The Football Daily Christmas Awards 2025 Review
The Football Daily Christmas Awards 2025, the fourth annual edition, was published on 17 December 2025 by Scott Murray, Niall McVeigh, and John Brewin. The feature provides a satirical and comprehensive overview of football events and figures over the past year.
Liverpool's 2024-25 Premier League title win is described as securely banked, with the club planning to invest nearly £500 million on new talents such as Milos Kerkez, Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz, and Hugo Ekitiké. Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk have been granted new contracts, while Arne Slot’s revamped Liverpool-style squad is noted to be struggling to settle into life on Merseyside. Trent Alexander-Arnold, however, is downplayed in discussions of the squad.
Manchester United’s management under Sir Jim Ratcliffe drew particular mockery through the "Make Manchester United Great Again" strategy. This policy features staff reductions, significant asset sales, soaring ticket prices, a ballooning club debt, and plans for a grand redevelopment of Old Trafford, whimsically compared to an oversized circus tent, with international investment playing a part. Ruben Amorim's tenure linked to the club was criticized for inconsistency, characterized by alternating between poor performances and surprising results.
Elsewhere, Aston Villa was noted for missing out on the Bigger Cup amidst VAR concerns, with Unai Emery trimming the squad. Birmingham City, managed by Wagner and Brady, was highlighted for embodying "Brumminess," and Peterborough United celebrated winning the Freight Rover Trophy at Wembley.
Brendan Rodgers came under scrutiny after controversially comparing Celtic to a Honda Civic in a bid to secure transfer funds; his tenure ended amid controversy and a notable loss to Dundee.
Scotland's World Cup campaign was hailed as heartbreakingly entertaining and improbable. The team experienced a sequence of dramatic outcomes, including a loss to Denmark, a draw with Morocco, and a win against Brazil, ultimately exiting narrowly and painfully, with VAR decisions playing a significant role.
Arsenal’s "North London Forever" anthem received criticism as an "aural atrocity," with suggestions to replace it with tracks like "Guns of Brixton" or a Nouvelle Vague version.
In pioneering coaching trends, Laura Harvey of Seattle Reign was recognized for her innovative use of AI, specifically ChatGPT, to influence tactics. Seattle Reign’s rise from near-bottom to finishing fifth in the NWSL demonstrates the growing role of artificial intelligence in football coaching.
Additional awards within the feature included the Chloe Kelly/Charli XCX Award for Supercool, celebrating Kelly as England’s Euro 2025 hero for her decisive goals and player of the tournament honor, alongside runners-up Michelle Agyemang, Jess Carter, and Lucy Bronze. The Dilly‑Ding Dilly‑Dong Award noted Brentford and Sunderland’s escape from relegation fears, with Sunderland aiming to leverage TV revenue for a push toward European competition.
The piece is interwoven with satirical vignettes including the fictional Copa Gianni, Donald Trump’s medal endeavors, and other insider jabs, rounding out a broad spoof of contemporary football culture and personalities.
