Ian Murtagh

Latest articles by Ian Murtagh

Alan Pardew opens up on Crystal Palace’s 1990 FA Cup semi-final upset over Liverpool

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The Eagles soared into the FA Cup in 1990, dispatching an all-conquering Liverpool side in the semi-final

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Pardew: "Meyler headbutt cost me financially and professionally"

By Steven Chicken Published

EXCLUSIVE The then-Newcastle United boss stuck his head into the face of Hull City's David Meyler and received a seven-game ban

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"Newcastle fans didn’t appreciate me - it led to a toxic atmosphere"

By Steven Chicken Published

EXCLUSIVE Alan Pardew spent four years as Newcastle United manager and won two manager of the year awards - but some were never convinced

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"Jermain Defoe and David James made it clear they didn’t want to be there - so I recruited hungry youngsters instead" Alan Pardew reflects on three finals in three years at West Ham

By Steven Chicken Published

EXCLUSIVE Alan Pardew took over West Ham United in the second tier back in 2003 and had to overcome some hurdles when he arrived

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‘Paolo Di Canio banished me from the Sunderland training ground, but Gus Poyet wiped the slate clean’ Phil Bardsley on his Black Cats resurgence

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The defender would go on to make more than 200 appearances for Sunderland

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‘I have no recollection of doing a dad dance celebration at Stamford Bridge…’ Bolo Zenden on his legendary Sunderland celebration

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The Dutchman’s final stop of his career came with the Black Cats and included one memorable moment

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‘Steve Bruce was getting stuck into the moshpit at an Oasis gig – that’s when someone put a bucket hat on him’ Phil Bardsley on a Gallagher brothers-inspired Manchester United reunion

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE It wasn’t just Noel and Liam who got back together last summer...

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‘How often do you get the chance to win a club’s first-ever trophy? That was a very special day’ Bolo Zenden on what it meant to fire Middlesbrough to their first-ever trophy

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The Dutchman scored the decisive goal when Boro beat Bolton in the 2004 League Cup final

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‘Sunderland were going places under Roy Keane, but when the results dipped, he was off’ Phil Bardsley on his former Man United team-mate’s Black Cats managerial stint

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The former Republic of Ireland skipper entered the world of management with the Black Cats in 2006

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‘The 2007 Champions League Final was a missed opportunity for Liverpool. That Milan defeat still hurts me today’ Bolo Zenden on his huge Anfield regret

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE Liverpool came up short against Milan in the 2007 Champions League final, two years after the Miracle of Istanbul

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‘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

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE Carver was assistant to the former England boss at Newcastle United

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‘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

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The former Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough stalwart won two England caps in 1995

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'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

By Chris Nee Published

Colin Todd worked with Brian Clough at Sunderland, Derby County and Nottingham Forest

Coaches & Managers
‘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

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The two-time England international played his best football at Forest

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'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

By Joe Donnohue Published

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

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'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

By Ed McCambridge Published

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

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MUNICH, GERMANY - MAY 30: Nottingham Forest captain John McGovern lifts the trophy as team mates Larry Lloyd (c) and Frank Clark (r) look on after the 1979 European Cup Final between Nottingham Forest and Malmo at the Olympic Stadium on May 30, 1979 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Allsport/Getty Images)
‘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

By Ryan Dabbs Published

EXCLUSIVE Newcastle made a mistake in letting a defender go at just 31, who then went onto win the European Cup at 35

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SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - March 2: Frank Clark Manager of Nottingham Forest on the side line during the Premier League match between Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough on March 2, 1996 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Graham Whitby Boot/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images) Manchester City
‘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

By Ryan Dabbs Published

Manchester City have enjoyed great success in recent years, but one former manager regrets ever being the boss at the club

Coaches & Managers
SUNDERLAND, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 7: Sunderland head coach Regis Le Bris during the Sky Bet Championship match between Sunderland AFC and Stoke City FC at Stadium of Light on December 7, 2024 in Sunderland, England. (Photo by Ian Horrocks/Sunderland AFC via Getty Images)
‘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

By Ryan Dabbs Published

Sunderland are doing well in the Championship this season, and their manager Regis Le Bris has highlighted why it's worked well so far

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‘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

By Ryan Dabbs Published

Newcastle United reappointed Kevin Keegan as manager in January 2008 - but one boyhood fan didn't quite enjoy his return as much as expected

Coaches & Managers
NEWCASTLE, UNITED KINGDOM: Newcastle's Alan Shearer (R) celebrates with Shola Ameobi (L) and Laurent Robert (C) after scoring against SC Heerenveen to make it 2-0 during their UEFA Cup football match at St James' Park in Newcastle, 24 February 2005. AFP PHOTO Paul Barker (Photo credit should read PAUL BARKER/AFP via Getty Images)
‘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

By Ryan Dabbs Published

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

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‘That’s an easy one’ Lee Clark tells FourFourTwo who is the better player - him or his son Bobby Clark

By Matthew Ketchell Published

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

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‘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

By Matthew Ketchell Published

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?

Coaches & Managers
‘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

By Matthew Ketchell Published

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

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NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 19: Former Newcastle United and Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given looks on during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Everton FC at St. James Park on October 19, 2022 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
Ex-Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given tells FFT major medal 'doesn't mean a lot'

By Tom Hancock Published

Given enjoyed the greatest success of his career with Man City – although it wasn't as enjoyable as it could have been...

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