Arguably the biggest and most famous of soccer leagues, the English Premier League begins once more tomorrow with fans eagerly awaiting a season of soccer that will last them until May 2013. Will Manchester City retain the title once more or will Manchester United manage to snatch it from their grasp? Either way, I’ll be keen to see if Swansea City can stay up for another season. We’re celebrating the start of the season by taking a look at the four best apps to use alongside your soccer watching experience.

Caught Offside
Caught Offside has been an immensely popular independent soccer website for a while now and its app supplements matters all the more. It offers a wide variety of content from up to the minute news, video highlights, rumors to in-depth features and analysis. As expected, there are also the all important live scores and stats to keep fans up to date.

FREE!

Caught Offside

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-04-13 :: Category: Sports

FREE!

Caught Offside for iPad

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2012-06-10 :: Category: Sports

Live Score Addicts
The ideal way to check the latest scores at speed, Live Score Addicts is guaranteed to keep fans up to date on scores for 420 different leagues and cups around the world, as well as the crucial English Premier League. Push Notifications means you’ll never miss a change of score or the presence of an ominous red card. Other information such as substitutions, attendance and even Head2Head comparisons are available.

FREE!

Live Score Addicts

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-02-12 :: Category: Sports

Premier League 20 Seasons
Premier League 20 Seasons won’t keep you informed on the latest developments this season but it will give you fantastic insight on the past 20 seasons of the Premier League. The app offers more than 100 classic moments from that time, along with interactive quizzes to test your knowledge of the Premier League. It’s not always perfect at streaming the content but there’s no denying it’s exciting stuff checking back on the iconic moments that have been and gone.

$2.99

Premier League 20 Seasons

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-04-11 :: Category: Sports

FourFourTwo Soccer Stats Zone
Predominantly UK based soccer magazine FourFourTwo has released an app that stat fans will absolutely adore. Soccer Stats Zone doesn’t stop where other apps do, it provides every stat imaginable from passes and tackles completed to a broken down analysis of every single manoeuvre performed during a match. Analysis on how a match has changed after a key incident such as a goal or red card is included as well as player versus player and team versus team comparisons. Your head will explode with facts in no time.

FREE!

FourFourTwo Football Stats Zone: powered by Opta

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2011-08-15 :: Category: Sports

I’m not what anyone would consider a soccer fan, but that doesn’t keep me from appreciating all of the cool stuff players can expect to find in EA’s upcoming FIFA 13. This is, of course, in addition to the expected bullet-points such as improved graphics and such.

FIFA 13 is indeed a great looking game. Player animations are incredibly smooth and their likenesses are captured eerily well considering this is an iOS game. Although they do have that creepy blank look that so many real world based character models tend to have. A bunch of smaller details will no doubt cause salivary glands to work overtime as well, including balls sporting the proper logos and all the tiny graphics typically found on a player’s jersey. And all of these fine details can be enjoyed up close and personal thanks to the game’s instant replay feature.

It doesn’t stop with tie visuals though. For the first time ever EA Sports Football Club will make its way into an iOS title. Even better, preexisting accounts will be carried over, so nobody will have to start from scratch on their iOS device. Of course my personal favorite addition is the way special skill shots and moves can be controlled via a second virtual stick on the right-hand side of the screen. Simply tap and drag in a given pattern or direction and the controlled player will start with the fancy footwork.

No information is available yet on pricing, but football (football, football) enthusiasts can expect to find FIFA 13 in the App Store sometime this fall.

In a matter of weeks, one of the biggest soccer tournaments out there begins: Euro 2012. Qualification is over and 16 European teams are all lined up to prove which one is the best of the bunch. As a Brit, I’m ever hopeful that England will achieve glory but regardless of what happens, I’ll be enjoying seeing some high quality action. In honor of such good times ahead, we thought we’d take a look at the four best apps out there to use alongside the tournament.

Total Euro 2012
We might have covered Total Euro 2012 previously but it’s unparalleled in what it offers and deserves mention again. The app offers pretty much everything any soccer fan could want during the tournament. Detailed statistics on every player are offered, along with past performance analysis. This will all tie in perfectly with the app’s future live updates, formations and live commentary that will be offered with every match during Euro 2012. Arguably, fans won’t need another app when they have this.

