CATEGORIES

GOOD CALL, REF!

Lucy feared that simply being herself would prevent her from refereeing games, but a brave move has brought her peace, new friends and even a world record

INTERVIEW: PAUL SIMPSON

The Carlisle gaffer chats League One ambitions, World Cup ecstasy with England Under-20s and battling kidney cancer

POHNPEI A DECADE ON

Paul Watson chronicled his improbable exploits coaching a tiny Pacific island team in his cult 2012 book Up Pohnpei. More than 10 years on, with Micronesia still struggling for FIFA recognition, an unexpected email inspired him to return this summer, and document the trip for FFT...

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF THE PEA AWARDS 1973 - 2023

On August 29, the Professional Footballers’ Association celebrates a half-century of giving out gongs for great individual seasons. Erling Haaland won’t receive the same sort of smooch that Les Ferdinand did, but he should follow in famous footsteps, from Elton John to Steve Ogrizovic

RECRUITMENT, RECRUITMENT, RECRUITMENT

As Brighton begin their first ever European campaign, having unearthed gem after gem in the transfer market, FourFourTwo chats to key figures inside the club to discover their secret - from algorithms to clandestine spreadsheets...

HERE TO COMPETE

Almost two years since their controversial takeover, Newcastle are going where no Magpie's flown for 20 years: the Champions League. Ahead of the curve their new owners plotted, they feel they have a man, a plan and the fans to sustain it - plus a sovereign wealth fund

IVAN RAKITIC

\"England were surprised what we could do. All of their players were worth £70m, £100m, £150m but they had to play against us”

"If god took my brother, it was because he wanted me to do something in football"

The Marseille match-fixing scandal turned Emmanuel Petit into a zombie, but the midfielder hit back to become a champion with Arsenal and France, driven by a desire to honour the sibling he lost as a teenager

FABIO CANNAVARO

\"I was very scared that I'd lose to France on penalties at a World Cup for a second time. Take a penalty? I'm not crazy! I know my limits...\"

MY FOOTBALL

The Olympic hockey gold medallist owns part of the Anfield bench and adores Steve McManaman

JULES BREACH

The TV presenter expects an intense battle for the Champions League spots

BURY THE HATCHET

After years of financial woes, EFL expulsion and squabbling, Bury fans have united to plot a brighter future...

THIE PLAYERS LOUNGE

Interview with - JULIAN DICKS, LEDLEY KING, HENNING BERG, JONATHAN WALTERS

KICKING ON

Kick It Out is David to the Goliath of discrimination in football. For 30 years, the organisation has tirelessly battled boycotts, controversies and misconceptions with austere staff numbers and shoestring budgets, while trying to avoid biting the hand that feeds it. It's a thankless existence, yet essential for the future of the game

"IT WAS A CONSTANT BATTLE, TO STOP PEOPLE LAUGHING AT ME FOR HOW I LOOKED"

As a young footballer, Peter Crouch was the butt of all the jokes - but after a stellar career made him a popular media personality, they are laughing with him now. He tells FFT how he came through the tough times to become a cult hero

IN GOOD KOMPANY

After learning from Pep Guardiola as Man City skipper, Burnley's beloved boss is now ready to mix it with his old gaffer in a top-flight dugout. FFT speaks to those who know him - even those who introduced him to his wife...

WE ARE PREMIER LEAGUE

Luton’s Kenilworth Road home may not be anyone’s idea of luxury, but it will host Premier League football this season after the Hatters’ unexpected rise back to the top, via F1, Manager Idol and five years in non-league...

THINGS WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2023-24

For the first time in five seasons, normality is back - no winter World Cup, no pandemic - but that doesn't mean it will be boring. Can anyone stop Manchester City? Will Wrexham storm League Two? Are Charlton fixtures about to turn into a rave? There's plenty to look out for in the year ahead...

"Once I picked up a drink, I couldn't stop. I was feeling cloudy, anxious and depressed, and I thought, I've got to say it out loud'.It was the best thing I ever did."

Despite a lifetime feeling plagued by doubt, Brian McDermott reached the very top as a manager – but, as he tells FFT, one day he woke and knew he needed a cry for help

MY FOOTBALL

The Who frontman on rediscovering his love of football through Arsenal and performing at Highbury's farewell

JULES BREACH

The journalist is tipping England to go far at the Women's World Cup...

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

MK DONS HAS THE FRANCHISE WORKED?

Twenty years after their divisive move to Milton Keynes, the club tumbled into League Two in May, amid dwindling crowds at the gigantic Stadium MK. FFT weighs up the first two decades outside of London for a team whose stigma shows no signs of fading

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

MY PERFECT XI JOHN ALDRIDGE

The goal machine includes a mixture of players from the great Liverpool side he spearheaded, as well as a sprinkling of team-mates with the Republic of Ireland...

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

THIE PLAYERS LOUNGE

NIGEL WINTERBURN OLIVIER DACOURT RICHARD DUNNE JULIAN SPERONI

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...

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...