WELCOME

Two issues ago, we ran a list of

JAVIER MASCHERANO

“Carlos Tevez and I knew very  little about West Ham – and the  manager didn’t know us at all!  But we didn’t have many options”

MEANWHILE IN …

...Martuni, war between Armenia and Azerbaijan has brought fixtures to a halt – probably for quite some time

GAMES THAT CHANGED MY LIFE GLENN HODDLE

STARKERS Emerson Carioca has been banned for eight

CHILAVERT: EL PRESIDENTE?

The goalkeeping maverick is getting ready to rule in Paraguay

THE ULTIMATE QUIZ

Golden oldies, hit singles and celebrity supporters all feature in this month’s set of tricky football brainteasers

RANDOM CLUB PROFILE UNITED CITY FC

No, it’s not some weird Manchester merger – it’s the champions of the Philippines

REQUIRED READING

THOU SHALL NOT PASS Leo Moynihan (Bloomsbury, £16.99)

PASCAL ‘CANAL MAN’ CHIMBONDA

ASK A SILLY QUESTION

TOM GRENNAN

MY FOOTBALL

RANKED

25  BEST PLAYERS IN  THE PREMIER LEAGUE  AGED 21 AND UNDER

“IT’S CHERRY VERSUS LEG – AND IT’S LIVE!”

The J.League is back with its array of wacky monikers. Commentator Olly Hogben explains what they mean

MICHAEL ESSIEN

INTERVIEW

"WHY DID I BECOME A MANAGER? MAYBE BECAUSE I’M CRAZY"

Thierry Henry made Arsenal fans the envy of football over eight years in north London, but little has gone his way in the dugout to date. The Gunners great talks FFT through his battle as a boss – and why the dream of coaching his beloved club will never die

GREAT PLAYER GAFFER?

Thierry Henry isn’t the only legendary player trying his hand at management. From Derby and Doha to  Sao Paulo and San Sebastian, icons of the game are cutting their teeth aiming for more glory

HELLO BHOYS, WE’RE BACK!

It’s taken a decade for Rangers to regain supremacy in Scotland, after demotion to the fourth tier and a long, punishing path back. But with Stevie G in charge, the Gers are on top – ruining Celtic’s dreams of 10 in a row

“SOMETIMES I’D BET 30 OR 40 GRAND AT A TIME... I MUST HAVE LOST ABOUT £2 MILLION. IT WAS SO STUPID”

Michael Chopra was a self-confessed Peter Pan who struggled to grow up – and it almost cost him everything. The former Newcastle, Sunderland and Cardiff striker speaks to FFT about the gambling problems which blighted his playing career, and how a move to India helped to turn his fortunes around 

MARADON THE AFTERLIFE

El Diego found mutual love in a hopeless place when he took over struggling Gimnasia in September 2019, defying his doubters to rejuvenate both himself and the ailing Argentine outfit. Since the legend’s death in November, however, things just haven’t been the same in La Plata

ROCKY

David Rocastle wasn’t just a fantastic footballer – to those within Highbury’s hallowed marble halls, the Lewisham maestro represented something much greater. FFT celebrates the life and career of a Gunners hero with those who knew him best, two decades on from his tragic passing aged only 33

SACKED ONCE?*

… AND YOU  WONDER WHY HE’S  ONLY BEEN

NEW YORK STATE OF MIND

In 1978, Dennis Tueart swapped Manchester for the Big Apple when he joined the New York Cosmos’ glitzy circus. The NASL giants lived fast and died young, but his memories of Jagger, Beckenbauer and pool parties with Pele made for quite a ride

MY PERFECT XI NOLBERTO SOLANO

The former Newcastle favourite trumpets the case for his greatest selection of ex-team-mates, giving his distinctly Latin line-up a midfield made on Tyneside

AROUND THE GROUNDS

EFL • NON-LEAGUE • SCOTLAND

IT’S ALL GONE SOUTH

LEAGUE 2 NEWS

BEST&WORST SUNDERLAND

Matthew Crichton, of Roker Report, revels in shocking shootouts – less so, Will Grigg and awful own goals

BOY’S A BIT SPECIAL

MICHAEL OLISE READING LOWDOWN Royals fans had become

THE UNLIKELY LADS

JORGE CADETE PARTICK THISTLE, 2004 CREDENTIALS After dumping

IAN HOLLOWAY

WHAT’S OCCURRING

JAMAL BLACKMAN ROTHERHAM

HOME TRUTHS

THE PLAYERS LOUNGE

“SOUNESS PLANTED  THE FLAG, THEN FANS  TRIED TO TIP OVER  OUR BUS – BUT WHAT  A GREAT EXPERIECE”

GIANLUCA ZAMBROTTA

“THERE ARE FOUR  STARS ON ITALY’S  JERSEY. WE WON  ONE OF THEM AND  THAT FILLS YOU UP  WITH SUCH PRIDE”

CARLOS CARVALHAL

“AT SHEFFIELD WEDn ESDAY, THEY  DIDN ’T EVEN BUY A ROLL OF TOILET  PAPER WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE”

MOHAMED SISSOKO

“THE PLAYER WHO  RACIALLY ABUSED  ME WAS BRAINLESS  AND AN A**HOLE –  I WASN ’ T HAPPY  WITH HIM AT ALL”