Chris Flanagan

Chris Flanagan

Senior Staff Writer

Chris joined FourFourTwo in 2015 and has reported from more than 20 countries, in places as varied as Ivory Coast and the Arctic Circle. He's interviewed Pele, Zlatan and Santa Claus (it's a long story), as well as covering the World Cup, AFCON and the Clasico. He previously spent 10 years as a newspaper journalist, and completed the 92 in 2017.

Latest articles by Chris Flanagan

Stoke City's Rory Delap prepares to launch his long throw in a game against Hull City.
‘I competed in javelin at county level and cleaned up. I think my personal best was 55 metres when I stopped at 14 or 15 and football took over instead’ Long throw ace Rory Delap on his incredible trademark

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE Stoke legend Rory Delap would secure a place in Premier League folklore history

EXCLUSIVE
James McAtee
‘I remember watching Cole Palmer score in the Community Shield and the Super Cup for the first team, thinking, “Yeah, I want to be doing that as well”’ James McAtee on his time in Man City’s youth system

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE Former Manchester City youth prospect James McAtee had the perfect role model in front of him

EXCLUSIVE
Troy Deeney, Watford
‘I can’t tell you if I actually scored seven, but I was definitely drunk!’ Troy Deeney opens up on the day he was scouted

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The former Watford man has opened up on his eventful rise into professional football

EXCLUSIVE
Stuart Pearce
‘Gordon Banks’ save from Pele inspired me to become a goalkeeper. I only became a defender because the players in front of me were so shabby’ Stuart Pearce on his admiration for the England legend

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE Pearce went down as one of England’s finest-ever left-backs, but it could all have been very different….

EXCLUSIVE
Millie Bright of Chelsea celebrates with the Barclays Women's Super League Trophy following the Barclays Women's Super League Match between Chelsea FC and Liverpool at Stamford Bridge on May 10, 2025 in London, England.
‘I’ll retire at Chelsea, it’s my club, and I adore everyone there. There’s not been a moment where I’ve asked myself if I should leave’ Millie Bright on her love for the Blues

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The Lionesses defender has won eight WSL title with the club since joining in 2014

EXCLUSIVE
Florian Wirtz of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield on August 15, 2025 in Liverpool, England.
‘Liverpool had no-one like Wirtz, and there’s probably been no-one like him since Philippe Coutinho. He’s got amazing bravery and creativity, and he doesn’t mind making mistakes’ Danny Murphy’s surprising assessment of big-money Anfield signings

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The former Reds midfielder has run the rule over this summer’s new arrivals at Anfield

EXCLUSIVE
Troy Deeney
‘I bluffed being Watford captain for two years. For the first game of the season, the armband was on my seat, no-one had said, “You’re going to be captain”’ Troy Deeney on his personal turnaround with the Hornets

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The striker captained Watford to promotion in the 2014/15 campaign

EXCLUSIVE
Alexander Isak signs for Liverpool in a British record transfer from Newcastle
‘I showed my frustration, and the week after I was training with the kids’ Alexander Isak's big Liverpool transfer saga shares parallel with ex-Anfield man

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE Liverpool had to wait until transfer deadline day to get their hands on the £125 million Swedish striker

EXCLUSIVE
Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson celebrates with the Premier League trophy in May 2009.
‘Sack Ruben Amorim and who’s coming in? No-one can give you a name. If you brought prime Sir Alex Ferguson in, he wouldn’t be able to turn it around straight away. The club is rotten from the bottom at the minute’ Manchester United legend airs frustration

By Chris Flanagan Published

After beginning a new podcast, Class of 92 star speaks to FFT about his concerns over the state of affairs at Old Trafford

Stories
Paul Scholes has worked as a pundit since his retirement in 2013
‘I don’t like speaking about sacking managers, but Ruben Amorim could have been fired by Manchester United and we’d have said it’s about time – he’s had everything he needs, he’s not winning enough games to warrant doing the job' Paul Scholes exclusive

By Chris Flanagan Published

With his new podcast underway, the legend speaks to FFT about the current Red Devils side, and the struggles of their manager

3 Comments
Stories
Millie Bright celebrates
‘Winning Euro 2022 was by far the best day of my career to date – but winning the Champions League at Chelsea will top it’ Millie Bright on her next major goal

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The Blues defender has won the WSL eight times and conquered Europe with the Lionesses

EXCLUSIVE
Pearce
‘We beat Spain on the Saturday and went to see the Sex Pistols on Sunday. It was brilliant for me, but for Gareth Southgate I’m not so sure!’ Stuart Pearce recalls the time punk rock and Euro 96 collided

