Latest articles by Chris Flanagan
‘Thomas Tuchel told me “Keep doing what you’re doing, keep performing, then you’ve got every chance of coming back with us” – I feel like I left a decent impression’ Bournemouth's Alex Scott tells FFT about message from England boss after first call-up
In an exclusive interview, the rising star explains what it was like to go into the Three Lions squad for the first time in November
‘I enjoyed Macclesfield’s FA Cup win over Crystal Palace like you wouldn’t believe – I’d rather remember it for that than any bitterness over money’ Non-league club's assistant Francis Jeffers gives verdict on governing body’s controversial decision
In an exclusive interview, former England striker tells FourFourTwo about a magical cup upset – even if a part of their financial windfall has been blocked
Cristiano Ronaldo's thousand goal stare
EXCLUSIVE Three years since Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al Nassr, he’s laser-focused on hitting another milestone – 2026 will see him play his last World Cup and further his quest to become the first player to officially score 1,000 career goals. As those who know him tell FFT, he won’t be retiring until he’s done it
‘Most managers are pretty superstitious. We struggled in the first half of a game, so I put my cap on and we won. It stuck after that’ Tony Pulis reveals the origin story of his iconic baseball cap
EXCLUSIVE Tony Pulis’ baseball cap was perhaps the defining Premier League fashion accessory of its era
‘I didn’t actually realise how far out I was – it was a terrible decision to shoot from there really, but I’m glad I made it' Joe Cole on his iconic World Cup goal against Sweden
EXCLUSIVE One of the greatest moments of Joe Cole's career came in a Three Lions shirt
‘We haven’t heard anything from the club about a 10-year reunion for our Premier League title, but the lads are chatting and we'll have one – if we can help Leicester City during a difficult time, we would’ Ex-Foxes star tells FFT about anniversary plans
Former Leicester title winner discusses the possibility of a special event to mark the club's famous Premier League triumph in 2016
‘I’m 68, I should grow up, but Hearts being top of the league is killing me – as a childhood Hibernian supporter, I think “Oh no, not them!” But I think they're the favourites, they're adrenaline junkies’ Former Celtic boss Gordon Strachan talks to FFT
The five-time title winner explains why he expects Hearts to win the league – even if it's not an outcome he's actively hoping for
'When Pep Guardiola came in and began to play the beautiful game, people thought it was the first time ever that teams had played football in England' Tony Pulis on the continuous cycle of football
EXCLUSIVE The former Stoke City manager's methods have come back into style this season
‘Spurs would be a brilliant club for Andy Robertson if he does leave Liverpool – they should be higher up the Premier League table, he’d bring experience to help them get there’ Ex-Anfield full-back tells FFT why the North London club could be a good fit
In an exclusive interview, former Reds defender assesses the future of the club's Scottish stalwart
‘If I was Arne Slot, I’d give Mo Salah a big hug, tell him I love him, tell him I need to defend more and throw him back into the team’ Respected former Liverpool star tells FFT why the legendary Egyptian MUST be given another chance after AFCON return
In an exclusive interview, top pundit explains how he'd manage Salah's comeback following the end of continental championship
'I was in London having lunch, and decided to ring The FA, I asked "Is Sven Goran-Eriksson there? Can I come and see him?"' Joe Cole on the random afternoon when he confronted the England manager in his office and asked for more international game time
EXCLUSIVE Chelsea star Joe Cole reveals his struggles against an unwanted label
‘We always seemed to have it over Arsenal psychologically. If we could have played them every week, we would have done’ Tony Pulis on being Arsene Wenger’s kryptonite with Stoke City
EXCLUSIVE Pulis’ Potter side had a habit of getting under the Gunners’ skin
‘I don’t think Aston Villa can win the title – if you offered Unai Emery fourth place now, I think he’d take it’ Former strike ace tells FourFourTwo why Champions League spot must be the aim
In an exclusive interview, an ex-Villa forward explains where the club still need to strengthen during the January transfer window
‘Every time a manager got sacked, it was always, “Scholesy, are you going to do the Oldham job?” I thought, “F**king hell, go on then, I’ll give it a crack”’ Paul Scholes recalls his spell in charge of his boyhood club
EXCLUSIVE The boyhood Oldham fan could only resist the call from Boundary Park for so long…
‘I drove a London bus down the road singing, ‘We’re all going on a summer holiday.’ My dad rang and said, “You stupid bastard, you’re never going to learn, are you?”’ Paul Gascoigne on the prank that got him in trouble with his dad
EXCLUSIVE One classic Gazza prank even got on his father’s radar
‘I was in the ambulance – Rita walked past and went, “Oh, Nicky are you OK?” I said, “I’ll be all right, don’t worry!” And then she gave me a kiss on the cheek’ Nicky Butt on his Rita Ora run-in
EXCLUSIVE The former Manchester United man has played in some eventful charity matches
‘When the finances come out and I try to say something, they go, “What are you f**king talking about? You haven’t got a clue, mate”’ Nicky Butt on his time in Manchester United board meetings
EXCLUSIVE The former Manchester United man’s transition from the pitch to the boardroom came with challenges
‘At Spurs, the lads said I wasn’t funny, so I brought an ostrich to training’ Paul Gascoigne recalls one of his most infamous pranks
EXCLUSIVE Who else but Gazza would be able to wrangle an ostrich?
‘Scholesy was a phenomenal footballer and when people of Zidane’s ilk say things like that about you, it’s not just some s**t player, is it?’ Nicky Butt on Zidane’s Paul Scholes compliment
EXCLUSIVE The former Juventus and Real Madrid icon was a huge admirer of the ex-Manchester United midfielder
‘It’s going to be a hard task for England to win the World Cup – we have a chance like everyone else, but every player has got to be on it, you can’t afford to carry anybody’ Paul Gascoigne assesses England’s World Cup chances
EXCLUSIVE Gazza turned out 57 times for England during his career
‘The smell was so bad that the chairman made me buy him a new car - £17,000 that cost me, and it was still cheaper than the other trout I divorced…’ Paul Gascoigne on the prank that cost him a fortune
EXCLUSIVE Gazza loved a prank, but some came at a bigger cost than others…
LIGHTS! CAMERA! ADDICTION! Gazza gives us his most revealing interview EVER
EXCLUSIVE Many years since our last chat, FFT spent two weeks with Paul Gascoigne to get to know him as he is now. Conversations veered between the serious and the comical – from the dark side of fame, to a win bonus for a mouse…
'I was spraying champagne on Chelsea fans and nearly fell off the bus – I was holding on like Indiana Jones!' Joe Cole remembers Premier League title celebrations and the story behind iconic Didier Drogba moment
Former Chelsea star Joe Cole reveals his running joke with Didier Drogba
"Some journalist went 'Obviously you might play now Gerrard’s not around?' It got my back up. So I made sure that whatever I did in that World Cup, I did myself proud" Nicky Butt recalls getting one over on Liverpool star at 2002 Finals
Manchester United midfielder Nicky Butt impressed at the World Cup in 2002 and has spoken up about his motivation
‘I got a phone call and our manager said, ‘I think you’d better take it’. It was the Pope - I said, ‘Hi Pope, you alright?’ So we went to the Vatican to meet the Pope and shook hands with him’ Paul Gascoigne on meeting Pope John Paul II
The Pope was lucky enough to have an audience with Gazza during his time in Serie A
