Four Four Two

nO BALLOn D’OR? nO PROBLEM! JOURNALISTS FROM 102 COUNTRIES DECIDE WHO SHOULD HAVE WON BRILLIANCE, BRAVERY, BEDLAM. IT’S THE... JUDE 35 WEIRD BELLINGHAM THINGS YOU “Man United? When MISSED Dortmund came in for me, that was it” “Er, gaffer? I think the bus is drunk” ROBBO: MY DREAM YEAR NICKLAS BENDTNER Elation at Liverpool, ecstasy in Scotland Lord Nic on pants and house arrest DE BRUYnE • VARDY • JACK CHARLTOn • ZLATAn • DEPOR’S DECLInE



Future PLC Quay House, The Ambury, Bath, BA1 1UA WELCOME WANT Phone 01225 442244 Email [email protected] MORE? To contact an individual, email [email protected] It’s fair to say that 2020 was, er, different. But despite the world going mad, football did its best to soldier on. FIND US Editorial HERE... So, it’s only right that at the end of 12 peculiar months, Editor James Andrew Deputy Editor Joe Brewin FFT tips its hat to the winners of 2020 (yes, they do exist). FOURFOURTWO.COM Art Director Anthony Moore Senior Staff Writer Chris Flanagan France Football cancelled its Ballon d’Or, but we now have @FOURFOURTWO Chief Sub Editor Gregg Davies a pretty good idea about who would have picked up the @FOURFOURTWOUK Online Editor Conor Pope top prizes after collecting votes from 128 journalists in FACEBOOK.COM/ Staff Writer Mark White Staff Writer Ed McCambridge 102 countries. Two players have every right to grumble. FOURFOURTWO Editor at Large Andy Mitten Jude Bellingham isn’t grumbling. The superb 17-year-old URFOURTWO Thanks to swapped Birmingham for Dortmund last summer, and now Andrew Murray, Ben Miller, Jonas Andersen, Jack Wiggs, tells us all about it. But while Jude may just be starting out, others are nearing the end… or so you’d think. FFT caught Holger Quest, Fred Mellor, Nina Konowalczyk, Daniel Stolpe up with an ever-entertaining Neil Warnock, who this year bossed his 1,500th game at Middlesbrough. Contributors Marcus Alves, Paul Brown, Caio Carrieri, Ian Murtagh, There are also excellent (if very different) interviews with Andy Robertson and Nicklas Bendtner, Sean Cole, Richard Edwards, Chris Evans, Emanuele Giulianelli, while we celebrate the brilliant life of legend Jack Charlton. Andy Greeves, Martin Harasimowicz, Si Hawkins, Steve Hill, Let me also use this space to honour Louis Massarella, Martin Mazur, Nick Moore, Leo Moynihan, Diego Maradona, who passed away in late November. Our tribute to him in Andrew Murray, Gary Parkinson, Sam Pilger, Felipe Rocha, the last issue was sadly well timed but summed up the wonderful Paul Simpson, Jon Spurling, Tim Stillman, Ivan Tomic personality he was. Photography Rest in peace, El Diego. PA, Getty, Offside, iStock, Reuters. James Andrew All copyrights and trademarks are recognised and respected @JamesAndrew_ Advertising @FourFourTwo Media packs are available on request 5 THINGS YOU’LL LEARN INSIDE Account Director Richard Hemmings [email protected] 12345 International Licensing FourFourTwo is available for licensing. Contact the licensing team to discuss partnership opportunities Head of Print Licensing Rachel Shaw Global Partnerships Director Ian Porter International Licensing Executive Georgina Flores-Laird [email protected] Subscriptions Email enquiries [email protected] Order line and enquiries 0330 333 1113 Online orders and enquiries www.magazinesdirect.com Group Marketing Director, Magazines & Memberships Sharon Todd Senior Marketing Manager Faith Wardle Senior Direct Marketing Executive Sally Sebesta Circulation Head of Newstrade Tim Mathers Production Head of Production Mark Constance Production Project Manager Clare Scott Senior Ad Production Manager Jo Crosby Digital Editions Controller Jason Hudson Production Manager Vivienne Calvert Group Management Chief Content Officer Aaron Asadi Managing Director: Sports Dave Clutterbuck Group Sports Editor Michael Harris Head of Design (London) Brad Merrett Commercial Finance Director Dan Jotcham Printed by William Gibbons Distributed by Marketforce, 5 Churchill Place, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5HU www.marketforce.co.uk Tel: 0203 787 9060 ISSN 1355027X We are committed to only using magazine paper which is derived from responsibly managed, certified forestry and chlorine-free manufacture. 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We assume all unsolicited material is for publication unless otherwise stated, and reserve the right to edit, amend, adapt all submissions. Which team’s Which veteran Why Nicklas Which Russian Which boss goalkeeper was left Marseille Bendtner top-flight club shouted at hit by lightning after being ended up is cheered on Pavarotti to while he took pistol-whipped keep the part in training at his house having to pay by a bee on noise down for a boob job a motorcycle SUBSCRIBE FROM £3.08 PER ISSUE Get FFT delivered to your door for just £9.99 every quarter – with 13 issues published each year, you’ll make some great savings. Head to magazinesdirect.com and find FourFourTwo, or phone 0330 333 1113

8 24 80 Q&A: HILTON YOU ASK... FEATURES 8 Nicklas Bendtner on sponsored 28 No Ballon d’Or? No problem! pants and his scary casino trip With France Football cancelling its annual vote to crown the king UPFRONT and queen of football, FFT polled 128 journalists from around the 16 Donald Trump turns up at Exeter world to see who’ll be smarting 18 Jamie Carragher’s best games 19 Jersey Bulls: a year from hell 44 Andy Robertson: my mad 2020 20 Take on our bumper Xmas quiz After helping Liverpool to a first 22 Laura Woods talks Arsenal top-flight title for 30 years, the 23 Making history... in Albania Scot then hit his Euros jackpot 24 Hilton: Ligue 1 player at 43 25 Letters: respect for Rashford 50 Warnock: ‘Botox next year?’ After 1,500 games, Boro’s boss still has the same lust for life 90 44 78

3456 76 FEATURES FEATURES 56 Bellingham the boy wonder 76 Cult heroes of the year Dortmund’s English ace on his Messrs Bielsa, Vardy and Grealish Old Trafford snub and lofty aims may all have statues at this rate 62 Deportivo La Coruna’s decline 82 Weird stuff you forgot in 2020 From La Liga winners and Euro Wave goodbye to the madness semi-finalists... to the third tier 98 Paul Parker names a Perfect XI 68 Zlatan: oh, he’s still got it Who cares if he’s nearing 40? THE PLAYERS LOUNGE Not when he’s still this good... 90 Pablo Zabaleta’s City memories 70 The legend of Jack Charlton 92 Stuart Pearce and The Sex Pistols Former charges tell FFT their top 93 Arthur Numan on Sean Connery tales of Big Jack: gone, but never 94 Kevin Kilbane: taunted by a ref to be forgotten in two countries 70 40 68 JACK CHARLTON

DIEGO MARADONA 1960 - 2020 In the history of football, no player has touched as many lives as Maradona. After the 1986 World Cup winner died in November, the mourning extended from Buenos Aires and Naples, to Kolkata and war-torn towns of Syria. The world will miss you, Diego.



YOU ASK Interview Sam Pilger THE QUESTIOnS “I don’t regret wearing those Wenger and Patrick Vieira, and felt at pants at the Euros, but I wish home straight away. There was some I’d done more in my career – interest from Manchester United, too, I wish I’d been more driven” but later on. That came when I was 18 and on loan at Birmingham, before I’d nICKLAS BEnDTnER signed my first professional contract at Arsenal. There were talks with United,  I n 2004, when Nicklas You grew up in Amager, which has lots of kids with different backgrounds – although I didn’t speak personally to Bendtner was just 16, his the delightful nickname ‘S**t Island’. and families. I was just a lad trying to Sir Alex Ferguson – but my heart was father Thomas asked FC Why is that the case, and how did it have a bit of fun and fit in, and I wasn’t set on Arsenal. Bayern Munich came in Copenhagen’s director of shape you as a youngster? prepared for that. Some of the older for me as well. Tim Forstaff, Stocksbridge players wanted to play a practical joke football if he could match the enticing [Smiles] It’s called S**t Island because on me, so they urinated on my clothes How did Thierry Henry react to you that’s where all the sewers run to from and chucked them in a bin bag. I was telling him to shut up on the training offer they had received from Arsenal. Copenhagen – that’s how it earned the young, so that was quite hard to take. field, and did he help you settle in? name. I had a really happy childhood, Angus Patricks, London Niels-Christian Holmstrom refused to but I was never a kid who was happy How did your move to Arsenal come He wasn’t happy! [Laughs] Thierry was sitting still. I always needed something about in the summer of 2004? Is it the king at Arsenal and I was no one. negotiate. “It will all go to s**t for your to keep my mind occupied. I wasn’t true that you could have signed for He came over while we were playing, very fond of school – I always wanted Manchester United, too? swore at me loads and gave me plenty son!” he declared. “He’ll never make it to play football with my mates. Ted Greenfield, St Albans of attitude. That was completely fair! I’d played well in three appearances for He put me in my place. Afterwards, he in England. No Dane ever has.” Why did a team-mate piss all over Denmark Under-16s [hitting a hat-trick took the time to sit down with me and your clothes when you were young? against Armenia] and from there I was explain how you need to behave at But over the next 16 years, Bendtner Alfie Bexon, via Twitter offered many trials and even several Arsenal, and what it is to be a football [Laughs] When I was young, I usually contracts. I’d always followed Arsenal player. He knew how to get to the top proved him wrong. He scored 45 goals played with guys who were a couple of as a kid, though, so I was determined and I knew I had to learn from him. years older than me, so that meant it to go there. I went to Highbury [below] in 171 matches for Arsenal, featured was a tough dressing room. There were and it just seemed right. I met Arsene You were sent on loan to Birmingham in 2006-07 and scored 11 goals in 42 for Juventus, Sunderland, Birmingham, Championship matches. How helpful was that spell to your career? Wolfsburg and Rosenborg, and became Barry O’Loughlin, via Facebook On a footballing level, it was a really Denmark’s eighth-highest scorer with important learning curve. I went from training with the reserves at Arsenal to an impressive 30 goals from 81 caps. the first team at Birmingham, where we were trying to secure promotion to And yet, for all of his achievements, the Premier League. There were some good coaches there and I learned a lot. there is also a nagging sense of regret But I wasn’t fully prepared for the life outside of the game, and didn’t realise about Bendtner’s career. As it turns what I was letting myself in for. I was a young kid trying to be accepted and out, the man himself can’t quite shift went with the flow. I had much more freedom in Birmingham, with my own the feeling that he never truly fulfilled apartment. [FFT: You called it a “shag pad”?] That’s true! I was very fond of his precocious talent either. He admits girls when I was that age. Actually, I still am! Now, I’m fond of only one... his “wild years” were between 2006 How was your relationship with Steve and 2016 – virtually his entire career – Bruce? How did he get the best out of you at Birmingham? when curiosity, his weakness for girls Peter McAlson, via Twitter You could be honest with Steve. I once and enjoyment of good times helped got called to his office and he said he’d heard that I’d been out four nights that to undermine his football. week. I said, “Actually, it was five” and he just laughed! Steve made me feel at Now, though, he’s ready to discuss it home straight away. He always tried to guide me through difficult times, too, all with FourFourTwo. The 32-year-old is candid and relaxed as he answers your questions about Arsene Wenger, sponsored pants, car crashes, betting and being under house arrest. There’s plenty to unpack... 8 January 2021 FourFourTwo

YOU ASK CLUBS 2005-14 Arsenal 2006-07 Birmingham (loan) 2011-12 Sunderland (loan) 2012-13 Juventus (loan) 2014-16 Wolfsburg 2016-17 Nottingham Forest 2017-19 Rosenborg 2019 Copenhagen 2020- Tarnby FF (M+32) COUNTRY 2006-18 Denmark

YOU ASK and show me how to deal with all the a difference.” I went straight into the my confidence, but I could have gone What was the biggest argument you pressure. I can’t praise Steve enough, penalty area and Cesc Fabregas put in further if I wasn’t so curious. He was ever had with Arsene Wenger? Was because I’m very fond of him. Later in a great cross. My leap was incredible – an outstanding manager, though. One it when he refused to let you move to my career, he’d heard that I’d started I jumped so high and headed it in. I did thing he always did was put the team Crystal Palace? to gamble a lot, so phoned me to say, a crazy sprint down the line until Kolo first. He never thought about himself Scott Harrison, via Twitter “Please leave that alone, kid – it’s not Toure eventually got me on the floor. first. He cared about the club so much. Yes, that was the biggest argument by the right path.” It was a wonderful moment and made far. We respected each other and had me feel like part of the team. “I CALLED WEnGER very good meetings – we were honest In 2007, you scored the fastest ever A W**KER AnD An with each other. But at that moment Premier League goal by a substitute, What was it like to be managed by ARSEHOLE SO HE’D [in the summer of 2013], I wanted to heading home against Spurs within Arsene Wenger? Do you feel you let HAVE TO SELL ME – leave Arsenal and Crystal Palace had 1.8 seconds of the match restarting. him down, or could he have done IT DIDn’T WORK” made a great offer for me. However, How much do you remember? more for you? the deal fell through because Arsenal Alex Clinton, via Facebook Gerry Railton, Belper couldn’t find a replacement. With four I was standing on the side of the pitch It was a two-way street – there were hours to go before the window closed, ready to run on, and I can remember moments when I thought I’d done well Wenger phoned and said, “Sorry, you Arsene Wenger patting me on the back and should play, but he didn’t pick me. can’t go.” That felt like a massive blow and saying, “Go out there and make I found that quite difficult and it hurt to me, as I’d been waiting all week to leave. I called Arsene a wanker and an arsehole so he would have to sell me, but it didn’t work. That showed me his character, because he explained that it was for the best of the football club that I stayed. It was hard to argue with him. That was the only time we had a heated conversation – all the other times it was just him shouting at me! You publicly claimed you were one of the best strikers in the world – did you really believe that at the time? Grace Curtis, Dover What I actually said was that I wanted to be one of the world’s best strikers. At the time, I was scoring lots of goals. I was a good talent as a youngster, so that was my ambition. I had to believe that, because everyone wants to be as good as they can be. I’ve always been outspoken about my beliefs and where I want to go in my life, whereas other people keep quiet and don’t want to speak. Of course it can backfire on you, and this backfired on me! A sport psychologist revealed you scored very high in a ‘self-perceived competence’ test at Arsenal. Why were you so confident? Andrew Murray, via Twitter I remember this. [Laughs] You had to rate yourself in every department, with a score out of 10. I never gave myself 10 in anything, so it’s not possible that I scored myself 11 out of 10! What was your reaction to William Gallas’ meltdown at Birmingham in 2008 when he sat down on the pitch? What were the other players feeling? Connor Slack, via Facebook Gallas was a winner. He wanted to win whatever the cost, so sometimes your emotions can get the better of you. We all knew what he stood for. As a team, you try to support each other. Different personalities react in different ways, so for us as his team-mates, it wasn’t really a huge issue.

