let Leverkusen down (again) and that midfield just isn’t working right now. Fernandez looks too lightweight.
January 17, 2026 at 4:29 PM
The Hoffenheim run rumbles on with a 1-0 win over Leverkusen. Not the most exciting of games, but Ilzer’s side could have scored more and deserved all three points. Flekken let Leverkusen down (again) and that midfield just isn’t working right now. Fernandez looks too lightweight.
I’ve already lost count of the number of times Leverkusen have shot themselves in the foot this season with a mistake or outright howler from Flekken in goals. If he’s going to be their No.1 he’ll have to start showing it… eventually
January 17, 2026 at 2:51 PM
I’ve already lost count of the number of times Leverkusen have shot themselves in the foot this season with a mistake or outright howler from Flekken in goals. If he’s going to be their No.1 he’ll have to start showing it… eventually
Man Utd have been fantastic today. Deserve to be ahead.
January 17, 2026 at 1:57 PM
Man Utd have been fantastic today. Deserve to be ahead.
Dalot is a complete liability in this Man Utd team.
January 17, 2026 at 1:43 PM
Dalot is a complete liability in this Man Utd team.
Forget the Saudi Pro League or MLS. The most powerful league outside of Europe is the Brazilian Série A.
More and more money is flowing through its clubs and that's now having a profound impact on its relationship with Europe's top leagues:
More and more money is flowing through its clubs and that's now having a profound impact on its relationship with Europe's top leagues:
Brazilian football's new financial muscle is changing its relationship with European football
When it comes to the January transfer window, most football fans expect a period of intense negotiating and transfers dominated by the deep pockets of Premier League clubs. Few European top-flights ca...
transfermarkt.co.uk
January 17, 2026 at 12:13 PM
Forget the Saudi Pro League or MLS. The most powerful league outside of Europe is the Brazilian Série A.
More and more money is flowing through its clubs and that's now having a profound impact on its relationship with Europe's top leagues:
More and more money is flowing through its clubs and that's now having a profound impact on its relationship with Europe's top leagues:
The weird thing about modern media is that by the time Saturday comes around and Sky Sports get Keane, Neville & Co into the studio, most punters have already seen/heard them a dozen times on YouTube/podcasts/etc.
The novelty or appeal of match day pundits just isn’t there anymore.
The novelty or appeal of match day pundits just isn’t there anymore.
January 17, 2026 at 11:49 AM
The weird thing about modern media is that by the time Saturday comes around and Sky Sports get Keane, Neville & Co into the studio, most punters have already seen/heard them a dozen times on YouTube/podcasts/etc.
The novelty or appeal of match day pundits just isn’t there anymore.
The novelty or appeal of match day pundits just isn’t there anymore.
It’ll be interesting to see how that Man Utd midfield does today. Still feel like the whole team is undermined by proper cover in the centre of the park. Ugarte and Casemiro need replaced. But Mainoo as an 8 alongside a proper DM may work…
January 17, 2026 at 11:19 AM
It’ll be interesting to see how that Man Utd midfield does today. Still feel like the whole team is undermined by proper cover in the centre of the park. Ugarte and Casemiro need replaced. But Mainoo as an 8 alongside a proper DM may work…
Frankfurt have scored 17 goals and conceded 21 goals in their last 10 league games.
Thats a goal every 24 minutes. Utterly obscene.
Thats a goal every 24 minutes. Utterly obscene.
January 16, 2026 at 9:37 PM
Frankfurt have scored 17 goals and conceded 21 goals in their last 10 league games.
Thats a goal every 24 minutes. Utterly obscene.
Thats a goal every 24 minutes. Utterly obscene.
Little surprise that Oliver Glasner has announced his departure from Crystal Palace amidst a transfer saga surrounding one of his key players leaving. He left Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt under similar circumstances.
January 16, 2026 at 2:38 PM
Little surprise that Oliver Glasner has announced his departure from Crystal Palace amidst a transfer saga surrounding one of his key players leaving. He left Wolfsburg and Eintracht Frankfurt under similar circumstances.
Reposted by Stefan Bienkowski
Southampton fans reading about sad Bournemouth fans.
January 16, 2026 at 1:43 PM
Southampton fans reading about sad Bournemouth fans.
I’ve met Xabi Alonso. Can confirm this is how everyone reacts the first time…
January 16, 2026 at 1:15 PM
I’ve met Xabi Alonso. Can confirm this is how everyone reacts the first time…
Bournemouth fans reading about clubs wanting to sign Alex Scott this month after selling Semenyo, after selling Zabarnyi, after selling Huijsen, after selling Kerkez, after selling Ouattara, after selling Solanke...
January 16, 2026 at 1:01 PM
Bournemouth fans reading about clubs wanting to sign Alex Scott this month after selling Semenyo, after selling Zabarnyi, after selling Huijsen, after selling Kerkez, after selling Ouattara, after selling Solanke...
