Latest articles by Chris Flanagan
‘Mourinho had to put me in my place very quickly. He sent me to the academy, then brought me back when I was ready to know I was in the big boys’ league’ John Obi Mikel recalls his early Chelsea learning curve
EXCLUSIVE The Nigerian international was the subject of a controversial transfer to Chelsea in 2006
‘I deeply hope Marc Guehi is still at Crystal Palace for the rest of the season – when the window shuts, I’ll go to the pub and order a pint of beer’ Boss Oliver Glasner speaks out on Liverpool target
Eagles gaffer is holding on to hope that his star defender will remain at Selhurst Park for the rest of the campaign
Welcome to Kairat Almaty: the Champions League's easternmost fixture
LONG READ As Central Asia prepares to be represented at the World Cup for the first time by Uzbekistan, FFT visited the region to witness a European match near the Chinese border
'If you’re going on holiday with an older woman, make sure it’s your mother!’ Legendary wonderkid Freddy Adu offers Lamine Yamal advice on how not to get derailed by media attention
The American once dubbed 'the next Pele', has been impressed by Yamal's talents, but warns of the potential pitfalls ahead
‘He’s got a really tough job to keep everything Southgate built up, add his own style of play and push this side over the last hurdle and win a trophy, in less than two years’ Teddy Sheringham on Thomas Tuchel’s England challenge
EXCLUSIVE The former Three Lions striker has weighed up the size of the task facing the England boss
‘I understand the pressures Alisson has to play under. So much goes on in footballers’ lives, but he kept his performance levels up as Liverpool won the Premier League last season’ David James’ admiration for his Reds successor
EXCLUSIVE The former Reds and England stopper has been impressed by the Brazilian’s consistancy
‘It was just Sir Alex and me in a room. It was difficult to say no to the greatest manager of all time, to his face’ Why a teenage John Obi Mikel turned down Manchester United
EXCLUSIVE The Nigerian was the subject of a long-running transfer dispute between Chelsea and Manchester United as a teenager
‘This agent had a briefcase full of cash sitting right next to him, about £50,000. I was only 16, and all of these crazy things had already started happening’ John Obi Mikel on the surreal race for his signature
EXCLUSIVE The Nigerian was the subject of a controversial 2006 transfer when Manchester United and Chelsea fought for his signature
‘Liverpool’s midfield has looked more vulnerable defensively so far, but that’s not because of Florian Wirtz – they need Ryan Gravenberch back, he’s been so underrated’ Former Anfield pass master assesses their new-look side
EXCLUSIVE Ex-Reds midfielder tells FourFourTwo why the Dutchman could be crucial again for Liverpool this season, on his return to the team
‘It was easy to judge Alexander Isak when we were only hearing Newcastle United’s side of the story – these kinds of arguments happen at all clubs, it happened to me with Tony Pulis’ Former Liverpool attacker DEFENDS star at centre of transfer dispute
EXCLUSIVE Ex-Anfield ace tells FourFourTwo what it's like for a player to be refused a move that they've set their heart on – and believe they've been promised
‘It’s not going to be that easy, but Forest’s ability to counter-attack will stand them in massively good stead, particularly away’ Stan Collymore outlines why Forest could be suited to European football
EXCLUSIVE Forest are back in Europe for the first time since the 1995/96 season
‘I want to see them push the teams who’ve been challenging regularly over the past few seasons. To truly challenge, I think Chelsea need two more years’ William Gallas on Chelsea’s next steps
EXCLUSIVE The former Chelsea defender assesses his old club’s progress under Todd Boehly
‘No European football means less money to spend, and less reason to choose Manchester United over others’ Brian McClair on Manchester United’s major transfer issue this summer
EXCLUSIVE The Red Devils limped to a 15th-place finish last season
‘He’s taking over a squad that were terrible last season but have Champions League football, it’s literally the best opportunity to take over a football club. You’ve got a team who can’t get any worse than 17th’ Jamie O’Hara on Thomas Frank at Spurs
EXCLUSIVE Thomas Frank replaced Ange Postecoglou in the Tottenham dugout this summer
‘I can’t see Rodrygo leaving Real Madrid for Manchester City, but things didn’t work for him last season – maybe Kylian Mbappe's arrival unbalanced the team’ Steve McManaman talks to FFT about his old club, and why they’re still favourites for La Liga
The Real Madrid legend speaks exclusively to FourFourTwo ahead of the start of the new Spanish top-flight season
Former Republic of Ireland star dad Rory tells FFT about his stance on Liam Delap’s international future: ‘He’s spoken to both England and Ireland – I’m so proud of what he’s achieving’
Long throw cult hero Rory Delap gives thoughts on his son's fine progress – and why he swapped the Champions League for Prenton Park
‘Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City are all capable of HISTORIC feat – it will be really exciting if one of them is in contention to do both’ Sky Sports pundit assesses the chances of a historic double
Izzy Christiansen says any of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City could win both the Premier League and the WSL this season
‘I used to ride a motorbike and my crash helmet would get filled. From my point of view, the best was talcum powder, but there were other things…’ Dave Beasant on Wimbledon’s Crazy Gang dressing room pranks
EXCLUSIVE The Crazy Gang's antics were the stuff of legend in the 1980s
‘Birmingham City can absolutely get promoted this season – the main worry I have is whether last year was too easy for them’ Former Blues striker Troy Deeney tells FFT he’s backing his boyhood club to go again, after they set records in League One
The lifelong Birmingham fan is relishing their return to the Championship, ahead of their season opener at home to Ipswich
‘I made the right decision to miss the Euros – I haven’t thought about a return to the England squad yet, but I’m feeling good and excited to play football again’ Millie Bright talks exclusively to FourFourTwo, at launch of her own sportswear range
Lionesses legend Millie Bright explains why she's raring to go for the new WSL season with Chelsea, after sitting out England's successful Euros campaign
‘I still recall the feeling of hitting the ball. I was shattered, 32,000 people were watching me, but it was like when you hit the perfect golf shot – you just know, by the sound and the feel’ Gordon Strachan on firing Leeds United to promotion
EXCLUSIVE The Scottish midfield maestro delivered at the perfect moment to end Leeds’ ‘80s top-flight exile
‘The balance of power has shifted towards owners. Brian Clough dominated the board – because Evangelos Marinakis is so hands on, Nuno Espirito Santo’s role is more like Peter Taylor’ Stuart Pearce discusses Nottingham Forest, as part of new game launch
In an exclusive interview with FourFourTwo, the City Ground legend has his say on the combination that's brought success back to his former club
‘Paul Merson would have been the best at walking football, he always walked around the pitch anyway! A different team-mate of mine would have found it tough’ Former England goalkeeper David James visits a St Helens walking football team
Speaking to FourFourTwo, the ex-Liverpool shot-stopper explains which Anfield pal might have struggled in a different discipline
‘I can remember Dennis Wise following me up – when I lifted the trophy, I heard him behind cheering and shouting, “You bastards!” I thought, “You can’t say that in front of Princess Diana!”’ Dave Beasant on Wimbledon’s 1988 FA Cup upset win over Liverpool
EXCLUSIVE The former Crazy Gang stopper saved a penalty in the shock 1988 FA Cup victory
‘The relationship between fans and owner has been toxic at Sheffield Wednesday for a long time – why wasn’t the owner trying to sell the club as soon as possible?’ Former Owls striker saddened by Championship side’s crisis
In an exclusive interview, EFL pundit expresses his bewilderment at recent events at Hillsborough
