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

David Beckham and Gary Neville are back together having taken over at a League Two side
‘There’s a lot to do and not a lot of time to do it in, but we’re committed and that’s the most important thing’ Gary Neville on seeing Wrexham leapfrog Salford City

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE After four promotions in five years, the Class of ’92-backed Salford City have spent six seasons in League Two

EXCLUSIVE
Gary Neville
‘It’s the greatest thing I’ve ever done. The Class of ’92 were born out of people believing in, teaching and mentoring us, showing us the right standards’ Gary Neville on how his own university is helping the next generation

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The former full-back and his Class of ’92 pals are teaching students about the business of football, including data analysis and player recruitment

EXCLUSIVE
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He's done it six times – Billy Sharp's guide to promotion

By Chris Flanagan Published

Need your club to go up in 25-26? Veteran EFL striker Billy Sharp has done it six times and offers FourFourTwo a seven-point plan outlining exactly how it’s done

Interviews
‘If Luis Diaz wanted to leave Liverpool for Barcelona, I’d say “Fine, I get it.” When it’s Bayern Munich, I think ‘Why?’ But South American players do sometimes leave for more money’ Former Reds star surprised by winger’s possible move to Germany

By Chris Flanagan Published

In an exclusive interview, an ex-Anfield ace explains why Diaz's likely transfer to the Bundesliga has raised eyebrows

Stories
Dimitar Berbatov celebrates after scoring his third goal for Manchester United against Liverpool at Old Trafford in September 2010.
‘I hope I entertained people. I know I did. When someone watches my clips back, I want them to see poetry in motion – how you dance with the ball’ Dimitar Berbatov addresses his place in football history

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The former Manchester United and Tottenham forward was one of the most talented players of his generation

EXCLUSIVE
Neil Ruddock
‘I was marking Ian Wright and kicked him all round Wembley, which I loved. We were later West Ham room-mates – he’d beat me up in the middle of the night!” Neil Ruddock on the 1993 FA Cup semi-final

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE ‘Razor’ Ruddock loved a battle and a north London derby at Wembley was the perfect stage to lock horns with the former England striker

EXCLUSIVE
Neil Ruddock
“Everyone was leaving Anfield and ran back in after my magnificent header. People ask, ‘Do you remember that goal you scored?’ As if I scored millions!” Neil Ruddock on his favourite-ever game

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE Ruddock was known as a hard man, but had a knack for scoring useful goals during his career

EXCLUSIVE
Dimitar Berbatov
‘That’s how I thought the game should be played, with great assists and goals. If you have improvisation without the end result, you need to go to the circus’ Dimitar Berbatov reflects on his playing style

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The former Tottenham and Manchester United man had a distinct manner on the pitch

EXCLUSIVE
Eberechi Eze
‘Eberechi Eze could be Tottenham Hotspur’s Eric Cantona – he could become the main man at the club’ Spurs legend explains why Crystal Palace star would be a perfect fit

By Chris Flanagan Published

Former Tottenham forward backs Eagles ace to make huge impact if he makes the switch to the Europa League winners

Stories
Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak is arguable the best number nine in Europe
‘Arsenal should break the bank for Alexander Isak from Newcastle – in recent years, they haven’t wanted the Premier League badly enough’ Former Gunners star explains what they need to do to finally bag the title

By Chris Flanagan Published

Ex-defender outlines why his former club have to push the boat out if they really want to become champions

Stories
Tottenham captain Heung-min Son has struggled to stay fit all season
‘I'd let Son Heung-min leave – he’s a legend, but the Premier League is too quick for him now. In the Europa League final, his legs were gone. It happens to everyone eventually’ Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder tells FFT why he’d accept bid for star

By Chris Flanagan Published

In an exclusive interview, ex-White Hart Lane pro gives his thoughts on South Korean’s potential exit

Stories
Emms’ mother Janice (circled) at the 1971 World Cup
“The whole family were Arsenal fans, but my mum said, ‘I’m supporting Spurs to piss them off!’ She was a striker and modelled herself on Jimmy Greaves” Badminton star Gail Emms on her Lioness star mum’s love for football

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE Olympic medal-winning badminton star Gail Emms has written a book about her Lioness mother and the rest of the 1971 World Cup team

EXCLUSIVE
Rachel Yankey
‘I had to pretend to be a boy to play football – there still aren’t enough inner city girls coming through and getting opportunities’ Arsenal and Lionesses legend unveils plan to break down barriers in women's game

By Chris Flanagan Published

In an exclusive interview with FourFourTwo, Rachel Yankey explains why she's launched a new foundation to help youngsters

