Jack Lang
@jacklang.bsky.social
Football writer for The Athletic
Pinned
Jack Lang
@jacklang.bsky.social
· Oct 12
Meet the worst football team in the world… and their superstar hairdresser
Ibis Sport Club once went almost four years without winning a game - the Brazilians' attitude to their status has brought them global fame
www.nytimes.com
A day in the life of the worst football team in the world www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...
A day in the life of the worst football team in the world www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...
Meet the worst football team in the world… and their superstar hairdresser
Ibis Sport Club once went almost four years without winning a game - the Brazilians' attitude to their status has brought them global fame
www.nytimes.com
October 12, 2025 at 8:19 AM
A day in the life of the worst football team in the world www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...
Reposted by Jack Lang
He used to be homeless. When I was at his salon, he got a phone call. He answered like this:
"This is Mauro Shampoo from Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, broadcasting to the world. Footballer, hairdresser, man, at your service. Let’s go, show, show, show!"
www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...
"This is Mauro Shampoo from Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, broadcasting to the world. Footballer, hairdresser, man, at your service. Let’s go, show, show, show!"
www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...
October 11, 2025 at 12:51 PM
He used to be homeless. When I was at his salon, he got a phone call. He answered like this:
"This is Mauro Shampoo from Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, broadcasting to the world. Footballer, hairdresser, man, at your service. Let’s go, show, show, show!"
www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...
"This is Mauro Shampoo from Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, broadcasting to the world. Footballer, hairdresser, man, at your service. Let’s go, show, show, show!"
www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...
Reposted by Jack Lang
This is Mauro Shampoo, the most iconic Brazilian footballer you've never heard of.
"Pelé, Maradona & Zico were all No 10s, and so was I. I played for the worst team in the world, but I was still a No 10. I was the best of the worst, show."
www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...
"Pelé, Maradona & Zico were all No 10s, and so was I. I played for the worst team in the world, but I was still a No 10. I was the best of the worst, show."
www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...
October 11, 2025 at 12:45 PM
This is Mauro Shampoo, the most iconic Brazilian footballer you've never heard of.
"Pelé, Maradona & Zico were all No 10s, and so was I. I played for the worst team in the world, but I was still a No 10. I was the best of the worst, show."
www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...
"Pelé, Maradona & Zico were all No 10s, and so was I. I played for the worst team in the world, but I was still a No 10. I was the best of the worst, show."
www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...
Reposted by Jack Lang
Íbis SC call themselves 'the worst team in the world'.
They once went four years without winning. Their mascot is called Little Defeat. Their biggest icon is a hairdresser called Mauro Shampoo, who only ever scored one goal for them.
So why is everyone so... happy?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...
They once went four years without winning. Their mascot is called Little Defeat. Their biggest icon is a hairdresser called Mauro Shampoo, who only ever scored one goal for them.
So why is everyone so... happy?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...
Meet the worst football team in the world… and their superstar hairdresser
Ibis Sport Club once went almost four years without winning a game - the Brazilians' attitude to their status has brought them global fame
www.nytimes.com
October 11, 2025 at 6:17 AM
Íbis SC call themselves 'the worst team in the world'.
They once went four years without winning. Their mascot is called Little Defeat. Their biggest icon is a hairdresser called Mauro Shampoo, who only ever scored one goal for them.
So why is everyone so... happy?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...
They once went four years without winning. Their mascot is called Little Defeat. Their biggest icon is a hairdresser called Mauro Shampoo, who only ever scored one goal for them.
So why is everyone so... happy?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...
Reposted by Jack Lang
Between 1980 and 1984, Ibis won none of their 55 matches. Their goal difference over that period was minus 206. Ibis say this was the longest winless run in football history.
They have attracted global fame as a result.
@jacklang.bsky.social went to Brazil to meet them.
They have attracted global fame as a result.
@jacklang.bsky.social went to Brazil to meet them.
Meet the worst football team in the world… and their superstar hairdresser
Ibis Sport Club once went almost four years without winning a game - the Brazilians' attitude to their status has brought them global fame
www.nytimes.com
October 11, 2025 at 8:59 AM
Between 1980 and 1984, Ibis won none of their 55 matches. Their goal difference over that period was minus 206. Ibis say this was the longest winless run in football history.
They have attracted global fame as a result.
@jacklang.bsky.social went to Brazil to meet them.
They have attracted global fame as a result.
@jacklang.bsky.social went to Brazil to meet them.
Reposted by Jack Lang
Football in 2025 doesn’t look how we expected it to in 2000. Here’s a list of eight things I anticipated would happen in that time, that have not happened at all.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...
Eight expectations about football from 25 years ago that have proven misguided
From pay-per-view coverage to the loss of technical midfielders to indoor stadiums – some expectations from 2000 haven't come true
www.nytimes.com
October 11, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Football in 2025 doesn’t look how we expected it to in 2000. Here’s a list of eight things I anticipated would happen in that time, that have not happened at all.
www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/670...