YOU ASK Clockwise from far left My plan was never to stay at the club “Just run over there and permanently, but it didn’t finish that head the ball in the net”; well with the manager, Martin O’Neill. best strike partner ever; worst strike partner ever; During your time at Sunderland, you one of his eight goals for were charged and later cleared of Sunderland nearly cost damaging cars on a drunken night Manchester City the title out in Newcastle. What happened? in 2011-12; “I’d give this @ryansafc86, via Twitter first touch 9.9 out of 10” After looking at all the CCTV, I pleaded not guilty. You could see that I wasn’t a part of it, so I was rightly exonerated. Me and Lee Cattermole were drinking a little too heavily that night, though, that’s for sure. What impact did your 2009 car crash have on you? I’ve heard you say your groin was never the same? Aiden Taiwo, via Instagram The car accident was the biggest regret I have. I suffered many injuries in the years after the crash from the damage done that day. I’ve had problems with my groin ever since, even though it has been operated on three times. I had to take anti-inflammatories to play with the injury. When the crash happened, everything was going well for me and Arsenal were top of the league. But it was serious, and I must be happy that I’m still alive today. What’s the story behind you wearing sponsor-branded underpants at Euro 2012? Do you regret it or think it was funny? Do you still have those pants? Tristan Rosenfeldt, Hove [Laughs] Yes, I still have the pants and wear them every now and again. But no, I don’t regret it. Looking back, I got fined more for that than clubs get fined for racism! It was so crazy. At the time I just thought it was a funny gimmick. Maybe I shouldn’t have agreed to do it, but I felt it was funny. What happened between you and headbutted me on the nose, which left my favourite partner. We played a lot How do you look back at your loan to Emmanuel Adebayor against Spurs a little cut. We quickly got pulled apart. in a 4-4-2 setup. My favourite midfield Juventus? What was it like playing in 2008 – did he headbutt you? What Back in the dressing room, we had a bit player was Cesc Fabregas, because of with Pogba, Buffon and Pirlo, and do was your relationship like after that? of an incident. The next day we went his incredible passing ability and how you wish you’d stayed longer? @spursdab, via Twitter to the manager’s office and got fined he could always find you. Lee Batley, Swindon Me and Emmanuel never had a good for our behaviour, which we accepted. It was a huge regret that I didn’t seal relationship from the first moment we We never spoke at Arsenal after that, Did you enjoy your season on loan at a permanent contract with Juventus. met. We never got on. At that moment and haven’t ever since. Wenger didn’t Sunderland in 2011-12? Was there I was all set to sign for them, but then we were losing 5-1 to Tottenham in the mind that we didn’t like each other, but any disappointment that you didn’t my groin popped. I was injured for six League Cup, so everybody was upset – said we had to behave in the right way. sign permanently? months and everything went on hold. we’d all put in an awful performance. Martin Wigham, via Facebook I enjoyed my time there – I was happy Adebayor came on in the second half Which of your many strike partners Overall I liked my time at Sunderland, and it was very professional. The team and we had a heated argument on the was your favourite? but I didn’t get as much out of it as I’d spirit was amazing, so it was a massive pitch. It was still going on while we had Matthew Lemmon, via Instagram hoped because I picked up an injury. blow not being able to stay longer. Paul a corner, and he walked up to me and The striker I played with the most was I got a kick in one of my eyes, which Pogba was a young kid with immense shoved me with both hands. He even Robin van Persie, so he’d probably be meant I had to play wearing a mask. talent, and everyone knew he would be a big star. Andrea Pirlo and Gianluigi Buffon were also brilliant because their professionalism was so good. I could always talk to them, even though their English wasn’t perfect. They were both inspirational figures to me. FourFourTwo January 2021 11

YOU ASK Were you actually fined by Wolfsburg – who are owned by Volkswagen – for turning up at training in a Mercedes? Adomouke Obenit, via Facebook Yes I was. [Laughs] I did it a few times! I’ve always been very fond of Mercedes cars, so I arrived at training in one and had my picture taken with it as well. It wasn’t the smartest thing for a player from Wolfsburg to do. [FFT: When they released you from your contract, they said you posed a threat to team spirit. Do you think that was a fair comment?] No, it wasn’t fair. Me and the manager, Dieter Hecking, didn’t get on well – we just drifted further and further apart. He lied to me a lot, and I found it hard to accept. He wouldn’t give me honest answers. I didn’t have any issues with any of my team-mates. The coach had no intention of playing me, and I didn’t want to stay there. “I STILL HAVE THOSE PAnTS – I GOT FInED MORE FOR THAT THAn CLUBS GET FInED FOR RACISM. IT’S CRAZY” What’s it like to lose £400,000 in one night of gambling? Belinda Park, London Well, I ended up losing ‘only’ £20,000 that night! But yes, it’s true that at one point during the evening I was down as much as £400,000 – actually, probably more like £450,000. It wasn’t very nice. I suppose I was seeking the same kind of adrenaline rush off the pitch that I’d experienced on it. That’s what got me to that point. I managed to win some money back eventually. That was a real eye-opener, and helpful to me because I never gambled again. What did you really think about the ‘Lord Bendtner’ internet craze? How were you affected by it? Keil Hampton, via Facebook It started off being a very positive thing and then it became negative. I’ve seen loads of people put Lord in front of their name since. I just thought, ‘If you can’t beat them, join them’ so put the name on some merchandise. I’m happy with it now. I didn’t take it as anything bad. How do you reflect on your 2016-17 spell at Nottingham Forest? Lee Clarke, via Twitter It wasn’t a great success. I signed for Philippe Montanier but we didn’t play that well, so when he got fired we had 12 January 2021 FourFourTwo

YOU ASK How different is your reputation in Denmark and England? Rhodri Dalton, via Instagram I don’t know how to answer that – I’m not sure what my reputation is like in England, as it’s been such a long time since I lived there. I think most people associate me with the negative stories. In Denmark, they know what I’ve been through as a young man up until now. I’ve had some positive feedback, and people can see what sort of career I’ve had. There is respect there, and I think the public know me better. HIGHS & LOWS Far left The celebration In 2018, an assault on a taxi driver that cost a cool €100k earned you 50 days of house arrest. HIGH: 2007 Middle Bendtner failed How do you reflect on that incident? Scores 11 goals for Birmingham to flourish during spells Ben Lynch, Bedford on loan as Blues win promotion at both Juve and Forest Let me start by stating that I’ll always Above At boyhood club defend the people I love. I was upset LOW: 2009 Copenhagen last term with the way it all came out and I got Suffers car accident which leads Below “Er, when I said punished. I believe it was self-defence. I wanted a snakebite...” But the incident didn’t come out great to long-term injury problems for me personally. All I can say is that if you were in a similar situation, you’d HIGH: 2010 defend the people you love, too. If you Hits Champions League hat-trick had a guy driving after you and saying as Arsenal obliterate Porto 5-0 he wanted to beat you up, phoning his pals and saying they should help him beat you up, driving in front of you and throwing things, you’d find it a difficult situation. Getting out of that the right way isn’t easy, and with your girlfriend. LOW: 2012 Where do you see yourself five years Fined by UEFA after revealing from now? Do you have ambitions to sponsored pants at the Euros become a coach, and how would you deal with a player like you? a new caretaker boss in Gary Brazil. He HIGH: 2017 my thing for Rosenborg, I’d make the Henry George, Colchester was very fair and honest with me, and Bags a league-high 19 goals as squad – but then it didn’t happen. I felt I’ve just signed up to do my coaching said he wanted to go with the younger Rosenborg win Eliteserien title let down and in quite a dark place after badges. In the next five years I hope players at the club. He admitted I had I was left out. For one and a half years to have completed all my courses and no future there. I don’t have especially but I felt more in tune with the people I had a goal to get into that squad, and be involved with a team as a coach or good memories from Forest. around me. Morten Olsen was a really I wasn’t successful. an assistant. My plan is to stay in the good manager for me. game for as long as possible. With my Is it true that you were blackmailed You’ve previously admitted, “I want experience, I can share a lot of things by a woman to get a boob job? How hard was it to be dropped from to go back in time and hit that young and help younger players. I’ve worked Steve Alexander, Bristol Denmark’s 2018 World Cup squad with many great coaches like Morten Yes, that is very true. [Laughs] But she after a positive time at Rosenborg? lad on the head with a hammer.” Olsen, Arsene Wenger and Steve Bruce, got the boob job, not me! Let me just Did you get a proper explanation? What advice would you give so I can take bits from each of them. say that buying her a boob job was the Gabriel Siaw, Whitehaven your younger self if you had least of my problems at that moment. No, I never got a good explanation. the opportunity? You recently said, “I became too fond I was happy to pay the money. That was definitely one of the Trevor Black, Havant of the lifestyle that came with the toughest things I’ve ever I would like to have been money.” Is that the main reason you You scored 30 goals in 81 games for experienced. One of my more driven as a player, didn’t achieve as much as you could your country. What brought the best reasons for moving to and reduced my curious have in your career? out of you in international outings Rosenborg [in March side. When you’re young Graham Royson, Kettering for Denmark? 2017] was to get and coming through, you Definitely. As a person I like to explore brightonleccytv, via Instagram into Denmark’s need people around you things, and obviously with cash comes My team-mates and coach. Playing for World Cup squad. for help and support. possibilities. You meet people and find your country is the greatest thing you I had a lengthy I wish I’d had more yourself in situations that you wouldn’t can do, and I felt at home representing conversation of that – I wasn’t normally have dreamt of. It was really Denmark. It always gave me a special and was told as lucky as some exciting, and at times I found it hard to feeling and the camaraderie was great. that if I did people. I wish I’d balance playing football as well. I didn’t find international games easier, done much more in my career. ‘Both Sides’, written by Nicklas Bendtner with Rune Skyum-Nielsen, is published by Monoray – www.octopusbooks.co.uk FourFourTwo January 2021 13





MEAnWHILE In… …Cologne, the RheinEnergieStadion has remained without supporters – but sad clowns have been allowed in “WHAT’S UP, COCO?” to a spike in COVID-19 cases. Borussia Dortmund RheinEnergieStadion to model the jersey, but the were watched by 11,500 a fortnight later, but Köln jester didn’t seem in the mood – perhaps because 1 were allowed just 300 before the Bundesliga went the team were winless at the start of the season. This season didn’t start well for supporters back behind closed doors in early November. of Bundesliga strugglers FC Köln – and even the club Supporters quickly snapped up 3,000 of the shirts clown has been feeling pretty miserable about it all. That was bad news for Cologne’s annual carnival, anyway, raising funds for local causes – although the The Billy Goats were due to welcome 9,000 fans to which begins on November 11 and traditionally sees kit didn’t bring the side any better luck: Köln lost 2-1 their opening league match in September, only for FC Köln release a special one-off kit for the occasion. to Union Berlin. We can probably picture what the local officials to pull the plug at the last minute due The club went ahead anyway, inviting a clown to the clown’s face looked like when he heard that result. 16 January 2021 FourFourTwo

UPFROnT SOUTH SHIELDS: BUMBLEBEE 1 TSAR 0 BIRD IN THE HAND “DO YOU LIKE MY NEW 2 FA CUP FINALISTS 3 4 5 HAIRSTYLE, LADS?” As renowned Russian history There’s two things we know If Watford taught us anything in the buff Ally McCoist would tell us, back about swans: they’ll break your arm, If you’re searching for a Christmas or 1980s, it’s that investment from in 1918, Yekaterinburg was the place and they act like nutters when they birthday present for a football-loving a successful musician will inevitably where the Romanovs were executed become football mascots. relative, then look no further than this lead to an FA Cup final appearance. after the October Revolution. Today, Millwall’s Zampa The Lion found that Ronaldinho dog hoodie. it’s the home of a bee on a motorbike. out when he faced Swansea’s Cyril The That could be great news for South A full 100 years after the last Tsar Swan in 1998: he was punched, before Whether they’ve actually got a dog Shields, who may be in the Northern met his end at the hands of Lenin & his head was booted into the crowd. or not, they’ll appreciate it for its sheer Premier League but are about to Co, Yekaterinburg was a host city for “Don’t f**k with swans,” the headless ridiculousness – for reasons known stun the world thanks to their new the 2018 World Cup; today, FC Ural lion was warned – a bit late by then. only to the makers, they’ve made him shareholder: Little Mix singer Jade play in the Russian Premier League, German third-tier club FSV Zwickau look like some sort of weird sumo Thirlwall. OK, she’s not exactly Elton and have Pavel Pogrebnyak upfront. wisely decided not to risk having a real wrestler with the hair of Kim Jong-un. John, and South Shields don’t have Even better, they were cheered on or even semi-human swan, recruiting John Barnes, but they are managed by a bumblebee mascot in a sidecar an inanimate 4ft mascot instead – but The good news is that you can order by ex-Aston Villa midfielder Graham when they hosted Spartak. Ural came manager Joe Enochs was still forced to online from Customals Pet Products, for Fenton, which is almost as good. from behind to draw – maybe just as remove the troublesome bird from the the minimal price of just $38.95. The well, because if the city’s history is pitch before kick-off against Waldhof hoodies come in six sizes, ideal for your Start writing that FA Cup final tune anything to go by, defeat could have Mannheim. Luckily, Joe survived with chihuahua or St Bernard, and you can now, Jade. Actually, football doesn’t had dire consequences for the bee. both head and arm intact. buy ones with the face of Pele, Lionel need to hear another Little Mix song; Messi or Neymar. Yes, all come with the maybe see if Elton’s free... same North Korean dictator hairstyle... SALMON KINGS “HEY GUYS, THESE ARE WUHAN CLAN “EXETER WON THIS 6 7 100 PER CENT WOOL” 8 9 MATCH, BY A LOT!” Bodo/Glimt have become It’s been quite the year for the northernmost champions in the Sub-zero temperatures never stopped Chinese side Wuhan Zall, and it ended How do you cheer yourself up after history of football – and they’ve got Russian ultras huddling together and in pretty dramatic fashion, too. a humiliating election defeat? You stick a giant fish to show for it. taking their shirts off, so a pandemic In January, the club became exiled on an Exeter City shirt, pose for a nice The Norwegian side (whose derby wasn’t going to stop them either. at a training camp in Spain after their photo, then buy yourself a cardboard starred in FFT 306) are based in the home city became the epicentre of cut-out at St James Park, obviously. Arctic Circle – even further north Social distancing doesn’t seem to COVID-19, months after bagging sixth than Iceland – and romped to their have been much of a thing at Russian position in the Chinese Super League – That’s what Donald Trump did after first ever league title in November. matches – Champions League games their highest ever place. losing to Joe Biden in the US polls – The town of Bodo is situated on have welcomed big crowds this term, Things went less well in a truncated at least we’re pretty confident it was Norway’s west coast, and the club and Lokomotiv Moscow fans gathered 2020 campaign – they finished fifth of The Donald himself who acquired the have offered free fish to fans in the together in traditional fashion. eight in a regional group, despite being cut-out, and definitely not a cheeky past – as well as plonking a huge cheered on by a number of supporters Torquay United fan with Photoshop. inflatable salmon next to the pitch. Naturally, they all took their shirts who had travelled by bus to fixtures at They will now enter Champions off, although one fan compensated a neutral venue in Suzhou. But Wuhan Fortunately, Exeter won the match League qualifying next season, and with a fetching woolly hat and gloves lost two play-offs, facing a relegation in question, so Trump didn’t need to we wish them well – mainly because – informing his friends that it’s very head-to-head with brilliantly named dispatch lawyer Rudy Giuliani to the FA everyone wants to see a bemused important to keep your extremities Zhejiang Energy Greentown. headquarters and protest the outcome Cristiano Ronaldo forced to play at warm in winter, and you really can’t Thankfully, Zall narrowly triumphed, – just in case, Rudy was already busy a stadium with a massive salmon. be too careful. Then he went back to and will hope for a less eventful 2021. tracking down a phone number for FA shouting loudly and exposing himself Autos, a vehicle repair company based to a deadly virus. just outside of Reading. FourFourTwo January 2021 17

UPFROnT HE’S GONE WHERE? Ex-Arsenal and Barça star Alex Song has made a surprise career move at 33 – joining Arta/Solar7 of Djibouti GAMES THAT CHAnGED MY LIFE JAMIE CARRAGHER 18 January 2021 FourFourTwo

