WELCOME

MY PERFECT XI PAUL MERSON

The Gunners legend assembles a formidable side from a fine career representing Arsenal, Middlesbrough, England and more – but can’t even find room for Shearer

PETER SHILTON

“Brian Clough tripped my advisors up with his squash racket – their briefcases went flying. I thought, ‘This meeting won’t go well...’”

MEANWHILE IN …

...Romania, matchday mascots are getting smaller – and they’re starting to make mysterious barking noises

GAMES THAT CHANGED MY LIFE RAFA BENITEZ

NEIGH BOTHER A Deaf Olympics qualifier between Ukraine and Italy had to be halted after a couple of dogs invaded the pitch, swiftly followed by a horse

2-0, TO THE ORCHESTRA

Arsenal’s 1989 title triumph at Anfield has become a symphony

JACKIE ‘MR WRITER’ McNAMARA

The Celtic icon cum sitcom scribe talks tiny dog jumpers, metal detecting and saxophone weaponry

RANKED

25 BEST TELEVISION COMMENTATORS IN BRITISH HISTORY

SHERIFF TIRASPOL

Pre-pandemic, Real Madrid’s KGB conquerors had an average gate of just 929

THE HARD YARDS

Nige Tassell (Simon & Schuster, £16.99) ●●●●●

MY FOOTBALL

The TV funnyman chats getting the hump with Wrighty, why football should definitely be more like ice hockey – and what makes going to matches a waste of time

SING WHEN YOU’RE KEEPING

A second-tier shot-stopper is set to represent Belgium at Eurovision

THE ULTIMATE QUIZ

Do you know your Ballon d ’Or winners from your Golden Shoe greats? Well, it’s ab out time we found out

NONI MADUEKE

After leaving Tottenham and resisting Manchester United’s advances, the 19-year-old Londoner is now starting to flourish as a wideman with PSV

THE BILLION EURO DROP

Even Lionel Messi, reunited with old Barcelona pal Neymar, was caught out by his summer switch to Paris Saint-Germain. But with Kylian Mbappe eyeing personal glory (and a premature exit), are MNM a match made in heaven or an indulgence destined to fail?

THE GREATEST STRIKE TRIOS

Messi, Neymar and Mbappe are looking to emulate Barcelona’s legendary MSN – but they’re not the only devastating frontline to give defences nightmares over the years

EL PRESIDENTE

Ronaldo has found out the hard way that owning a football club is more difficult than terrorising defenders, but not even relegation from La Liga has dented his ambitions with Real Valladolid. The 45-year-old tells FourFourTwo that he’s feeling more determined than ever…. and England could be next

GRENFELL ATHLETIC

Amid the agony of 2017’s Grenfell Tower tragedy, a football team for hope has helped its community to heal. So, when Grenfell Athletic faced the London Fire Brigade in an emotionally-charged clash four years on, FFT was there to see the action unfold. Friendly? No chance

SEND IN THE CLOWNS

For years, Oldham fans grew tired of docile hibernation in the third tier – but it turns out their quiet life wasn’t so bad after all. The Latics are now in crisis under the ownership of Abdallah Lemsagam... and in danger of becoming the first former Premier League club to suffer relegation from the EFL

"I DROVE MY PLAYERS MAD… BUT I WAS TAUGHT TO WIN"

George Graham drilled his famous back four to the brink of insanity at Arsenal, but in doing so transformed an ailing club forever. Thirty-five years on from his Highbury arrival, the Scot walks FFT back through an unforgettable era of change, last-gasp titles… and tanning with El Tel

TAINTED LOVE

In 1993, Marseille lifted the inaugural Champions League trophy, becoming the first – and still the only – French winners in European Cup history. For PSG they are the model to follow, just without all of the corruption, lies and treachery that made l’OM an international scandal

THE GREAT FALL OF CHINA

Even Europe’s giants got edgy when Chinese clubs began blowing them out of the water back in 2016 – but the Asian implosion since has been swift and spectacular. Outrageous spending, presidential meddling and a history-defining pandemic have destroyed a superpower on the rise

TROY DEENEY

The striker is finally back home at Brum, and tells FFT of his crazy life so far: riling Arsenal, doing time, and the day his old man locked a bloke in a boot

TURN ON THE LIGHTS

The Saturday 3pm blackout is supposed to protect EFL clubs, but not everybody is totally convinced – Peterborough co-owner Stewart Thompson among them

HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN

Half-time subs, gerbils and Mr Blobby: it’s all in the life of a maroon for Paul Robertson, aka @HeartsRant

BOY’S A BIT SPECIAL

LIEL ABADA CELTIC

WHO ARE YA? | HEREFORD LADS CLUB

COULD BE The finest purveyors of birds, booze

THE UNLIKELY LADS

IVANO BONETTI GRIMSBY TOWN (1995-96)

IAN HOLLOWAY

With patience at a premium in today’s game, new gaffers are frequently parachuted in to save dire situations. It’s a scenario FFT’s columnist has found himself in numerous times – and sadly, not always ended in triumph

LIVERPOOL IS… PURPLE?!

City of Liverpool are the brainchild of Reds and Blues, with very different ideals

CLAIMS TO FAME

STOKE CITY

“EVERYONE USED TO GET CARRIED AWAY WITH THE GALACTICO NONSENSE. WE WON STUFF BEFORE THAT”

The ex-Liverpool and Real Madrid winger talks Terry Venables, King Kenny’s boots and Champions League ecstasy in Paris

“MY PENALTY MISS IN THE SHOOTOUT AGAINST CHELSEA IN 2012 HURTS TO THIS DAY – I CAN NEVER FORGET IT”

The Croat recalls Champions League heartbreak, changing Van Gaal’s mind and ruining England’s Euro 2008 dreams

“I WOULDN'T SWAP WHAT WE HAD WITH KEVIN KEEGAN FOR A BAG FULL OF MEDALS”

Newcastle’s free-scoring midfielder discusses love for Shearer, difficulties with Gullit and pinching Gazza’s place at France 98

“WHEN I SANG FOR KLOPP AFTER THE FINAL IN MADRID, I HONESTLY COULD HAVE DIED AND GONE TO HEAVEN”

The footballer turned singer on writing lyrics for Kylie and making history at Soccer Aid