Martin Mazur
Latest articles by Martin Mazur

World Cup icons: How fishing helped Mario Kempes return home to triumph for a broken Argentina (1978)
By Martin Mazur published
World Cup 1978 Argentina's 1978 World Cup win was played out on a backdrop of military terror, but their star striker and his team-mates fought – and angled – their way to victory amid the horror

The big interview: Javier Zanetti – "The free-kick against England? We'd practised it for four years!"
By Martin Mazur published
The Big Interview How did Mourinho transform Inter? Is he still fuming about Calciopoli? Why has he never changed his haircut? Martin Mazur poses your questions to Inter icon Javier Zanetti

Interview, Nelson Vivas: From Arsenal "kicking machine" to Estudiantes gaffer – and a lot more in between
By Martin Mazur published
Nelson Vivas Argentina vs England at France 98, Di Canio’s infamous shove, Wenger’s revolution, the rise of Simeone... like a fighty, footballing Forrest Gump, the former right-back has been history’s witness

FourFourTwo’s Best 100 Football Players in the World 2016: No.2 – Lionel Messi
By Martin Mazur published
FFT100 Martin Mazur casts an eye over the Argentine's year for club and country…

FourFourTwo’s 50 Best Football Managers in the World 2016: No.1, Diego Simeone
By Martin Mazur published
FFT 50 Managers “He is to Atletico Madrid what Steve Jobs was for Apple,” writes Martin Mazur. And how can you argue with that? Year after year, the Argentine achieves above expectations – and this is his overdue recognition

FourFourTwo’s 50 Best Football Managers in the World 2016: No.15, Edgardo Bauza
By Martin Mazur published
FFT 50 Managers Having made history by steering Sao Paulo to the Copa Libertadores semi-finals in difficult circumstances, the highly commended 58-year-old is now a serious candidate for Argentina’s top job

FourFourTwo’s 50 Best Football Managers in the World 2016: No.20, Marcelo Gallardo
By Martin Mazur published
FFT 50 Managers The former River hero has been leading their revival since 2014, and added the Copa Libertadores last year to his growing collection. But now the real work is about to begin, says Martin Mazur

Lionel Messi has never had it easy for Argentina – but quitting now is the biggest blot
By Martin Mazur published
Lionel Messi Will he really call it a day for the Albiceleste? Martin Mazur tracks the international career of a national icon

FourFourTwo’s 100 Best Football Stadiums in the World: No.1
By Martin Mazur published
100 Best Stadiums Unusually shaped, built to bounce with the fans and doomed if it doesn’t change soon, La Bombonera is our No.1. Martin Mazur explains why...

FourFourTwo’s 100 Best Football Stadiums in the World: No.4
By Martin Mazur published
100 Best Stadiums It’s enormous, it’s world famous and it’s seen the best players ever have their finest hours. Martin Mazur muses on a Mexican marvel...

FourFourTwo’s 100 Best Football Stadiums in the World: No.6
By Martin Mazur published
100 Best Stadiums Built quickly and not brilliantly, the site of Brazilian disasters metaphorical and actual, the Maracana has nevertheless become one of football’s most widely-adored stadiums. Martin Mazur tells the story.

Jose Luis Chilavert: 'The ref was in my way, but luckily he moved - it could have knocked him out!'
By Martin Mazur published
Great Goals Retold On his 50th birthday, FFT pays homage to the goalscoring goalkeeper who recalls his long-distance effort against River Plate in 1996...

The smoke-selling firefighter performing miracles in Argentina
By Martin Mazur published
FFT 50 Managers Multiply the savvy of Tony Pulis by the self-aware humour of Ian Holloway. You're still nowhere near the benign circus master that is Ricardo Caruso Lombardi...

FourFourTwo's 50 Best Football Managers in the World 2015: No.4
By Martin Mazur published
FFT 50 Managers Atletico's Argentinean maestro goes under Martin Mazur's microscope...

The making of Alexis Sanchez, by those who helped him achieve greatness
By Martin Mazur published
Alexis Sánchez With fire in his belly and thunder in his boots, Alexis Sanchez’s journey from remotest Chile to the bright lights of London has been remarkable. Martin Mazur asks his teachers, friends and coaches how a media-shy homeboy became the main man

Idle idol, divinely divisive, combative conundrum: Juan Roman Riquelme ends an era
By Martin Mazur published
Juan Riquelme For every fan of Juan Roman Riquelme, there was a devout enemy. El Grafico's Martin Mazur reflects on a brilliant but enigmatic character...

Martin Palermo: Great Goals Retold
By Martin Mazur published
Great Goals Retold Boca Juniors' all-time top scorer talks FourFourTwo through "perhaps the most spectacular goal I ever scored” in 2009...

Sergio Aguero: Great Goals Retold
By Martin Mazur published
Great Goals Retold The Argentine striker talks FourFourTwo through his wonder-goal for Independiente in 2005...

Meet the gun-toting, pastry-powered striker who could fire Spurs back to glory
By Martin Mazur published
Talentspotter Martin Mazur gives FourFourTwo the lowdown on Colombian striker Teo Gutiérrez, the River hit-man strongly linked with a move to White Hart Lane...

James Rodriguez: How did the little Colombian with a stutter get here?
By Martin Mazur published
FFT100 From being so shy he could barely speak to so good that he's known by his first name, Martin Mazur reveals how 'Ha-mez' became one of the hottest players on the planet – and a high-flier in the FFT100...

Boca vs River: Why Copa Sudamericana clash could be match of the decade
By Martin Mazur published
Copa Sudamericana El Gráfico's Martin Mazur looks ahead to the biggest game in Argentina - rated the best derby in world football in the latest issue of FourFourTwo...

Esteban Cambiasso: Great Goals Retold (vs Serbia & Montenegro, World Cup 2006)
By Martin Mazur published
Great Goals Retold The former midfielder relives his mesmerising goal for the Albiceleste at Germany '06

Fergie's kind of player: Why Di Maria will be a huge hit at Old Trafford
By Martin Mazur published
Angel Di Maria Martin Mazur - editor of Argentina's El Gráfico magazine - profiles Old Trafford's new hero...

South America at war: Why everyone hates Brazil (including some Brazilians)
By Martin Mazur published
World Cup 2014 All four of Brazil's South American rivals remaining in the World Cup have their own special reasons for wanting to beat the hosts. Martin Mazur opens the veins of Latin America...
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