UPFROnT Liverpool 3 Aston Villa 0 JERSEY’S YEAR FROM HELL January 18, 1997 Premier League Bulls won every game, but ended up lower than they started “This was my full debut for Liverpool, and I managed The year 2020 will be remembered as an club – not just the players. It’s been a four or Pictures Adrian Topley Photography to score on it, too! Patrik Berger felt unwell, and I was odd one for every football club – but few five-year process, and we had momentum.” drafted in to play as a central midfielder. I was so full have had it odder than Jersey Bulls. of adrenaline that I clobbered Andy Townsend during Instead, Jersey had to return to Division One the first 20 seconds and got booked. But that actually The islanders joined the English non-league and try to win promotion again – this time, in settled me down, and I did all right alongside Jamie pyramid for the first time last term – entering harder circumstances. “This season we’ve lost Redknapp. Five minutes into the second half, I put us Combined Counties League Division One, just a lot of players who can’t travel,” explains the in front by heading home a corner in front of the Kop. like Guernsey FC had done in 2011. gaffer. “Some work in schools and can’t leave I was only 18. It was an amazing feeling with 40,000 fans cheering for me. That game changed everything They won 27 of 27 fixtures, scoring 99 the island, and others work – suddenly, I felt like a proper footballer.” goals and conceding seven, in offices so wouldn’t be able having welcomed a crowd to go back for five days. Arsenal 1 Liverpool 2 of more than 1,000 to their season opener “Our own government in May 12, 2001 FA Cup final in England’s 10th tier. Jersey haven’t allowed any teams in for sport, so we’ve “This was one of the highlights of my favourite ever Their 27th victory – over played every game away.” season, when we won our treble. We’d already lifted British Airways FC, who are the League Cup, but this felt even more special being based near Heathrow and Ahead of November’s the FA Cup – and especially the way we did it. There jetted into Jersey for the lockdown, Jersey had only were seven minutes left and we were losing to a great match – sealed promotion as played four league games Arsenal side, but then Michael Owen popped up with early as March 9, with 11 games still to play. – they won them all, but sat 11th with up two goals. It was a real smash and grab victory and, to eight games in hand on sides above them. to be honest, we didn’t deserve it, but our luck was in. “Promotion was always the first aim for us, It remains unclear whether they will be able It had to be Liverpool fans’ greatest day for nearly 10 and we were on a journey,” Bulls boss Gary to complete their fixtures. Guernsey FC pulled years, and I remember all the scenes of celebration in Freeman tells FFT. “We knew we’d be strong, out of the Isthmian League this season due to the stands were incredible.” but didn’t expect to win every game.” travel restrictions, and FC Isle of Man have put their North West Counties League bow on hold. Milan 3 Liverpool 3 (2-3 pens) When coronavirus halted football a week Jersey’s plan to catch up could involve three later, though, everything changed. Within games in three days on trips to the mainland. May 25, 2005 Champions League final a fortnight, the FA decided to null and void “We might have to take a big squad,” says the league, cancelling Jersey’s promotion. Freeman. “But that third game will be tough. “I played 737 matches for Liverpool, but nothing was There’s no guarantees the league will finish better than those 120 minutes and nine penalty kicks “They made the decision so quickly – they anyway – we could end up in the same league in Istanbul. To be 3-0 down at the interval, then come could have been patient and thought about for a third season. It’s been really frustrating.” back to 3-3 and win the shootout was beyond belief. points per game,” sighs Freeman. Jersey’s Chris Flanagan At half-time, our manager Rafa Benitez was so calm points per game wouldn’t have been hard to in the dressing room. It wasn’t about trying to make work out. “I was gutted for everyone at the a comeback, just simply stopping it from getting any worse. I think a few of us would have been happy to end the game there and take the 3-0 defeat, but we went out and turned it around. I never won a Premier League title, but I wouldn’t exchange my Champions League winner’s medal for one. I believe it’s a bigger competition, which some of the greatest players have never won. The original Brazilian Ronaldo never lifted the trophy, for example, so I’m proud to have done it.” Real Madrid 0 Liverpool 1 February 25, 2009 Champions League last 16 “Captaining Liverpool to victory at the Bernabeu was such a special moment. Stevie [Gerrard] was injured, and I got the armband on the night. To lead the side out in the footsteps of so many famous players was incredible, but you want to do yourself justice as well. Thankfully, we sealed a 1-0 win when Yossi Benayoun scored after 80 minutes, silencing about 70,000 fans. I was up against guys like Raul, Gonzalo Higuain and Arjen Robben, and really pleased with a clean sheet.” Sam Pilger Jamie Carragher’s new book, ‘The Greatest Games’, is published by Bantam Press and available to buy now FourFourTwo January 2021 19

UPFROnT EnD OF YEAR SPECIAL THE ULTIMATE QUIZ Remember anything about 2020 other than what your living room looks like? There’s only one way to find out 0 1 Former Republic of Ireland gaffer 10 1 1 Which centre-back ‘partnered’ Mick McCarthy made his return to Liverpool’s Virgil van Dijk in the the touchline in October – which These ex-Premier League bosses have led which European outfits in 2020? 2019-20 PFA Team of the Year? European team hired him? 1 2 Troubled Wigan inflicted an 8-0 0 2 Who is now England Under-21s’ demolition job on which fellow record scorer, having netted his Championship strugglers in July, 14th goal against Turkey? ahead of their relegation? 0 3 Which two sides played out the 1 3 I grew up in Ghana, relocated to first Premier League fixture of Spain when I was 18 and played Project Restart back on June 17? my first Premier League game in October. Which top-flight star am I? 0 4 One League Two club was given a reprieve from relegation after 1 4 Which whipping boys set a new Macclesfield were sanctioned – competitive unbeaten run – of who were the lucky survivors? two matches – for the first time in their international football history? 0 5 Man United set a new Premier League record for penalties won 1 5 Liverpool ‘also’ tasted victory in last season – with how many? the Supercopa this year – which South American nation are the 0 6 Who headed the winning goal Reds’ title-winning namesakes from? in Lisbon as Bayern Munich beat PSG to secure 2020 Champions League Final glory? 0 7 Which ex-Wimbledon midfielder released his well-received and moving book Lost Without You: Loving and Losing Tanya in September? 0 8 Can you identify the top-scoring players in 2019-20 from each of the competitions below? Premier League Championship League One League Two Champions League Europa League 0 9 Former Fulham left-back Ryan Sessegnon joined which German club on a season-long loan from Tottenham in October?

viSiT THE HOME OF THE FOOTBALL QUIZ fourfourtwo.com/quiz 16 Which team’s ground hosted the 2020 Europa League Final? 1 7 Which brave ex-Tottenham and 2 2 Which traditional English giants 2 In July, which player became the England striker was unveiled as were relegated from the WSL first to concede five penalties in a tree on ITV show The Masked when its 2019-20 season was a single Premier League season? Singer in January? decided on points per game in May? 3 Connah’s Quay Nomads ended 1 8 What was the hefty final score 2 3 Scotland booked their place at which Welsh juggernaut’s streak after extra time when Torquay Euro 2020 via two nervy penalty of eight league titles in 2019-20? hosted Crawley in their bonkers shootout wins – which team did FA Cup First Round humdinger? they topple in the semi-finals? 3 1 As of April, which was the only European country still playing 1 9 Arsenal acquired their Brazilian 24 Former Burton Albion and Derby league games amid COVID-19? centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes gaffer Nigel Clough returned to from which club last summer? football in November by joining 3 2 Real Madrid found themselves which ailing League Two club? 3-0 down at half-time in their 2 0 In making his 177th outing for first Champions League match Spain, who surpassed Gianluigi 2 5 Non-league side St Albans City of 2020-21 – against who? Buffon’s European record of caps welcomed an unorthodox new in November’s international fixtures? sponsor this year in the form of 3 Former Liverpool right-back Jon which British rock band? Flanagan joined ex-West Brom 21 Which Football League striker Saido Berahino at which side unleashed this, er, 2 6 Phil Neville’s successor as boss Belgian outfit in November? eye-catching goalkeeper of England Women – who will strip over the summer? take charge of the Lionesses in 3 4 Who left Barnsley in October to 2021 – hails from which country? become the New York Red Bulls’ latest figurehead? 2 7 Which Englishman bagged four goals in a July Premier League 3 5 Javier Mascherano hung up his drubbing, relegating a doomed boots in November – for whom Norwich in the process? did he play his final club game? These four men were team-mates of which current international coach? 28 Answers: 1. APOEL 2. Eddie Nketiah 3. Aston Villa and Sheffield United 4. Stevenage 5. 14 6. Kingsley Coman 7. Vinnie Jones 8. Jamie Vardy (23), Aleksandar Mitrovic/Ollie Watkins (26), Ivan Toney (24), Eoin Doyle (25), Robert Lewandowski (15), Bruno Fernandes (8) 9. Hoffenheim 10. Saint-Etienne (Claude Puel), Villarreal (Unai Emery), ADO Den Haag (Alan Pardew), Schalke (David Wagner) 11. Caglar Soyuncu 12. Hull 13. Thomas Partey 14. San Marino 15. Uruguay 16. FC Köln 17. Teddy Sheringham 18. Torquay 5-6 Crawley 19. Lille 20. Sergio Ramos 21. Bristol City 22. Liverpool 23. Israel 24. Mansfield 25. Enter Shikari 26. Netherlands (Sarina Wiegman) 27. Michail Antonio 28. Luis Enrique 29. David Luiz 30. TNS (The New Saints) 31. Belarus 32. Shakhtar Donetsk 33. Charleroi 34. Gerhard Struber 35. Estudiantes

UPFROnT ANTS IN HIS PANTS A game in Brazil was halted after the Jacuipense goalkeeper was attacked by ants, having accidentally landed on their anthill 1-0 up, then Jamie Vardy and Daniel Sturridge both came off the bench and scored. It was the Sturridge winner in injury time that everyone went ballistic at, though – it was an intimate venue and you felt very close to the action in this incredible moment. Who from your team’s past would you bring back to play for the current side? Ray Parlour for his character and form in cup finals. Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp would be amazing, however – I’d love to see Thierry live again and playing in his prime, carving sides up. Tony Adams would also be great, as he’s just what Arsenal need: a leader. LAURA Who has or had the hardest shot WOODS you’ve ever seen? LAURAARSEWNALOODS I didn’t watch Roberto Carlos’ free-kick against France [in 1997] live, but I later The talkSPORT breakfast worked at the Star Sixes and we asked host and Sky Sports screen him to recreate it on a much smaller star on Welsh cakes, Belgian mosh pits, a topless scale. He hit the ball pretty hard then... Ray Parlour and turbo Tinder-swiping at the Emirates Where’s the best place you’ve ever watched a game? At Euro 2016, I saw Belgium vs Ireland in a fan park. The Irish and Belgian fans were probably the best that summer – the atmosphere was brilliant and it felt like being at a festival. I was grabbed by a group of Belgium supporters, who took me into a mosh pit. I was on one of their shoulders and didn’t have a lot of say in the matter, but it was good fun. What was the first match that you What was your finest moment of your team is not true. But due to my What’s the best food you ever saw live? as a player? job, I now watch many different teams, have ever had at a game? Arsenal vs Newcastle in 1999-00 – my When I was at school, I played footballers and managers. I like people The Welsh cakes at Rodney dad is a Newcastle fan, and everyone as many sports as possible. We and finding out what makes them tick, Parade! I was there to cover on my mum’s side supports Arsenal. never had a girls’ football team, so I try to get to know them as people a cup tie between Newport I remember being really excited about but in PE we used to rotate sports and inevitably end up admiring certain and Manchester City, and the match and hoping to see loads of and I remember being better at clubs because of a player or coach. It’s Newport put Welsh cakes goals, but it was 0-0. I have affection football than everybody else, as impossible to work in football and not in the press area. I’d never for Newcastle because of my dad, and I played with my brothers and ran respect every team. I’m still an Arsenal we always watch our games together. them ragged. That was a lot of fun. fan, but I’m not as tribal. eaten one before and it was delicious. Who was your childhood hero and What do you miss the most about What’s your favourite goal you’ve did you ever meet them? going to a match? ever seen? What’s the funniest or Ray Parlour [right]. I have a few, but if As a fan, I like all the smells of going to It wasn’t the most beautiful goal, but strangest thing you’ve ever seen or I’m honest with myself it was always football – I love walking into a pub and I covered Euro 2016 and England vs heard at a game? Ray. I worked at Sky for about six years the stale beer smell, then the murmur Wales in Lens. Gareth Bale put Wales I was once at the Emirates Stadium for before I met him, and passed him on of the crowd as you edge closer to the a Champions League game, and there the stairs once but didn’t say anything. ground, when you can see the stadium was someone just sat looking at Tinder. I met him properly when I worked on in the distance. Once inside, everything They weren’t watching the match and the Sir Bobby Robson golf tournament becomes so much louder and activates instead were swiping at a really quick in Portugal, which Ray was playing in. your senses. Those moments are ones rate. Every now and again they’d put Afterwards, we all congregated in a bar I really enjoy. their head up, then go back to swiping. on the beach, so I asked for a picture. It was very odd. He had his top off and I was wearing How has watching football changed shorts, so when I posted it online I got for you since you were a kid? Which player would you choose as texts from mates asking why we were I don’t have tribal ties any more. When your room-mate? on holiday together! Now I get to work you’re a kid, your team is your team – I’d go for a player from the past. The with him at talkSPORT. the rest are the devil, and any criticism players nowadays are too professional and no one would sit and get plastered with me, so I’ll go for Ray Parlour. He 22 January 2021 FourFourTwo

UPFROnT has so many stories and I could listen THE HISTORY MAKER to them all night. If it were a manager, I’d go for Arsene Wenger – I’ve never In 2020, an African manager won a European league for the first time interviewed Arsene but would love to. KF Tirana’s long wait to reclaim the Albanian title eliminated by Red Star Belgrade, then losing to Young What’s the most important piece of finally came to an end in 2020 – and their manager Boys in the Europa League play-off round. memorabilia that you have or wish made even bigger history. you still had? “That was the biggest surprise in my career,” Egbo I had a yellow David Seaman JVC shirt No African gaffer had ever won a European league says of the league title. “The club had waited for 11 [above] when I was young. I lived in it, until Ndubuisi Egbo’s triumph, after the former Nigeria years – it was a difficult period for a side that’s used absolutely adored it, and have no idea goalkeeper transformed the team’s fortunes. to winning trophies. We even got relegated and came where it went. Heartbreaking. up again. I’m really proud of what I accomplished.” The 47-year-old went to two Africa Cup of Nations What’s the best piece of advice you tournaments as a player – the second coming shortly Sadly, Egbo’s year hasn’t ended quite so happily – have ever heard or read from either after signing for KF Tirana in 2001. After joining fellow less than four months after his historic achievement, a player or manager? Albanian team Bylis, where he later became a coach he was sacked after winning one of the club’s first From watching Wenger, the one thing and then the manager, he returned to Tirana in 2014, two games of the new league season, then suffering I’d take is that if there’s something you initially as assistant and goalkeeping coach. a cup loss to a second-tier side. “I have no regrets,” don’t want to talk about, then just say he says. “What I did at Tirana cannot be erased – it’s you didn’t see it. Last December, he was asked to take over as boss. in the Guinness Book of Records now.” “The club had already sacked a couple of coaches last Who’s your current favourite player? season, after some bad results,” Egbo tells FFT. “The A pioneer, Egbo admits his time in Albania has not I love watching Adama Traoré play for team was eighth out of 10 teams in the table, and in been 100 per cent free of racism, but he stresses the Wolves. Nuno Espirito Santo is one of the relegation zone. The players were psychologically majority of people have always been supportive and my favourite bosses, and the way he’s down and out at that point. hopes his famous feat can inspire others. handled Traoré has been superb. He’s so powerful and fast, can cut through “My first game was against our arch rivals Partizani. “Albania, like every nation – including Nigeria – has lines and do it with the most amazing Tirana hadn’t beaten them for almost six years, but good and bad people,” he explains. “Albanians are amount of speed – but the end product we managed to win 2-1 and the rest was history. We wonderful people – welcoming and who give respect, wasn’t there before. Nuno has worked then went 16 matches without defeat, and won 20 love and support to foreigners. I can’t deny there are closely with him, and he’s developed of our last 23 games.” a few bad eggs who need to change their mentality into a great player. towards other races, but it’s a delicate topic. Aided by top scorer Michael Ngoo, a Londoner who If you could drop yourself into your previously represented Liverpool and Oldham, it was “I hope my success paves the way for other African all-time five-a-side team, who would a huge turnaround that ended with Tirana becoming managers to be considered for coaching jobs now, in you be playing alongside? champions for the first time since 2009. Egbo became Europe and elsewhere. I hope it gives them belief I’d have to go in goal, alongside Tony the first African to lead a club into the Champions that they can make it, too. The jinx has been broken.” Adams, Patrick Vieira, Dennis Bergkamp League: Tirana defeated Dinamo Tbilisi before being Emanuele Giulianelli and Thierry Henry. Who would be your dream co-host on the talkSPORT breakfast show? Jurgen Klopp: he’d be entertaining and insightful in equal measure. He comes across as someone really interested in football, but also social situations – so there’d be loads of things to talk about. That would be good fun, right? James Andrew Listen to Laura Woods on talkSPORT’s breakfast show, Monday to Wednesday FourFourTwo January 2021 23

UPFROnT INTERVIEW HILTOn The Brazilian centre-back may be 43 years old, but he’s still playing against Mbappe & Co in Ligue 1 – a decade after being threatened at gunpoint You began the season as a regular at fewer muscular injuries. I don’t drink to keep up with physical conditioning. How do you find having team-mates Montpellier, and the team got off to alcohol either. By and large, the mind I train even more than others – I arrive young enough to be your son? a good start. Do you still love football is the main secret – my brain can take before everyone else to do my muscle Sometimes they bring in boys from the as much as ever? me anywhere. I tell my wife that I only strengthening session, then sometimes academy, 16 years old... you’ve got to No doubt about it. I’m only playing at know how old I am when other people I’m mad enough to do more at home! be kidding me! [Laughs] But inside the 43 because of my passion – that’s the mention it. Occasionally they will say, dressing room, everyone’s equal. They same as when I grew up with a ball at “You’re 40 and still play football.” My What’s it like marking players such called me ‘papi’ (grandpa), but it’s with my feet in Brazil. I wake up every day usual answer is, “It’s been three years as Kylian Mbappe (left) at your age? affection and admiration. with a smile, knowing I’ll play football since I was 40, mate!” I used to be quick for a centre-back, one more day. My original plan was to and I’m not as slow as people usually Have you heard about Kazuyoshi play until I was 40 – I didn’t expect I’d How do you deal with training? think, considering my age. Obviously, Miura in Japan? Still going at 53... go beyond that, and still be a starter Usually managers preserve the oldest I’m not going to challenge Mbappe Yes, I’ve heard about Miura – I think and captain. There were 40-year-olds players from their toughest training for a sprint – not even the 20-year-old I should pay him a visit in Japan and still in the game, but not playing every sessions. But in my opinion, the less defenders can catch Kylian! [Laughs] see what he’s eating, so I could play week. The one who really inspired me you exercise, the more you’ll struggle The only way to stop him is to get to for another 10 years! [Laughs] I did was Ze Roberto, who became a proper the ball first, to anticipate. some research on him, though, and if athlete in its literal meaning. I’m not mistaken, he had played only You’ve earned a couple of red cards four matches in the past five or six What’s the secret of your longevity? recently – one on the same day you years. That’s clearly for Guinness Book My healthy diet has helped a lot. It’s became the first 43-year-old to play of Records reasons – that’s not for me. more than 10 years since I stopped in Ligue 1 for 64 years... eating fast food. From time to time, Yes, I have to blame VAR for that! The You won the league with Marseille in I eat pizza or cook a burger at home, first red card was against Lyon. I made 2010, but left after someone broke but I haven’t touched industrialised a sliding tackle and touched the ball, into your home and pointed a gun at burgers or other types of food for the but I got the player too. Despite that, your head. How scary was that? past decade, and ended up having far I was very proud to become the oldest I grew up in Gama, close to Brasilia, player in Ligue 1. and saw too much violence. I played 24 January 2021 FourFourTwo

