THE BEST OF FOOTBALL

WELCOME

Wind the clock back 12 months, when we were still in the midst of the first winter World Cup, and the big question was how it would impact players and clubs once domestic football returned.

LUCY BRONZE

YOU ASK THE QUESTIONS Interview Chris Flanagan

UNSTOPABLE

TEAM OF THE YEAR

30 BEST BRIT SIDES

BEST BRITISH CLUB SIDES EVER!

CHAOS AND COnTROL

The goals have flowed at both ends since Roberto De Zerbi became Brighton boss, but there’s method in the madness – using strategies first honed at the Italian Bishop’s Stortford, he’s taken the Seagulls to greater heights than ever before

MARY QUEEN OF STOPS

Mary Earps hasn’t enjoyed a smooth journey to the top, but she captured the hearts of a nation during the 2023 Women’s World Cup thanks to all manner of sensational saves and some particularly impressive swearing, too…

FOOTBALL’S FINEST SWEARERS

Earps wasn’t the first to be caught on TV going all industrial

AFTER PROMOTIOn, OUR PLAYERS WERE GETTInG STOPPED In THE STREET WALKInG THROUGH HOLLYWOOD –IT’S BEEn UnBELIEVABLE

With a little help from Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, Phil Parkinson ended Wrexham’s 15-year EFL exile this year. In his own words, he explains why he’ll never forget 2023

GREAT SCOTT

Scotland’s remarkableEuro2024qualifying campaign owed plenty to the contribution of Scott McTominay.The Manchester United midfielder the contribution of tells FFT how he turned into an unlikely goal machine

THE TEAM WHO OVERCAME An EARTHQUAKE

Turkey’s biggest quake since 1939 took the life of former Newcastle star Christian Atsu in February. In his honour, his club, Hatayspor, have fought back in remarkable fashion

TO THE VICTOR BELOnG THE SPOILS

Napoli won their first Scudetto for 33 years in 2023, thanks to the goals of their Nigerian star, Victor Osimhen. Little wonder he’s been linked with a host of Premier League clubs…

IT’S BEEN A THRILLER

During 16 years as Fulham owner, Mohamed Al Fayed transformed the club from lower-league also-rans into Europa League finalists. Months after his passing, FFT recalls an eccentric who gave Cottagers some incredible memories – and a bizarre statue of Michael Jackson...

THE BIRTH OF REPLICA: A STITCH In TIME

Fifty years ago, a small Midlands firm went from manufacturing nuns’ knickers to selling the world’s first replica football kits, just in time for Christmas. Almost by accident, Admiral opened the floodgates to a multimillion-pound industry...

YOU SHOULD nEVER BUILD YOUR TEAM AROUnD OnE STAR... UnLESS THEY ARE JUDE BELLInGHAM

FIFA’s newest Golden Boy sometimes gets through the work of four men at Real Madrid, but which system suits him best as England bid for Euros glory? FFT’s tactical guru reveals all...

HOW UnAI EMERY HAS ASTOn VILLA On THE VERGE OF CHAMPIOnS LEAGUE FOOTBALL

A simple 4-4-2 shape that can morph into something more dynamic and deadly on both sides of the pitch, explains our analytical ace

JAMES MADDISOn ISn’T PART OF THE SYSTEM AT TOTTEnHAM… HE IS THE SYSTEM

FFT outlines how a licence to wander wherever he deems fit has helped the Lilywhites’ summer signing to become a lethal aspect of ‘Ange Ball’

MY PERFECT XI NIGEL WINTERBURN

The legendary Arsenal left-back unashamedly selects an all-Gunners line-up, and why wouldn’t you when you got to play alongside this lot over a glittering career?

UPFRONT

Playing off the last defender, it’s the big-manlittle-man partnership of football and funnies

THOMAS HITZLSPERGER GAMES THAT CHAnGED MY LIFE

“WE WEREN’T IN IRAN JUST TO PLAY A

JULES BREACH

The presenter explains what a week looks like working for TNT Sports

THE ULTIMATE QUIZ

01 Newcastle United (right) are featured prominently in

MEANWHILE IN…

...Switzerland, an FC Zurich tifo received plaudits for creativity – spelling, not so much

THE DEBATE

Is Sports Personality of the Year still relevant in 2023?

MY FOOTBALL

The cruiserweight world champion on battling Artur Boruc in the ring and swapping his gloves for Aaron Ramsdale’s shirt...

MBAPPE? nO, THIS WAS DAn BURn’S YEAR

FourFourTwo’s Adam Clery hands out his alternative awards

MACAULAY LAnGSTAFF

The Notts County striker on comparisons with Haaland, Peaky Blinders and being told to ‘F**k off” by Rob McElhenney…

64 YEARS AnD FAREWELL

Andrew Jenkins saw it all after joining Carlisle’s board way back in 1959, from biblical floods to miracle campaigns that leave even Leicester’s in the shade…

BEST&WORST MOTHERWELL

Well fan Graham Barnstaple recalls Scottish Cup glory, terrible business transactions and dates with Dortmund

SIZE DOESN’T MATTER

It may have a tiny population of less than 300 and be served by one shop, but that hasn’t stopped Loughgall becoming the smallest town in Europe to boast a top-flight football club – and they’re not done dreaming big

YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW

Ipswich fans were tired of mediocrity in January, before the club embarked on an imperious run to promotion

MARVELLOUS MANAGEMENT

Ipswich gaffer Kieran McKenna has enjoyed a stellar 2023, but he’s not the only lower-league miracle worker. Here’s another half a dozen worthy of high praise

“GERMANY HADN’T BEEN DEFEATED IN MUNICH – BUT WE KNEW WHAT WE WERE CAPABLE OF”

The former Liverpool, Leicester and England striker on his love for Sven and being mugged off by Rod Hull...

“ARSEnAL HAD WOn THE LEAGUE In 1989 AnD WERE TRYInG TO DO THE DOUBLE In 1991 – WE OBVIOUSLY COULDn’T LET IT HAPPEn”

The ex-Tottenham midfielder recalls days of glory alongside Gazza and Gary Lineker, before starring in Seville’s Gran Derbi

“I FELT SORRY FOR ENGLAND AFTER WE BEAT THEM IN 1990 – THAT GAME SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE WORLD CUP FINAL”

The German winger on reaching three World Cup finals, Der Kaiser’s genius and one night in Turin