Long Read Features

Ajax In 2011, we visited Holland to see what’s so special about the Dutch giants’ famous system – and took a peek at their fancy new digs

FourFourTwo It’s not just banter – instant messaging has changed players’ habits and killed the deadline-day fax. But is it all good news?

Action Replay City may now be a slick footballing juggernaut and among the favourites for the game’s biggest honours this season, but two decades ago they were slumming it in the third tier – and could have sunk even lower

Action Replay In 1992, a group of TV execs came up with an idea as brilliant as it was simple: get players from all 92 league clubs to sprint for the right to call themselves the game’s fastest (and win a new telly)

Between The Lines Bruce Grobbelaar won the lot with Liverpool, but only after fighting in the Rhodesian Bush War as a teenager. He shares his remarkable story – and how the harrowing experience helped him to stand up to King Kenny

PSG The legendary net-minder opens up about the perils of social media, transfer fees and being the last of the ‘proper’ stoppers. Gather round, children...

Inter Milan For a generation of fans, Adriano’s stats on Pro Evo 6 summed up the limitless potential of Ronaldo’s heir. Instead, The Emperor’s reign was ended by an incredible cocktail of injury, tragedy... and an AK47 made of gold

The Big Interview What’s life like for a footballer in prison? How close was he to joining Real Madrid? And, come on: is he really a porn star? Your questions answered in December 2018…

Burnley Social media may be rife with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo fanboys, but one youngster has dedicated his life – and bank balance – to following the fortunes of a less high-profile footballer