ASKING FOR TROUBLE Maskless fans crowded around UPFROnT Santos’ squad to give them a noisy airport send-off for an away game – several players then caught COVID-19 THE VIEW FROM THE STAnDS Is there an issue you feel strongly about? Contact us: [email protected] in Switzerland, then for four years in FourFourTwoUK northern France, and never witnessed FourFourTwo any sort of violence. On that day in Marseille, I had a few guests over: my GIVE A LITTLE RESPECT 4 STAR sister, brother-in-law, nephew and LETTER other relatives. My dog started to bark, Highly-paid footballers are usually and when I looked outside, I saw the portrayed negatively in the media, BELLES OF THE BRAWL guys wearing balaclavas. I just had and some do act irresponsibly at time to tell my family what was going times – but they are all human. So, In response to your feature about the rise of the on. Everyone was scared – they broke when the likes of Marcus Rashford, WSL [FFT 319], I think it’s worth noting that getting the door in and pistol-whipped me. Jordan Henderson and Raheem to this point has been controversial. The league’s I was bleeding and told them to take Sterling do some outstanding work creation was as much to do with finance as sporting whatever they wanted, but not to for school kids, the less fortunate, achievement – compounded in 2013 when newly touch anyone. After that, we moved. the NHS and disabled among others, monied Man City were allowed in at the expense of we really need to acknowledge their Doncaster Rovers Belles... one match into a season. Then you won the league again, in caring and generous sides as well. For me, it went against the notion of competition your first season with Montpellier. Those three England players have and slightly taints the WSL’s legacy. The Belles won When I was unveiled, I said we were been inspirational during what has the WSL 2 in 2017-18, but decided not to go up due Ligue 1 contenders and some people been a difficult year, and for once to funding. Instead, they sunk into the third tier. said I was insane. But we went on to given football a good name. Truly, Daniel Cooke, via email have a perfect year. When we started the hearts of lions. to win and went top, I kept pushing Rob Wilson, via email JAMMIN’ WITH ARSENE Island Discs?! He certainly tops my the players who hadn’t experienced ‘people I’d love to have a drink with’ a winning streak like that, because I’d THE HAND THAT FEEDS I really enjoyed your brilliant cover list, anyway. Despite the sour end lived it with Marseille. Winning that story on Arsene Wenger [FFT 319], to his time at Arsenal, I’m glad he’ll league title with Montpellier was the I sympathise with Premier League which just reinforced what a colossal always be remembered in the right greatest achievement of my career. managers like Jurgen Klopp getting figure we have to celebrate in decades way. There’s no one quite like him. angry about injuries in this crazy, to come. He has always been Did you deserve a Brazil cap? jam-packed season – but he should a special one in his own way, Cristianne Miller, via email If I’d stayed in Brazil, I would have had be careful about putting too much able (and willing) to talk better chances. When I was at Parana blame on the TV companies as part about any subject; always [from 2000-01], there were rumours of it. Lest he forget that it’s those with something useful to about the national team. Something same companies who have lined say. How many other happened when I was with Servette, his club’s coffers to the tune of an bosses would have Bob though, and I still don’t know if it was estimated £175m in 2019-20. Is Marley on their Desert true or a prank. A woman rang me, it their fault that Mo Salah, Thiago, introducing herself as the secretary of Sadio Mané and Naby Keita have Luiz Felipe Scolari. She talked to me all had COVID-19 this season? Their about the qualifiers and their plans for fault that FIFA insist on cramming in the 2002 World Cup. I was injured at three games in every international the time, however, and never knew if break? Their fault some of his players they contacted the club about me. have suffered genuinely unfortunate But I don’t have any regrets – lots of injuries along the way? Granted, it’s players get one cap, then go downhill. stupid to play a 12.30pm Saturday game three days after one in Europe, How tough will it be when you finally but his rants just make him sound have to retire? like an angry man yelling at clouds. I haven’t thought about it yet – I don’t Will Roberts, via email want to suffer in advance! I’d like to play for one more year, although I’m WIN! Ice Pred T-shirt for Star Letter and an A4 print of trying to prepare my mind for potential choice for Spine Line, courtesy of Art of Football retirement when my current contract ends [in June]. I want to be completely 320 SPINE LINE: “‘4,054 miles’ refers to the grim distance that FC Sakhalin must travel to play Sokol satisfied with my career, knowing that Saratov for their closest league game,” says Dan Uniacke, presumably wincing. Got it! #FFTSpineLine I took that decision at the right time. Caio Carrieri

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BEST PLAYERS 2020 FULPL3V6O&TEPS42On Football’s glitziest individual award has been scrapped this year – but it won’t stop FFT crowning our own king and queen of a mad 2020. With votes from 128 journalists in 102 countries, we discover who’s been robbed... Words Mark White, Ed McCambridge, Joe Brewin, Jeff Kassouf

BEST PLAYERS 2020

BEST PLAYERS 2020 AnGEL DI MARIA  BRUnO FERnAnDES PSG | Argentina | 0 PTS Manchester United | Portugal | 10 PTS Alas, the only man with zero votes – but his 10 United’s 2019-20 had two parts: before and place on our 30-strong shortlist recognises POINTS after Bruno. Prior to his late-January arrival, a fine year for the ex-Manchester United flop. the Reds sat 14 points behind third-placed While Neymar and Kylian Mbappe hogged Leicester, chasing a lost cause. But then came the spotlights, Di Maria kept busy conducting the fightback: eight goals and seven assists the orchestra. The 32-year-old’s outstanding for their catalytic recruit, sealing an unlikely vision cut through defences as PSG reached Champions League place. The 26-year-old is a first Champions League final, while his 14 already talismanic at Old Trafford, marrying Ligue 1 assists last term were twice as many his stunning ability on the ball with a fierce as any other footballer in France’s top flight. desire to drag team-mates along with him. JORDAn HEnDERSOn KARIM BEnZEMA Liverpool | England | 1 PT Real Madrid | France | 11 PTS It’s easy to point out Henderson’s leadership TAKE OFF HIS 14 PEnALTIES AnD Benzema, the narrative claimed, was nothing skills as the reason why he’s one of the first IMMOBILE’S TALLY LAST SEASOn more than a magician’s assistant. But there names on Jurgen Klopp’s team-sheet. It does, WOULD STILL BE 4TH In SERIE A was a reason why Real Madrid didn’t directly however, ignore what a supreme midfielder replace Cristiano Ronaldo in 2018. Out of the he has grown into. Henderson rarely wastes by leading Scotland to Euro 2020, their first showman’s shadow he has twice top-scored a ball, his long-range passing is excellent and major finals in 22 years, via nervy shootout for Real, and this term led them to his third his intensity off the ball exemplary. The FWA victories over Israel and Serbia. Some going. La Liga title with seven goals after lockdown. Footballer of the Year has come to symbolise The understated Frenchman isn’t dimming this Liverpool era – with his heart and head. MARQUInHOS in his twilight years – instead, he’s proving his worth as a defining striker of this generation. HARRY KAnE PSG | Brazil | 4 PTS TREnT ALEXAnDER-ARnOLD Tottenham | England | 2 PTS Formerly considered little more than Thiago Silva’s hype man, Marquinhos has been at Liverpool | England | 13 PTS It seems unfair to defences that England’s the heart of PSG’s top 2020. After seamlessly best striker keeps improving. Kane seemingly adapting to a less familiar defensive midfield The Reds’ local hero carved out 13 top-flight downloads new patches to boost his game, role under Thomas Tuchel, the Brazilian also assists across 2019-20, after 12 the season and in 2020 he has developed further in an contributed vital goals – in the quarter and before. He only recently turned 22. Liverpool’s effective withdrawn role for Jose Mourinho’s semi-finals – as Les Parisiens marched to the arch playmaker – from his so-called defensive side. But he’s still scoring: seven goals after Champions League showpiece. Those golden role – is more than a pass-master, though: he Project Restart; 13 more before November’s moments were enough to demonstrate his typifies the champions’ style and guile with international break – not to mention beating leadership and, sure enough, he assumed the ace delivery and attacking thrust. Talk of him his assist record for a Premier League season captaincy from an outgoing Silva this season. moving to midfield has hushed: he’s too busy by October 26. Still surprising, still brilliant. rewriting what it means to be a right-back. ALISSOn LEOn GORETZKA ROMELU LUKAKU Liverpool | Brazil | 7 PTS Bayern Munich | Germany | 3 PTS Inter | Belgium | 14 PTS In 2018-19, Alisson’s first season at Liverpool, Goretzka was called a “Bayern pig” when he he kept as many clean sheets as he conceded As the youngest overseas player to plunder traded Schalke for Bavaria in 2018, but there’s goals – 36 – for both club and country. Those 100 Premier League goals, form like this was a good reason why they’re so alluring. In turn, sky-high standards haven’t dropped, either: in always Lukaku’s destiny. Having fired Inter to the 25-year-old has blossomed into a Swiss 2020 he added the Premier League trophy to within a point of a first Scudetto since 2010, army knife star: a goalscorer, preventer and his haul, averaging a clean sheet every other the Belgian took them agonisingly close to gut-busting worker. Take the 8-2 battering of game. Never is his value highlighted greater the Europa League crown – netting in every Barcelona: Goretzka dominated the midfield than in absentia, though. Adrian’s howler at knockout match. This may have been a year with an iron fist, yet delivered a sumptuous home to Atletico Madrid in the last 16 of the of near misses for Lukaku, but not in front of assist for Serge Gnabry to bag Bayern’s third. Champions League cost Klopp’s men dearly goal. He showed his detractors the real Rom. “He’s currently the best box-to-box player in in March, shorn of their giant No.1’s presence. the world,” insisted the astute Ralf Rangnick. ALPHOnSO DAVIES AnDREW ROBERTSOn Bayern Munich | Canada | 15 PTS Liverpool | Scotland | 3 PTS Davies seems to do everything at breakneck speed – but then, that’s not really surprising As a measure of his abilities, Robbo was the for a player who made his professional debut only member of Liverpool’s title-winning side at Vancouver aged 15. He began last season not to have a defined deputy waiting in the shoehorned out of position at left-back, yet wings. The man Mourinho once said makes became key to Bayern’s ruthless bullying of him tired just watching epitomises reliability; the Bundesliga and Europe. With boundless a constant provider in the final third, hurtling stamina, fearless dribbling and cheetah-like up and down the line to laser in his trademark pace, he tore Chelsea and Barça apart to seal crosses. Another stunning year was capped Champions League glory… and he’s only 20. 30 January 2021 FourFourTwo

BEST PLAYERS 2020 SOn HEUnG-MIn Buffon’s European record of 176 caps. It was the striker hit seven goals in his opening three also the year in which he became joint-leader Bundesliga appearances, two more to sink Tottenham | South Korea | 18 PTS for Champions League red cards (four) along PSG in the Champions League, and hasn’t let with Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edgar Davids. up. Ludicrously, his year up to November 21 It’s no shock that Spurs’ worst patch in 2020 had produced 38 goals in 35 games for club came in the three matches an in-form Son THOMAS MULLER and country, including four in a 5-2 victory at missed with a fractured arm. Tottenham took Hertha Berlin. He turned 20 in July. Be afraid. one point from a possible nine, crippling their Bayern Munich | Germany | 36 PTS Champions League hopes. The electric Korean nEYMAR has grown in prominence this year, though, A little over 12 months ago, Muller’s glittering becoming the first Asian to reach 50 Premier career at Bayern was on life support: frozen PSG | Brazil | 48 PTS League goals and starting 2020-21 with nine out of the side by former boss Niko Kovac, his in as many games. He even did the dreaded role reduced to that of 30-something impact The scenes of an inconsolable Neymar in the military service in lockdown – winning a prize substitute. After Kovac’s November sacking, aftermath of PSG’s Champions League final for the top performance among 157 trainees. though, replacement Hansi Flick immediately heartbreak may have surprised those who reinstated the ‘Raumdeuter’. Nine goals and worried about the Brazilian’s commitment to CIR0 IMMOBILE as many assists after the 2020 party poppers life in the French capital. Frequent histrionics – the latter, part of a 21-strong Bundesliga can sometimes mask his desire to win – but Lazio | Italy | 21 PTS season record haul – helped Bayern win big. here was a reminder, if ever one was required. When Neymar is in the mood – as he was for Take away the record 14 penalties Immobile MOHAMED SALAH PSG’s European quest – he remains laughably scored for Lazio last term, and the Italian’s unplayable; a schemer of effortless brilliance, tally would still be Serie A’s fourth-highest of Liverpool | Egypt | 42 PTS ceaseless fun and devastating end product. 2019-20. Instead, his lethal haul was enough to bag him the European Golden Shoe while Move over, Mo – goal-getting alone isn’t going JOSHUA KIMMICH equalling Gino Rosetti and Gonzalo Higuain’s to earn votes any more. He’s still rather good joint-record for the most goals in an Italian at that, mind: the Egyptian netted 10 Premier Bayern Munich | Germany | 59 PTS top-flight campaign. More importantly, those League goals in the second half of last term 36 goals amounted to 45 per cent of Lazio’s to ensure Liverpool’s title march stayed fully Arguably the world’s finest footballer in two total and propelled them into the Champions on course, and started 2020-21 with eight positions, Kimmich was regularly switched League for the first time since 2008. in as many matches. While Sadio Mané has between right-back and defensive midfield earned acclaim this year, Salah was the only for club and country again during 2020. His THIAGO ALCAnTARA top-tier player to make the top five for both stellar performances in both roles were key goals and assists. as Die Roten clinched their trophy hat-trick, Bayern/Liverpool | Spain | 23 PTS displaying admirable leadership for a player ERLInG HAALAnD still only 25. His outstanding reliability and The hypnotic Spaniard started his year with determination have become as valuable as three goals in as many Bundesliga outings, Dortmund | Norway | 43 PTS his pinpoint passes and spatial awareness. and ended his final campaign in Bavaria with Pleasingly, FFT’s voters agree. three winner’s medals. Thiago’s mesmerising The Leeds-born Norway international kicked passing at the base of midfield was crucial in off his 2020 by swapping Red Bull Salzburg KYLIAn MBAPPE delivering Bayern’s Treble, culminating in his for Borussia Dortmund, amid interest from brilliant swansong: August’s 1-0 victory over Manchester United. It proved a wise choice: PSG | France | 64 PTS PSG to secure Europe’s biggest prize. Is it any wonder that Liverpool fans were so pleased Last season’s Ligue 1 campaign might have to land their man for £25m? been cut short in April, but leaders PSG still won the title and Mbappe his second straight SERGE GnABRY Golden Boot. The 21-year-old’s importance was best highlighted in Les Parisiens’ run to Bayern Munich | Germany | 23 PTS Lisbon’s European showpiece, though, when his late introduction against Atalanta in the Ex-Arsenal man Gnabry proved the attacking quarters helped to overturn an ominous 1-0 ace of Bayern’s European run-in. Five goals deficit. He possibly should have made more in the Champions League knockout stages – of his opportunities in August’s final – but the one in the 8-2 hammering of Barcelona and explosive Frenchman will get his shot again. a brace in the semi-final victory over Lyon – were backed up by another in the DFB-Pokal VIRGIL VAn DIJK final, amounting to a remarkable Treble that had the continent rising to applause. Suffice Liverpool | Netherlands | 67 PTS to say, those struggles at West Brom in 2015 haven’t held him back. 42 The best defender in the world this year, so POINTS say our panel of experts, the 29-year-old has SERGIO RAMOS become the benchmark against which every other centre-back is measured. The towering Real Madrid | Spain | 27 PTS Dutchman didn’t miss a minute of Liverpool’s league-winning season, bossing opposition Madrid’s battle-weary leader remains as vital strikers with his customary intelligence and as ever to club and country. The 34-year-old elegance. Having been ruled out until April enjoyed another trophy-winning year, lifting 2021 with a cruciate injury sustained during a La Liga and Copa del rey Double, reaching October’s Merseyside derby, his true worth 100 career goals for Real, playing his 450th to the Reds may yet become apparent in the match for the club, and overtaking Gianluigi months to come. FourFourTwo January 2021 31

