CATEGORIES

JUDE AWAKENING

Three years ago, Jude Bellingham briefly became the European Championship's youngest ever player - now, after a superb debut season at Real Madrid, he's ready to make a greater impact

VIVA RONALDO

Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal career was as good as over when he was dropped at the last World Cup - instead, CR7 goes to Euro 2024 as their main man once more, aged 39. Will this be the end, and can he make one last pitch to be considered the greatest?

Sean Longstaff – Local Hero

Like Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold, Sean Longstaff has shone for his boyhood club this season. The midfielder tells FFT all about his Newcastle revival under Eddie Howe, a £50m move to Manchester United that never was, and why he hasn't been herding sheep...

"We won 3-0 at Spurs.Two games later. I was sacked"

Two-and-a-half years since his Manchester United reign came to an end, Ole Gunnar Solskjder sits down with FFT for a rare interview, opening up on the club’s post-Fergie struggles, Cristiano Ronaldo and the challenges of managing modern superstars

Trent Alexander-Arnold – Calm down! Calm down! Calm down!

There's been plenty of noise around Trent Alexander-Arnold's performances for club and country over the past 12 months, but the man himself has maintained a cool head. Donning a retro shellsuit for FFT, the Merseyside maestro insists he's still got lofty ambitions - none more so than becoming the best footballer on the planet...

WHAT WOULD WOODWARD DO?

Sir Dave Brailsford isn't football's first interloping innovator from another sport, as Southampton fans will recall

THE ARQUND GROUNDS EFL-NON-LEAGUE-SCOTLAND

The Wigan gaffer on why he could have taken up tennis, seeking Sir Alex's advice and memories of cup glory with the Latics

HOW LUTON TOWN BECAME A PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM

The Hatters were tipped to finish bottom of the table at the start of the campaign, but have adapted their game to give themselves a chance of avoiding the dreaded drop

NOISY NEIGHBOURS

Part-owned by the City Football Group, minnows Girona emulated Manchester City by surging past Barcelona to gain Catalan supremacy and even topped La Liga this season. FFT speaks to those in the know to find out how

THE DEBATE

Are the Financial Fair Play rules really working?

ENGLISHMEN ABROAD

Qualification for the 2026 World Cup resumes in various parts of the globe this month meet five English managers hoping to steer their adopted nations to unlikely success

MY FOOTBALL

The Barking-born singer-songwriter and activist recalls meeting Bobby Moore, making Stuart Pearce roar, and playing a gig during a Euros final

WHEN WOLF PLAYED FOR GILLINGHAM

Thirty years ago, the Kent side gave a surprise debut to a 42-year-old Gladiator

MEANWHILE IN...

... lurkey, Bursaspor’s cursed crocodile stadium may lead them down to the fourth tier

JULES BREACH

The TNT Sports presenter pays tribute to the young stars shining this season

GIOVANNI VAN BRONCKHORST

\"I almost had a dream farewell, with the World Cup trophy in my hands - then suddenly it dawns on you that your career is over\"

Xabi Alonso – The Puppet-Master Prince

Xabi Alonso has emerged as Europe’s next top boss after putting Bayer Leverkusen in contention for a maiden Bundesliga crown. Having learned under Pep, Jose, Carlo and Rafa, how long before the apprentice from an unlikely coaching hotbed rejoins a giant?

The Messi Effect

Lionel Messi stamped his mark on football in the US from his very first match this year, the maestro's mission is to help Inter Miami become MLS champions

Guglielmo Vicario – "I dream that, in 30 years, my photo will be on the wall at tottenham with a trophy"

Guglielmo Vicario isn’t your average Premier League keeper. Having spent six seasons in Italy’s lower leagues and welcomed Ukrainian refugees into his family home, he tells FFT why taking risks means he’s appreciating every moment at Tottenham...

"PEOPLE LIKE ME AND ENI ALUKO SPOKE OUT AND GOT OSTRACISED FOR IT NOW I HAVE PEOPLE TELLING ME THAT I'VE INSPIRED THEM"

The pioneering Lioness on battling sexism as a young player, thriving in the USA and putting England Women on the map

"I RUGBY-TACKLED 1860 MUNICH'S LION MASCOT AND DID HIS KNEE. IT TURNED OUT TO BE A CLUB HERO!"

The cockney playmaker recalls Hoddle’s genius, shipping goals at Swindon and banter in the Hammers dressing room

FOOTBALL ICON: THE NEXT CHAPTER

Carl Magnay almost skipped Football Icon trials before going on to win the reality television show now, after a career spent in the lower leagues, the former Chelsea defender aims to pass on his star-studded experience

WHY NOBODY HAS CHANGED FOOTBALL LIKE FRANZ BECKENBAUER

FFT salutes the late German juggernaut’s groundbreaking effect on the game, first as a player and later a manager

DECO

\"I was upset when Porto didn't let me join Barcelona in 2003 now, I can't deny it was good to have stayed for one more year!”

30 MADDEST MOVES OF LEGENDS

Long before Lionel Messi headed to MLS, these stars also travelled the world - ending up in surprising places...

8 THINGS TO WATCH OUT FOR IN THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE KNOCKOUT STAGES

Xabi Alonso will have to wait until next season for a crack at Europe’s premier club competition before then, though, the bunfight to lift Ol’ Big Ears enters its business end once more

"Finally, a game where the referee doesn't rule out my goals"

EA Sports releases a new game under a new name this month, following the end of a 30-year partnership with FIFA. From Sol Campbell to Avril Lavigne and a Polish MMA fighter, it's an era that'll live long in the memory

"AFTER THAT MISS AGAINST FRANCE.I NEVER TRIED TO CHIP A KEEPER IN MY CAREER AGAIN"

The tireless midfielder talks FA Cup heartbreak and finds common ground between himself and Pele (er, sort of)

"I PUT THE BALL BETWEEN ALVES AND PUYOL AND SMASHED IT PAST VALDES - AN INCREDIBLE FEELING!"

Leeds' favourite magician recalls developing with David Silva, destroying Pep's Barça and winning silverware at Swansea

"I'D LOVE TO ASK ROY IF HE WISHES HE DIDN'T WALK OUT IN 2002. HE MUST REGRET IT"

The Ireland stalwart between the sticks remembers Saipan, his Manchester City spell and Magpies magic with Sir Bobby