In one of the most remarkable stories of the season, we have witnessed a fairy tale happen in Sweden. A story not dissimilar to that of Leicester City winning the Premier League. In stark contrast to Leicester’s historical title win, Mjällby AIF resides in the small fishing village of Hällevik, also part of the Sölvesborg Municipality in Blekinge County.

Now, the Champions League has kicked off for the 25/26 season, and the regular names are amongst the competition. Real Madrid, Liverpool, Barcelona and so on. Then you see the name, Pafos FC, who? You may be thinking. Who is this team that has made it to the Champions League proper?

A mild night in the Jetisu region of Kazakhstan produced one of the most remarkable stories in football from the last decade. The once capital city of Kazakhstan, Almaty, brought fever dreams to life with the performance of the football club, Kairat. A nation with a league ranked 34th in the UEFA Coefficient rankings has produced an incredible feat by reaching the Champions League, League Phase.

This is not the first time a Kazakhstan side has reached the promised land. FC Astana appeared in the Champions League in the 2015-16 season, although they did not progress past the group stage. Historically, Astana are the most successful team in Kazakhstan, winning the title on seven occasions.

By now, we are used to seeing British footballers play abroad. Harry Kane scoring goals for fun in Munich, Bellingham lighting it up in Madrid, and more recently, a gold rush of players to the Saudi Pro League.

But beyond the headlines, there’s a wave of British footballers making names for themselves in unexpected corners of the world, away from the bright lights of Europe or the money from America or Saudi Arabia.

The Netherlands, a footballing powerhouse over generations, the birthplace of total football, wearers of the iconic orange strip. Producers of great talents, Virgil Van Dijk, Johan Cruyff and Ruud Gullit.

Mainstays of the Dutch national team all with their own legacies to leave behind. What about the likes of Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf and Jerrel (Jimmy) Floyd Hasselbaink? All representing Holland over the years to huge successes, but what if you were told that not one of these three is even European?