Let's make this birthday one to remember.

55 years old (Born on October 15, 1969)

Happy Birthday, Simon! May your day be filled with more excitement than a World Cup final and fewer controversies than VAR decisions. Your brilliant anthropological insights into football have taught us that the beautiful game is not just about goals, but also about culture, history, and humanity—though we still can't forgive you for making us sound smarter at pubs.

From "Ajax, The Dutch, the War" to "Soccer Against the Enemy," you've masterfully shown how football mirrors society's triumphs and absurdities. Here's hoping your birthday celebrations are as timeless as your writing—and may you continue scoring literary hat-tricks for years to come!