Long Read Features
Latest Long read features

Alisson exclusive: “I know the feeling of winning a Champions League final, and I want to feel it again and again” – FFT meets the Liverpool goalkeeper
By Felipe Rocha published
Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson reveals his goals for this season and how not listening to Jurgen Klopp sometimes pays off

How Atalanta survived a nightmare year to continue their Champions League dream
By Chris Flanagan last updated
The Bergamo region of Italy was one of Europe's worst-hit areas in the first wave of coronavirus – and Atalanta's debut Champions League campaign may have contributed to it

Gianfranco Zola: How the Chelsea legend weaved his magic as English football watched in awe
By Chris Flanagan published
Long before Roman Abramovich’s billions and Jose Mourinho’s opinions, there was a tiny Sardinian who transformed the face of Chelsea forever...

David Ginola interview: “People said I was more focused on modelling and L’Oreal – I wanted to prove them wrong”
By Chris Flanagan last updated
INTERVIEW Former Newcastle and Tottenham star David Ginola arrived in England in 1995 with journalists asking him who he was – then picked up the Player of the Year award aged 32...

Phil Foden: “I was behind the net when Sergio Aguero scored in 2012 - it’s mad to think I play with those players now” - FFT meets the Manchester City starlet
By Chris Flanagan published
FFT INTERVIEW When Pep Guardiola said he wouldn’t need to replace the departing David Silva with a megabucks arrival, he meant it. FFT met Phil Foden last summer - and he told us he was raring to go

When Sven-Goran Eriksson came to England – and braved the xenophobic storm
Posted published
Action Replay When Sven-Goran Eriksson took over as England’s first foreign manager in February 2001, he faced a staggering 'welcome' from high-level officials and gutter-level tabloids. Fifteen years on from his arrival, Steve Anglesey explains why – and what happened next

"As soon as racism affects the money, it will be gone" – Marvin Sordell and Liam Rosenior discuss racism in football
By Joe Brewin last updated
Twitter isn’t the place to find a constructive conversation on the Black Lives Matter movement. Instead, FFT had a frank discussion with Marvin Sordell and Liam Rosenior, ex-pros and now on the FA’s Inclusion Advisory Board

How Diego Maradona almost missed the 1986 World Cup - due to a "Venezuelan madman"
By Chris Flanagan last updated
Diego Maradona's starring role in Argentina's World Cup success almost never happened after a crowd swamping the star got out of control

Diego Maradona, the movie: What the documentary on his time at Napoli teaches us about the life of one of football's greats
By Steve Hill published
Diego Maradona's tale is one of talent, adulation, drugs and the mob – El Diego's incredible time at Napoli is a story of how a legend can grow, and how it affects the person at the centre

Wales v England, poor v "rich" – it's Wrexham vs Chester
By Andy Mitten published
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are about to become Wrexham's new owners, and the first port of call should be learning the local rivalries. Back in 2006, Andy Mitten went undercover in North Wales to meet two unfriendly neighbours...
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