I still remember opening my 2017 football calendar with that familiar mix of excitement and dread. As someone who's followed the beautiful game for over fifteen years, I've learned that a season isn't just about the matches you circle in red pen—it's about those unexpected moments that sneak up on you and become legendary. That's exactly what came to mind when I read Philippine volleyball star Soyud's quote about her surprise inclusion on the wishlist: "Nagulat ako na nandun ako sa wishlist. No one expected na nandu'n ako." Football operates on the same principle—the scheduled derbies and Champions League nights get the attention, but the real magic often comes from the fixtures nobody saw coming.
Let me walk you through what made the 2017 football calendar so special, starting with the obvious highlights before diving into the beautiful chaos that unfolded. The Premier League kicked off on August 12th, with Manchester United facing West Ham in what turned out to be a 4-0 statement victory that set the tone for their season. Meanwhile, La Liga began a week later with Real Madrid immediately asserting dominance. These opening weekends always feel like Christmas morning for football fans—everything feels possible, and every team still believes they could be the surprise package. I personally marked my calendar for October 14th—the first Manchester derby of the season. There's something electric about those fixtures that transcends the sport itself—the city literally changes color, and you can feel the tension in the air weeks in advance.
The Champions League group stage draw on August 24th gave us some mouthwatering prospects, with Barcelona facing Juventus in a rematch of previous finals. But what fascinated me more were the underdog stories developing simultaneously. Look at Leicester City's Champions League run the previous season—nobody had them on their wishlist either, yet there they were, defeating Sevilla and reaching the quarterfinals against all odds. That's the Soyud phenomenon in football—the unexpected contenders who emerge when least expected. During this period, I found myself traveling to Naples for their Champions League match against Manchester City, and the atmosphere at Stadio San Paolo reminded me why I fell in love with European nights—the passion there reaches almost religious proportions.
Domestically, the winter months brought the usual fixture congestion that managers love to complain about. Between December 26th and January 3rd, Premier League teams played four matches across nine days—an insane schedule that separates the truly deep squads from those relying on star players. I've always had mixed feelings about this period—as a fan, it's football heaven with matches almost daily, but you can't help worrying about player welfare. The FA Cup third round in early January provided the traditional giant-killing opportunities, and I'll never forget watching non-league Sutton United defeat Leeds United—precisely the kind of "nobody expected" moment that makes football magical.
International breaks in March and June featured World Cup qualifiers that ultimately determined who would travel to Russia the following year. The tension during these matches was palpable—I remember watching the US men's national team's disastrous loss to Trinidad and Tobago that eliminated them from World Cup contention, creating one of the most shocking moments in American soccer history. Sometimes the most significant matches aren't the glamorous finals but these qualifiers where dreams are made or shattered in ninety minutes.
What made 2017 particularly memorable was how the underdog narrative played out across multiple leagues. In Serie A, Napoli mounted a serious title challenge that nobody predicted at season's start. In Germany, Hoffenheim's young manager Julian Nagelsmann—then just 29 years old—guided his team to Champions League qualification against all expectations. These stories remind me that while we obsess over the scheduled marquee matchups, football's soul often reveals itself in these surprise packages. The Soyud quote resonates because it captures that beautiful uncertainty—the reason we watch even the most seemingly straightforward fixtures, because you never know when history will be made.
Looking back, the 2017 football calendar taught me to appreciate the entire ecosystem of the sport—not just the blockbuster events but the quiet matches that unexpectedly become turning points. The Champions League final between Real Madrid and Juventus on June 3rd provided the spectacular conclusion the season deserved, but honestly, some of my fondest memories come from those unexpected Tuesday nights watching underdogs defy the odds. That's the thing about football schedules—they give us the structure, but the magic comes from the moments nobody scheduled, the heroes nobody expected, exactly like Soyud described. The fixtures tell us where to look, but the beautiful game always reserves its best surprises for when we least anticipate them.