Íbis SC call themselves 'the worst team in the world'.
They once went four years without winning. Their mascot is called Little Defeat. Their biggest icon is a hairdresser called Mauro Shampoo, who only ever scored one goal for them.
So why is everyone so... happy?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...
They once went four years without winning. Their mascot is called Little Defeat. Their biggest icon is a hairdresser called Mauro Shampoo, who only ever scored one goal for them.
So why is everyone so... happy?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...
Meet the worst football team in the world… and their superstar hairdresser
Ibis Sport Club once went almost four years without winning a game - the Brazilians' attitude to their status has brought them global fame
www.nytimes.com
October 11, 2025 at 6:17 AM
Íbis SC call themselves 'the worst team in the world'.
They once went four years without winning. Their mascot is called Little Defeat. Their biggest icon is a hairdresser called Mauro Shampoo, who only ever scored one goal for them.
So why is everyone so... happy?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...
They once went four years without winning. Their mascot is called Little Defeat. Their biggest icon is a hairdresser called Mauro Shampoo, who only ever scored one goal for them.
So why is everyone so... happy?
www.nytimes.com/athletic/667...
"I am hungrier than I was 25 years ago. I feel more alive than ever."
Why Benfica are banking on José Mourinho, fuelled by a sense of unfinished business, to conjure a bit of the old devil magic and bring the glory days back to the Estádio da Luz
www.nytimes.com/athletic/663...
Why Benfica are banking on José Mourinho, fuelled by a sense of unfinished business, to conjure a bit of the old devil magic and bring the glory days back to the Estádio da Luz
www.nytimes.com/athletic/663...
Jose Mourinho is back at Benfica and ‘more alive than ever’. They need his old devil magic
Benfica have chosen Mourinho as their new head coach - 25 years on from his first crack at the job - following a horror loss to Qarabag
www.nytimes.com
September 18, 2025 at 4:14 PM
"I am hungrier than I was 25 years ago. I feel more alive than ever."
Why Benfica are banking on José Mourinho, fuelled by a sense of unfinished business, to conjure a bit of the old devil magic and bring the glory days back to the Estádio da Luz
www.nytimes.com/athletic/663...
Why Benfica are banking on José Mourinho, fuelled by a sense of unfinished business, to conjure a bit of the old devil magic and bring the glory days back to the Estádio da Luz
www.nytimes.com/athletic/663...
Reposted by Jack Lang
Brazil's defeat to Bolivia last night brought the curtain down on their worst qualification campaign ever.
Lots of work for Carlo Ancelotti to do. Not much time in which to do it
www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...
Lots of work for Carlo Ancelotti to do. Not much time in which to do it
www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...
Brazil’s World Cup qualifying was an all-time low – Carlo Ancelotti faces a race to be ready
Brazil lost six matches in qualifying for the World Cup. Can Carlo Ancelotti fix their problems in time for the tournament?
www.nytimes.com
September 10, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Brazil's defeat to Bolivia last night brought the curtain down on their worst qualification campaign ever.
Lots of work for Carlo Ancelotti to do. Not much time in which to do it
www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...
Lots of work for Carlo Ancelotti to do. Not much time in which to do it
www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...
Brazil's defeat to Bolivia last night brought the curtain down on their worst qualification campaign ever.
Lots of work for Carlo Ancelotti to do. Not much time in which to do it
www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...
Lots of work for Carlo Ancelotti to do. Not much time in which to do it
www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...
Brazil’s World Cup qualifying was an all-time low – Carlo Ancelotti faces a race to be ready
Brazil lost six matches in qualifying for the World Cup. Can Carlo Ancelotti fix their problems in time for the tournament?
www.nytimes.com
September 10, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Brazil's defeat to Bolivia last night brought the curtain down on their worst qualification campaign ever.
Lots of work for Carlo Ancelotti to do. Not much time in which to do it
www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...
Lots of work for Carlo Ancelotti to do. Not much time in which to do it
www.nytimes.com/athletic/661...
Ecuador beat Argentina last night. That's 11 matches unbeaten. They finish second in South American World Cup qualifying, above Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia.
"The feeling among the players and staff is that we are in a position to make history"
www.nytimes.com/athletic/660...
"The feeling among the players and staff is that we are in a position to make history"
www.nytimes.com/athletic/660...
Ecuador are outperforming Brazil in World Cup qualifying. They are a footballing nation on the rise
www.nytimes.com
September 10, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Ecuador beat Argentina last night. That's 11 matches unbeaten. They finish second in South American World Cup qualifying, above Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia.
"The feeling among the players and staff is that we are in a position to make history"
www.nytimes.com/athletic/660...
