
Chris Flanagan
Chris joined FourFourTwo in 2015 and has reported from 20 countries, in places as varied as Jerusalem and the Arctic Circle. He's interviewed Pele, Zlatan and Santa Claus (it's a long story), as well as covering the World Cup, Euro 2020 and the Clasico. He previously spent 10 years as a newspaper journalist, and completed the 92 in 2017.
Latest articles by Chris Flanagan

Berlusconi, Balotelli and Boateng are back! How Silvio, Mario and Kevin-Prince are aiming for the top again at Monza
By Chris Flanagan published
Silvio Berlusconi bought AC Milan 35 years ago and turned them into a powerhouse of the European game. Now owner of Monza, the small club standing on the cusp of reaching Serie A for the first time in their history

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

FourFourTwo's Alternative Awards 2020: Masterclass, Disasterclass, Breakthrough, Comeback and Hero of the Year
By Mark White, Ed McCambridge, Chris Flanagan, Conor Pope last updated
Did we miss anything in the mag? Here are some more highs and lows of a rollercoaster 12 months

Fans 1 Chewbacca 0: What it was like to go to a Boxing Day match... with an actual crowd
By Chris Flanagan published
In England’s top four divisions, only three matches welcomed supporters on December 26 - FFT’s Chris Flanagan headed to one of them

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

Finding Jack Charlton: “Seeing him with dementia was very difficult, but it didn’t define him as a person”
By Chris Flanagan published
Touching new film documents the final years of a football legend, and celebrates his success with the Republic of Ireland

What happened to England's "Golden Generation"? How the country's most talented squad never came good
By Chris Flanagan published
England’s world-class crop were tipped to bring home big honours during the 2000s, but fell short when it mattered most

Forget the Premier League: it’s fans of clubs like Harrogate who are being robbed of their moment
By Chris Flanagan published
FFT’s Chris Flanagan went to watch League Two’s newest club, embarking on a strange introduction to life in the EFL

Will Liverpool equal Manchester United's title record this season? What life is like back on the perch
By Chris Flanagan published
Liverpool can draw level with Manchester United on 20 Premier League titles by retaining their crown in 2020/21 – but can they really sustain those stellar standards?

Leeds United's wilderness years: How Marcelo Bielsa helped one of England’s biggest clubs finally rise again
By Chris Flanagan published
Leeds can finally call themselves a Premier League team once more. FFT retraces an extraordinary journey of upsets, angst and unruly ownership with ex-bosses, players and a famously tearful fan

The fall of Bolton Wanderers: How the Trotters reached their lowest ever league position
By Chris Flanagan published
Bolton slipped to new depths on Saturday, after defeat in their opening game in League Two. FourFourTwo was there to see it

Who is Ali Daei? The only man ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo in the all-time international goalscorers list
By Chris Flanagan published
FEATURE Ronaldo will break Ali Daei’s record eventually – but for now, Iran’s king still rules. This is how he made it to No.1

Neutral Champions League venues: When Leeds' Class of '92 punished Stuttgart for a big night in Barcelona
By Chris Flanagan published
Leeds United As the Champions League returns in neutral venues, writes Chris Flanagan looks back at how Leeds' valiant defeat by Stuttgart led to a bizarre play-off match they would never forget

Neil Ruddock: "Virgil van Dijk has been so good - if he played for Manchester City, they'd be champions"
By Chris Flanagan published
Liverpool will find it tougher to retain the Premier League title next season, warns former Reds defender

Dennis Bergkamp exclusive: “I understand why people say I didn’t really mean that Newcastle goal – but I did...”
By Chris Flanagan published
NEW ISSUE The Arsenal legend discusses his famous 2002 strike during an in-depth interview in the new issue of FourFourTwo

Dennis Bergkamp exclusive: “I’d love a return to English football – Arsenal would be ideal”
By Chris Flanagan published
EXCLUSIVE The Gunners great gives an in-depth interview about his career in FFT's new issue – and he's keen for a coaching comeback

Peter Schmeichel exclusive: “Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba are both born leaders - that’s vital for Manchester United”
By Chris Flanagan published
The midfield duo could combine to drive the Red Devils on, says Old Trafford goalkeeping great

Marcus Rashford interview: Why the 2020s are going to belong to the Manchester United forward
By Chris Flanagan published
Exclusive: The 22-year-old is already one of the world's hottest young talents – and he tells FourFourTwo about his designs on the next decade

Before Three Lions: How Baddiel and Skinner’s Fantasy Football defined football in the 1990s
By Chris Flanagan last updated
In 1994, David Baddiel and Frank Skinner launched a television show which quickly outgrew its own name. Soon, they were hosting big name star guests and releasing record-breaking singles. FourFourTwo looks into the wild inside story of Fantasy Football
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