BEST SADIO MAnÉ His game has become about more than goals PLAYERS – see the delightful outside-of-the-boot assist 2020 Liverpool | Senegal | 113 PTS for Diogo Jota’s hat-trick goal at Atalanta in November, when the Merseysiders ran amok. MAnUEL nEUER “I’ll say it again. Sadio Mané best player in the league.” So tweeted No.1 fan Cesc Fabregas He’s come a long way. Jurgen Klopp & Co Bayern Munich | Germany | 69 PTS in September, after Liverpool’s ace frontman took something of a punt to polish the £34m had bagged a quick-fire brace to sink Chelsea man, who arrived from Southampton in 2016 Google Bayern Munich’s colossal goalkeeper at Stamford Bridge. Cesc wasn’t lying, either: as a raw but explosive talent. “Maybe people and the ‘people also ask’ box also throws up: he had given the same response when asked thought, ‘I’m not sure he’s worth it’, but we “Is Manuel Neuer still good?” Well, here’s your the question in January, having also named were 100 per cent sure about him,” noted the answer. It’s true that 2018 was something of the speedster among the planet’s top three German in July. “Consistency was key… the an annus horribilis – a gruesome World Cup players months earlier. level he performs at is unbelievable. He came defence after breaking his foot the previous as a young boy and grew up – he matured.” September – but at 34, his best days are back. Now, the rest of the world is catching up in Champions League success in August was his its appreciation of the 28-year-old. Mo Salah Klopp’s praise was later even more effusive. second at Bayern and the Bundesliga title his may have edged him overall in every season “From a talent to a settled, world-class player eighth, while October even delivered a Sepp since the Egyptian’s arrival in 2017, but Reds is a big step, because you have to do it pretty Maier-beating, club record 200th clean sheet supporters are just as enamoured with their much week in and week out,” he explained. in Bavaria. Oh, Manuel Neuer’s still good all Senegalese star, who again dazzled en route “That’s what he’s able to do. It’s a massive right – just ask our voters. to Liverpool’s first top-flight title since 1990. development. I have no idea of a number [of where he ranks] but for sure in the top, top, CRISTIAnO ROnALDO Arguably the most consistent of their lethal top, top offensive wingers, strikers, whatever attackers, Mané has also blossomed into one you want to see in the world. I think everyone Juventus | Portugal | 98 PTS of the most complete: a bundle of trickery, would agree on that.” imagination, pace and assassin-like finishing. Ronaldo netted his 100th international goal Well, Jurgen: it appears they absolutely do. for Portugal this year, paving the way to beat Ali Daei’s record tally of 109 in 2021. While he 113 suffered a second season of European failure POINTS at Juventus, CR7 still won his second Serie A crown and became one of only three players in Old Lady history to break the 30-goal mark – the first since Felice Borel in 1934. To most players, that would be a sensational year. To Ronaldo, 35 but still seemingly indestructible, it’s been relatively quiet. With next summer’s Euros approaching and Daei on the verge of being toppled, however, the Portuguese will be confident of ensuring his name is back in lights when the Ballon d’Or votes are cast in 2021. After all, there’s a bloke who beats his five orbs on the mantelpiece... LIOnEL MESSI Barcelona | Argentina | 101 PTS …and he nudges ahead in our votes for 2020 as well. It says much about Messi’s mutant abilities that he can still finish this high after what has arguably been the worst year of his career. Simmering tensions with Barcelona’s board eventually boiled over in August with his botched and very public transfer request, leading to an almighty summer of discontent in Catalonia (see FFT 320). And yet, this was also the year when Messi converted his 700th career goal, smashed Xavi’s assists record for a sole La Liga season (21) and won a seventh top-scorer Pichichi Trophy for netting 25 goals – the 12th consecutive campaign in which he has struck at least 20. Only Thierry Henry had managed 20 goals and 20 assists in a season within Europe’s top five divisons this century. Yes: even the Flea’s ‘bad’ years are markedly better than most players’ special ones. 32 January 2021 FourFourTwo

KEVIn DE BRUYnE Guardiola found that the playmaker BEST did exactly what he asked, however he PLAYERS Manchester City | Belgium | 120 PTS tinkered with his starting XI. He wasn’t 2020 a revelation. He was a revolution. It was claimed that if Roger Federer was on 120 Centre Court with the roof shut, it was game Last term was a defining one for him POINTS over. You couldn’t beat the Swiss master for – not because he brought consistency precision with no wind; no sun glare over his amid the chaos, but because no one is sweatband. Without the elements, you were this good. He stands above everyone; battling the inevitable scythe of defeat. the David Bowie of the Premier League, the flame-haired rock star who rendered It felt similar watching Kevin De Bruyne in Real Madrid mediocre inside the Bernabeu, desolate stadiums post-lockdown, chiselling bagged 20 league assists and picked apart away at Thierry Henry’s 20-assist record set Liverpool in a 4-0 thrashing – the same night in 2002-03. There’s comfort in consistency: as their guard of honour. that should the world descend into darkness and football become a television-only event, He is Guardiola’s general. Not the vocal you can set your watch by the remorseless enforcer that some managers boast, swing of a Belgian’s right peg. but a high-functioning, high-octane metronome to set your watch by. That wasn’t always the case. A slouching Full house or empty, Inbetweener at Genk, the teenage De Bruyne KDB will tear drifted through games. Sometimes he would you apart. log on, launch a rocket and nearly burn the ball through the net – as if he was almost too HE STAnDS ABOVE EVERYOnE; modest to really let loose. THE BOWIE OF THE PREMIER LEAGUE, THE FLAME-HAIRED Chelsea saw the potential. They signed him ROCK STAR WHO REnDERED for £8m, loaned him to Werder Bremen and REAL MEDIOCRE In MADRID watched him dazzle like a street player. The starlet was developing physically, but with a sturdy double-pivot just behind him, he was given a free role to flicker. De Bruyne became a supreme dribbler. He got just 132 league minutes to prove himself when he returned to Stamford Bridge – but he was learning that when chances didn’t present themselves, he was capable of making them himself. So, in January 2014 – then 22 – he left London for Wolfsburg. In his first full season, De Bruyne played behind the frontman and immediately used his glorious repertoire of tricks to notch an all-time Bundesliga high of 20 assists (beaten by Thomas Muller’s 21 for Bayern Munich in 2019-20). Pep Guardiola was mesmerised, but after finalising personal terms, Die Roten failed to agree a price. So, De Bruyne joined Manchester City in 2015 for a club-record £55m, just six months before Guardiola was unveiled as their incoming new boss. Some midfield generals come to reflect their managers, but the maestro was never really a mirror to the dugout – instead, unshaped dough for the Catalan to mould. De Bruyne was a strawberry-blond Beckham under Manuel Pellegrini, an electric right-winger with an exquisite right boot and lung-busting work-rate to match. But Pep had other ideas: the schemer became a second striker under his tutelage, advancing beyond Kelechi Iheanacho to score City’s opener in Guardiola’s debut Manchester derby. He was played wide-left that season too, encouraged to interlink with David Silva. But as City developed, De Bruyne receded deeper. In December 2016, Guardiola called the Belgian “our most important player”. On the right of a midfield trio, he saw space and found runners in the penalty box like a sniper. In 2017, Stoke fans lauded his otherworldly display against them during a 7-2 demolition, when De Bruyne played a part in five goals.

BEST PLAYERS 2020 “LEWAnDOWSKI DOESn’T “He doesn’t try to do anything difficult,” CARE ABOUT SCORInG Makaay tells FourFourTwo. “He doesn’t care BEAUTIFUL GOALS – HE about scoring beautiful goals, he just wants JUST WAnTS TO SCORE” to score. He’ll take whatever shot, whatever chip or header he thinks is necessary in the A runaway winner in 2020 – ranked top by 87 of our 101 voters – no one else moment. He’s a clinical striker. That’s what even came close to FFT’s No.1 than Lewy after a stunning year in front of goal I like about him. Words Ed McCambridge “The most important thing for a striker at Bayern is not to feel the expectations on you. ROBERT LEWAnDOWSKI calendar year, in just 22 matches. Die Roten You always place pressure on yourself to won everything with their unstoppable scorer, prove you belong at the biggest teams in the Bayern Munich | Poland | 561 PTS culminating in August’s glorious Champions world, but he’s been playing at this level for League final victory over Paris Saint-Germain so many years now. I don’t think he has any There is beauty in simplicity. Perhaps no – the only knockout game in which Lewy problems with pressure – you can see that in other footballer on the planet embodies didn’t find the net. his performances. He’s used to it.” that idea more than Robert Lewandowski. Bayern Munich’s trusty striker might not Before that, the Pole failed to notch in only For Tobias Altschaffl, the chief reporter at be the most skilful player in the world, the one of his eight post-lockdown Bundesliga German news outlet SportBild, Lewandowski’s most jaw-dropping, the fiercest nor the matches and bagged twice in the DFB-Pokal all-round threat has been just as sensational quickest, but he has made a habit of doing final against Bayer Leverkusen. Not getting as his scoring record in 2020. What’s more, the simple things better than anybody in on the scoresheet was more of a surprise. he believes Bayern have old nemesis Jurgen 2020. And he is devastating at it. Klopp to thank for it. Former Bayern Munich and Netherlands Across a 2019-20 campaign pulled apart frontman Roy Makaay, who plundered 103 “Over the course of this year we’ve seen by COVID-19, the Polish marksman scored goals for the club between 2003 and 2007, the other side of Lewandowski’s game,” he 55 Bayern goals in all competitions – 25 this believes Lewandowski’s greatest strength as tells FFT. “Not just his ability to score goals, a striker is as clear as it is simple. but also to bring out the best in team-mates. His early days at Borussia Dortmund, when he was regularly played as a No.10 by Klopp, gave his game that extra element. “He didn’t particularly like playing in that role, but it vastly improved his understanding of the game. It helped him to become the player we’re now seeing with Bayern. He was the complete footballer during their Treble season. A great goalscorer, for sure, but also a great team-mate.” Last season’s eighth straight Bundesliga was par for Germany’s serial champions, but Makaay believes Lewandowski’s desire to win a first Champions League medal inspired him to hit new heights, after three semi-final failures since his 2014 arrival. “From the day you first walk in at Bayern, you feel the atmosphere of winning,” reveals the Dutchman. “It’s not just a nice thing to win titles there – you have to win titles. You get that mentality very fast. You saw in the Champions League last season how much it meant to him to win that trophy – he scored 15 goals in the competition. You could see after the final against PSG how happy he was to have finally won it.” Lewandowski turned 32 in August, the same age Makaay was when he left Bayern to end his career with Feyenoord. The Pole’s stellar physical condition, however, means there is little chance of him doing something similar in the near future. “He’s still in top shape,” explains Altschaffl. “Lewandowski is using all the science and data to help him maintain peak fitness. He’s even got a sleep researcher to assist with his rest and recovery, meaning he’s more like a player of 22 or 23 – 10 years younger than he actually is. He’ll still be playing for a very long time. He’s got a contract with Bayern until 2023, but he can play well beyond that.” Makaay agrees. “He’s a family man who is almost always fit,” he enthuses, adding that Lewandowski is one of few to benefit from the enforced mid-season lockdown. “He was injured going into the coronavirus break, then came out of it fit again. He has some years

BEST PLAYERS 2020 left in him yet, and it looks like he’s getting 561 better and better every year.” POINTS Lewandowski’s goals in 2020 powered him beyond legendary Bayern forward (and now CEO) Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, and up into second in the Bavarians’ scoring charts. It’s unlikely he’ll ever catch record Roten scorer Gerd Muller – about 300 clear at the time of writing – but the striker’s standing within the Bundesliga pantheon is hardly disputed. “He would be in the top five for sure,” says Makaay. “The best, and the number one, will always be Muller. The order behind him is for other people to decide.” “I never had the chance to watch Muller play live,” reflects Altschaffl. “He’s obviously considered the greatest striker in club history and holds the record for the most goals in the Bundesliga. But for me, Lewandowski is definitely the number two – or even number one and a half.” Despite the Pole’s enduring excellence and reliability, there will come a time when he too must hang up his shooting boots. In his last “IF GERD MULLER IS THE GREATEST BAYERn STRIKER, LEWAnDOWSKI IS nUMBER TWO – OR OnE AnD A HALF” five seasons he hasn’t returned fewer than 40 goals in all competitions, but what Bayern do next is a question that “no one can, or will, answer at the moment” says Altschaffl. “No team could replace a player like Robert, nor could any player in the world replace him.” Makaay, meanwhile, has no concerns over what will happen to Bayern when the striker eventually calls time on a remarkable career. “I don’t think it will be a problem,” he says. “If you look at the history of all the forwards who have played for Bayern over the years – every one had to replace somebody great. Rummenigge, Giovane Elber, myself, Mario Gomez, Miroslav Klose, Luca Toni, Lewy. Each time it’s the same.” For now, Bayern fans can continue to enjoy the phenomenal displays of a No.9 who ages like Benjamin Button. Altschaffl is in no doubt that the talisman was the best player in the world across 2020, and a more than worthy winner of FFT’s vote. “He fully deserves it,” he says. “The player who finishes top scorer in the league, the cup and in Europe – and who won everything in a calendar year with no Euros or World Cup – is the simple choice.” Simplicity, after all, is always key whenever Robert Lewandowski is concerned.

