LEAGUE TWO

WELCOME

What’s the Spanish for deja vu? Another Euros,

PETR CECH

“All of us sat in the cinema with Jose Mourinho, then I got home, turned on Sky and saw he’d left Chelsea – I couldn’t believe it”

EURO 2024

In Pictures

A SUMMER OF FUN

FFT’s Berlin-based writer Ed McCambridge sampled a whole host of games at the Euros – it was eventful

EURO-VISION CONTENT

Everyone loves a last-minute winner, right? Turns out not everyone does – our art director tells us why...

GAMES THAT CHANGED MY LIFE

“IF THERE’S AN ULTIMATE WAY TO WIN A

JULES BREACH

The presenter details her Stateside summer on Fox Sports covering Euro 2024

MY FOOTBALL

The presenter blames Ian Rush for a trip to A&E and recalls some crowd-surfing with Keith Gillespie

MEANWHILE IN…

…Germany, the most delayed European Cup tie ever was finally played – 64 years later

THE DEBATE

Who will be the Premier League Player of the Year?

THINGS WE’RE EXCITED FOR IN 2024-25

After a summer of Euros action, the club

ANOTHER THRILLING PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE RACE

Last season, Manchester City became the first club

02 WAYNE ROONEY AT PLYMOUTH

How will England’s second-most capped player fare at

06 MANCHESTER UNITED’S FIRST FULL SEASON UNDER SIR JIM

Manchester United fans rejoiced when, at last, the

07 MARY EARPS AT PSG

Picture J.Azouze/PSG Seven months ago, Mary Earps thought

11 FIVE NEW PREMIER LEAGUE MANAGERS

A quarter of the Premier League will start

14 A TIGHTER BATTLE IN SCOTLAND

Magic Brendan and friends lift Celtic’s 12th league

18 EVERTON’S EMOTIONAL FINAL SEASON AT GOODISON

Given Everton’s financial issues, dugout changes and unpredictable

21 CRAIG BELLAMY: WALES BOSS

Bellamy has his dream job leading his nation

25 MORE WON DER GOALS FROM MOHAMMED KUDUS

Having left Ghana as a 17-year-old to join

29 ASTON VILLA IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Can Aston Villa add a real second European

32 LEICESTER’S TOP-FLIGHT COMEBACK

Job done – and with 97 points

36 HARVEY BARNES REDISCOVERING TOP FORM AFTER IN JURY

Sela-brate good times, c’mon When Harvey Barnes

39 ST PAULI: BACK IN THE BIG TIME

Hurzeler celebrates going up, before going away

40 ANOTHER SEASON OF ANGEBALL

With Ange in charge, Spurs fans have reason

43 POMPEY’S RETURN TO THE TOP TWO TIERS

After 12 years away, Portsmouth are back in

51 THINGS WE’RE EXCITED FOR IN 2024-25

47 LEWIS FERGUSON’S BOLOGNA COMEBACK Former Aberdeen midfielder

TWO SEASONS 193 GOALS 194 POINTS

Twenty-two years after their last topflight game, Ipswich Town are back after consecutive promotions under next-big-thing coach Kieran McKenna. Next stop: Premier League survival?

ON THE CONTINENT 2024-25

LA LIGA Watch out, Spain: after winning La

HARRY REDKNAPP'S

GUIDE TO TRANSFERS

30 MOST SURPRISING TITLE WINNERS

FFT assesses the most shocking champions of the past 50 years – will this campaign deliver even more upsets?

WHY LIVERPOOL OPTED TO REPLACE JURGEN KLOPP WITH ARNE SLOT

The Dutchman has some tactical similarities with his Anfield predecessor, but also has the flexibility to develop a new plan

ARE SOUTHAMPTON EQUIPPED TO SURVIVE IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE?

Russell Martin’s side learned tactical lessons en route to promotion via the play-offs – now they must prove they can make the step up

HOW CHELSEA’S NEW BOSS ENZO MARESCA WILL CHANGE THEM

The Italian gaffer has a specific style that relies on having the right players – with them on board, he could enjoy success

ALISTAIR JOHNSTON

EFL • NON-LEAGUE • SCOTLAND

THE SKY’S THE LIMIT

Sky Sports’ unprecedented EFL deal begins this month, with 800-plus extra matches to be aired over the campaign. What could it mean for match-goers?

OLDHAM ATHLETIC

Lifelong Latic Dave Bradley recalls toppling Liverpool, upsetting the New Den – and an ill-advised gilet

WELCOME TO LEAGUE ONE

Wrexham face their toughest test yet – executive director Humphrey Ker tells FFT why it’s all about baby steps

RAVENS READY TO GO BIG TIME

Once “the worst team in Britain”, EFL newbies Bromley want more than survival. So says Gareth Southgate’s BFF

“I WAS WARNED TAARABT WOULD COST ME MY JOB AT QPR – I BUILT MY TEAM AROUND HIM”

The old-school gaffer breaks his silence to discuss his playing days, his greatest ever signing and stories from am-dram

“JIM SMITH LET ME PICK THE BUS MUSIC ON THE WAY TO MY DERBY DEBUT – WE ARRIVED AT OLD TRAFFORD TO THE SOUND OF SALSA!”

The Costa Rican goal machine recalls Derby delights, Paulo Di Canio and scoring against Germany at the 2006 World Cup

“ABRAMOVICH WAN TED ME TO SIGN FOR CSKA MOSCOW AND BLOCKED MY MOVE TO SPURS. I SULKED FOR WEEKS”

The former striker on his love for Gianfranco Zola at West Ham and being a proud member of the Premier League Cole club

THE BEST OF FOOTBALL

KIT • FASHION • ART DESIGN • TECH

MY PERFECT XI BRUCE GROBBELAAR

The ex-goalkeeper picks his favourite team-mates from “two generations of exquisite players”, including two pairs of Reds royalty in defence and attack

WELCOME

It only feels like yesterday that the Euros

PREMIER LEAGUE

It’s not all about Manchester City’s bid for a five-for – the galaxy’s best league TM is stacked with intrigue, from four brilliant Basque bosses chasing glory to the millennial who has inherited Brighton’s magic scouting spreadsheet

CHAMPION SHIP

From second-tier specialists to wily old hands and the next big things, the Football League’s top division is packed with fascinating, talented managers – and beware of Wayne Rooney with a huge point to prove

LEAGUE ONE

No longer the awkward middle child, England’s third tier has the eyes of Hollywood on it this season. Will either Birmingham or Wrexham be celebrating in May? And is Disney+ ready for Steve Evans’ Rotherham?

NATIONAL LEAGUE / 2024-25

Off-field drama, 43-goal strikers and the arrival of a Pub Team from Essex (their words) – non-league’s top tier never fails to be interesting. Can anyone stop Barnet this year?

WOMEN’S SUPER LEAGUE 2024-25

Chelsea are aiming for a sixth title in a row. But with big changes in the dugout, can they stay on top?

SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP 2024-25

GET INVOLVED TWEET US USING THE HASHTAG #FFTPREVIEW

YOUR PREDICTIONS

Last year we predicted title wins for Man City, Leicester, Stockport, Chesterfield, Celtic and Chelsea Women, also correctly calling 11 of 18 relegated teams, even if tipping Crawley for 24th in League Two was an error... Now it’s your turn – fill these in and tweet us!