Hiroo Onoda and the Super League
The article draws a parallel between Real Madrid's persistence in pursuing a private European football competition and Japanese soldiers, like Hiroo Onoda, who continued fighting years after World War II ended.
The article reflects on the ongoing struggles of Real Madrid to establish a private European football league, likening the club's determination to the tenacity of Hiroo Onoda, a Japanese soldier who continued to fight in the jungles of the Pacific long after World War II had officially ended. Despite losing support from its allies, much like Onoda's isolated campaign, Real Madrid seems resolute in its vision for a breakaway league, which evokes a sense of nostalgia for a certain 'glory' that is now under threat.
Hiroo Onoda's story offers a metaphorical lens through which to view the predicament of Real Madrid. After World War II concluded in 1945 with Japan's surrender, Onoda, among others, resisted the notion that the war had effectively ended, clinging to a sense of duty based on his orders. This historical reminiscing not only highlights the club's struggle but also comments on loyalty, ambition, and the perceptions of failure in sports, as Real Madrid aims to redefine the landscape of European football despite overwhelming resistance.
The implications of such an endeavor are multi-faceted; if successful, a new league could alter the dynamics of competitive football, potentially leading to significant financial shifts and alterations in fan engagement. However, there remain questions of legitimacy and sustainability, reflective of the historical context of Onoda's fruitless fight—an endeavor fueled by passion yet detached from the evolving realities of the broader world of sports.