Instead of signing a sixth central defender, have Man City and Pep Guardiola considered buying some full-backs?
January 16, 2026 at 11:32 AM
Instead of signing a sixth central defender, have Man City and Pep Guardiola considered buying some full-backs?
Why we shouldn’t taken Jürgen Klopp’s harsh words about Real Madrid too seriously…
He could definitely end up as their new head coach in 2026.
He could definitely end up as their new head coach in 2026.
January 15, 2026 at 4:05 PM
Why we shouldn’t taken Jürgen Klopp’s harsh words about Real Madrid too seriously…
He could definitely end up as their new head coach in 2026.
He could definitely end up as their new head coach in 2026.
Hoffenheim are on a truly insane run right now. Only Bayern Munich have won more points in their last 10 Bundesliga games. A young spine of Hajdari (22), Avdullahu (21) and Asllani (23) too. Very exciting.
January 14, 2026 at 10:07 PM
Hoffenheim are on a truly insane run right now. Only Bayern Munich have won more points in their last 10 Bundesliga games. A young spine of Hajdari (22), Avdullahu (21) and Asllani (23) too. Very exciting.
In Star Trek the world had to go through WWIII before it got to Starfleet and Utopia…
"We want to make Star Trek real," said Elon Musk.
"We want to make Starfleet Academy real so that it's not always science fiction, but one day the science fiction turns to science fact."
"We want to make Starfleet Academy real so that it's not always science fiction, but one day the science fiction turns to science fact."
January 14, 2026 at 12:10 AM
In Star Trek the world had to go through WWIII before it got to Starfleet and Utopia…
Why did Xabi Alonso thrive at Leverkusen but fail at Real Madrid?
And could Jürgen Klopp be tempted to leave Red Bull and replace Alonso in the Spanish capital?
And could Jürgen Klopp be tempted to leave Red Bull and replace Alonso in the Spanish capital?
Why did Xabi Alonso thrive at Leverkusen but fail at Real Madrid?
And could Jürgen Klopp be tempted to leave Red Bull and replace Xabi Alonso in the Spanish capital?
gegenpressing.substack.com
January 13, 2026 at 10:24 PM
Why did Xabi Alonso thrive at Leverkusen but fail at Real Madrid?
And could Jürgen Klopp be tempted to leave Red Bull and replace Alonso in the Spanish capital?
And could Jürgen Klopp be tempted to leave Red Bull and replace Alonso in the Spanish capital?
Reposted by Stefan Bienkowski
New #Bundesliga Gegenpressing Pod. The transfer show! @sbienkowski.bsky.social and I chat:
👑Why Alonso failed at Real Madrid
🐂Could Jürgen Klopp be next in line?
🌴Timo Werner MLS move explained
🇸🇷Aston Villa want Union's Danilho Doekhi
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/why-did-xa...
👑Why Alonso failed at Real Madrid
🐂Could Jürgen Klopp be next in line?
🌴Timo Werner MLS move explained
🇸🇷Aston Villa want Union's Danilho Doekhi
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/why-did-xa...
Why did Xabi Alonso thrive at Leverkusen but fail at Real Madrid?
And could Jürgen Klopp be tempted to leave Red Bull and replace Xabi Alonso in the Spanish capital?
gegenpressing.substack.com
January 13, 2026 at 9:37 PM
New #Bundesliga Gegenpressing Pod. The transfer show! @sbienkowski.bsky.social and I chat:
👑Why Alonso failed at Real Madrid
🐂Could Jürgen Klopp be next in line?
🌴Timo Werner MLS move explained
🇸🇷Aston Villa want Union's Danilho Doekhi
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/why-did-xa...
👑Why Alonso failed at Real Madrid
🐂Could Jürgen Klopp be next in line?
🌴Timo Werner MLS move explained
🇸🇷Aston Villa want Union's Danilho Doekhi
gegenpressing.substack.com/p/why-did-xa...
Bayern Munich haven’t just managed to replace Kingsley Coman, Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry without missing a beat… but they’ve also found a way to notably improve on them too.
This week’s newsletter is on the remarkable talent of Luis Diaz and Michael Olise:
This week’s newsletter is on the remarkable talent of Luis Diaz and Michael Olise:
Diaz and Olise have brought an end to Bayern's indecisive attack
Michael Olise and Luis Diaz have replaced the old guard at Bayern and they may be exactly what the club needs to reach new heights in Europe.
gegenpressing.substack.com
January 13, 2026 at 3:32 PM
Bayern Munich haven’t just managed to replace Kingsley Coman, Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry without missing a beat… but they’ve also found a way to notably improve on them too.
This week’s newsletter is on the remarkable talent of Luis Diaz and Michael Olise:
This week’s newsletter is on the remarkable talent of Luis Diaz and Michael Olise: