Tom Hancock
Tom Hancock started freelancing for FourFourTwo in April 2019 and has also written for the Premier League and Opta Analyst, among others. He supports Wycombe Wanderers and has a soft spot for Wealdstone. A self-confessed statto, he has been known to watch football with a spreadsheet (or several) open...
Latest articles by Tom Hancock
![Tottenham Hotspur Manager Ange Postecoglou during the exhibition match between Tottenham Hotspur FC and Newcastle United FC at Melbourne Cricket Ground on May 22, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Serena Taylor/Newcastle United via Getty Images) Chelsea](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Poj2d6MRaNnpY7QnaM3TKS-320-80.jpg)
Chelsea and Tottenham target breaks transfer silence amid Champions League 'dream'
By Tom Hancock published
It looks as though both London rivals will be disappointed in this instance...
![Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag, May 2024](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/h4CAPXFwaeSdeS8xePFET8-320-80.jpg)
Manchester United winning race for Bayern Munich star after Premier League deal COLLAPSES: report
By Tom Hancock published
Manchester United could be about to take their summer spending beyond the £100m mark
![Football may be at the Olympics, but for one former England international another sport will have a lot more importance this summer](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AatnSbYKrnbdSRKfNayqDE-320-80.jpg)
Former Premier League and England World Cup star cheers on Olympic gold-chasing son - though not in football
By Tom Hancock published
Football may be at the Olympics, but for one former England international another sport will have a lot more importance this summer
![Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, following the final day win against Everton](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dC5LfNMP8YMYSWUEAgP3s6-320-80.jpg)
Arsenal eyeing move for £30m Euros-winning star: report
By Tom Hancock published
Arsenal are looking to strengthen their midfield options as they aim for another Premier League title push
![Canada at the Olympics as Bev Priestman is removed as manager](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/HZhwUPKor7gjZUxrCm693k-320-80.jpg)
Olympics football drama continues, as manager is SUSPENDED
By Tom Hancock published
Canada's Paris Olympics women's football campaign has begun amid great controversy enveloping the national team
![England midfielder Owen Hargreaves in action against Sweden at the 2002 World Cup](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/H9KCwiU4Vz9SWZzBtGbEiS-320-80.jpg)
Players born outside the country they played for
By Tom Hancock published
None of these stars represented their birthland in international football
![Ronald Koeman celebrates after scoring Barcelona's winning goal against Sampdoria in the 1992 European Cup final](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Zj3d97xP3qYifHHhbh9DPB-320-80.jpg)
Great goalscoring defenders
By Tom Hancock published
A look at some defenders who made their mark at the other end of the pitch
![Kevin Keegan of Liverpool, 1971](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/29mihTv2yWcN5gw4F3Rby5-320-80.jpg)
Top players who started out in lower divisions
By Tom Hancock published
A look at some stars who began small and rose to the highest level of the game
![Ukraine striker and captain Andriy Shevchenko celebrates after scoring against Sweden at Euro 2012](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zFoLn9Js3TAY7CarxGbDjG-320-80.jpg)
The best ever Eastern European players
By Tom Hancock published
Featuring big-name stars from Hungary, Poland and beyond
![Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola poses with the Premier League trophy, 2024](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/zwzdMwiDkMBUmJuXKSVGB6-320-80.jpg)
Winners of major trophies as a player and manager
By Tom Hancock published
This lot all enjoyed success on the pitch and in the dugout
![Lev Yashin, 1965](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/imD32W9ofkNSUDpYBJNGqB-320-80.jpg)
The best goalkeepers ever
By Tom Hancock published
Counting down the greatest custodians to pull on the gloves
![Luis Figo of Barcelona, 1999](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/x48HvN3nfopHYL5xhMfcvk-320-80.jpg)
Players who played for Real Madrid and Barcelona
By Tom Hancock published
A look at the stars who turned out for both El Clasico rivals
![Ryan Giggs, Nicky Butt, David Beckham, Gary Neville, Phil Neville and Paul Scholes aka Manchester United's 'Class of '92'](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7vgQkzCAL6EG9bkriMQDBH-320-80.jpg)
Manchester United's best homegrown players ever
By Tom Hancock published
Ranking the finest talents to emerge from Manchester United's famed youth system
![Manchester United fans wave flags during the 2023 FA Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley Stadium](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/J8afw6ZtGxWS3xj5D562We-320-80.jpg)
The biggest football clubs by country
By Tom Hancock published
A look at the most notable teams from various nations around the world
![Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, May 2024](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/w83vrmvBGtSPbj2Vdxpt78-320-80.jpg)
Arsenal in talks with Newcastle United hero as leftfield signing: report
By Tom Hancock published
Mikel Arteta's Gunners are stepping up their summer transfer business as they prepare for another Premier League title challenge
![England midfielder Adam Wharton at Euro 2024](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/2JUBPhT63bgHe4nb67XVf4-320-80.jpg)
England players who haven't played a single minute at Euro 2024
By Tom Hancock published
These members of the Three Lions squad are yet to set foot on the pitch at this summer's Euros
![Jobe Bellingham, brother of Jude Bellingham, watches England vs Serbia at Euro 2024](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/YkcxawVsJGoeSuH2ibmsHC-320-80.jpg)
Bellingham set to make major decision on future amid Premier League interest: report
By Tom Hancock published
The younger Bellingham brother has established himself as one of the top young talents in the Championship
![England captain Harry Kane looks on during the Euro 2024 quarter-final match against Switzerland](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/EE8wuLidkrixFVKKUnwcyg-320-80.jpg)
'You watch Harry Kane and say there’s something not right, he’s not sharp, he’s not in the box and at some point England are going to need to make a decision’ Ian Wright on Gareth Southgate’s big call
By Tom Hancock published
England captain Kane has underwhelmed at Euro 2024 so far, and Wright has hinted at what boss Southgate must do to change things up
![Jarrad Branthwaite of Everton reacts during the Premier League match between Everton FC and Sheffield United at Goodison Park on May 11, 2024 in Liverpool, England](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bgioGPXkqREMMuNMNYCB7m-320-80.jpg)
Jarrad Branthwaite to Manchester United latest as fresh bid with add-ons is rejected: report
By Tom Hancock published
Will this make Manchester United re-think their top summer transfer targets?
![Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola looks on during the 2024 FA Cup final between Manchester City and Manchester United at Wembley](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/oKtTcBgzyS76sFwJVXUsSP-320-80.jpg)
Saudi clubs circle Manchester City international star as he arrives career cross-roads: report
By Tom Hancock published
The Premier League champions could be about to lose a big name to the Saudi Pro League
![Freddie Ljungberg, David James, David Trezeguet and Robert Pires are unveiled by their respective new clubs ahead of the 2014 Indian Super League season](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AekWxu5U42MAXz769yyzXo-320-80.jpg)
Footballers who played in India
By Tom Hancock published
A look at the biggest international stars to ply their trade in the Indian Super League
![Roy Keane and Paul Scholes of Manchester United, 2003](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/JuA9g9X2z8oLgq5pnoVjq3-320-80.jpg)
The best midfield combinations ever
By Tom Hancock published
A look at the game's standout duos, trios and more in the middle of the park
![Wayne Rooney of England in action against the USA at the 2010 World Cup](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/bu8y6mL4QeNAJPLAxujZK7-320-80.jpg)
The best English players of the 2010s
By Tom Hancock published
We count down the home of football's standout stars between 2010 and 2019