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First a message from our editor, James Andrew:
A whole lot of thought goes into deciding who goes on the duvet of FourFourTwo every month, and it’s by no means an easy course of. One of many issues we strongly think about is the story behind a participant. Luis Diaz has had a big impact on the pitch since he made his transfer to Anfield in 2022, however off the sphere he has had fairly a exceptional journey too – culminating within the horrifying episode a yr in the past when his father was kidnapped in Colombia.
On this situation, we additionally chat to Bournemouth gaffer Andoni Iraola about life on the south coast and being one among 4 Basque managers within the Premier League this season. Ever puzzled what it could be prefer to climb the tallest mountain in Africa? We go to the highest of Mount Kilimanjaro with Manchester United’s Captain Marvel, Bryan Robson. Along with that, the ever in style Ally McCoist chats to FFT about his ardour for all issues Scottish soccer.
Elsewhere, it’s possible you’ll discover that the journal appears just a little totally different. We’ve had a little bit of a redesign and one of many key issues we’ve accomplished, after listening to your suggestions, is to make the textual content measurement barely greater, in addition to introducing some new options. Take pleasure in the brand new look.
Luis Diaz: Kidnap hell to Kop hero
The winger’s journey has taken him from humble origins in Colombia to stardom at Liverpool. A yr since his father’s kidnapping, he’s been reinvigorated below new supervisor Arne Slot.
Dancing on the streets of TNS
Wrexham dominate a lot of the Welsh soccer headlines lately, but it surely’s TNS who’ve been making historical past within the Convention League – FFT headed to Shrewsbury to see them report a shock ‘residence’ win over Astana.
Greatest managers on this planet
FFT charges the 30 biggest gaffers roaming Planet Soccer proper now, from Dracula lookalikes and curse conquerors to the grasp of the darkish arts.
Andoni Iraola: Basque brains
The Spaniard was a left-field option to develop into Bournemouth supervisor in June 2023. The noir fiction fan and Marcelo Bielsa disciple tells FFT why falling for Dorset helped to defy a gradual begin and break information on the south coast.
Bryan Robson climbs Kilimanjaro
Captain Marvel can nonetheless transfer mountains – FFT teamed up with the previous Manchester United midfielder to scale Africa’s highest peak in help of impoverished youngsters.
Ally McCoist’s Scottish tales
The much-loved goal-getter recounts his strangest tales, that includes Graeme Souness punch-ups, damaged sofas, Duncan Ferguson’s errant pigeon and, in fact, Gazza…
Saint-Etienne: Caught prior to now?
Lower than two years in the past, ASSE have been at actual threat of relegation to the third tier – unthinkable for a membership who have been the best in France through the Nineteen Sixties and ’70s. Now Les Verts are again within the large time after final time period’s Ligue 2 play-off success. Oh, and so they’re additionally billionaires…
Steph Houghton solutions YOUR questions
The Lionesses legend appears again on a protracted and profitable profession together with Olympic fame, Princess Anne’s fake pas and a shock telephone name from David Beckham.
Tactically talking
Subbuteo supremo Adam Clery returns with extra pearls of knowledge about why Thomas Tuchel is the proper match for the England job, how Liverpool have modified below new supervisor Arne Slot and what makes Cole Palmer an absolute genius on a soccer pitch.
Across the grounds within the EFL, non-league and Scotland
Sunderland’s unheralded summer season teaching arrival, Regis Le Bris, is the toast of Wearside, because the French workaholic has taken the Championship’s youngest squad to the summit.
Kettering’s brewing: Three former Premier League gamers are plying their commerce with the seventh-tier Poppies, however their proprietor assures us sustainability over celeb is the intention.
In Greatest & Worst, lifelong Gillingham fan and ME7 podcast host Owen Stanley remembers surprise volleys, Christmas miracles and Celeb Massive Brother.
…and within the blue nook: Ex-Leicester defender Danny Simpson swapped the soccer pitch for the boxing ring, and is relishing his subsequent struggle.
Aberdeen’s new messiah? After a disappointing few years, the Dons began 2024/25 in electrical type – 40 seasons on from their final title win…
The Mixer
Our choice of soccer’s nifty stuff champions Bellingham’s bespoke boots, a stainless-steel Norwich strip, Dulwich Hamlet bus scarves and Corinthians’ elegant tribute to Ayrton Senna.
Seen one thing you need to get in The Mixer? DM Deputy Editor Matt Ketchell
Upfront
Ex-Arsenal and Spurs midfielder David Bentley names the video games that modified his life, and columnist Jules Breach opines on the appointment of Thomas Tuchel as England supervisor.
Tackle our quiz regarding legends, mortgage spells and lighthouses, then learn Maximo Park frontman and Middlesbrough fan Paul Smith reminisce about Bernie Slaven, a Rochemback rocket and assembly Gareth Southgate at Colin Cooper’s birthday bash in My Soccer.
Two of the FFT workforce additionally debate whether or not the brand new Membership World Cup subsequent summer season shall be price watching, of if an excessive amount of soccer is definitely a factor and the gamers want a break.
Within the Gamers Lounge this month…
Chelsea favorite Carlo Cudicini reveals that Sven-Goran Eriksson as soon as approached him about taking part in for England, Steven Taylor opens up about incomes Sir Bobby Robson’s belief at Newcastle and his new life within the Center East, whereas ex-Wales striker Robert Earnshaw recollects rising up in Africa, humilation at Derby and dodging missiles at Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Excellent XI
Former winger Theo Walcott compiles a group of favorite team-mates from his Arsenal and England days.
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