
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

‘I understand why fans moan about the 3pm blackout because you can watch any game abroad. It’ll go at some point as broadcasters cough up more cash’ Gary Lineker discusses current TV rules with FourFourTwo
By Chris Flanagan published
EXCLUSIVE Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker speaks exclusively to FourFourTwo about the 3pm blackout regulation

‘If I was Bournemouth, I’d be thinking if they can get past Manchester City, there’s no-one to stop them winning the FA Cup for the first time ever’ Former England star believes the Cherries have the ability to make history
By Chris Flanagan published
EXCLUSIVE Ex-England ace isn't ruling out a shock cup triumph this season for Bournemouth

‘I wasn’t concerned I’d done anything wrong – I stated a fact. It was taken out of proportion and people have recognised that they misread the situation a bit’ Gary Lineker gives FourFourTwo his thoughts on BBC suspension for asylum seeker tweet
By Chris Flanagan published
EXCLUSIVE Gary Lineker speaks exclusively to FourFourTwo about the time he was asked to step back from Match of the Day

‘I’ve had talks with Sky at various points, but I just loved being with the BBC. Also, I’m quite loyal. I’ve had the same guy cut my hair for the last 40 years’ Gary Lineker talks exclusively to FourFourTwo about his presenting career
By Chris Flanagan published
BBC presenter Gary Lineker reveals that he's turned down interest from Sky during his distinguished career on television

Gary Lineker exclusive: ‘I’m prouder of my presenting career than my football career – I was born to be in the box, not on the box. I had to battle with television for a long time’
By Chris Flanagan published
EXCLUSIVE Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker talks to FourFourTwo, as he prepares to step down after 26 years in the role

‘Pep Guardiola had issues in his personal life – was that partly why he didn’t commit earlier, and why they’ve struggled? Were the club reluctant to buy players, in case he left?’ Former Manchester City defender gives view on difficult campaign
By Chris Flanagan published
EXCLUSIVE Former Manchester City star ponders the reasons for club's decline as well as Pep Guardiola's struggles

‘Nobody is irreplaceable at Liverpool – Kevin Keegan left but Kenny Dalglish came in, Ian Rush left and they still won the league’ Former Anfield star explains why the Reds wouldn’t be crippled by departure of key player
By Chris Flanagan published
EXCLUSIVE Ex-Liverpool midfielder looks to history for reasons why the Reds can cope despite potential exit of star

Ranked! The 100 best Premier League players ever
By Mark White published
RANKED! The best Premier League players ever, as we rank the ultimate icons who defined over three decades of thrills and spills

‘The fact he’s on a short deal doesn’t sit well. Gareth laid the foundations for players coming through. All Tuchel’s got to worry about is the here and now’: England hero lays out his issues with Thomas Tuchel appointment
By Joe Mewis published
EXCLUSIVE Former England striker Teddy Sheringham has a number of concerns regarding Thomas Tuchel

‘England supporters are craving some success. If Tuchel can come in and finish the brilliant job Gareth Southgate started, nobody will care if he leaves’: Ex-Three Lions international gives his take on Thomas Tuchel's short-term deal
By Joe Mewis published
EXCLUSIVE Thomas Tuchel has signed an 18-month deal as Three Lions boss that runs until the end of the 2026 World Cup

‘Everything he did, I clapped, saying, “What a player!” Then Dennis did it in the second half. Arsene Wenger must have been listening to us because he signed him!’: Arsenal legend reveals his brilliant Martin Keown prank
By Joe Mewis published
EXCLUSIVE Arsenal defender Martin Keown was left seething as his team-mates praised a trialist during their training sessions

‘If an Englishman with the credentials was available, fair enough, but I don’t think there was. If Tuchel gets the job done, it doesn’t matter where he’s from’: Ex-England midfielder weighs in on foreign manager debate
By Joe Mewis published
EXCLUSIVE Thomas Tuchel followed in the footsteps of Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello to become England's third foreign boss