BEST PLAYERS 2020 HEnDO: HUGE In SOUTH KOREA DR CONGO GERMANY Michel Tobo Jonathan Harding They saw, they voted: 101 journalists from 101 nations on six continents foot.cd DW Sports handed FFT their picks for 2020’s top players, and their winner was clear... 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski One of the highlights of every 1 Robert Lewandowski (561 points) 15= Serge Gnabry (23 points) 2. Kylian Mbappe 2. Joshua Kimmich Ballon d’Or vote is poring over 2 Kevin De Bruyne (120 points) 17 Ciro Immobile (21 points) 3. Ciro Immobile 3. Erling Haaland the polls for puzzling choices. 3 Sadio Mané (113 points) 18 Son Heung-min (18 points) 4. Lionel Messi 4. Leon Goretzka 4 Lionel Messi (101 points) 19 Alphonso Davies (15 points) 5. Serge Gnabry 5. Manuel Neuer First, however, an explainer: 5 Cristiano Ronaldo (98 points) 20 Romelu Lukaku (14 points) FFT’s 30-strong shortlist was 6 Manuel Neuer (69 points) 21 Trent Alexander-Arnold (13 points) EGYPT GHANA picked in-house, then passed 7 Virgil van Dijk (67 points) 22 Karim Benzema (11 points) Marwan Saeed Bernard Neequaye to our global army of experts. 8 Kylian Mbappe (64 points) 23 Bruno Fernandes (10 points) Freelance Daily Graphic Spare a thought for poor Angel 9 Joshua Kimmich (59 points) 24 Alisson (7 points) Di Maria – the only man to get 10 Neymar (48 points) 25 Marquinhos (4 points) 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski nil points. Curiously, four on the 11 Erling Haaland (43 points) 26= Leon Goretzka (3 points) 2. Kevin De Bruyne 2. Kevin De Bruyne panel felt Robert Lewandowski 12 Mohamed Salah (42 points) 26= Andrew Robertson (3 points) 3. Virgil van Dijk 3. Kylian Mbappe deserved zilch. Tough crowd... 13 Thomas Muller (36 points) 28 Harry Kane (2 points) 4. Mohamed Salah 4. Sadio Mané 14 Sergio Ramos (27 points) 29 Jordan Henderson (1 point) 5. Bruno Fernandes 5. Trent Alexander-Arnold 15= Thiago Alcantara (23 points) 30 Angel Di Maria (0 points) EL SALVADOR GREECE 1st = 6 points 2nd = 4 points 3rd = 3 points 4th = 2 points 5th = 1 point Claudio Martinez Vasilis Sambrakos Pencho y Aida FM gazzetta.gr ALGERIA BANGLADESH BULGARIA COLOMBIA Maher Mezahi Mehedi Sujan Metodi Carl Worswick 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski Freelance New Age Shumanov Freelance 2. Manuel Neuer 2. Joshua Kimmich Freelance 3. Lionel Messi 3. Manuel Neuer 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 4. Ciro Immobile 4. Thomas Muller 2. Kevin De Bruyne 2. Lionel Messi 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Lionel Messi 5. Sergio Ramos 5. Kevin De Bruyne 3. Manuel Neuer 3. Mohamed Salah 2. Virgil van Dijk 3. Neymar 4. Sadio Mané 4. Kevin De Bruyne 3. Serge Gnabry 4. Sadio Mané ENGLAND HUNGARY 5. Neymar 5. Manuel Neuer 4. Sadio Mané 5. Erling Haaland Chris Flanagan Gyorgy Szollosi 5. Romelu Lukaku FourFourTwo FourFourTwo Hungary ANGOLA BARBADOS COOK ISLANDS Ivan Capuepue Renaldo Gilkes BURUNDI Rashneel Kumar 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski Freelance Loop News Elvis Iradukunda Cook Islands News 2. Sadio Mané 2. Kylian Mbappe BETV 3. Kevin De Bruyne 3. Joshua Kimmich 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 4. Neymar 4. Cristiano Ronaldo 2. Ciro Immobile 2. Ciro Immobile 1. Manuel Neuer 2. Lionel Messi 5. Erling Haaland 5. Manuel Neuer 3. Sadio Mané 3. Sergio Ramos 2. Robert Lewandowski 3. Cristiano Ronaldo 4. Erling Haaland 4. Cristiano Ronaldo 3. Sadio Mané 4. Thomas Muller ESTONIA ICELAND 5. Son Heung-min 5. Romelu Lukaku 4. Kylian Mbappe 5. Karim Benzema Angelo Palmeri Johann 5. Cristiano Ronaldo Freelance Sigurdsson ARGENTINA BELGIUM COSTA RICA Freelance Martin Mazur Samindra Kunti CAMEROON Rodrigo Calvo 1. Robert Lewandowski Freelance Freelance Njie Enow Buzon De Rodrigo 2. Romelu Lukaku 1. Robert Lewandowski CRTV 3. Ciro Immobile 2. Cristiano Ronaldo 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 4. Erling Haaland 3. Lionel Messi 2. Thomas Muller 2. Sadio Mané 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Joshua Kimmich 5. Mohamed Salah 4. Kevin De Bruyne 3. Virgil van Dijk 3. Joshua Kimmich 2. Kevin De Bruyne 3. Lionel Messi 5. Virgil van Dijk 4. Lionel Messi 4. Erling Haaland 3. Sadio Mané 4. Kevin De Bruyne ETHIOPIA 5. Cristiano Ronaldo 5. Romelu Lukaku 4. Virgil van Dijk 5. Marquinhos Haileegziabher INDIA 5. Lionel Messi Adhanom Mihir Vasavda AUSTRALIA BOLIVIA CROATIA SuperSport Indian Express James Dampney Paola Perez CANADA Ivan Tomic Finder Freelance Kiyan Sobhani Freelance 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski Freelance 2. Sadio Mané 2. Kylian Mbappe 1. Virgil van Dijk 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 3. Cristiano Ronaldo 3. Kevin De Bruyne 2. Robert Lewandowski 2. Neymar 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Neymar 4. Lionel Messi 4. Sadio Mané 3. Kevin De Bruyne 3. Lionel Messi 2. Lionel Messi 3. Andrew Robertson 5. Kevin De Bruyne 5. Joshua Kimmich 4. Manuel Neuer 4. Manuel Neuer 3. Kevin De Bruyne 4. Manuel Neuer 5. Trent Alexander-Arnold 5. Joshua Kimmich 4. Cristiano Ronaldo 5. Sergio Ramos FAROE INDONESIA 5. Neymar ISLANDS Tio Prasetyo AUSTRIA BOSNIA AND CZECH REPUBLIC Trondur Arge Box2Box Thomas Middler HERZEGOVINA CHAD Karel Haring Sosialurin The Other Bundesliga Sasa Ibrulj Nesta Yamgoto Freelance 1. Robert Lewandowski Freelance Tchadinfos 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Bruno Fernandes 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Lionel Messi 3. Virgil van Dijk 2. Erling Haaland 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Cristiano Ronaldo 3. Cristiano Ronaldo 4. Alphonso Davies 3. Alisson 2. Sadio Mané 2. Kevin De Bruyne 3. Kevin De Bruyne 4. Kevin De Bruyne 5. Trent Alexander-Arnold 4. Serge Gnabry 3. Kylian Mbappe 3. Cristiano Ronaldo 4. Erling Haaland 5. Thomas Muller 5. Kevin De Bruyne 4. Cristiano Ronaldo 4. Karim Benzema 5. Trent Alexander-Arnold IRAN 5. Thiago Alcantara 5. Neymar FINLAND Babak Golriz AZERBAIJAN DENMARK Joonas Partanen Sport360 Rasi BRAZIL CHINA Johan Iltalehti Movsumzadeh Mauricio Savarese Jiang Mengxi Lyngholm-Bjerge 1. Robert Lewandowski Freelance AP CGTN Freelance 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Lionel Messi 2. Cristiano Ronaldo 3. Kevin De Bruyne 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 3. Joshua Kimmich 4. Karim Benzema 2. Manuel Neuer 2. Neymar 2. Mohamed Salah 2. Virgil van Dijk 4. Bruno Fernandes 5. Sadio Mané 3. Serge Gnabry 3. Trent Alexander-Arnold 3. Kylian Mbappe 3. Kylian Mbappe 5. Erling Haaland 4. Sadio Mané 4. Serge Gnabry 4. Kevin De Bruyne 4. Lionel Messi ISRAEL 5. Erling Haaland 5. Kevin De Bruyne 5. Joshua Kimmich 5. Cristiano Ronaldo FRANCE Michael Yokhin Fabien Fougeray Freelance CANAL+ 1. Thomas Muller 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Robert Lewandowski 2. Thiago Alcantara 3. Kevin De Bruyne 3. Son Heung-min 4. Joshua Kimmich 4. Erling Haaland 5. Trent Alexander-Arnold 5. Trent Alexander-Arnold  ITALY GAMBIA Momodou Bah Emanuele CAFOnline Giulianelli Freelance 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Kevin De Bruyne 1. Robert Lewandowski 3. Sadio Mané 2. Thomas Muller 4. Bruno Fernandes 3. Kylian Mbappe 5. Manuel Neuer 4. Mohamed Salah 5. Cristiano Ronaldo

BEST PLAYERS 2020  JAPAN  MALAYSIA  NORWAY  RUSSIA  SOUTH KOREA  UKRAINE Koki Harada Vijhay Vick Thore Haugstad Artur Petrosyan Steve Han Andriy Kudyrko Tokyo Chunichi Johor Darul Ta’zim NRK Sport Freelance Goal ua-football.com 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Virgil van Dijk 2. Cristiano Ronaldo 2. Virgil van Dijk 2. Sadio Mané 2. Joshua Kimmich 2. Sadio Mané 3. Cristiano Ronaldo 3. Kylian Mbappe 3. Lionel Messi 3. Lionel Messi 3. Kylian Mbappe 3. Kevin De Bruyne 4. Son Heung-min 4. Lionel Messi 4. Kevin De Bruyne 4. Virgil van Dijk 4. Karim Benzema 4. Ciro Immobile 5. Ciro Immobile 5. Mohamed Salah 5. Thomas Muller 5. Son Heung-min 5. Jordan Henderson 5. Erling Haaland  JORDAN  MEXICO  OMAN  RWANDA  SPAIN  UNITED ARAB Mohammed Jason Marquitz Ashok Purohit Peter Kamasa Jon Prada EMIRATES Awaad soccermexicana.com Muscat Daily The New Times Marca John McAuley Alroeya The National 1. Sadio Mané 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Sadio Mané 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Robert Lewandowski 2. Kevin De Bruyne 2. Neymar 2. Joshua Kimmich 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Sadio Mané 3. Neymar 3. Cristiano Ronaldo 3. Mohamed Salah 3. Sergio Ramos 2. Joshua Kimmich 3. Lionel Messi 4. Trent Alexander-Arnold 4. Mohamed Salah 4. Kylian Mbappe 4. Kylian Mbappe 3. Cristiano Ronaldo 4. Kylian Mbappe 5. Serge Gnabry 5. Sergio Ramos 5. Thiago Alcantara 5. Lionel Messi 4. Lionel Messi 5. Romelu Lukaku 5. Sadio Mané  MONTENEGRO  PAKISTAN  SAUDI ARABIA  SURINAME  KENYA  USA Danilo Mitrovic Umaid Wasim Atef Nahass Desney Romeo Charles Nyende ND Vijesti dawn.com Freelance ABC TV Martin Nation Harasimowicz 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski Freelance 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Manuel Neuer 2. Thomas Muller 2. Mohamed Salah 2. Manuel Neuer 2. Cristiano Ronaldo 3. Neymar 3. Neymar 3. Sadio Mané 3. Kevin De Bruyne 1. Robert Lewandowski 3. Serge Gnabry 4. Trent Alexander-Arnold 4. Kevin De Bruyne 4. Thiago Alcantara 4. Virgil van Dijk 2. Son Heung-min 4. Lionel Messi 5. Thomas Muller 5. Romelu Lukaku 5. Kylian Mbappe 5. Sergio Ramos 3. Mohamed Salah 5. Karim Benzema 4. Sadio Mané  MOROCCO  PERU SCOTLAND  SWEDEN 5. Lionel Messi  KOSOVO Kenny Millar Mohamed Amine Victor Zaferson Freelance Lee Roden  VENEZUELA Bajram Shala El Amri Le Matin Freelance Sveriges Radio RTV 21 1. Robert Lewandowski Hugo Chavez 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Thomas Muller 2. Mohamed Salah 1. Virgil van Dijk Lider 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Manuel Neuer 2. Erling Haaland 3. Virgil van Dijk 2. Lionel Messi 2. Sergio Ramos 3. Romelu Lukaku 3. Kylian Mbappe 4. Erling Haaland 3. Robert Lewandowski 1. Kevin De Bruyne 3. Sadio Mané 4. Sadio Mané 4. Thiago Alcantara 5. Alphonso Davies 4. Cristiano Ronaldo 2. Robert Lewandowski 4. Joshua Kimmich 5. Karim Benzema 5. Leon Goretzka 5. Erling Haaland 3. Sadio Mané 5. Kylian Mbappe  SENEGAL 4. Thomas Muller  NAMIBIA  PHILIPPINES  SWITZERLAND 5. Neymar  LEBANON Adama Ndione Sheefeni Ryan Fenix RTS Eva Tedesco  VIETNAM Mohamed Fawaz Nikodemus GMA News Online 20 Minuten Almustaqbal The Namibian 1. Robert Lewandowski Tran Duc Truong 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Sadio Mané 1. Joshua Kimmich zing.vn 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Manuel Neuer 3. Thomas Muller 2. Robert Lewandowski 2. Kevin De Bruyne 2. Son Heung-min 3. Kevin De Bruyne 4. Karim Benzema 3. Sergio Ramos 1. Robert Lewandowski 3. Cristiano Ronaldo 3. Marquinhos 4. Lionel Messi 5. Kevin De Bruyne 4. Romelu Lukaku 2. Manuel Neuer 4. Lionel Messi 4. Ciro Immobile 5. Cristiano Ronaldo 5. Sadio Mané 3. Cristiano Ronaldo 5. Mohamed Salah 5. Sadio Mané  SERBIA 4. Lionel Messi  POLAND  TANZANIA 5. Neymar  LIBERIA  NETHERLANDS Vladimir Novak Zbigniew Freelance Salim Masoud Said WALES Anthony Kokoi Guus Hetterscheid Muchag SandalsForGoalposts Huw Davies KMTV Freelance Pilka Nozna 1. Robert Lewandowski Freelance 2. Virgil van Dijk 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 3. Neymar 2. Kylian Mbappe 1. Kevin De Bruyne 2. Cristiano Ronaldo 2. Sadio Mané 2. Manuel Neuer 4. Manuel Neuer 3. Cristiano Ronaldo 2. Robert Lewandowski 3. Lionel Messi 3. Kevin De Bruyne 3. Joshua Kimmich 5. Joshua Kimmich 4. Lionel Messi 3. Son Heung-min 4. Sergio Ramos 4. Lionel Messi 4. Sergio Ramos 5. Sergio Ramos 4. Harry Kane 5. Kylian Mbappe 5. Cristiano Ronaldo 5. Sadio Mané  SIERRA LEONE 5. Alphonso Davies  TRINIDAD &  LIBYA  NEW ZEALAND  PORTUGAL Alusine Rehme  ZIMBABWE Wilson TOBAGO Morad Dkeel Gordon Watson Valter Marques Northern Times Lasana Liburd Grace Chingoma WTV-Libya OFC TV Record wired868.com The Herald 1. Alphonso Davies 1. Joshua Kimmich 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Sadio Mané 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Robert Lewandowski 2. Cristiano Ronaldo 2. Cristiano Ronaldo 3. Mohamed Salah 2. Kevin De Bruyne 2. Erling Haaland 3. Kevin De Bruyne 3. Kylian Mbappe 3. Virgil van Dijk 4. Cristiano Ronaldo 3. Sadio Mané 3. Kevin De Bruyne 4. Erling Haaland 4. Lionel Messi 4. Thiago Alcantara 5. Kylian Mbappe 4. Neymar 4. Sadio Mané 5. Thiago Alcantara 5. Virgil van Dijk 5. Kylian Mbappe 5. Lionel Messi 5. Alphonso Davies SINGAPORE  MACAU  NICARAGUA  QATAR Jeremy Lim  TUNISIA Freelance Pedro Santos Gunther Kuse Mitch Freeley Abdesslam Ponto Final Freelance beIN SPORTS 1. Robert Lewandowski Dhaifallah 2. Mohamed Salah Radio Mosaique FM 1. Cristiano Ronaldo 1. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 3. Serge Gnabry 2. Mohamed Salah 2. Cristiano Ronaldo 2. Sadio Mané 4. Virgil van Dijk 1. Robert Lewandowski 3. Manuel Neuer 3. Kevin De Bruyne 3. Virgil van Dijk 5. Sadio Mané 2. Manuel Neuer 4. Lionel Messi 4. Joshua Kimmich 4. Kylian Mbappe 3. Kylian Mbappe 5. Bruno Fernandes 5. Virgil van Dijk 5. Sergio Ramos  SLOVAKIA 4. Cristiano Ronaldo 5. Mohamed Salah  MADAGASCAR  NIGERIA  REPUBLIC OF Martin Rendek Hospodarske noviny  TURKEY GET InVOLVED Haja Lucas Tolu Olasoji IRELAND Rakotondrazaka Freelance David Sneyd 1. Robert Lewandowski Simge Yazici So, you’ve seen who L’Express de Madagascar Freelance 2. Kevin De Bruyne FourFourTwo Turkey our global panel of 1. Robert Lewandowski 3. Kylian Mbappe experts plumped for, 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Sadio Mané 1. Robert Lewandowski 4. Lionel Messi 1. Robert Lewandowski but who would make 2. Thiago Alcantara 3. Neymar 2. Thiago Alcantara 5. Joshua Kimmich 2. Alisson your A-list? Compile 3. Lionel Messi 4. Serge Gnabry 3. Serge Gnabry 3. Neymar your top five players 4. Neymar 5. Kevin De Bruyne 4. Sadio Mané  SOUTH 4. Cristiano Ronaldo for 2020, then head 5. Manuel Neuer 5. Erling Haaland 5. Erling Haaland to Twitter and let us NORTHERN AFRICA know #FFT2020Best  MALAWI IRELAND  ROMANIA Juandre Joubert  UGANDA Keith Bailie FourFourTwo SA Peter Kanjere County Down Spectator Emanuel Rosu Ismael Kiyonga Freelance Freelance 1. Virgil van Dijk Kawawo Sports 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Robert Lewandowski 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Lionel Messi 1. Robert Lewandowski 3. Sadio Mané 1. Robert Lewandowski 2. Lionel Messi 3. Alphonso Davies 2. Lionel Messi 4. Erling Haaland 2. Sergio Ramos 3. Cristiano Ronaldo 4. Kevin De Bruyne 3. Manuel Neuer 5. Kevin De Bruyne 3. Erling Haaland 4. Manuel Neuer 5. Erling Haaland 4. Thiago Alcantara 4. Kevin De Bruyne 5. Kevin De Bruyne 5. Cristiano Ronaldo 5. Alphonso Davies FourFourTwo January 2021 37