$0.99

Euro '12+

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-05-09 :: Category: Sports

Football Attack Euro 2012
Soccer fans love to discuss with friends just what they think the score will be in each match. Heck, we’ve all been there. I always have a competition with a friend every tournament where we predict each match and whoever gets the most right, wins a prize. Football Attack Euro 2012 is the internet based equivalent using Facebook accounts to collate everything. It’s simple yet immediately appealing to groups of fans.

FREE!

Football Attack Euro 2012

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-03-28 :: Category: Games

Official UEFA EURO 2012 app
For obvious reasons, UEFA is guaranteed to have the most reliable information on all things Euro 2012. Official UEFA EURO 2012 app keeps all that knowledge on an iOS device with the latest articles and news, as well as a calendar, group standings and lineups. Personalized alerts can be set up so users can see all the news about their favorite team quickly. Highlight clips and video interviews are set to be included during the tournament.

FREE!

Official UEFA EURO 2012 app

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-04-23 :: Category: Sports

Euro 2012 Football Quiz

Think you know everything about football and the Euros? Euro 2012 Football Quiz tests this knowledge with 500 questions on the tournament. Everything from fixture dates to memorablia questions are asked here and it’s a fun way of learning some new facts.

$0.99

Euro 2012 Football Quiz

+ Universal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad
Released: 2012-04-13 :: Category: Sports

One of the biggest events in the international soccer calendar is starting in a matter of weeks: Euro 2012. Thanks to this, a plethora of apps are trickling their way through to the App Store for keen soccer fans to enthusiastically check out. While we’re going to be taking a closer look at the selection very soon, Total Euro 2012 deserves mentioning now.

The app contains a huge amount of information for Euro 2012 fans. There’s detailed head to head comparison of all the teams participating in the tournament, along with recent matches and past Euro/World Cup performance. Each player comes with detailed statistics along with their past performance of the previous two seasons.

Once the tournament begins, live updates will be provided with live commentary and up to date statistics with the promise of push notifications and post-game video highlights.

Total Euro 2012 is set to be a very comprehensive app that will be ideal for soccer fans to check in on regularly.

It’s out now, priced at $2.99.

$0.99

Euro '12+

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2012-05-09 :: Category: Sports

In preparation for the 2012 UEFA Champions League matches hitting this week, Ringier Studios’ recently launched its Champions League app to ensure fans have all the excitement at their fingertips. Marked down from $4.99 to $1.99 just in time for the games, the interactive appzine is aimed at true soccer fans wanting to dive deep into every facet of the tournament. The app will feature the 10 best goals in 3D animation, including ones by Charles-Edouard Coridon, Zinedine Zidane and Lionel Messi as well as saves by 10 goalkeepers such as Oliver Kahn, Victor Valdes and even Jerzy Dudek.

Fans who think they have what it takes to win the coveted trophy can build their very own dream team directly from previous Champions League heros. This team can be shared via Facebook and Twitter to show friends just how great their team is. The appzine also takes fans where the magic happens via 360 degree panoramic stadium photos taken during matches played by FC Barcelona and AC Milan. As for video content, fans have access to exclusive interviews with legends such as Steve McManaman, Stéphane Chapuisat, Ottmar Hitzfeld and even referee Urs Meier. They app also tracks top earners, gives an insider look at the ball and athletic shoe and offers historic timelines for some of the greatest moments of the finals.

$4.99

Ringier Studios’ Champions League: True Passion, Big Business

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2011-12-05 :: Category: Sports

We’ve all been there. Two sports events are on at once and it’s a judgement call to figure out which one to watch and which one to just keep an eye on the score of. While sometimes it’s the obvious game with the two big leading teams against each other, other times it’s a more subtle David and Goliath style conflict that turns out to be the more exciting game. How to figure out which one as soon as possible though? Maybe Thuuz will be able to help there.

It’s an app that, using some unique and mysterious algorithms, figures out the excitement of each game in real-time then rates it on a scale of 0-100. Users pick their favorite sports, teams and players, set their excitement threshold and then the app gets to work.

Currently monitoring a wide variety of sports such as NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, Soccer, Cricket, Rugby as well as college sports like Football and Basketball, this app should have sports fans pretty covered for figuring out what to watch.

Further functionality is offered with the ability to watch live games when in the US as well as track down the nearest sports bar to catch the action.

It’s a free app so give it a shot and why not report back on how it’s gone. Initial feedback is looking pretty darn promising. Finally, this predicament could be solved!

FREE!

