A to Z of brilliantly weird football facts, including Brazil's surprise kryptonite

It is often said that the least surprising thing about football is its capacity to surprise you.

We thought we would put that theory to the test by compiling an A to Z of weird football facts that you might not even believe.

If you want to know how to beat Real Madrid in a European final, you're best off asking Aberdeen. The SPL club are the last club to do it (Cup Winners Cup final, 1983). While we are on the Dons, when translated from Gaelic, Aberdeen's home ground of Pittodrie Stadium literally means 'sh**heap'.

Everyone remembers David Beckham's iconic goal for Manchester United from the half-way line. However, few know he scored it while wearing another player's boots. Predator boots were all the rage back then, and Beckham was desperate to try a pair. Adidas only had one pair of size eights available. They had been made for Rangers and Scotland midfielder Charlie Miller and had 'Charlie' embroidered into the tongue.

Guiseppe Bergomi is football royalty in Italy having played for the Azzurri in four World Cups. Remarkably, though, despite that, and earning 81 caps, he never played in a single World Cup qualifier.

Between them, Gianluigi Buffon, Peter Shilton and Stanley Matthews have made at least one first-team appearance in every single season since 1931/32. Buffon's longevity is such that he has played with or against six father and son duos: The Weahs, the Thurams, the Chiesas, the Simeones, the Valotis' and the Fricks. If unused subs are counted, the list would be 13.

Only one foreign club has ever won the Copa del Rey. A post-season edition was trialled by the Spanish FA in 1927, with two foreign clubs invited: Motherwell and Swansea City. It was Motherwell who won it, beating Real Madrid in the final. A