BEST PLAYERS 2020 JI SO-YUn 2 _ MARIE-AnTOInETTE KATOTO POINTS Chelsea | South Korea | 0 PTS PSG | France | 2 PTS KATOTO HIT THE WInnER AS PSG Throughout Ji’s time at Chelsea, which now BEAT MIGHTY LYOn In nOVEMBER France have long underwhelmed at major stretches eight seasons, Blues coach Emma – SHE’S THE FUTURE OF FRAnCE tournaments despite a golden generation of Hayes has hailed her 29-year-old attacker as talent, but Les Bleues will rely on Katoto for one of the world’s best players; one with the SARA BJORK GUnnARSDOTTIR goalscoring in crucial moments if they are to potential to reach its summit, even. Chelsea improve going forward. Having just turned have acquired plenty of talent over the past Wolfsburg/Lyon | Iceland | 1 PT 22, she’s the future for both France and PSG. year as they try to conquer Europe, yet their Katoto is a multi-faceted threat with the ball success is as dependent on her as any of the Iceland hardly pop off the tongue as a world at her feet and in the air, and led the Division other stars. Sadly, while she was included in power, but Gunnarsdottir has made herself 1 Feminine with 16 goals in 15 games of its FFT’s 20-woman shortlist, voters weren’t sold. a fixture at two of Europe’s top teams. She shortened 2019-20 campaign. In November, netted in the 2020 Champions League Final she hit the winner as PSG toppled the mighty SARAH BOUHADDI to help Lyon defeat Wolfsburg again, having Lyon in their first head-to-head of this season only switched from the German side in July. – the latter’s first league defeat in four years. Lyon | France | 0 PTS Gunnarsdottir’s space-finding talents and Katoto is going places, averaging 1.46 goal movement in midfield are outstanding, while contributions (including assists) per league Bouhaddi has taken her share of criticism for her ability to command the ball in crowded appearance, which isn’t far off Hegerberg’s some, ahem, adventurous play in goal, but areas speaks to the 30-year-old’s composure. blistering rate thus far. she remains the No.1 for world-beaters Lyon Iceland’s 2018 Sportsperson of the Year is and nabbed UEFA’s goalkeeper of the season a classy operator. ALEXAnDRA POPP prize. A recent quarrel at international level leaves her future with France uncertain, but GURO REITEn Wolfsburg | Germany | 3 PTS the 34-year-old still has plenty of road ahead. One thing is for certain, at least: watching Chelsea | Norway | 2 PTS Striker Popp is an intimidating presence who Bouhaddi will never be dull. commands attention on the pitch whether The noise around Norway at the 2019 World she’s in front of goal or dropping deeper. The EWA PAJOR Cup was about who wasn’t with their team, 29-year-old has become a leader for both in disgruntled star striker Ada Hegerberg, but Wolfsburg and Germany, while consecutive Wolfsburg | Poland | 0 PTS on the pitch, Reiten showed the world why double-digit goal tallies have also made her she’s one of the most promising midfielders. a more consistent threat at the sharp end. Completing our trio of pointless shortlisters She was shortlisted for the PFA Player of the She’s a big reason why Wolfsburg reached is striker Pajor, who earned major approval Year award in her first, pandemic-shortened the Champions League final in 2020, and her as the Frauen-Bundesliga’s top goal-getter year at Chelsea in 2019-20, when the Blues’ importance was laid bare this season when in 2018-19. The Pole followed up with a fine 26-year-old exhibited all the swagger and injury forced her to miss the German giants’ 16-goal campaign as Die Wolfinnen clinched confidence that makes her so special. Reiten 4-1 hammering at key rivals Bayern Munich. another title in 2020, before a knee injury in has fought for playing time at Kingsmeadow Now that must have hurt. September unfortunately finished her year this season, but a recent contract extension early. Nevertheless, the forward, 24, remains through to 2023 indicates how valuable she AMEL MAJRI among Europe’s brightest talents. is to Hayes & Co in west London. Lyon | France | 4 PTS bDEnISE O’SULLIVAn Majri has long defined the modern, attacking North Carolina/Brighton | Ireland | 1 PT full-back as someone capable of not only creating but finishing in the final third. And Don’t allow the Ireland international’s slight that’s why she’s no longer solely a full-back. frame to fool you: she’s one of the toughest The 27-year-old’s innate technical ability – midfielders in the women’s game. O’Sullivan particularly, a gifted left foot – have pushed is also one of the best. Her team-mates at her higher upfield for Lyon, not just on the North Carolina – who include multiple World wings but sometimes centrally, depending Cup winners – consistently praise her as the on the opponent. Majri’s skillset is such that lynchpin to their success, making Brighton’s she’s now a vital component of the world’s loan swoop for her in September something best club team in multiple, distinct positions. of a coup. The 26-year-old does a lot of her team’s dirty work and hasn’t always got the ALEXIA PUTELLAS credit for it. Thankfully, that’s now changing. Barcelona | Spain | 5 PTS March 2020 feels so long ago, but Putellas’ performance at the SheBelieves Cup marked the rise of both player and country as Spain continue to challenge the incumbent world powers. Putellas plays with the confidence you might expect from a traditional Spanish playmaker, combining her technical talents with a dominant physical presence. Still only 26, she remains a focal point of Barcelona’s surge to prominence in the women’s game, and should be a huge part of Spain’s push to contend for 2022 Euros honours in England.

BEST PLAYERS 2020 BETHAnY EnGLAnD DZSEnIFER MAROZSAn WEnDIE REnARD Chelsea | England | 7 PTS Lyon | Germany | 33 PTS Lyon | France | 63 PTS Landing the WSL title was just reward for We just don’t talk about Marozsan enough. A Lyon veteran of 15 seasons, having arrived England’s terrific campaign at Chelsea, which Perhaps injuries play a role in that – a broken from Martinique in 2006, Renard could have she closed out by scoring in each of their last toe severely limited her impact at the 2019 easily laid claim to top spot in 2020 after nine games. That was enough to bag her the World Cup, for example. Perhaps Lyon have another excellent year in which she nudged league’s player of the season honour as well, become so dominant too, though, that we’ve ahead of Bronze in UEFA’s elite line-up and then ink a new four-year contract to finish off grown bored of their never-ending success. captained Lyon to customary dominance. her magnificent year. Not bad for a forward But Marozsan is 28, in the prime of her career The 30-year-old may be a centre-back – the who “didn’t fit in” at the London outfit once – and absolutely brilliant. The stylish German world’s best at the moment – but Renard is upon a time, according to former club-mate has a rare ability to make the sublime seem also an astonishing goalscorer thanks to her Eni Aluko. No more. “She’s the best English effortless as a playmaker or while netting prowess at set-pieces: sensationally, she has No.9 in the country,” glowed manager Hayes. from distance, and is still women’s football’s managed double-digit goal tallies for four standard-bearer in her No.10 role. seasons and counting. A leader by example. DEBInHA LUCY BROnZE VIVIAnnE MIEDEMA North Carolina | Brazil | 8 PTS Lyon/Manchester City | England | 59 PTS Arsenal | Netherlands | 76 PTS The torch has officially been passed in Brazil. There may never again be a talent like Marta, Bronze returned home to Manchester City in When Miedema struck her 60th goal for the but Debinha is the attacking midfielder Pia the summer after three seasons away – and Netherlands in June 2019, she became the Sundhage will build a team around. She has eight major trophies at Lyon to show for her Oranje’s record goalscorer. She was 22 years hugely improved her consistency to become travails abroad. The Northumberland native old. In 2020, Arsenal’s hotshot laid claim to a wily playmaker in possession, and a deadly was the UEFA Women’s Player of the Year in another milestone when her treble against finisher from any distance. Her sumptuous 2019, third this time out, and by now there Spurs made her the WSL’s all-time top scorer nutmeg-to-top-corner strike against Houston is little doubt of her standing as the world’s – in 60 fewer games than the former record in September was a small sample of why she best right-back (or, if you ask Lionesses boss holder, Nikita Parris. Having led the league is the leading player in the NWSL right now. Phil Neville, “the best player in the world”). for goals in 2019-20 – for the second season Nineteen of FFT’s 27 panelists for the female running – it took her just five games of this EUGEnIE LE SOMMER vote had Bronze in the points – four of them term to reach 10 strikes. You get the idea: in top spot – indicating just how highly rated now 24, Miedema is just about as lethal as Lyon | France | 11 PTS England’s star is beyond Europe. they come – and scarily, still getting better. Becoming Les Bleues’ highest goalscorer of 59 all time in September capped another joyous POINTS year for Le Sommer, who has been around for 10 of Lyon’s 12 consecutive title wins. She helped to make it a fifth straight Champions League triumph too, cracking open the final against Wolfsburg with the kind of dogged finishing that has made her such a force up top for a decade. CHRISTIAnE EnDLER PSG | Chile | 18 PTS Chile’s No.1 was given an endorsement from Hope Solo during the 2019 World Cup, and for good reason: the athletic shot-stopper is capable of replicating Solo’s trademark brand of stunning saves. Endler denies efforts that most players wouldn’t expect to be repelled, showing off agility and range which has set the bar for goalkeeping in women’s football. DELPHInE CASCARInO Lyon | France | 18 PTS Consistency was always up for discussion with the 23-year-old, but 2020 was the year she began trying to silence it for good. Lyon’s academy poster girl was player of the match in the Champions League final, contributing heavily to their opening two goals in a superb right-wing display. Having started the 2019 and 2018 editions on the bench, Cascarino is now influencing Lyon’s biggest matches from the start with her fearless repertoire of tricks.

BEST PLAYERS 2020 “I’M SURE SOME MALE me proud Chelsea paid that amount for me, PLAYERS ARE LIVInG and didn’t just wait a year when my contract ALMOST TWO LIVES – ran out. They knew that if they waited, there THAT’S REALLY SAD” might have been other teams interested, so they took their chance. [FFT: Could we see the FFT’s No.1 female player of 2020 isn’t just a superstar on the pitch: Chelsea’s first million pound player very soon?] I hope so, and I believe so, too – the question is just Pernille Harder is also using her status to fight for equality in a changing world whether that’s in the near future or further away. It’s hard to say, because so much has Words Chris Flanagan happened over the last five years within our game – I hope the next five go even quicker. PERnILLE HARDER What stands out this year? In August, you scored four in a 9-1 win over Glasgow City In 2019 you joined Common Goal, which Chelsea | Denmark | 121 PTS in the Champions League quarter-finals... sees players giving one per cent of their Yes, I’ll always remember that. [Smiles] The salary to charity. Why did you sign up? There was little doubt about the winner of other highlights were winning two titles with Me and Magda joined after the World Cup, FourFourTwo’s female player of 2020. Wolfsburg and also reaching the Champions after the famous picture of us kissing which League final, even though we lost to Lyon. grew popular. So many people were talking Pernille Harder dominated our voting like Playing finals is a big thing but winning them about that, and it made us realise we’re role she did German football, top scoring in the is even better, so I’m not 100 per cent happy models. We heard about Common Goal – the Frauen-Bundesliga as Wolfsburg completed about that! I was happy we were allowed to fact that we could choose what we wanted a league and cup double, helping them to finish the campaign, not on paper but on the to donate to was really cool, and then we the Champions League final, then qualifying field. That meant a lot to us – that COVID-19 discovered the Play Proud organisation. They Denmark for the Euros and becoming the didn’t destroy what we all had been doing. educate coaches to create an open-minded most expensive player in women’s history. environment from a young age. Young kids You became the most expensive female learn to be somewhere everyone is accepted: The 28-year-old forward joined Chelsea in player of all time when you joined Chelsea no matter who you are, what skin colour or September for a new record fee, reported to this year – what did that mean to you? sexuality you have, everyone is equal. I think be around £300,000, and succeeds Megan If I’d seen myself becoming that as a little it’s important kids learn that early. Rapinoe as the winner of our female prize. girl, it would have been a dream. It makes Did you expect such a massive reaction to Like Rapinoe, Harder is passionate about that photo of yourself and Magda? LGBTQ rights and equality. She sacrificed I was surprised. We didn’t even know about a place at the 2019 World Cup in her fight it, then saw our social media was exploding. for the greater good, and became a source What made me happiest was all the positive of inspiration to others when she travelled messages we received – it was maybe 80 per there to support her girlfriend, the Sweden cent positive and only 20 per cent not. There international Magdalena Eriksson. were a lot of people who needed that – I had messages from young children, but also older A photo of the pair kissing pitchside went women who explained they didn’t have any viral, and both have since joined Juan Mata’s role models when they were young, so never Common Goal movement to help promote came out and were living with their husband inclusivity within football. and kids. They couldn’t speak about it. That touched me – it’s not the way it should be. The spotlight is shining brightly on Harder right now – and she’s determined to use it in You met Magda as team-mates at Swedish every way possible... club Linkoping, and have been open about your relationship for several years. Is it easier to do that within women’s football? There aren’t as many eyes on us compared to men’s football, but women’s football has Our voters from all around the world have picked you as the best player on the planet this year. Congratulations! Thank you. I’m happy that I’m at this point in my career now, that I’ve reached this level. Now it’s about sustaining that. But if I stop for just a minute and think about what I’ve achieved, I’m very proud. 40 January 2021 FourFourTwo

always been more open about it. From the 121 BEST very beginning, there have always been some POINTS PLAYERS openly homosexual players. The environment 2020 in men’s football is a lot different within the dressing room, and also the fan culture too. “IT MAKES ME REALLY Something has to be done with that before PROUD CHELSEA PAID a male player feels comfortable coming out. THAT MOnEY FOR ME, The fact there are still no players out yet also AnD TOOK A CHAnCE” makes it difficult to be the first one, because that player will then always be known as the guy who came out – not just as a footballer any more. I think that’s what makes many of them not want to do it. Do you hope that one day there can be a similar photo to yours in men’s football? Yes I do. I think it’s awful – I’m sure there are some male players who are sitting and not feeling 100 per cent themselves as they can’t come out. They’re living almost two lives and that’s really sad. I felt so much better when I came out and could be myself 100 per cent. Everyone should be able to do that. Before the 2019 World Cup, Sweden beat Denmark in the final game of qualifying. How awkward was it to take on Magda, knowing only one of you would reach the tournament that day? We’ve had a few of those games – like when I played for Wolfsburg and beat Chelsea in the 2017-18 Champions League semi-finals, after she’d joined them. But we’ve become pretty good at handling situations like that. We don’t run off celebrating in front of each other, we support each other. Earlier in that 2019 qualifying campaign, the team pulled out of their first fixture with Sweden because of a dispute with the Danish federation over pay and conditions for women’s players. The forfeit cost you a World Cup place – how tough was that? It was a difficult decision – we never thought it would go that far. The good thing is that we came one step closer to equality, not just in terms of how the contract looks or how much we get paid, but also the way that the people in the federation think about women’s football. We’ve been taken more seriously, so in that way it was worthwhile, but it was tough sitting at the World Cup in France as a spectator. It’s very important to take those fights on, though, to have that self-respect – to know what you’re worth and not just be satisfied when you’re not being treated the way you should. When did Magda start trying to convince you to join Chelsea? [Smiles] It was last year that we first started to talk about it. As a club, Chelsea have really developed over the last three years, both in how much they’ve invested in the team and women’s football generally. It’s brilliant to be able to have a life together again, and being on the same team again is special. Magda is a great captain, and winning the Champions League together is a huge dream we share with one another. Common Goal details at common-goal.org

