Latest articles by Ian Murtagh
‘I snuck Bobby Robson out of hospital in a wheelchair for fish cakes and a bottle of champagne’ John Carver's heartwarming Sir Bobby story
EXCLUSIVE Carver was assistant to the former England boss at Newcastle United
‘I’ll always be grateful to Venables for involving me in the England squad, but I knew I wasn’t quite at the level of Tony Adams and co’ Colin Cooper’s honest admission over his brief Three Lions career
EXCLUSIVE The former Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough stalwart won two England caps in 1995
'Brian Clough shouted at me for barging into the changing room. I remembered to knock every time after that' Colin Todd on the ex-Nottingham Forest boss and his memory of an elephant
Colin Todd worked with Brian Clough at Sunderland, Derby County and Nottingham Forest
‘I had a lovely five years at Forest. I got in the England squad and we made the UEFA Cup quarter-finals – although we got battered by Bayern Munich’ Colin Cooper on his City Ground memories
EXCLUSIVE The two-time England international played his best football at Forest
'My birthday was one day before the League Cup final, I thought Steve McClaren might put me on the bench, but I wasn't even in the squad' Former Middlesbrough man reveals bitter taste left by cup triumph
Middlesbrough's 2004 Carling Cup triumph was a monumental victory for Teesside and head coach Steve McClaren, but not everybody was as happy as the former Manchester United assistant
'It was like being in Big Brother, you never felt comfortable, it was a bit of an issue for us': The inside story of Sunderland, Netflix and the streaming drama that ended happily ever after
LONG READ After a fall captured in all its miserable detail by Sunderland ’Til I Die, the Black Cats are back in the top tier – FFT looks back on an epic journey, aided by the documentary’s stars
‘Newcastle’s board said I was over the hill, so I left and played 108 consecutive games and won the European Cup – not a bad way to answer that accusation!’: Ex-Magpies defender reflects on career highlight after proving former side wrong
EXCLUSIVE Newcastle made a mistake in letting a defender go at just 31, who then went onto win the European Cup at 35
‘It was a mistake to become Manchester City boss – I should have taken six months off. It wasn’t a very nice club at the time, and I didn’t do a particularly good job’: Former Premier League manager reflects on making wrong career decision
Manchester City have enjoyed great success in recent years, but one former manager regrets ever being the boss at the club
‘I grew up admiring Wenger, I love watching Pep’s teams and I rate De Zerbi, but I like any coach whose team has an identity – it’s vital at an English club’: Sunderland manager lays out coaching philosophy
Sunderland are doing well in the Championship this season, and their manager Regis Le Bris has highlighted why it's worked well so far
‘Even though Kevin Keegan was my boyhood hero, we never really saw eye-to-eye. That was an underwhelming time for me – I felt on the outside’: Newcastle cult hero reveals disappointment over how things went under King Kev
Newcastle United reappointed Kevin Keegan as manager in January 2008 - but one boyhood fan didn't quite enjoy his return as much as expected
‘Early on, Shearer was quite rightly the main man, but being backup really grinded on me as the years wore on – I hated the role’: Newcastle United cult hero reveals annoyance at never being considered good enough for No.9 role at St. James' Park
Newcastle United were blessed with Alan Shearer's goals in the 1990s and 2000s, but one former Magpie believes they still deserved more than secondary status at the club
‘That’s an easy one’ Lee Clark tells FourFourTwo who is the better player - him or his son Bobby Clark
Lee Clark made 184 appearances in the Premier League, while son Bobby has just signed a five-year contract with a Champions League club at 19
‘I found it difficult, disappointment was my overriding emotion’ Lee Clark explains why he was one of the only Geordies who wasn’t celebrating Kevin Keegan’s arrival as Newcastle United manager in 1992
East End lad Lee Clark grew up watching Kevin Keegan earn hero status as a player at St. James’ Park, so why wasn’t he excited to play under him?
‘It’s something I wish had never happened, I realise you cannot bite the hand that feeds, and I understood the ramifications of what I did’ Lee Clark on the career regret that still haunts him
EXCLUSIVE He has since issued a heartfelt apology, but of the three clubs Lee Clark played for, only two welcome him back with open arms
Ex-Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given tells FFT major medal 'doesn't mean a lot'
Given enjoyed the greatest success of his career with Man City – although it wasn't as enjoyable as it could have been...
Roy Keane “must regret” walking out on Ireland at 2002 World Cup – Shay Given
Shay Given has told FFT that he wonders what could have been if Roy Keane hadn't left the Republic of Ireland squad 21 years ago...
Newcastle United's long-serving physio on the 'volcano' that was the takeover and Eddie Howe's Keegan-like arrival
He worked for 38 years at the club and served 32 different managers, but Eddie Howe's arrival and the takeover were unique moments
Former England youth manager believes homegrown coaches don’t get a fair chance in England
U20 World Cup-winning England boss suggests other countries have more faith in homegrown coaches than England does in theirs
Neil Lennon Interview: Old Firm rivalry never diminishes – but it does go too far
The former Celtic boss on touchline bust-ups with Ally McCoist, the Bhoys' doomed 10-in-a-row season, 'headbutting' Alan Shearer's boot and the time he told Ronaldinho he 'wasn't very good'
