Latest articles by Chris Flanagan
'I almost signed for Manchester United, but all of a sudden Chelsea came in for me – then they almost sent me on loan to CSKA Moscow' Joe Cole on his Russian Premier League and Old Trafford near-misses
Joe Cole was the sixth signing made by Chelsea under the ownership of Roman Abramovich
2025: The Year of the Underdog (even North Korea won something)
Features It wasn’t just Newcastle who defied expectations during a weird 2025 – while Manchester City won nothing, others also enjoyed unlikely success
‘If you brought prime Sir Alex Ferguson back in, he wouldn’t be able to turn it around straight away. The club is rotten from the bottom up at the minute’ Nicky Butt on the state of Manchester United
Nicky Butt enjoyed enormous success with Man United under Ferguson and reflected on their more modern struggles
‘When Terry Venables died, I was sat in the car and cried my eyes out. Terry was a f**king diamond. He had to be, to put up with me’ Paul Gascoigne on the manager he loved playing for most
Gazza played for a succession of England managers and thrived more under some than others
'I was just in a deep, dark place after West Ham got relegated. I didn’t want to leave the house, feeling that I’d let people down' Joe Cole on the Hammers' improbable relegation
Joe Cole tells FourFourTwo about the aftermath of West Ham United's relegation from the Premier League in 2003
‘Two rough lads like us becoming Manchester United legends? I’d have said, “No chance, you’re taking the piss.” We got lucky’ Paul Scholes on becoming an Old Trafford great with Nicky Butt
EXCLUSIVE Manchester United's Class of '92 have gone down in club folklore
‘When Terry Venables died, I was sat in the car and cried my eyes out. Terry was a f**king diamond. He had to be, to put up with me’ Paul Gascoigne on the manager he loved playing for most
EXCLUSIVE Gascoigne played his best football under Venables for Spurs and England
‘I’ll stay out of Liam’s international future unless he ever wants my advice – then I’ll give it to him and him only’ Rory Delap on the guidance he gives his son Liam
EXCLUSIVE The former Stoke City star has two sons making their way in the professional game
‘Harry Kane and Jamie Vardy were on the bench. We watched the whole game back on YouTube. People tell you where they were when it happened’ Troy Deeney on Watford’s playoff win over future England duo
EXCLUSIVE One of Deeney’s most iconic goals came against a side featuring two future Three Lions goalscorers
"Teddy Sheringham had a bow tie on and Peter Kay was sat at the side of him, going, ‘Can we get a drink?’ I’m like, Pete, he’s not a f**king waiter!’” Paddy McGuinness on Peter Kay’s mistaken identity
Paddy McGuinness reveals he has a sharper eye for legendary footballers than his 'Max & Paddy' comedy pal
"In the tunnel, I said to Diego Maradona, ‘I’m pissed.’ He said, ‘It’s OK, Gazza, so am I…’ I just started laughing!" Paul Gascoigne on lining up against Maradona
EXCLUSIVE The maverick pair were two of the game’s most skilful - and unpredictable - players of their generation
‘I have no doubt Lionel Messi will play at the World Cup – he’s fully capable of continuing as a leader for the national team’ Argentina great tells FFT that Inter Miami star can keep on shining on the global stage next summer
In an exclusive interview, an Albiceleste hero is confident that Messi's impact will continue for some time yet
'I was 31 before people started to ask me about the throw, I don’t know what I was good at before that, but it must have something!' Rory Delap explains how his throw-in morphed into a psychological assault in the Barclays era
EXCLUSIVE The former javelin ace became a cult hero by rattling defences everywhere – he later spent time in a panic room in Israel before watching son Liam shine
‘At 16, a national newspaper front page said I was on £5,000 a week. It wasn’t true. It was very difficult to deal with and it really changed the course of my life. It attracted a different kind of attention’ Joe Cole on the ‘nonsense story’
Former West Ham United starlet Joe Cole reveals a turbulent start to life as a professional footballer
'Roman Abramovich came to speak to me after I’d had an argument with Jose Mourinho and put an official transfer request in. It was very unusual: he wanted to keep me' Joe Cole on dealing with Chelsea’s former owner
Joe Cole reveals rift with Jose Mourinho during 'footballing heaven' Chelsea title season
‘I’m convinced it will be unforgettable’ Javier Zanetti tells FourFourTwo about joining forces with Rivaldo, Didier Drogba and Andriy Shevchenko to launch new global tournament at Walt Disney World
The Argentine great is one of several footballing legends backing an event that brings together top academy teams and inspiring grassroots sides
‘It will be a massive achievement if Sunderland finish above Newcastle United, but the season is pretty much already a success regardless – top 10 would be amazing’ Former Black Cats Premier League star hails club’s progress after derby win
Talking to FourFourTwo, ex-Sunderland ace assesses his former side's fine start to the campaign
‘Alex Ferguson asked me to walk out with Manchester United at the FA Cup final - I was a kid and was like, ‘It would be pretty cool though, dad?’ but my dad said no!’ Joe Cole on how he could have ended up alongside Red Devils legends
EXCLUSIVE The future England international could have had a front row seat for a memorable FA Cup final
‘Jose Mourinho said I had a good face and an ugly face but I had no problem with how honest he was. Playing for him was like joining a cult’ Joe Cole on playing for the Special One at Chelsea
EXCLUSIVE Joe Cole spent three seasons playing under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea
‘Everyone talks about the final, but for me, the best feeling was that Juve game in Turin, it’s up there with winning it, because nobody beat Juve away, ever. Certainly not after going 2-0 down in 11 minutes.’ Nicky Butt on THAT Juventus win
EXCLUSIVE Manchester United's historic 1999 treble would not have happened without the classic Champions League semi-final win over the Italian giants
‘A guy went, ‘If I give you something, can I have a selfie with it?’ He pulled his f**king glass eye out and said, ‘Can you hold that?’ Paul Gascoigne on his greatest fan encounters
EXCLUSIVE Gazza has been the subject of adoring fans for almost four decades
‘I didn’t actually mind playing on the left - but with England it was different, I just wasn’t enjoying playing for England. Do I regret stopping early? Yeah, I probably do’ Paul Scholes on why he REALLY retired from international duty
EXCLUSIVE The former Manchester United midfielder turned out 66 times for the Three Lions
‘I caught this snake, put it in a plastic bag and put it in Roberto Di Matteo’s pocket after training. Then I asked if he could lend me some money, so he’d put his hand in his pocket…’ Paul Gascoigne on his best pranks
EXCLUSIVE You were never safe when sharing a dressing room with Gazza…
Destiny Udogie exclusive: ‘What happened away from football was a shock, something I’d never experienced before, I don’t wish it on anyone – but Spurs have really helped me and everything is good now, I don’t think about it any more’
Speaking to FourFourTwo, the Italian international says he's been grateful for the support he's received during the past three months
James Maddison exclusive ‘I don’t know when I’ll be back yet, I’m not thinking about the World Cup – I’m working so hard in my rehab, I’m so hungry to be back doing my thing for Tottenham and proving myself again’
The Tottenham Hotspur midfielder has been on the sidelines since damaging his ACL in August, but is determined to hit his best form when he returns