Stories
Stan Collymore Forest
‘A vastly underrated centre-back who didn’t get near an England squad – he was uncompromising, read the game incredibly well and was a tidy footballer’ Stan Collymore on the best Nottingham Forest players he played alongside

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE Stan Collymores Perfect XI features a host of Nottingham Forest stars

EXCLUSIVE
Club World Cup 2025: Every group in focus

By Chris Flanagan Published

A guide to every group at the Club World Cup 2025, to get you up to speed with the tournament

Lists
David James
‘Players are being flogged. If I were Manchester City, I’d declare my entire first team injured and send the youth team to the Club World Cup. I think it’s a joke’ David James warns FIFA over burnout risk

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE The newly expanded Club World Cup will see 32 teams compete in the USA over the next month

EXCLUSIVE
Todd Boehly
‘Winning the Club World Cup would be massive for Chelsea, and not just for the trophy – £100m in prize money would help them against other Premier League clubs’ Former Blues star explains why tournament could turbo-charge their progress

By Chris Flanagan Published

In an exclusive interview with FFT, ex-Chelsea midfielder breaks down why this summer's event could be so important

Stories
Germany Euro 2024 squad Florian Wirtz of Germany plays the ball during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Switzerland and Germany at Frankfurt Arena on June 23, 2024 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.(Photo by Jürgen Fromme - firo sportphoto/Getty Images)
‘Florian Wirtz’s arrival will allow Mo Salah to change his role as he gets older – it’ll be fascinating to see how Arne Slot uses him’ Former Liverpool forward discusses potential new boy’s place in starting line-up... and who he could oust from it

By Chris Flanagan Published

In an exclusive interview with FFT, ex-Anfield star assesses how German international could fit into the club's title-winning team

Stories
Gary Neville
Gary Neville exclusive: Manchester United legend reveals ‘greatest thing I’ve ever done’... and it might not be what you expect

By Chris Flanagan Published

The Sky Sports pundit's proudest achievement had nothing to do with football – until now

Stories
England goalkeeper David Seaman at Euro 96
“I never faced anybody that had what I call ‘disguised power’ as much as him. I saved his free-kicks in training and felt the ball almost forcing my hands open” David Seaman on David Beckham’s hidden attributes

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE Davids Beckham and Seaman shared a pitch 37 times as England players

EXCLUSIVE
Argentina's Diego Simeone and England's David Beckham clash at the 1998 World Cup.
‘The abuse was disgusting. It was quite amazing how he came through that and became a better footballer. That period could have broken him, no doubt’ Teddy Sheringham on David Beckham’s redemption arc

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE Beckham’s World Cup 1998 red card threatened to derail the career of the future England skipper

EXCLUSIVE
Steven Gerrard and his Liverpool team-mates celebrate with the European Cup after beating AC Milan on penalties in Istanbul in 2005.
‘I respect Rafa as a coach for giving me my opportunity at Liverpool and what he did for the club, but there’s still a lack of respect as a man – it made me fall out of love with the club’: Ex-Liverpool man makes heartbreaking Istanbul admission

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE One of Liverpool’s greatest nights proved to be a bittersweet occasion for one of their homegrown stars

EXCLUSIVE
Manchester United's David Beckham celebrates after scoring his famous goal from the halfway line against Wimbledon, August 1996
“When he hit it, I thought, ‘You cheeky bastard’. The ball was in the air and I was thinking, ‘The gaffer’s going to kill him’. But it was floating and floating…” Gary Pallister’s reaction to David Beckham’s half-way line goal

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE David Beckham cemented his place as one of the Premier League’s best youngsters at the start of the 1996/97 campaign with an audacious goal

EXCLUSIVE
David Beckham celebrates after scoring his famous free-kick for England against Greece in the 2002 World Cup qualifying match at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, October 2001.
“As captain, he wasn’t the loudest, he didn’t bark at you, but you’d watch him and think, ‘I need to work harder’. His energy against Greece was ridiculous” Emile Heskey on David Beckham’s leadership

By Joe Mewis Published

EXCLUSIVE Beckham led by example as England skipper, with his iconic 2001 performance against Greece perfectly encapsulating his captaincy style

EXCLUSIVE
Billy Sharp
'I still love Sheffield United, but I’ve never seen the club score a goal in a play-off final – I hope it’s promotion this time, and my kids don’t have to experience what I did' Billy Sharp exclusive with FourFourTwo

By Chris Flanagan Published

Former Blades striker is praying that his boyhood team can finally end an unwanted record when they face Sunderland

Stories
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