Thuuz Sports

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2011-09-13 :: Category: Sports

For soccer fans across the world, last weekend marked the start of an exciting few months ahead. The English Premier League has started once more with the 2011/2012 season afoot. It might not be the only soccer league out there but it’s certainly the biggest with some of the most exciting soccer yet to be seen this season.

So what better way of keeping track of the latest news and insights into the league than with the Mirror Football app? The app hopes to be the one stop shop for all things Premier League related offering up to the minute score tracking for each live match, breaking news, videos and pictures as well as in-depth analysis. This analysis comes from a series of bloggers from across the world as well as the likes of football pundits Robbie Savage and Mark Lawrenson amongst others.

Besides being able to view general news, fans can also zero in on specific teams by letting the app know what their favorite side is.

Mirror Football is out now for all iOS devices and it’s a free download.

FREE!

Mirror Football

iPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad
Released: 2010-03-26 :: Category: Sports

Despite being raised in the United States, I am an individual that has a healthy appreciation for the sport that the rest of the world calls “football.”  As much as I much as I enjoy watching a bunch of grown men grope themselves on the gridiron every Saturday and Sunday, nothing can match the thrill of watching a well played match on the pitch.  For this very reason virtually every type of of soccer game that has been released on the iOS has found permanent residence on my iOS devices, and it looks like I will need to make room for one more.

Just yesterday Gamegou, the developer of last year’s Soccer Stealers, announced that they would be bringing their extensive footie experience to the iPad with Soccer Stealers Reloaded.  This is very promising news, especially given that the last entry in this franchise landed a solid review score over at our sister site, The Portable Gamer.

Easily the biggest improvement to the games doesn’t actually appear on screen, because it is the price tag, because now it is completely free.  Even more remarkable is that despite the price drop, there are still more features included in the game.  Here are some of the new things that are in store:

• Customize your character and Dress to Impress: What’s your style: Afro? Buzz? Shaved? Pony-tailed?
• Redeem medals for goodies: Collect medals and trade them in at our very own Gamegou shop
• Real-time match selections allowing you to enter matches currently being played in 3 major leagues: England, Germany, Italy

When you heap this on top of an already solid game, the question really becomes, why haven’t you downloaded it yet?  Anyone who enjoys the fun of a day on the pitch will certainly find plenty to enjoy.  Be sure to let us know what you think about it in the comments after you have taken it for a kick or two.

FREE!

Soccer Stealers 2012 HD

iPad Only App - Designed for the iPad
Released: 2011-04-13 :: Category: Games

It’s human nature to look back at the past and remember it more fondly than the present. Rose tinted glasses ensure that everything just seems that bit better back in the day. Soccer is no different. Having been a child of the 1980s and regularly reminded by my father how the sport was so much better when players weren’t paid millions upon millions and in the days when England were half decent at the game, I wish I’d been around more for the decade. Championship Manager 1980s Legends enables me to relive those halcyon days though and it makes for a pretty sound management title too.

Upon starting a new game, you get the choice of three periods during the 1980s – 1980, 1983 and 1986. In each case, historical events affect what happens. 1980 for example was the year in which Nottingham Forest were Kings of Europe but there was also the rise of hooliganism. By 1986 all English teams were banned from Europe due to the Heysel Stadium disaster. Each of these factors affect how the game plays out. It also means a plethora of soon to be greats. Load up 1980 and you get a very young Gary Lineker, available to buy at the tender age of 19.

The historical element is fantastic, especially being able to effectively change the history books, but it’s fortunate that this is backed up by an enjoyable football sim too. It’s perhaps not as detailed as Football Manager Handheld 2011 but then again the focus is on history and nostalgia rather than anything else.

Typical features such as creating your own tactics and playing styles, adjusting training schedules and set piece takers are all there. There’s also the media negotiations – charming journalists at press conferences, that adds an appropriate extra twist to things. Previous bugs that Championship Manager 2011 suffered from have clearly been ironed out as nothing peculiar occured results wise.

The in-game engine is a little poor to look at and bizarrely there’s no sound whatsoever in the game, but excluding these presentational elements, Championship Manager 1980s Legends provides a pretty sound game of football management. If you’re a child of the 80s like myself, you’ll love the nostalgia infused experience. It makes for a great change of pace and you can’t help but wonder why no one thought of it before.

Download Championship Manager 1980s Legends now, currently only available in the UK.