A lot has happened in 2016. In fact, it might well be the longest year on record.
That thing you assumed happened 18 months ago? It was in May. That other one, from five years back? Actually January of this year.
damn daniel happened ten months ago. is this the longest year in recorded history
— JOEL GOLBY STAN ACCOUNT (@joelgolby) December 12, 2016
So, a really long year must have produced a lot of brilliant football tweets. So, without further ado, here are some of our favourites.
The start of the year brought the football beef we didn’t realise we needed
@NewYorkRedBulls it’s cool you used all that allocation money on some bad memes
— LA Galaxy (@LAGalaxy) January 31, 2016
Not to mention some great football and music crossovers
https://twitter.com/ryan_defreitas/status/697839641903427584
Albanian pop sensation Granit Xhaka is the bookies favourite for Eurovision with his dance hit "Baby U So Hot 4me" pic.twitter.com/0BFhC8zl69
— Football Likealooks (@FTBL_Likealooks) January 21, 2016
We also had that doping scandal, which feels like it was much, much longer ago than it really was
Why does the doping doctor look like he scored 23 goals for Colchester in the 2027/28 season pic.twitter.com/2Q8soG68Ky
— manutd23 (@manutd24) April 2, 2016
Leicester City were surprise Premier League champions, but was it really worth it?
https://twitter.com/_AndyHa/status/716615592015503360
An eventful year was bisected by Euro 2016, where England did their usual thing
Gentle reminder that if #ENG finish second, chances are they'll likely play Hungary, Austria or Iceland. So it probably isn't a disaster.
— Rory Smith (@RorySmith) June 20, 2016
There were some memorable moments for the home nations
When you have to bring your fiancé's racist brother on your stag do. pic.twitter.com/zUA506QAZc
— TBN Sport (@TBNSport) March 26, 2016
Neil Taylor joins the Greats pic.twitter.com/XOgq8LojWt
— James Dutton (@jrgdutton) September 5, 2016
But in the end it was all about one man
Monumental player, Ronaldo, but if he was one of your mates, there'd be a WhatsApp group he didn't know about.
— Tom Williams (@tomwfootball) June 14, 2016
Well, one man and one moth
Match Prediction: Cristiano Ronaldo is bitten by a radioactive moth and turns into Mothman, a new superhero. Flies into floodlight. Dies.
— Macca (@The_Paris_Angel) July 10, 2016
Domestic football returned in August, and the greats continued to do their thing
https://twitter.com/jonathanliew/status/783666657432567809
Especially Lionel Messi
https://twitter.com/_Zeets/status/793546264746962944
There were some high-profile deals
— Billie (@Billie_T) October 17, 2016
As well as some that didn’t go through
Official footage of Troy Deeney rejecting Leicester and signing a new contract with Watford pic.twitter.com/MaOGuzvCMt
— Rachel (@rachel_sg) July 1, 2016
And one that people probably wish hadn’t come to fruition
Pep: "Hello is that Ter Stegen?"
Bravo: "… I am Barcelona's goalkeeper, yes…"
Pep: "Ah, excellent…"— Chris (@chrs00) August 15, 2016
Two England greats left MLS and showed that some things never change
Lampard and Gerrard *still* ignoring the golden rule that if one goes, the other must stay.
— Adam Hurrey (@FootballCliches) November 15, 2016
Terrace chants reached a new high or a new low, depending on your point of view
The home fans behind the goal in the South Stand are chanting "You're just a sh*t Tesco sandwich" at Dagenham keeper Elliot Justham.
— Elliot Owens (@elliotowens95) October 29, 2016
The annual poppy debate, meanwhile, took a bizarre turn
Hey everyone, let's hear what Danny Mills has to say: pic.twitter.com/DEt9Qdlivu
— Fisted Away (@fistedaway) November 3, 2016
It has been a big year for footballers looking like they’re doing things that they’re not doing.
When you've been to the smoking area but the bouncer can't see your stamp. pic.twitter.com/xhNqpap9tw
— Jonny Sharples (@JonnyGabriel) May 2, 2016
Never seen someone look less like a footballer pic.twitter.com/CQkp921ziW
— EAMO (@EamoV1) March 6, 2016
Managers and coaches too
Sammy Lee looks like an Edwardian Methodist minister suddenly thinking about all the young lads he encouraged to sign-up for The Somme pic.twitter.com/zYlCHqZOSS
— Ben Machell (@ben_machell) November 8, 2016
— Jack Baker (showbiz showbiz showbiz) (@JackBaker1311) December 3, 2016
Or footballers getting involved in politics
Preferred John Salako when he was left wing.
— Jim Daly 🏳️⚧️🏳️🌈 (@jimdalycomedy) November 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/CaulkinTheTimes/status/807663385101959168
Or other people looking like football people
Mike Phelan and Carlos Queiroz at Manchester United's Carrington Training Complex, 2007 pic.twitter.com/uOiQwfMCtG
— Nooruddean (@BeardedGenius) November 26, 2016
Sports investigations have flourished
Watergate only took two journalists pic.twitter.com/V9EqI5OK4O
— Darren Richman (@darrenrichman) May 3, 2016
But really, the Sam Allardyce scandal was a big deal, and it produced a wonderful moment of schadenfreude
— Chico Flores (@chicoflores) September 27, 2016
Big Sam wasn’t the only manager to lose his job this year
I for one am *looks at hand* shocked that Walter Zenga last just three months at Wolves pic.twitter.com/ynV3nSMXXb
— Ben McAleer (@BenMcAleer1) October 25, 2016
Tweets from footballers have reached a new level
https://twitter.com/VictorAnichebe/status/794962885193662468
But we’re not sure what inspired this
Thank you Stoke Loud & Proud. pic.twitter.com/wwtUncqsNC
— Giannelli Imbula (@GianneImbula) March 13, 2016
The 2016/17 has thrown up some great entertainment
Imagine how many goals Liverpool's attack would score against Liverpool's defence.
— Mac (@Tweetgood_Mac) September 16, 2016
Not to mention a resurgent Chelsea, highlighted by a 4-0 win over Manchester United
Jose still knows how to get the best out of @ChelseaFC #CHEMUN
— Eidur Gudjohnsen (@Eidur22Official) October 23, 2016
Across North London, meanwhile, it has been a tale of two right-backs
I was assured I wouldn't have to watch Debuchy again, 95% sure it was part of the T&Cs of renewing my membership.
— The Boys (Back in Town) (@MisterWenger) July 22, 2016
Here are the teams Spurs could face in the Last 32 of the Europa League pic.twitter.com/onNfPW3TX1
— James Maw (@JamesTMaw) December 12, 2016
A new year meant a new FIFA game, with one helpful new addition
https://twitter.com/BigDorinGoian/status/776077407283359744
That might have been predictable, but there have been some things that no one saw coming this year
EVENTS NEWS: Due to unforeseen circumstances, clairvoyant Trisha will not be appearing in the Kevin Bird Suite tomorrow night.
— Mansfield Town FC (@mansfieldtownfc) September 14, 2016
Yup, 2016 has been a weird one
https://twitter.com/GavHutchinson/status/748585095481724930