THE WORLD CUP

WELCOME

Weeks since that incredible final between Argentina and

“INTENSE, CRAZY AND UNFORGETTABLE”

FFT’s senior staff writer Chris Flanagan explains what it was like to be in Qatar for the World Cup – inflatable kangaroos, roof-surfing Argentina fans and all...

MEAN WHILEIN …

...Saint Petersburg, Russia’s suspension from the Champions League looks like it’s making players pretty angry

GAMES THAT CHANGED MY LIFE

“IT WAS A MISTAKE TO LEAVE VILLA WHEN

THE ULTIMATE QUIZ

Have a go at this collection of posers, featuring the Ballon d’Or, rappers and the world’s strongest footballer

HANG IT IN THE LOUVRE LOWRY

Move over, Mona Lisa. Go whistle, Whistler’s Mum. FourFourTwo is in an art gallery!

MY FOOTBALL

The Blossoms frontman recalls beers with Dickov and odd photos with Mancini

A GERMAN SIDE IN SERIE A?

No, but that’s the dominant language at promotion-chasing FC Südtirol...

FROZEN OUT

WELCOME TO THE SVALBARD DERBY

LUKAS PODOLSKI

The 37-year-old former Germany forward grew up in the Polish city of Zabrze – then headed home to sign for Gornik in the summer of 2021

KEVIN -PRINCE BOATENG

“I left Portsmouth to join Milan – do you know what I thought? ‘You f**king idiot. If you hadn’t been so lazy as a youngster…’”

“WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?”

Roy Keane was the beating heart of a Manchester United side that ruled the Premier League, before he dominated the dugout and TV studio too. When he’s around, though, confrontation follows...

THE ANGRIEST FOOTBALLERS EVER!

From burglar-busters and one-punch Chilean knock-out artists to an Australian honey badger and King Eric, we touch gloves with the players who just couldn’t help getting riled up in the name of the beautiful game

TOUCHING THE HAND OF GOD

A club once trapped by the memory of Diego Maradona now feels inspired by it, and sat atop Serie A going into the New Year in the ground that bears his name. Can Napoli’s new order create their own legend by winning a first scudetto since 1990?

THE JOY OF CESC

While Napoli are flying high in Serie A with all of Italy’s big hitters in pursuit, a Premier League legend is down in Serie B. Nearing retirement, Cesc Fabregas meets FFT to chat Arsenal, Barça, Chelsea... and Como

IT’S NOT EASY BEING

The assistant manager hasn’t been immune to football’s frantic growth spurt. A modern number two’s remit has evolved from fancy dress and banter to psychology, data, book deals and even subtle Machiavellianism

ASSISTANT PEP TALKS

Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders is the epitome of a modern number two. The Dutchman has an agent, a book out and the ambition to manage himself. But when it comes to assisting, it’s Klopp and Klopp only, he tells FFT...

Lenny Pidgeley’s mental battle

Former Chelsea, Millwall and Newport County gloveman Lenny Pidgeley fell out of love with football as he tried to keep up appearances while suffering with depression – then someone else announced his retirement

SOUEY… LOVES BIG BALLS

And you needed them to play for Graeme Souness, especially when he took the reins at crisis club Benfica just over a quarter of a century ago. FFT recounts the Scot’s 18 turbulent months in Lisbon, which included fisticuffs, fallings out and some testicular admiration…

STEWART DOWNING

The former wideman lifts the lid on what it was like to play alongside a future England gaffer, as well as his brother-in-law and the uncoachable Luis Suarez

AROUD THE GROUNDS

EFL • NON-LEAGUE • SCOTLAND

25 YEARS AND COUNTING

Brent Peters became Bacup Borough boss down the boozer in September 1997 and is still going strong more than a quarter-century later. Nor is he done yet...

BEST&WORST WREXHAM AFC

Rich Fay, host of Red Dragons podcast RobRyanRed, talks us through Porto, spiders and Xabi Alonso’s bestie

BOY’S A BIT SPECIAL

FINN AZAZ

R£CORD BR£AK£RS

JOHN ROBERTSON NEWCASTLE TO HEARTS | 1988 £750,000

THE GAME’S GONE

CELTIC 1-3 INVERNESS, 2000

CLAIMS TO FAME NORWICH CITY

1 HAIL TO THE CHEF 1Norwich’s majority shareholder

“WE WERE IN THE ENTERTAIN MEN TBUSIN ESS. KEVIN KEEGAN WAS VERY AWARE OF THAT”

The Belgian defender opens up about nights out on the Toon, loving spinach and that chip over Peter Schmeichel

“ ON E NGLANDDUTY I’ DTHINK, ‘OH GOD, I DON ’ TDESERVE TO BEPLAYING HERE’”

The former Saints and Stoke hitman on admiring Le Tiss, cleaning Shearer’s boots and almost becoming a swimmer

“EN GLAN D’S2022 ACHIEVEMEN TWAS AMAZIN G– I’ DLOVE T OHAVE BEEN PART OF THIS SIDE”

The former Lioness talks amateur football, almost going pro in tennis, and how much the women’s game has changed

“ SEANCONNERY WAS OFTEN IN THE DRESSING ROOM. HE SAID I COULD HAVE BEEN A NACTOR!”

The Italian recalls hanging out with James Bond and seeing Gazza’s reckless side