WELCOME

There isn’t much that fans wouldn’t do to

KOLO TOURE

YOU ASK THE QUESTIONS 

MEAN WHILE IN …

WEIRD WORLD OF FOOTBALL

GAMES THAT CHANGED MY LIFE DAVID JAMES

OOPS Genoa keeper Federico Marchetti was crestfallen after

LONE FAN TO PRESIDENT

Once his club’s solitary supporter, now this Brazilian is a hero

THE ULTIMATE QUIZ

Dust off that thinking cap for our tricky posers on FA Cup finalists, Spanish stadia and P-Nev in America

UNION BERLIN

RANDOM CLUB PROFILE

REQUIRED READING

BECAUSE IT’S SATURDAY Gavin Bell (Pitch, £12.99) ●●●●

JOHN ‘HAMMER TIME’ MONCUR

West Ham’s cult hero on the merits of getting angry, magic roundabouts... and agonising nasal hair

IVO GRAHAM

The comedian, apologetic Eton alumnus and – most crucially – Robins superfan, recalls his finest stories of mistaken identity, timing triumphs and Giuliano Grazioli

“I THOUGHT WE’D GONE BUST?”

Zilina announced liquidation last year – now they’re vying for the title

BENIK AFOBE

The ex-Arsenal hopeful is rebounding from tragedy at Trabzonspor, and tells FFT about Turkey’s finest perks, side hustles... and surprise calls from Arsene

THE VIEW FROM THE STANDS

DID YOU KNOW? Diego Simeone has taken on

EMPIRE OF THE SON

He’s been an icon in South Korea ever since bagging for Hamburg on his Bundesliga debut – but now, Son-mania has spread like wildfire across the globe. From failed trials at Portsmouth to idol status in Seoul, this is how Tottenham’s smiling assassin became the greatest Asian footballer of all time

IN THE ARMY

Son isn’t the only footballer to have served in the military

“THE TEACHER’S PET WHO NO ONE COULD RESENT”

Spurs blogger Chris Miller (@windycoys) explains why the club’s fans have taken Sonny to their hearts

THE TRAILBLAZERS

Son Heung-min has become the torch-bearer for Asia’s finest on Planet Football – but long before him, a string of Eastern superstars overcame tragedy, red tape and military service to help break new ground

LI KE

BEIJING GUOAN

THIAGO SILVA

“ONE OF MY LUNGS WAS COMPLETELY WHITE. I SPENT SIX MONTHS IN A RUSSIAN HOSPITAL. BUT NOW I CAN SAY I’M A LIFE CHAMPION TOO!”

ALISSON

Alisson  has  haunted  strikers  ever  since  his  world-record  switch  to  Liverpool  in  2018,  and  now  has  Europe’s  finest  in  his  sights  again. The  Samba  shot-stopper  tells  FFT  why  the  Reds  are  in  no  mood  to  repeat  last  season’s  Champions League  failings   –  and  how  ignoring  Jurgen  Klopp  can  really  pay  off

"ANYONE WANT MY PAUL WARHURST ?”

In 1995, a brand of collectibles stormed onto British shelves, then quickly flew off them. This is the tale of how Corinthian figures dominated for half a decade, told by those at the top – it all started with Star Trek

“I HAVE A LOT TO BE PROUD OF, BUT REGRETS TOO. I’VE NEVER APOLOGISED UNTIL NOW. I’M SORRY“

In the same week that Tottenham signed Son Heung-min, Saido Berahino’s move from West Bromwich Albion to White Hart Lane acrimoniously broke down. The Burundi forward tells FFT why that sliding doors moment in 2015 transformed his career – and how the loss of his father has shaped his life

THIS MEANS WAR

Leeds have worn their ‘dirty’ prefix like a badge of honour for almost half a century, but the Whites weren’t even the worst aggressors in 1964’s barbaric Battle of Goodison – the most savage, bone-crunching showdown in English football history

I’LL NEVER REGRET JOINING MANCHESTER UNITED I WISH I’D STAYED THERE LONGER

Juan Sebastian Veron dominated games in Italy before infamously struggling in England, but now the legendary Argentine – Estudiantes president since 2014 – tells FFT that he would do it all over again. Just a bit differently…

PRINCE, MARIO AND THE FORMER PRIME MINISTER

Silvio Berlusconi flogged Milan in 2017 but Italy’s former leader couldn’t stay away from football for long. Three years after taking over third-tier Monza, they now stand on the cusp of reaching Serie A for the first time in their history – thanks to a little help from Boateng, Balotelli and pals

MY PERFECT XI MIKAEL SILVESTRE

When you’ve spent almost a decade at Old Trafford after one formative season at late-90s Inter, is it any wonder his finest line-up is this good? Get ready to swoon

CHARLIE ADAM

EFL • NON-LEAGUE • SCOTLAND

THIRD TIME LUCKY?

Disgruntled Isthmian outfit Worthing have twice been top of the league, only to twice see their promotion hopes crushed by COVID-19. Here’s to 2021-22

BEST & WORST COVENTRY CITY

Neil Allison, of Sky Blues Blog, gets misty-eyed for brown kits, postmen and embarrassing Gerard Pique

BOY’S A BIT SPECIAL

KIERNAN DEWSBURY-HALL

WHO ARE YA? | PILKINGTON XXX

COULD BE Lancastrian film producers for budget adult

IAN HOLLOWAY

FourFourTwo’s new columnist needs little introduction. After 24 years in management, ‘Ollie’ is raring to go for these pages – but first, players’ mental health is on his mind. It’s time for real action, before it’s too late

COHEN BRAMALL

COLCHESTER

CLAIMS TO FAME

HIBERNIAN

“MY REAL MADRID DEBUT CERTAINLY DIDN’T GO TO PLAN ,BUT AT LEAST WE WON THE MATCH!”

JONATHAN WOODGATE

“FERGIE IS ONE OF THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME, BUT THE BEST BOSS I EVER PLAYED FOR? THAT WAS DAVID MOYES”

TIM HOWARD

“DANI ALVES SAID SORRY WHEN HE BROKE MY RECORD FOR WINNING THE MOST TITLES. HE MADE FUN OF ME!”

MAXWELL

“I HAD TO MAKE A SPEECH AT AN AWARDS NIGHT, BUT JUST FROZE AND HID INSIDE THE BATHROOM”

KELLY SMITH