MY FOOTBALL

WELCOME

Last summer the Lionesses roared their way to

GHEORGHE HAGI

“Tottenham made a good offer, but it wasn’t about money – when Johan Cruyff calls and asks you to join Barcelona, it’s hard to say no”

THE MIXER

THE BEST OF FOOTBALL

UPFRONT

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

GAMES THAT CHANGED MY LIFE

I nterview Mark White “DIMITAR BERBATOV SAID, ‘MATE,

THE ULTIMATE QUIZ

Try our latest football puzzlers out for size, including wolf-fighting managers, Garibaldis and the Fla-Flu derby

JULES BREACH OPINION

LAUREN JAMES CAN DAZZLE; THIS COULD BE THE SUMMER HER RISING STAR GOES GLOBAL

LEE CARSLEY

The ex-Everton midfielder now manages England Under-21s – he meets FFT ahead of the Euros

“THE UTTERLY IMPOSSIBLE JOB”

The words of Carsley’s predecessor – but how did the last three England U21s managers fare? It’s not all bad...

MEAN WHILE IN…

...MLS, the trees at Matthew McConaughey’s local club are big – and very, very, angry

THE DEBATE

Should football use a ‘stop clock’ when the ball goes dead?

NOW FOR THE WORLD

After bagging their first ever major trophy at the Euros, England’s women want to conquer the globe. Alessia Russo, Georgia Stanway and Alex Greenwood explain to FourFourTwo why a place in this summer’s World Cup final isn’t just a dream...

WOMEN’S WORLD CUP 2023

Your team-by-team guide to the other 31 participants, from favourites to outsiders and eight nations on debut

THE RECORD BREAKER

No footballer, male or female, has ever scored more international goals than Christine Sinclair. At 40 years of age, she’s back for her sixth World Cup with Canada and aiming to nudge her tally ever closer to 200…

SEND THEM VICTORIOUS

Two English coaches at the 2023 World Cup have had very different career paths. South Korea’s Colin Bell and Canada’s Bev Priestman explain how Gary Lineker, Jurgen Klopp and Phil Neville brought them to this moment

THE ORIGINAL CHLOE KELLY

Brandi Chastain’s celebration in 1999 inspired an England hero last year – and remains one of the greatest moments in the history of the Women’s World Cup. We look back at the highlights of previous tournaments

WE STARVED In THE FAVELA, BUT I HAD A DREAM

After growing up in poverty, Antony will never take his life at Manchester United for granted. In an exclusive interview, he tells FFT how he made it, and why he thinks he can be the world’s best player...

MK DONS

HAS THE FRANCHISE WORKED?

SENOR BECKS

David Beckham’s seismic move to Real Madrid in 2003 seemed like a match made in heaven – and at first, it was. But when managerial madness rocked Los Blancos, Becks faced down the nightmare the only way he knew how...

THE SLOTTER JOTA

After an injury-hit season, the Liverpool man struck seven goals in his last nine games to remind everyone how he earned his nickname. He tells FFT about his World Cup heartbreak, the time he caused Jurgen Klopp to pull a hamstring, why Cristiano Ronaldo won’t challenge him to a game of FIFA… and what comes next

THE CUP FINAL THAT NO ONE WANTED

The Greek Cup has become so venomous that Serbia, Australia and even Selhurst Park were sounded out in a desperate quest to find a venue for this year’s final. FFT went to find out why, and see AEK Athens triumph

GARETH AINSWORTH

EFL • NON-LEAGUE • SCOTLAND

MEMOIRS OF A KIT MAN

Garry Grey had his gran to thank for spending his life decking out superstar footballers at Fulham and Chelsea – and it prepared him for being an agent

BEST&WORST STOKE CITY

Daniel Buxton from Potters podcast Every Step Along The Way on Pulis, Bojan and some light strangulation

THE GAME’S GONE

ARBROATH 36-0 BON ACCORD, 1885

CRYPTO CHAOS

Many Crawley supporters thought their club might embark on a financially-fuelled rise through the divisions when a cryptocurrency consortium took charge – but the value of investments can go down as well as up...

“WE’D PLAY BRITISH BULLDOG IN TRAINING AT WIMBLEDON AND SOMEBODY ALWAYS ENDED UP IN JURED! ”

Arsenal’s legendary left-back recalls his Dons baptism of fire and slightly duller practice sessions under George Graham

“I SUED TRUMP, NOT KNOWIN GTHAT SOMEDAY HE WOULD BE US PRESIDENT”

The former Everton and Leeds man on clay pigeon shooting with Gerry Marsden and falling out with Raymond Domenech

“ IT WAS A HANDBALL BY THIERRY HENRY BUT, IN HINDSIGHT, I’D HAVE PROBABLY DONE THE SAME THING”

Memories of Manchester City’s Abu Dhabi transformation and Robinho’s shock arrival are also laid bare by the big Irishman...

“ AHEAD OF THE 2014 WORLD CUP, I WAS THE ONLY ARGENTINE KEEPER FACING TOP PLAYERS – I NEVER RECEIVED ONE CAP”

The glovesman on Dundee’s Argentine revolution, loving Neil Warnock and spending 15 years with Crystal Palace

THE LIONESSES’ ROUTE TO WORLD CUP GLORY