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The former England left-back is a huge punk fan

EXCLUSIVE
Florian Wirtz of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool and Bournemouth at Anfield on August 15, 2025 in Liverpool, England.
‘I like the fact that Liverpool have numbers and options. They’re going to play 60 matches if they go far in all competitions, so the number of people who can turn a game will be key’ Steve McManaman on Liverpool’s depth

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The former Reds winger has also given his early verdict on Florian Wirtz

EXCLUSIVE
Stan Collymore applauds the fans during a match between his former club Nottingham Forest and Everton in 2023.
‘Nottingham Forest won’t remain in a relegation battle, their squad is too good’ City Ground legend Stan Collymore backs his old club to climb Premier League table, despite Ange Postecoglou concerns

By Chris Flanagan Published

Nottingham Forest have started the season slowly, amid reservations about their new manager's defensive record

Stories
Ally McCoist playing for Rangers in 1992
Ally McCoist Tells FourFourTwo the Four People He Admires Most

By Chris Flanagan Published

The former Rangers and Scotland striker reveals the people that he looks up to more than anyone

Interviews
Three match officials in black uniforms stand on a football pitch, preparing to officiate an under-19s fixture at the University of Warwick.
'Have you ever played the game, ref?' FourFourTwo travels to Warwick to meet the 10 former footballers aiming to make it as match officials

By Chris Flanagan Published

They have, if you must know – via a World Cup and a stint as a US Open golf caddy…

Stories
Troy Deeney celebrates a goal for Watford against Birmingham in February 2013.
‘If I didn’t go to jail, I would have been dead. It was like a hard reset for me – I had to sit for 13 weeks in jail and figure out who I was’ Troy Deeney on turning his life around following his prison spell

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The former Watford striker was sentenced to ten months’ imprisonment in 2012

EXCLUSIVE
Millie Bright on the pitch for England
‘I was at home watching all the Lionesses games – I did a lot of pacing up and down the living room, and a lot of shouting at the screen!’ Millie Bright on what it was like to watch England’s Euro 2025 success

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE Millie Bright ruled herself out of selection from the Lionesses squad shortly before their Euro 2025 tilt

EXCLUSIVE
Chelsea celebrate with the trophy after winning the 2012 Champions League final against Bayern Munich
‘I used the disappointment of the 2008 Champions League Final to fuel me again in 2012. That was the last chance for the likes of JT, Lamps, Petr Cech and Drogba. It had become an obsession’ John Obi Mikel on Chelsea’s historic European title

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE Chelsea clinched their first Champions League title when they defeated Bayern Munich in the 2012 final

EXCLUSIVE
John Obi Mikel
‘I knew exactly what I’d done – I had made a massive mistake. When Chelsea saw what had happened, they were furious’ John Obi Mikel opens up on transfer tug of war

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The Nigerian international was the subject of a battle between Manchester United and Chelsea

EXCLUSIVE
England manager Gareth Southgate celebrates after his side's Euro 2024 semi-final win over the Netherlands.
‘For Gareth Southgate to go from player to manager at such a young age, then arguably become England men’s most successful manager, my admiration for him is massive’ David James on his respect for the ex-England boss

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE James was a teammate of Soutgate for both club and country

EXCLUSIVE
Champions League trophy
Everything you need to know about the new Champions League format following the league stage draw

By Steven Chicken Last updated

Europe’s biggest club competition has become even bigger – FFT explains what to look out for in the revamped format

Stories
Arsenal Women
‘No-one would have thought Arsenal could have won the Champions League, and they did it. They proved their character - they were resilient and hard to beat’ Rachel Yankey on Arsenal’s WSL hopes

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The Gunners will be hoping to end London rivals Chelsea’s recent WSL domination

EXCLUSIVE
Aberdeen manager Alex Ferguson poses with the Scottish Premier Division and Scottish Cup trophies in August 1984.
‘That game is still the last time that Real Madrid lost a major European final. We were led by Sir Alex Ferguson, arguably the best manager of all time, who just scared you into winning!’ Gordon Strachan on Aberdeen’s iconic 1983 Cup Winners’ Cup victory

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The Dons saw off Real Madrid in the 1983 Cup Winners' Cup final

EXCLUSIVE
null
‘Mourinho had to put me in my place very quickly. He sent me to the academy, then brought me back when I was ready to know I was in the big boys’ league’ John Obi Mikel recalls his early Chelsea learning curve

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The Nigerian international was the subject of a controversial transfer to Chelsea in 2006

EXCLUSIVE
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Archives

Other versions of this page are available with specific content for the following regions: