
Chris Flanagan
Chris joined FourFourTwo in 2015 and has reported from more than 20 countries, in places as varied as Ivory Coast and the Arctic Circle. He's interviewed Pele, Zlatan and Santa Claus (it's a long story), as well as covering the World Cup, AFCON and the Clasico. He previously spent 10 years as a newspaper journalist, and completed the 92 in 2017.
Latest articles by Chris Flanagan

‘My rant was immaturity. Some of those people don’t have jobs now, so ultimately I was right - but how I said it was wrong’ Troy Deeney reflects on his Forest Green stint
By Joe Mewis published
EXCLUSIVE The former Watford forward’s first job in management was a short, sharp stint at Forest Green Rovers

'The Boy's A Bit Special' Why the Bukayo Saka regen that Arsenal fumbled is destined for BIG things
By Chris Flanagan published
Arsenal let go of Amario Cozier-Duberry for free - and now the on-loan Bolton winger is showing why that was such a mistake

‘If we could have played Arsenal every week at Stoke, we would have done – we had it over them, Arsene Wenger even tried to ban throw-ins! It’s nice that people now say Mikel Arteta has copied me’ Tony Pulis gives his verdict on the Gunners’ title charge
By Chris Flanagan published
In an exclusive interview, the former Stoke boss explains how he feels about proving an unlikely inspiration for Arsenal’s fine form

FourFourTwo’s guide to Toronto: everything you need to know about the World Cup 2026 host city
By Chris Flanagan published
Canada will co-host the tournament for the first time next summer – we assess what you can expect from its biggest city

'I’m always going to be an alcoholic. It used to be weeks of benders, but it’s only about two days now and I’ll stop – I’ll think "Waste of f**king time"' Paul Gascoigne speaks exclusively to FourFourTwo
By Chris Flanagan published
Paul Gascoigne has opened up about his struggles with addiction and mental health in a exclusive interview with FourFourTwo

'A copper stopped me approaching Raoul Moat. The next morning, I had 300 missed calls and thought, ‘What the f**k have I done?’ My dad sectioned me after that' Paul Gascoigne speaks exclusively to FourFourTwo
By Chris Flanagan published
Paul Gascoigne has opened up on the bizarre events that led to him being involved in a police stand-off with convict Raoul Moat

‘I kicked Alessandro Nesta by the back of the calf in training and did my fibula and tibia… I missed maybe four years of international football, but I still managed to get fit again and back to my best’ Paul Gascoigne on his injury hell
By Chris Flanagan published
EXCLUSIVE Paul Gascoigne relays his troubles in signing for Lazio to FourFourTwo
![[left] Former Tottenham Hotspur and England footballer Paul Gascoigne poses upon arrival to attend the World Premiere of ROBBO: The Bryan Robson Story, in Manchester, northern England on November 25, 2021. [right] Ex-boxer Ricky Hatton and Ex-footballer Paul Gascoigne pictured during a Boxing Media Work Out at Kings Gym in Leicester on March 20, 2019 in Leicester, England](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MXJrjvBhL6KnjojkcFdD67-320-80.jpg)
‘Ricky Hatton was funny as f**k. He was like myself, he gave his time up for anybody and he’d give his last penny away. It was heartbreaking’ Paul Gascoigne speaks exclusively to FourFourTwo about his friendship with the boxing world champion
By Chris Flanagan published
EXCLUSIVE The former England midfielder recalls time spent with the late boxer Ricky Hatton

‘The first three months were hard, I wasn’t getting on the pitch, but I felt ready to help the team. Then I made a few appearances and started scoring some goals’ James McAtee on the challenge of breaking into the Man City first-team
By Joe Mewis published
EXCLUSIVE After two loan spells at Sheffield United, the midfielder set about breaking into the City first-team

‘Glenn Hoddle is a prick. Terry Venables warned me "Hoddle will try to make a name for himself" – he said it was because of my drinking, but six other players were out until 6am’ Paul Gascoigne speaks exclusively to FourFourTwo on his 1998 World Cup snub
By Chris Flanagan published
EXCLUSIVE Paul Gascoigne recalls to FourFourTwo how he reacted after being snubbed for the 1998 World Cup

‘When the alarms go off, you go into the safe room for around five or 10 minutes, then come back out and carry on with your day. It was a strange experience’ Rory Delap on coaching in Israel
By Joe Mewis published
EXCLUSIVE The former Stoke midfielder was Robbie Keane’s assistant at Maccabi Tel Aviv in 2023

‘I don’t remember it, but he’s always been an inspiration. Having a family member who won the World Cup has always been a great honour’ James McAtee on the sporting excellence that runs in his family
By Joe Mewis published
EXCLUSIVE James McAtee’s great uncle was an England legend

‘I blame myself for how things went at Southampton but it was the best thing that happened to me – it’s been a dream to be back in the Premier League’ Tottenham Hotspur’s ‘Magnet Head’ speaks to FourFourTwo
By Chris Flanagan published
After helping Spurs conquer Europe, charity-conscious defender Kevin Danso is relishing the battle for places in North London – and a potential first World Cup

'If I hadn’t gone to jail, I’d be dead now. It was the hard reset I needed' Troy Deeney on prison, management and THAT Watford goal
By Chris Flanagan published
EXCLUSIVE After drunkenly stumbling into professional football, Troy Deeney spent 13 weeks in prison, but emerged to become a Watford legend. He still has ambitions for a successful managerial career, too – just don’t ask him about Dale Vince…

‘Sir Alex Ferguson asked me to walk out with the Manchester United team for the FA Cup final against Chelsea – I was 12 and I wanted to do it, but I said no’ Joe Cole speaks to FourFourTwo
By Chris Flanagan published
As he launches his autobiography, the former West Ham and Chelsea star lifts the lid on a phone call from arguably the greatest manager of all time

‘Leaving my childhood club was tough, but I think both Pep Guardiola and I knew it was the right time and the right thing to do’ James McAtee opens up on his Manchester City exit
By Joe Mewis published
EXCLUSIVE The former City academy star ended his 12-year spell at the club this summer when he joined Nottingham Forest

‘People think it was all set plays and throw-ins at Stoke. It wasn’t. Tony Pulis recruited a team of characters who were tough and hard to beat, but we could play’ Rory Delap on the Potters’ other side under Pulis
By Joe Mewis published
EXCLUSIVE Rory Delap was a key part of Tony Pulis’ cliche-ridden Stoke City side of the late 2000s

‘I felt I was going to be more impactful at the U21 Euros than the Club World Cup. I helped England qualify, so to miss out would have been heartbreaking’ Why James McAtee chose England glory over Club World Cup
By Joe Mewis published
EXCLUSIVE The former Manchester City midfielder opted to represent his country, rather than get involved in FIFA’s rebooted club competition in the summer

‘I didn’t want to go in for the next three days after we got beaten 8-0 by Newcastle, I just wanted to hide under my bed’ James McAtee opens up on his Sheffield United loan spells
By Joe Mewis published
EXCLUSIVE The midfielder spent two seasons on loan at the Bramall Lane side

‘I competed in javelin at county level and cleaned up. I think my personal best was 55 metres when I stopped at 14 or 15 and football took over instead’ Long throw ace Rory Delap on his incredible trademark
By Joe Mewis published
EXCLUSIVE Stoke legend Rory Delap would secure a place in Premier League folklore history

‘I remember watching Cole Palmer score in the Community Shield and the Super Cup for the first team, thinking, “Yeah, I want to be doing that as well”’ James McAtee on his time in Man City’s youth system
By Joe Mewis published
EXCLUSIVE Former Manchester City youth prospect James McAtee had the perfect role model in front of him

‘I can’t tell you if I actually scored seven, but I was definitely drunk!’ Troy Deeney opens up on the day he was scouted
By Joe Mewis published
EXCLUSIVE The former Watford man has opened up on his eventful rise into professional football

‘Gordon Banks’ save from Pele inspired me to become a goalkeeper. I only became a defender because the players in front of me were so shabby’ Stuart Pearce on his admiration for the England legend
By Joe Mewis published
EXCLUSIVE Pearce went down as one of England’s finest-ever left-backs, but it could all have been very different….

‘I’ll retire at Chelsea, it’s my club, and I adore everyone there. There’s not been a moment where I’ve asked myself if I should leave’ Millie Bright on her love for the Blues
By Joe Mewis published
EXCLUSIVE The Lionesses defender has won eight WSL title with the club since joining in 2014

‘Liverpool had no-one like Wirtz, and there’s probably been no-one like him since Philippe Coutinho. He’s got amazing bravery and creativity, and he doesn’t mind making mistakes’ Danny Murphy’s surprising assessment of big-money Anfield signings
By Joe Mewis published
EXCLUSIVE The former Reds midfielder has run the rule over this summer’s new arrivals at Anfield
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