Michael Yokhin
Latest articles by Michael Yokhin
FourFourTwo’s 100 Best Teenagers in the World 2017: No.7, Douglas Luiz
By Michael Yokhin published
100 Best Teenagers He's currently plying his trade on loan at Girona, but Douglas Luiz is being watched closely by parent club Manchester City – who have high hopes indeed for the Brazilian
8 intriguing things to look out for in football this weekend
By Michael Yokhin last updated
Premier League Three fierce derbies, an in-form goalkeeper, an under-pressure goalkeeper and a Celtic legend's last stand all feature in Michael Yokhin's preview
Rubin Kazan: The former Barça slayers who could get a pummelling from Liverpool
By Michael Yokhin published
Rubin Kazan' The Russian side have been European competitors for six seasons now, but they're a shadow of their former selves, writes Michael Yokhin...
Introducing Kepa Arrizabalaga: Chelsea’s world-record goalkeeper with magnificent reflexes – but still a lot to learn
By Michael Yokhin published
Kepa Arrizabalaga Revuelta Chelsea have gambled on the potential of a 23-year-old Spain international who, like David de Gea before him, may take time to adjust to the Premier League, writes Michael Yokhin
Sead Kolasinac to Arsenal: Meet the "nasty" defender who flourished in 2016/17
By Michael Yokhin published
Sead Kolasinac Michael Yokhin provides the lowdown on the Emirates Stadium-bound full-back
How the world fell back in love with Borussia Dortmund – and what awaits Tottenham
By Michael Yokhin published
Borussia Dortmund The Bundesliga leaders have thrilled the continent this season under Lucien Favre, and now meet Spurs in a standout last-16 tussle. Michael Yokhin charts the mighty comeback of BVB
The 8 big stories to look out for in football this weekend
By Michael Yokhin published
FourFourTwo The Dennis Wise derby, a “new Kaka” seeking to prove himself and the other Ronaldo returning to Barça: it's all going on in Michael Yokhin’s weekly preview
Pep Idol: the Anti-Lobanovsky who inspired a generation – inside and outside Russia
By Michael Yokhin last updated
Spartak Moskva On the 25th anniversary of Konstantin Beskov's exit from Spartak Moscow, Michael Yokhin examines the career and ethos of the coach who confronted Lobanovsky and influenced a generation...
Tiemoue Bakayoko: Meet Chelsea's new general who was straightened out by Makelele
By Michael Yokhin published
Talentspotter Michael Yokhin profiles Monaco's former problem child who the Blues are about to splash £35 million on
Yacine Brahimi: The Arsenal-linked winger who idolises Zidane and plays like Mahrez
By Michael Yokhin published
Talentspotter The Gunners are reportedly interested in the Algeria international, who's angling for a move away from Porto. Michael Yokhin introduces the talented, but occasionally troubled, winger...
10 breakout stars we can't wait to see at World Cup 2018
By Michael Yokhin last updated
World Cup Michael Yokhin picks out a handful of lesser-known gems who could shine in Russia next summer
FourFourTwo's 100 Best Football Players in the World 2017: No.27, Thibaut Courtois
By Michael Yokhin last updated
FFT100 The Chelsea and Belgium net-minder has developed into one of the world's best at Stamford Bridge
FourFourTwo’s 50 Best Football Managers in the World 2016: No.18, Lars Lagerback
By Michael Yokhin last updated
FFT 50 Managers Sweden didn’t know what they’d got until he was gone. After some unappreciated international achievements, the late bloomer duly took Iceland to new heights and helped create Europe’s feel-good story of 2016
FourFourTwo’s 100 Best Teenagers in the World 2017: No.8, Matthijs de Ligt
By Michael Yokhin published
100 Best Teenagers It wasn't all near misses and woe for Ajax last season – in large part thanks to their record-breaking Holland international who's just getting started
8 big stories to look out for in football this weekend
By Michael Yokhin published
FourFourTwo An emotional pitch to Arjen Robben, Serie A's oddest head-to-head and Turkey's madcap league season all feature in Michael Yokhin's weekly review
6 players Real Madrid could sign to get back among Europe’s elite
By Michael Yokhin published
Real Madrid Zinedine Zidane will get huge funds to spend in the summer, after a dismal year at the Bernabeu. But who should he bring in to overhaul an ageing squad?
10 players we're (very) excited to see in the Champions League group stage
By Michael Yokhin published
UEFA Champions League It’s back! Europe’s premier competition kicks off for another instalment this week – and these are the stars we can’t wait to watch
19 teenagers you won't be able to ignore over the next year
By Michael Yokhin published
FFT Wonderkids 2016 Close, but no cigar. Michael Yokhin introduces the next wave of dazzling under-21s raising eyebrows around the globe
How Breel Embolo became one of Europe's hottest prospects – but won't join Man United
By Michael Yokhin last updated
Michael Yokhin takes you through the Cameroon-born Swiss star's rise to prominence - and what fans can expect if their club land the youngster
FourFourTwo’s 100 Best Teenagers in the World 2017: No.2, Kylian Mbappe
By Michael Yokhin published
100 Best Teenagers Has a player ever progressed so quickly? 2016/17 was Mbappe's first full professional campaign – but so good it was that France couldn't ignore him and PSG were happy to shell out €180m to get him
Maccabi Tel Aviv: Israel's Cruyff-led Bayern Munich (with two Tal Ben Haims)
By Michael Yokhin published
Maccabi Tel Aviv Michael Yokhin provides the lowdown on Chelsea's latest Champions League opponents...
Why Napoli's Kalidou Koulibaly will be Europe's most in-demand centre-back this summer
By Michael Yokhin published
Kalidou Koulibaly The dominating defender has been linked almost all of the continent's major clubs at some point, not least Manchester United. So why is the Napoli stopper in such high demand?
Meet Ahmed Musa: Nigeria's speedster set to boost Leicester's Champions League charge
By Michael Yokhin published
Talentspotter The 23-year-old Nigeria international could have joined Ranieri's fantastic Foxes in January, but thank goodness he didn't. The Russian Premier League champion could join the English champions now instead...
FourFourTwo’s 50 Best Football Managers in the World 2016: No.5, Unai Emery
By Michael Yokhin last updated
FFT 50 Managers How does Emery do it every year? Michael Yokhin gives the lowdown on the three successive Europa League wins with Sevilla, following years of success elsewhere in Spain, that earned him a career-defining move to glory-craving PSG
Emanuele Giaccherini: Italy's Sunderland reject with a fascinating backstory
By Michael Yokhin last updated
Emanuele Giaccherini The Black Cats lost patience in his second season and sent him out on loan, but it’s not the first time the Italian has bounced back from adversity. Michael Yokhin tells his intriguing tale…