‘Liverpool need to bring someone in to take the burden off Darwin Nunez – he’s not a starting player, the fee has weighed him down, he’s trying to too hard’ Former Reds record signing explains what it’s like when a price tag leads to unwanted scrutiny
By Chris Flanagan published
Ex-Anfield striker explains to FourFourTwo why his old club may need to sign another striker to support the Uruguayan

‘In terms of credentials, he’s fantastic, but it’s our country against yours – if Southgate won the World Cup with Germany, what would English people say?’: Ex-Englaand striker weighs in on Thomas Tuchel and the foreign manager debate
By Joe Mewis published
EXCLUSIVE Thomas Tuchel is the third overseas coach to take charge of the Three Lions

‘Southgate was criticised for his in-game management, but that’s Tuchel’s area of expertise – he can read the flow of a game and turn the tide in his favour’: Ex-England international outlines key Thomas Tuchel strength
By Joe Mewis published
EXCLUSIVE Former Three Lions playmaker Joe Cole on where Tuchel can build on Gareth Southgate's foundations

‘Mikel Arteta could have handled the media differently recently – bad PR can take up so much of your time as a manager, but your brains are scrambled’ Ex-Premier League boss explains why Arsenal boss got it wrong
By Chris Flanagan published
Experienced former gaffer offers Spaniard advice on how to navigate tricky situations during post-match interviews

‘Five more wins should give Liverpool the title – they’re facing questions after their two cup defeats, but the Premier League was always the be all and end’ Former Anfield star explains how many points the Reds need to secure the title
By Chris Flanagan published
Ex-Liverpool defender backs his old club to recover from recent results and cruise to a first league triumph in five years

Why Japan WON'T be happy they've become first nation to qualify for 2026 World Cup
By Ryan Dabbs published
Japan confirmed their spot in the 2026 World Cup on Thursday, but they might have rather waited a week...

'Centre-half is a position where the more experienced you are, the better you get – to get back to the player he is now after that injury has been amazing’: Former Liverpool star in awe of Virgil van Dijk's continued excellence
By Joe Mewis published
EXCLUSIVE Former Liverpool defender Neil Ruddock is full of praise for the Reds skipper

‘They probably have the best goalie squad in Liverpool history. No one moans if Alisson is missing a game, because the other one produces the same level’: Former Liverpool coach on Caoimhin Kelleher’s vital role
By Joe Mewis published
EXCLUSIVE Caoimhin Kelleher has had to play back-up to Alisson in one of the Premier League's most stocked goalkeeping departments

‘Certain people are suited to international football. Sven was, Southgate was, but I think Thomas Tuchel might be more suited to club football like Pep and Klopp’: John Barnes reveals his major Thomas Tuchel fear
By Joe Mewis published
EXCLUSIVE Former England winger John Barnes has a nagging doubt over the new Three Lions boss

‘Thomas Tuchel's made his name as a cup manager, and they get no bigger than the World Cup. He’s a planner, he’s painstaking, he could be England’s secret weapon’: Emile Heskey's great hope for England's new boss
By Joe Mewis published
EXCLUSIVE Thomas Tuchel is getting set for his first game in charge of the Three Lions

‘Thomas Tuchel galvanised Chelsea – he quickly identified which players could fit into a system that would win matches. They were putty in his hands from day one’: Joe Cole on why fans should expect a fast start from the new England boss
By Joe Mewis published
EXCLUSIVE Tuchel's England tenure finally gets underway next weekend when the Three Lions host Albania on Friday night

‘Manchester United already have the talent at centre-back to climb the table – they just have to protect them with legs in midfield’ Former Old Trafford defender explains how his old club can become consistent again
By Chris Flanagan published
Talking to FourFourTwo, an ex-Premier League title-winner has given his verdict on the club's current central defensive options

‘It’s not Daniel Levy’s fault that Spurs haven’t won a trophy – they can win one under him, and I think they can still win one this season’ Former Tottenham Hotspur boss offers his backing to under-fire chairman
By Chris Flanagan published
In an exclusive interview with FourFourTwo, ex-manager defends head honcho after a difficult season under boss Ange Postecoglou
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