Chris Flanagan

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Senior Staff Writer

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

The greatest World Cup upsets... ever!

By Chris Flanagan, Ben Hayward Published 15 June 26

FourFourTwo revisits the 26 biggest upsets the World Cup has ever produced as Cape Verde add themselves to the list

Competition

Haiti: The team that can't go home

By Chris Flanagan Published 13 June 26

Curacao hosted some of Haiti’s World Cup qualifiers – Scotland’s group-stage opponents haven’t been able to play games in their own country since 2021

Team

’It’s our duty to take that burden off Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku’ Jeremy Doku opens up on taking on more responsibility with Belgium at the World Cup

By Joe Mewis Published 13 June 26

EXCLUSIVE The Manchester City winger is set to be a key player for the Belgians this summer

EXCLUSIVE

26 reasons why World Cup 2026 will be historic

By Chris Flanagan Published 11 June 26

Six-foot eagles, warmongering Peace Prize winners and Lady Gaga on pens? It could be quite the summer…

Competition

Brighton's Italian head coach Roberto De Zerbi reacts during the English Premier League football match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Crystal Palace at the American Express Community Stadium in Brighton, southern England on February 3, 2024. (Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images)

‘What happened at Spurs this year can never, ever happen again – they need people who can handle the pressure and really want to stay. A spine like Arsenal's, who will deliver every week’ Former Champions League finalist tells FFT how the club can rebuild

By Chris Flanagan Published 8 June 26

In an exclusive interview, the ex-Tottenham Hotspur star explains the essential ingredients to moving the team back up the league

Team

‘Cristiano Ronaldo made me do the splits. I thought, ‘This can’t happen again.’ I didn’t want someone to take my career away from me’ Ashley Cole on his major tournament battles with the Portuguese icon

By Joe Mewis Published 7 June 26

EXCLUSIVE England’s Cole was tasked with stopping Ronaldo at Euro 2004 and at the World Cup two years later

EXCLUSIVE

‘I don’t remember Pep Guardiola telling me before a game, ‘Jeremy, when you have the ball, do this and do that.’ He has given me a lot of freedom’ Jeremy Doku on the advice his former Manchester City boss handed him

By Joe Mewis Published 7 June 26

EXCLUSIVE The Belgian joined Manchester City in 2023

EXCLUSIVE

‘There’s going to be a moment where England are under the cosh – to win the World Cup, someone is going to have to take the game by the scruff of the neck’ Joe Cole on what England need to do to win the World Cup

By Joe Mewis Published 6 June 26

EXCLUSIVE The former West Ham and Chelsea playmaker was a part of England’s 2002 and 2006 World Cup squads

EXCLUSIVE

‘I spoke with Jurgen Klopp, with Sadio Mane, but signing for Liverpool didn’t feel right at that point’ Jeremy Doku on the Premier League move he turned down

By Joe Mewis Published 6 June 26

EXCLUSIVE The Belgian playmaker almost moved to Anfield as a teenager

EXCLUSIVE

‘I spoke with Pep Guardiola, and obviously you don’t need a lot of convincing to go to Manchester City. He showed his interest in me, which made me comfortable signing’ Jeremy Doku on how his Etihad move came about

By Joe Mewis Published 31 May 26

EXCLUSIVE The Belgian international made the switch to Manchester City in the summer of 2023

EXCLUSIVE

‘England aren’t the greatest team in the heat, but we got to the semi-finals in Italy in 1990 when it was hot – if you let the little things get to you, it’s all negatives’ Former England favourites open up on the challenge of the North American climate

By Joe Mewis Published 29 May 26

EXCLUSIVE England will have to overcome the North American heat if they are to end 60 years of hurt this summer

EXCLUSIVE

Former West Ham United striker Michail Antonio

West Ham United legend Michail Antonio exclusive: ‘I’ve been talking to a few clubs since leaving Qatar, but I’m thinking that I could possibly retire – I'm weighing things up, I’m going to make a decision by the middle or end of June'

By Chris Flanagan Published 21 May 26

The former Hammers forward made a comeback after a horrific car accident – at 36 though, he's considering whether to hang up his boots this summer

Player

Nottingham Forest manager Brian Clough, November 1992

TV ace tells FourFourTwo about starting his career next to Brian Clough

By Chris Flanagan Published 14 May 26

The Nottingham Forest legend was known for sometimes doing the outrageous, but he became a friend to an up-and-coming commentator

Coaches & Managers

Arsene Wenger celebrates in front of the Arsenal fans after winning the title at White Hart Lane

‘I thought Arsene Wenger was crazy for not playing me in the FA Cup final, but we had an unforgettable night days later – we climbed a mountain that year’ Arsenal legend tells FFT about winning the double, days after his omission from a showpiece fixture

By Chris Flanagan Published 13 May 26

The Gunners won two memorable trophies in 2002 – clinching the title at Old Trafford, after a surprising change for the cup final in Cardiff

Player

Glenn Hoddle has worked as a pundit and a commentator

‘Too many teams try to just defend against Manchester City – in the FA Cup final, Chelsea have got to think “Where can we hurt them?” If that’s on the counter, pick a team with pace, even in midfield’ Glenn Hoddle tells FFT about his Wembley gameplan

By Chris Flanagan Published 13 May 26

In an exclusive interview, the former Chelsea and England boss explains how his old club can spring an upset at Wembley

Team

HULL, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 13: Joe Hart working as a television pundit for TNT Sports ahead of the Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round match between Hull City and Chelsea at MKM Stadium on February 13, 2026 in Hull, England. (Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images)

‘Will James Trafford be England’s next regular goalkeeper? It’s all about timing – I’ll always be there for him as a friend, and the FA Cup final is another opportunity to shine’ Joe Hart lifts the lid on his chats with the Manchester City shot-stopper

By Chris Flanagan Published 13 May 26

In an exclusive interview, the former Three Lions keeper assesses Trafford's career so far, and is asked whether he might eventually succeed Jordan Pickford

Player