"The feeling among the players and staff is that we are in a position to make history"
www.nytimes.com/athletic/660...
Ecuador haven't lost in 10 games. Their defensive record is laugh-out-loud amazing. They qualified for the World Cup with a year to spare despite a points deduction.
I spoke to coach Sebastián Beccacece about their rise – and their big ambitions for next summer
www.nytimes.com/athletic/660...
I spoke to coach Sebastián Beccacece about their rise – and their big ambitions for next summer
www.nytimes.com/athletic/660...
Ecuador are outperforming Brazil in World Cup qualifying. They are a footballing nation on the rise
www.nytimes.com
September 8, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Ecuador haven't lost in 10 games. Their defensive record is laugh-out-loud amazing. They qualified for the World Cup with a year to spare despite a points deduction.
I spoke to coach Sebastián Beccacece about their rise – and their big ambitions for next summer
www.nytimes.com/athletic/660...
I spoke to coach Sebastián Beccacece about their rise – and their big ambitions for next summer
www.nytimes.com/athletic/660...
Watched Matheus Cunha's Manchester United debut with his old futsal mentor in Recife – and a few of the kids who hope to follow in his footsteps one day
www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...
August 19, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Watched Matheus Cunha's Manchester United debut with his old futsal mentor in Recife – and a few of the kids who hope to follow in his footsteps one day
www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...
www.nytimes.com/athletic/656...
Reposted by Jack Lang
“He was a symbol of this region.”
“We felt he was ours.”
In northern Portugal, a community mourns Diogo Jota, a blue-collar footballer who never lost sight of where his journey began
www.nytimes.com/athletic/647...
“We felt he was ours.”
In northern Portugal, a community mourns Diogo Jota, a blue-collar footballer who never lost sight of where his journey began
www.nytimes.com/athletic/647...
‘Thank you, for making so many people happy’: Gondomar mourns Diogo Jota, their humble hero
Jack Lang reports from Portugal on the impact that Jota's death has had on the region where he grew up and leaves such an indelible mark
www.nytimes.com
July 6, 2025 at 1:06 PM
“He was a symbol of this region.”
“We felt he was ours.”
In northern Portugal, a community mourns Diogo Jota, a blue-collar footballer who never lost sight of where his journey began
www.nytimes.com/athletic/647...
“We felt he was ours.”
In northern Portugal, a community mourns Diogo Jota, a blue-collar footballer who never lost sight of where his journey began
www.nytimes.com/athletic/647...
“He was a symbol of this region.”
“We felt he was ours.”
In northern Portugal, a community mourns Diogo Jota, a blue-collar footballer who never lost sight of where his journey began
www.nytimes.com/athletic/647...
“We felt he was ours.”
In northern Portugal, a community mourns Diogo Jota, a blue-collar footballer who never lost sight of where his journey began
www.nytimes.com/athletic/647...
‘Thank you, for making so many people happy’: Gondomar mourns Diogo Jota, their humble hero
Jack Lang reports from Portugal on the impact that Jota's death has had on the region where he grew up and leaves such an indelible mark
www.nytimes.com
July 6, 2025 at 1:06 PM
“He was a symbol of this region.”
“We felt he was ours.”
In northern Portugal, a community mourns Diogo Jota, a blue-collar footballer who never lost sight of where his journey began
www.nytimes.com/athletic/647...
“We felt he was ours.”
In northern Portugal, a community mourns Diogo Jota, a blue-collar footballer who never lost sight of where his journey began
www.nytimes.com/athletic/647...
Reposted by Jack Lang
Stand-out performer so far at this Club World Cup? There’s a strong case for Jhon Arias, the softly spoken, Gabriel García Márquez-reading dreamer who has come from relative obscurity in Colombia to bring his brand of magical realism to Fluminense 🇧🇷🇨🇴 #Fluminense www.nytimes.com/athletic/646...
Meet Jhon Arias – a novel football hero
The softly spoken Colombian winger has emerged as one of the stars of the Club World Cup, and was crucial to Fluminense's win over Inter
www.nytimes.com
July 1, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Stand-out performer so far at this Club World Cup? There’s a strong case for Jhon Arias, the softly spoken, Gabriel García Márquez-reading dreamer who has come from relative obscurity in Colombia to bring his brand of magical realism to Fluminense 🇧🇷🇨🇴 #Fluminense www.nytimes.com/athletic/646...
Reposted by Jack Lang
“He will soon be seen as one of the top managers in the world.”
How “restless” Filipe Luis went from novice to Brazil’s most promising coach in the space of eight months
www.nytimes.com/athletic/645...
How “restless” Filipe Luis went from novice to Brazil’s most promising coach in the space of eight months
www.nytimes.com/athletic/645...
