Marcus Alves
Marcus Alves is a freelance journalist based in Lisbon and has written for FourFourTwo since 2012. He can also be found at BBC Sport, the Telegraph, Kicker and Yahoo. A former ESPN reporter, he covered 12 games in 15 days during the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, but can barely remember any of them. He blames cachaça for that.
Latest articles by Marcus Alves
The footballer who could bring war to a standstill: remembering Pele
By Marcus Alves last updated
LEGEND Football's most iconic player, revered from South America to Europe, from the USA to Africa, Pele was the player above all others who made the World Cup the tournament it is today
Maniche's Perfect XI: Frank Lampard and Deco are in – but Didier Drogba and Sergio Aguero only good enough for the bench
By Marcus Alves published
PERFECT XI Maniche, formerly of Portugal and Chelsea, picks the best team he ever played with
Fabio Silva interview: "We expect a return to the days when teams feared playing Wolves"
By Marcus Alves published
Fabio Silva probably wasn't expecting to play such a full part in his first Wolves season, but injury to Raul Jimenez forced the teenager to grow up quickly. Now, as he tells FourFourTwo, the Portuguese forward is relishing showing the Premier League what he can do...
Ricardo Carvalho answers YOUR questions: "Jose Mourinho doesn’t accept losses very well. We knew how difficult it was for to live with him after a defeat"
By Marcus Alves published
Ricardo Carvalho was Jose Mourinho's most trusted defender at Porto, Chelsea and Real Madrid, but the Portuguese pair didn't always see eye to eye. Carvalho reflects on a trophy-laden career by answering FFT readers' toughest posers...
Euro 2020: Should Cristiano Ronaldo be in Portugal's starting XI?
By Marcus Alves last updated
Cristiano Ronaldo may be on the verge of international immortality for Portugal, but not everyone thinks the 36-year-old should be in Fernando Santos’ team this summer. Here’s why they’re uttering the unthinkable back home...
Diogo Jota exclusive: "Ronaldo was my idol. When I made my Portugal debut, I came on for him - it was so special"
By Marcus Alves last updated
After a dazzling debut season at Liverpool, Diogo Jota is ready to shine for Portugal this summer. As he tells FFT, though, even he took some convincing from his super agent when it came to his unconventional journey to the top
Bruno Fernandes's remarkable story – the Manchester United star's rise, told by those who know him
By Marcus Alves published
A plucky disagreement with dad changed the course of his life forever, but such burning ambition has already made Bruno Fernandes a United hero. Taking in Italian escapades and lunacy in Lisbon, this is his remarkable story so far
Why Brazilians love Barcelona – and clubs like Liverpool will always get dumped en route
By Marcus Alves published
Philippe Coutinho Philippe Coutinho is desperate to leave Anfield for the Camp Nou – but he’s far from the first Premier League player to crave a move to one of Spain’s Big Two. Marcus Alves explains an ingrained fascination
Why nobody wants to sign Alexandre Pato
By Marcus Alves published
Alexandre Pato The Brazilian striker is desperate for a Premier League move – and so are his own club Corinthians – but Marcus Alves says things have never been simple for the former teenage prodigy…
Douglas Costa: I can achieve everything I want at Chelsea – Mourinho is the best
By Marcus Alves published
Douglas Costa The Blues and Manchester United made offers for Shakhtar Donetsk's Brazilian schemer in January, says the man himself, who tells Marcus Alves the Premier League is the only destination on his mind...
Marquinhos: I might have played for Portugal, but I'm not looking to England yet
By Marcus Alves published
Marquinhos Marquinhos talks to FourFourTwo's Marcus Alves about height, switching nationality, and the debt he owes to Makelele...
Filipe Luis: How to train for pre-season
By Marcus Alves last updated
Filipe Luis The Atletico Madrid defender tells you to put in the hard yards this summer or risk paying the price next season
FourFourTwo’s 50 Best Football Managers in the World 2017: No.18, Marcelo Gallardo
By Marcus Alves last updated
FFT 50 Managers It’s not been a smooth year for the man labelled the Guardiola of South America (quite apt, then), but Gallardo’s achievements still mark him out as special
Why Lucas Moura is hitting headlines in Brazil – for the wrong reasons
By Marcus Alves published
Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham’s in-form forward has enjoyed a fine start to the season in north London, but controversial opinions on social media have landed badly in his home nation, writes Marcus Alves
Bernard on Dinho, Big Phil, Japan and London
By Marcus Alves last updated
Bernard Shakhtar's 21-year-old mini-marvel talks to FourFourTwo about his past, present and future...
Everything you need to know about Chelsea new kid Nathan
By Marcus Alves last updated
Talentspotter A contract dispute means the ex-Atletico Paranaense man has hardly played, but the young Brazilian's early flashes have been promising, writes Marcus Alves...
Lucas Piazon: Talentspotter
By Marcus Alves last updated
Talentspotter "I would be a sea animal. Maybe a dolphin, always on the beach, not worrying about anything, enjoying the good life..."
Edu at Arsenal: why Brazil’s general manager arrives with baggage in north London
By Marcus Alves published
Arsenal The former midfielder has agreed to return to north London – but what can Gunners expect from their new (old) man?
Do footballers make good scouts?
By Marcus Alves last updated
Manchester City Do footballers make good scouts? FFT spoke to former Chelsea defender and West Ham scout Emerson Thome about the transition from playing to unearthing talent.
Willian: All I want is to forget about this season – but Jose's not the only one to blame
By Marcus Alves published
Willian Marcus Alves chats to the Blues' Brazilian to reflect on what has been a shocking campaign for his club, but an impressive one on a personal level…
The 10 best South American teenagers in Football Manager 2018
By Marcus Alves last updated
100 Best Teenagers Looking for some bright young things to lead your future in FM 2018? Marcus Alves runs down the finest U20 players from South America, all featured in our list of the 100 best teenagers in the world
How Brazil rediscovered their mojo, via Coutinho, Tite and some unlikely helpers
By Marcus Alves published
Brazil That 7-1 crushing by Germany is long gone: Brazil are the first team to qualify for the 2018 World Cup, and are No.1 in the FIFA rankings for the first time in seven years. Marcus Alves explains why they’re a side transformed
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