ARLIND THE GROUNDS

MATT TAYLOR: Shrewsbury's new boss discusses his coaching aims, scoring worldies and the day he dared to turn down Roy Keane...

BASQUE IN THE GLORY

Four decades ago, Athletic Club took the fight for Spanish supremacy to Real Madrid and Barcelona. Showing spirit and skill, the Bilbao boys won La Liga... and then defended it, too

"DES LYNAM SAID, 'DRURY, YOU'RE LUCKY. YOU CAN WALK INTO SAINSBURY'S AND NOBODY KNOWS WHO THE HELL YOU ARE'"

After 30 years of turning football into poetry, Peter Drury has stepped into Martin Tyler's sizeable shoes this term - from Tshabalala to Manolas, Sky's new commentator relives some of his most famous moments, and tells FFT why he's happier out of the spotlight

THE KLAKSVIK MIRACLE

Alone in the middle of the North Atlantic, the Faroe Islands were once the continent's whipping boys - now one club in the archipelago have reached a first European group stage, thanks to an unlikely bunch of part-timers...

NO GIRLS ALLOWED HOW SARINA WIEGMAN ROSE TO THE TOP

During childhood, she pretended to be a boy just to play football - now, she's the best female coach in the world. After Euros glory and the Lionesses' first World Cup final, FFT uncovers the story behind their greatest-ever gaffer

"WHY DIDN'T I LEAVE ARSENAL? I'M A LIFELONG SUPPORTER, SO IT WAS MY LOVE FOR THE CLUB"

Eddie Nketiah has been reunited with his pal Declan Rice at the Emirates this season, and tells FFT why he surprised many by opting to stay put a year ago

RICE RICE BABY

Recent months have been memorable for England's rapping midfielder - after lifting a European trophy in his last game for West Ham, he joined Arsenal for a club record £105m in July. As he tells FFT, he's determined to guide the Gunners to glory

CHRIS SMALLING

The Englishman was shunted out of Old Trafford in 2019, but has since become key at Roma

AARON RAMSEY

\"I was 17 years old and I was getting voicemails from both Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger - it was all a bit mad\"

"What makes the ownership conversation difficult is that, ironically for Newcastle, none of it is black and white"

The Magpies' Saudi Arabia investment has divided English football down the middle. Lifelong supporter Adam Clery explains why it's left the fanbase in a tricky position

QUEEN'S GAMBIT

The oldest club in Scotland's attempts to modernise have paid on-field dividends, but also left them homeless

BEST & WORST SWINDON TOWN

Richard Pullen from Robins podcast The Loathed Strangers remembers Hoddle magic and Di Canio mayhem...

GOOD CALL, REF!

Lucy feared that simply being herself would prevent her from refereeing games, but a brave move has brought her peace, new friends and even a world record

INTERVIEW: PAUL SIMPSON

The Carlisle gaffer chats League One ambitions, World Cup ecstasy with England Under-20s and battling kidney cancer

POHNPEI A DECADE ON

Paul Watson chronicled his improbable exploits coaching a tiny Pacific island team in his cult 2012 book Up Pohnpei. More than 10 years on, with Micronesia still struggling for FIFA recognition, an unexpected email inspired him to return this summer, and document the trip for FFT...

CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF THE PEA AWARDS 1973 - 2023

On August 29, the Professional Footballers’ Association celebrates a half-century of giving out gongs for great individual seasons. Erling Haaland won’t receive the same sort of smooch that Les Ferdinand did, but he should follow in famous footsteps, from Elton John to Steve Ogrizovic

RECRUITMENT, RECRUITMENT, RECRUITMENT

As Brighton begin their first ever European campaign, having unearthed gem after gem in the transfer market, FourFourTwo chats to key figures inside the club to discover their secret - from algorithms to clandestine spreadsheets...

HERE TO COMPETE

Almost two years since their controversial takeover, Newcastle are going where no Magpie's flown for 20 years: the Champions League. Ahead of the curve their new owners plotted, they feel they have a man, a plan and the fans to sustain it - plus a sovereign wealth fund

IVAN RAKITIC

\"England were surprised what we could do. All of their players were worth £70m, £100m, £150m but they had to play against us”

"If god took my brother, it was because he wanted me to do something in football"

The Marseille match-fixing scandal turned Emmanuel Petit into a zombie, but the midfielder hit back to become a champion with Arsenal and France, driven by a desire to honour the sibling he lost as a teenager

FABIO CANNAVARO

\"I was very scared that I'd lose to France on penalties at a World Cup for a second time. Take a penalty? I'm not crazy! I know my limits...\"

MY FOOTBALL

The Olympic hockey gold medallist owns part of the Anfield bench and adores Steve McManaman

JULES BREACH

The TV presenter expects an intense battle for the Champions League spots

BURY THE HATCHET

After years of financial woes, EFL expulsion and squabbling, Bury fans have united to plot a brighter future...

THIE PLAYERS LOUNGE

Interview with - JULIAN DICKS, LEDLEY KING, HENNING BERG, JONATHAN WALTERS

KICKING ON

Kick It Out is David to the Goliath of discrimination in football. For 30 years, the organisation has tirelessly battled boycotts, controversies and misconceptions with austere staff numbers and shoestring budgets, while trying to avoid biting the hand that feeds it. It's a thankless existence, yet essential for the future of the game

"IT WAS A CONSTANT BATTLE, TO STOP PEOPLE LAUGHING AT ME FOR HOW I LOOKED"

As a young footballer, Peter Crouch was the butt of all the jokes - but after a stellar career made him a popular media personality, they are laughing with him now. He tells FFT how he came through the tough times to become a cult hero

IN GOOD KOMPANY

After learning from Pep Guardiola as Man City skipper, Burnley's beloved boss is now ready to mix it with his old gaffer in a top-flight dugout. FFT speaks to those who know him - even those who introduced him to his wife...

WE ARE PREMIER LEAGUE

Luton’s Kenilworth Road home may not be anyone’s idea of luxury, but it will host Premier League football this season after the Hatters’ unexpected rise back to the top, via F1, Manager Idol and five years in non-league...

THINGS WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2023-24

For the first time in five seasons, normality is back - no winter World Cup, no pandemic - but that doesn't mean it will be boring. Can anyone stop Manchester City? Will Wrexham storm League Two? Are Charlton fixtures about to turn into a rave? There's plenty to look out for in the year ahead...