Filipe Luis: The Flamengo coach who is making a hard job look easy
Tipped to manage Brazil in the future, Filipe Luis has already made a big impression at the Club World Cup this summer
www.nytimes.com
June 28, 2025 at 11:16 AM
“He will soon be seen as one of the top managers in the world.”
How “restless” Filipe Luis went from novice to Brazil’s most promising coach in the space of eight months
www.nytimes.com/athletic/645...
How “restless” Filipe Luis went from novice to Brazil’s most promising coach in the space of eight months
www.nytimes.com/athletic/645...
“He will soon be seen as one of the top managers in the world.”
How “restless” Filipe Luis went from novice to Brazil’s most promising coach in the space of eight months
www.nytimes.com/athletic/645...
How “restless” Filipe Luis went from novice to Brazil’s most promising coach in the space of eight months
www.nytimes.com/athletic/645...
Filipe Luis: The Flamengo coach who is making a hard job look easy
Tipped to manage Brazil in the future, Filipe Luis has already made a big impression at the Club World Cup this summer
www.nytimes.com
June 28, 2025 at 11:16 AM
“He will soon be seen as one of the top managers in the world.”
How “restless” Filipe Luis went from novice to Brazil’s most promising coach in the space of eight months
www.nytimes.com/athletic/645...
How “restless” Filipe Luis went from novice to Brazil’s most promising coach in the space of eight months
www.nytimes.com/athletic/645...
Reposted by Jack Lang
Igor Jesus is one of the breakout stars of the Club World Cup.
The most interesting thing about him?
Just over a year ago, barely anyone had even heard of him.
📝 @jacklang.bsky.social
The most interesting thing about him?
Just over a year ago, barely anyone had even heard of him.
📝 @jacklang.bsky.social
Igor Jesus, the Premier League-bound Club World Cup star who last year was a nobody
The 'Little Frog' is now starring on the global stage and has a move to Nottingham Forest already agreed. Not a bad year's work for a nobody
www.nytimes.com
June 27, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Igor Jesus is one of the breakout stars of the Club World Cup.
The most interesting thing about him?
Just over a year ago, barely anyone had even heard of him.
📝 @jacklang.bsky.social
The most interesting thing about him?
Just over a year ago, barely anyone had even heard of him.
📝 @jacklang.bsky.social
Reposted by Jack Lang
Igor Jesus took the scenic route to the brink of global stardom. It might just have been the making of him www.nytimes.com/athletic/645...
Igor Jesus – The Premier League-bound Club World Cup star who last year was a nobody
The 'Little Frog' is now starring on the global stage and has a move to Nottingham Forest already agreed. Not a bad year's work for a nobody
www.nytimes.com
June 27, 2025 at 4:59 AM
Igor Jesus took the scenic route to the brink of global stardom. It might just have been the making of him www.nytimes.com/athletic/645...
Reposted by Jack Lang
First came his opening goal, a thrilling reminder of what he can do when the service is right and he is not being double-marked.
Eight minutes later, he set up the second goal in stylish fashion, evoking Guti’s 'Heel of God.'
www.nytimes.com/athletic/644...
Eight minutes later, he set up the second goal in stylish fashion, evoking Guti’s 'Heel of God.'
www.nytimes.com/athletic/644...
Vinicius Jr evokes Guti’s ‘Heel of God’ at Club World Cup to set up Real Madrid v Juventus
Watch Vinicius Jr's smart assist and read analysis of Real Madrid's victory over Salzburg
www.nytimes.com
June 27, 2025 at 3:32 AM
First came his opening goal, a thrilling reminder of what he can do when the service is right and he is not being double-marked.
Eight minutes later, he set up the second goal in stylish fashion, evoking Guti’s 'Heel of God.'
www.nytimes.com/athletic/644...
Eight minutes later, he set up the second goal in stylish fashion, evoking Guti’s 'Heel of God.'
www.nytimes.com/athletic/644...
Igor Jesus took the scenic route to the brink of global stardom. It might just have been the making of him www.nytimes.com/athletic/645...
Igor Jesus – The Premier League-bound Club World Cup star who last year was a nobody
The 'Little Frog' is now starring on the global stage and has a move to Nottingham Forest already agreed. Not a bad year's work for a nobody
www.nytimes.com
June 27, 2025 at 4:59 AM
Igor Jesus took the scenic route to the brink of global stardom. It might just have been the making of him www.nytimes.com/athletic/645...
Argentine fans lit up the Club World Cup. River and Boca’s football? Not so much www.nytimes.com/athletic/645...
Goodbye Argentina. The Club World Cup will miss your fans but not your football
Boca Juniors and River Plate are out while all of the Brazilian teams are through, a sign of the issues affecting Argentina at club level
www.nytimes.com
June 26, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Argentine fans lit up the Club World Cup. River and Boca’s football? Not so much www.nytimes.com/athletic/645...