BEST PLAYERS 2020 OUR SIX POInTS GO TO…DEnMARK! Harder, though, didn’t need neighbourly love in Scandinavia to come top If the men’s game suffered in time around: Megan Rapinoe (our 1 Pernille Harder (121 points) a COVID-ravaged 2020, then the winner last year), Alex Morgan and 2 Vivianne Miedema (76 points) women’s sadly had it worse. Tobin Heath, for example. 3 Wendie Renard (63 points) 4 Lucy Bronze (59 points) In England, the WSL was called Instead, our voters – 27 from as 5 Dzsenifer Marozsan (33 points) to a halt in May with a third of its many countries across the planet 6= Delphine Cascarino (18 points) campaign remaining, meeting the – made their picks for 2020 based 6= Christiane Endler (18 points) same fate as its counterparts in on what they could see. 8 Eugenie Le Sommer (11 points) France, Spain and Italy. 9 Debinha (8 points) While some seasons may have 10 Bethany England (7 points) In the United States, meanwhile, been curtailed prematurely, there 11 Alexia Putellas (5 points) the NWSL didn’t even make it to was plenty to go at: a completed 12 Amel Majri (4 points) pre-season – cancelled by March, Champions League campaign as 13 Alexandra Popp (3 points) with just a Fall Series to replace it. Lyon burned brightly again, plus 14= Marie-Antoinette Katoto (2 points) The USWNT have played only one star performers who continued to 14= Guro Reiten (2 points) international since March 12. delight audiences once 2020-21 16= Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir (1 point) had finally got underway. 16= Denise O’Sullivan (1 point) That’s why you won’t notice the 18= Sarah Bouhaddi (0 points) usual suspects on our shortlist this And here’s how they all voted... 18= Ewa Pajor (0 points) 18= Ji So-yun (0 points) 1st = 6 points 2nd = 4 points 3rd = 3 points 4th = 2 points 5th = 1 point ARGENTINA CAMEROON ENGLAND MEXICO REPUBLIC OF USA Ayelen Pujol Cynthia Nzetia Jen O’Neill Olga Trujillo IRELAND Jeff Kassouf La Nacion Deportes Munda Stad’Afric SheKicks Diosas Olimpicas Marie Crowe The Equalizer RTÉ 1. Pernille Harder 1. Wendie Renard 1. Pernille Harder 1. Vivianne Miedema 1. Vivianne Miedema 2. Christiane Endler 2. Pernille Harder 2. Wendie Renard 2. Lucy Bronze 1. Vivianne Miedema 2. Pernille Harder 3. Wendie Renard 3. Lucy Bronze 3. Lucy Bronze 3. Pernille Harder 2. Bethany England 3. Debinha 4. Vivianne Miedema 4. Vivianne Miedema 4. Vivianne Miedema 4. Eugenie Le Sommer 3. Pernille Harder 4. Dzsenifer Marozsan 5. Delphine Cascarino 5. Alexandra Popp 5. Guro Reiten 5. Marie-Antoinette Katoto 4. Wendie Renard 5. Lucy Bronze 5. Denise O’Sullivan AUSTRALIA CANADA GHANA NETHERLANDS VENEZUELA Tara Rushton Meaghen Johnson Juliet Bawuah Annemarie Postma ROMANIA Milena Gimon Fox Sports TSN TV3 Ghana Freelance Diana Coltofean DirecTV dianacoltofean.ro 1. Pernille Harder 1. Vivianne Miedema 1. Lucy Bronze 1. Pernille Harder 1. Lucy Bronze 2. Dzsenifer Marozsan 2. Dzsenifer Marozsan 2. Wendie Renard 2. Vivianne Miedema 1. Wendie Renard 2. Eugenie Le Sommer 3. Vivianne Miedema 3. Pernille Harder 3. Pernille Harder 3. Delphine Cascarino 2. Pernille Harder 3. Christiane Endler 4. Wendie Renard 4. Lucy Bronze 4. Alexia Putellas 4. Bethany England 3. Lucy Bronze 4. Pernille Harder 5. Lucy Bronze 5. Alexia Putellas 5. Vivianne Miedema 5. Lucy Bronze 4. Eugenie Le Sommer 5. Vivianne Miedema 5. Vivianne Miedema AUSTRIA CHILE ICELAND NEW ZEALAND  WALES Erwin Hujecek Cecilia Lagos Vidir Sigurdsson Michael Burgess SCOTLAND ORF Freelance mbl.is Freelance Alan Campbell Mark Pitman Freelance Freelance 1. Pernille Harder 1. Pernille Harder 1. Wendie Renard 1. Pernille Harder 2. Vivianne Miedema 2. Christiane Endler 2. Dzsenifer Marozsan 2. Wendie Renard 1. Pernille Harder 1. Pernille Harder 3. Delphine Cascarino 3. Vivianne Miedema 3. Pernille Harder 3. Vivianne Miedema 2. Dzsenifer Marozsan 2. Vivianne Miedema 4. Amel Majri 4. Wendie Renard 4. Vivianne Miedema 4. Lucy Bronze 3. Lucy Bronze 3. Wendie Renard 5. Wendie Renard 5. Delphine Cascarino 5. Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir 5. Guro Reiten 4. Christiane Endler 4. Dzsenifer Marozsan 5. Vivianne Miedema 5. Lucy Bronze BRAZIL DENMARK INDIA NORTHERN Cintia Barlem Mikkel Asferg Bhargab Sarmah IRELAND SOUTH AFRICA GET InVOLVED Globo Esporte TV 2 Sport Hindustan Times Nicola McCarthy Nick Said BBC Sport Reuters Our worldwide gurus 1. Pernille Harder 1. Pernille Harder 1. Vivianne Miedema have selected their 2. Christiane Endler 2. Delphine Cascarino 2. Pernille Harder 1. Vivianne Miedema 1. Lucy Bronze top performers – do 3. Dzsenifer Marozsan 3. Dzsenifer Marozsan 3. Wendie Renard 2. Wendie Renard 2. Vivianne Miedema you agree, and if not, 4. Lucy Bronze 4. Alexandra Popp 4. Dzsenifer Marozsan 3. Eugenie Le Sommer 3. Pernille Harder who’s missing? Put 5. Debinha 5. Wendie Renard 5. Marie-Antoinette Katoto 4. Lucy Bronze 4. Wendie Renard together your finest 5. Pernille Harder 5. Dzsenifer Marozsan five footballers from 2020, then head to  PERU  SPAIN Twitter and let us know #FFT2020Best Talia Azcarate David Menayo DirecTV Marca 1. Lucy Bronze 1. Pernille Harder 2. Debinha 2. Lucy Bronze 3. Pernille Harder 3. Wendie Renard 4. Vivianne Miedema 4. Alexia Putellas 5. Wendie Renard 5. Christiane Endler  PORTUGAL  SWEDEN Mariana Cabral Andreas Sundberg Expresso Fotbollskanalen 1. Pernille Harder 1. Delphine Cascarino 2. Dzsenifer Marozsan 2. Wendie Renard 3. Lucy Bronze 3. Pernille Harder 4. Wendie Renard 4. Amel Majri 5. Vivianne Miedema 5. Bethany England





BETWEEn THE LInES AFTER 30 YEARS OF WAITInG, TO MAKE A nIGHT OF IT While the world collapsed in 2020, Andrew Robertson lifted Liverpool’s first top-flight title for three decades, then helped to finally end Scotland’s 22-year wait for a major tournament appearance as captain. And, boy, did he make the most of it – even if it meant (briefly) donning a Chelsea shirt, as he tells FFT Interview Kenny Millar

t’s a strange thing to look back on 2020. There’s so much that I’m sure we would all like to wipe from our memories – a year of isolation and loss for so many. At the same time, I know I’ll reflect on it at some point and think it was the most memorable year I for me, football-wise. Nothing is given to you in sport. You sacrifice a lot, you give it everything each and every day, and you gamble it all on a ‘maybe’. There are no guarantees. Take Liverpool waiting 30 years for the title. Or Scotland suffering for 22 years without making it to a major tournament. Those were two causes that we took on. We gambled on that, and now we have something to show for it. Thinking about both brings a huge smile to my face. When I signed for Liverpool, it was clear in my head that I wanted to be part of the team which finally ended that stretch. It was the goal. Growing up as a proud Scotsman, I also knew how much the nation wanted – needed – to make it back to a European Championship or World Cup after so long away. There were plenty of sceptics around both achievements – maybe a hangover from past disappointments – so managing to tick off both of them in the same year has been absolutely amazing. It still gives me goosebumps. I feel so privileged to be part of two teams that, on a very simple level, have managed to make a lot of people happy this year, and at least offered a temporary distraction from the madness that’s gone on around us. With Liverpool, nothing was decided until we were given the Premier League trophy to hold above our heads – but coming into 2020, the squad was full of belief. I think it’s fair to say that we’d been the best team in the country for about six months beforehand, but within the club you could see it in everyone’s eyes. You could see how focused they were to succeed. We had the prize in our sights and nothing was going to knock us off our stride. I was quietly confident because I looked around and saw some good players with great attitudes who didn’t once get ahead of themselves. You get sick of trotting out the ‘one game at a time’ cliché, but there’s so much truth in it. I can honestly say that the players and staff never looked beyond the next fixture, and I think you need to be relentless like that. We would take pride in it – the tunnel vision inside Melwood and Anfield. We knew supporters were pretty excited after two or three games and wondering, ‘Is this going to be the year?’ You want the fans to dream but you also can’t afford to fall into that trap when you’re a player. When you work as hard as we work and are blessed with so many really gifted players, as well as a fantastic manager and staff, you can 50 r r 46 January 2021 FourFourTwo

BETWEEn THE LInES “IT WAS JORDAn HEnDERSOn’S IDEA The 3-0 loss to Watford in February, ending our 27-game unbeaten TO LIFT THE TROPHY On THE KOP. WE start in the Premier League, was sandwiched between the two legs of COULD SAY, ‘THIS IS FOR THE FAnS’” our Champions League last-16 tie against Atletico Madrid. That was a tough one. In the second leg, I missed a sitter, so I’ll never reminisce Clockwise from feel unbeatable at times. That gives you a momentum of its own – and about it too fondly. Some birthday present that was! To be blunt, our top “We’ve waited that’s how we went into 2020. group just doesn’t like losing – especially at Anfield. We did enough to 30 years for this”; win the second leg and come back, but it wasn’t to be. We might have jigging like a boss; The players and supporters will all have their own moments which dwelled on that a bit more, but two days later the whole country went world champions; made them think, ‘We’re on our way here’, but for me there were a few into lockdown, so they had other things on their minds. “Andy, what is 13 significant ones. The 4-0 Boxing Day win at Leicester was crucial. We multiplied by two?” were coming straight off the back of the Club World Cup in Qatar, and It’s scary to think that’s the last time we had supporters at a game. there were many questions about fatigue. Would our level drop? So, You learn to cope with playing in an empty ground, but I wouldn’t say it was huge to brush aside a Leicester side that were our closest rivals I was used to it. Football needs to be played in front of the fans. I know for the title at that point. It was a big, big statement. from talking to loads of them that it’s easy to feel detached right now. The clubs have been clever with some of the ideas I’ve seen, trying to The 2-0 home win against Manchester United in January comes to maintain that sense of community people need, but it’s never going mind, too – specifically, when Mo Salah scored our second goal in the to replace your age-old routine on a matchday. It’s left a massive hole 90th minute. That’s when I really started to think it would happen for in the lives of so many, and the sooner we get back to running out at us. A packed Anfield crowd was singing, ‘Now you’re gonna believe us’ a full Anfield, the better. for those three minutes of added time. Even at the height of it all, though, I can’t say I was ever too worried This doesn’t often happen, but I remember being a bit caught up in the campaign was going to be declared null and void. Liverpool were that while play was raging on. It was spine-tingling. You don’t want to good at keeping us up to speed and passing on messages as soon as let those people down. they heard anything. Every team had their own point of view, but for me, it had to be played out on the pitch and not in the boardroom. I’m There was a lot of talk outside the club about going undefeated for sure the clubs who went on good runs late in the season agree. I can’t the full league campaign, but we didn’t think about being ‘Invincibles’ imagine how we would have felt if it had been for nothing. for the sake of a label. It stands to reason that you want to win every match so you can achieve your targets, but our goal – from that first When it came to that night in June, however – when Manchester City day of pre-season training – was to bring home the title. lost at Chelsea and we were confirmed as champions – the club had everything organised for us on the back of beating Crystal Palace 4-0 We weren’t focused on remaining unbeaten. We just wanted to be the day before. We had a hotel booked out and a barbecue arranged. champions. To finish one point short the season before was very hard I won’t lie: I do have a Chelsea shirt in my possession, and I may have to take, and we were determined not to go through that again. jokingly stuck it on for the boys in our group chat ahead of the game. It didn’t go down well, and I got the bites I was hoping for. It doesn’t quite fit: it’s Billy Gilmour’s, so a bit small for me! Achievements like that should be enjoyed while surrounded by your family, friends and, of course, the Liverpool supporters – but we made the best of the situation, to put it mildly. Those celebrations went on long into the night, and it was a special occasion with all the lads and staff there to share it. I think after 30 years, you’re probably entitled to make a night of it. It was Jordan Henderson’s idea to lift the Premier League trophy on the Kop, and it was an inspired one. We didn’t want a podium in the middle of the pitch in front of empty stands. Instead, it was personal to us. The Kop is iconic – it was a way for us to say to our supporters, ‘This is for you’. Kenny Dalglish handed out the medals – it doesn’t get much better than that. You always get asked how you’ll build on an achievement like that, without easing up and letting standards drop. I just don’t think it’s in FourFourTwo January 2021 47

BETWEEn THE LInES our nature to relax, put our feet up and be content with former glories. Right Robbo (centre) each other, and the team, on. With the two of us, it’s not something We demand it of each other. We’re a tight-knit group and we don’t cut revels in Liverpool’s we’d had to work on. The way we bounce off each other when we’re corners. It’s high energy every single day – that mentality works for us. 2019 European glory playing probably comes from getting on so well. Trent is an incredible Below Cuddles with player, so technically gifted, and I love watching him do what he does. Jurgen Klopp is clearly central to that. It’s simple: when he talks, we Klopp, giggles with At his age he has it all ahead of him, and it’s frightening to think how listen. He could keep saying the same thing for a year and we’d still Trent and leading by good he could be. hang on every word. He’s our manager, our boss, our leader and we example at Anfield have massive respect for him. Bottom “We’re off to The other ambition driving me on this year was obviously trying to the Euros, ya dancer” help Scotland reach Euro 2020 – I’m still struggling to put into words We owe it to him and ourselves to go again this season. Nothing is how much it means to me that we managed it. handed to you in a league full of quality, and we’ve been a bit unlucky with injuries. As a consequence of that, my role has maybe adapted “THE EUROS... WOW. IT’LL BE SOME slightly. At times I’ve found myself the oldest and most experienced EXPERIEnCE. WE’RE nOT GOInG THERE player in the backline, which is a new one on me. You need to help the TO MAKE UP THE nUMBERS, THOUGH” younger lads, but that’s in my make-up anyway. I try to be a leader in what I do, and we’re fortunate to have so many in our squad. I’d hope other people would say that I’m among them. We’re looking forward to getting everyone back out there, but those who are available are more than capable of doing the job for us. We’ll be in there fighting for trophies again – that determination is always there on and off the pitch. Everyone knows I enjoy a laugh with Trent Alexander-Arnold and we wind each other up about who gets the most assists, but there are no prizes, or forfeits for the loser. It’s just another thing to help push

The reaction back home was euphoric. It really gave the nation a lift BETWEEn at a tough time, just as what we did with Liverpool meant so much to THE LInES the city. We played as well as we’d done in a long time in the play-off final against Serbia, only to concede an equaliser right at the death. It I’d also like to dedicate as much time as possible to a few things I’m would have been easy for heads to drop, but there’s bags of character passionate about away from football. It was an honour to be made an in that team and our boys did amazingly well in the penalty shootout. ambassador of Street Soccer Scotland earlier this year, following in the When David Marshall made the decisive save from Aleksandar Mitrovic, footsteps of someone like Sir Alex Ferguson. I felt a real mixture of emotions: exhaustion, joy and relief. I held back a bit in the interviews, but in my head I felt the enormity of it all and The founder and CEO of Street Soccer Scotland, David Duke MBE, is what it meant to so many people. a brilliant guy and an inspiration in his own right. He’s been a massive support in helping me to set up my own charity, called AR26, to help I’ve been through a lot more as a Scotland player than with Liverpool, underprivileged kids back home. purely as everything’s pretty much been on an upward trajectory since I arrived at Anfield from Hull three-and-a-half years ago. As a national We’re trying to help disadvantaged youngsters and level the playing team, we’ve gone through some difficult periods and serious tests. You field for them. One way of doing it is providing access to free football can’t hide away from that, and when I was first given the captaincy it and more coaching all over the country, even just to give parents a bit was tough. After the Serbia match, I sat down with Marshall and we of a helping hand and some spare time. were talking about all the poor results and hard times that we’d been involved in along the way. We both agreed it was all worth it for that I’m in it for the long run with both, so it’ll be a process to get where one unbelievable moment in Belgrade. we want to be, but we’ve already made a decent dent. I’d like AR26 to be similar to the Make-A-Wish Foundation – to give kids and parents Growing up, I felt like I was missing out when the big tournaments who are up against it the experiences of a lifetime. Both of my kids are came around and Scotland weren’t there. I remember bits and pieces happy and healthy. I’m grateful every day for that and can’t imagine of the 1998 World Cup in France, but I’ve got much clearer memories the pain that some endure. We want to do all we can. of the family party that my late Auntie Vera organised for the opening match against Brazil. She had some massive banners and flags, and The other side of it is helping deprived adults go down the right path. everyone was there. I loved it. Then you’re conscious there’s no repeat, Many people focus on the second chances in life. We’ll assist them in because there were no more tournaments. those situations, but we also want to see if we can intervene earlier. Rachel and I feel extremely fortunate to have had the upbringings we We lost my Auntie Vera, and she was in my thoughts when we won had, so we want to use our voices and what we have available to us to in Serbia. It still hurts that she’s not here to see it, but I know she’ll be make a difference. looking down with pride. She’d have been one of the happiest women in Scotland when Marshall saved that penalty. I don’t have to look far for other goals in 2021. I’m desperate to see supporters back in grounds when it’s safe – Anfield and Hampden Park Anyone who knows me will tell you that family means everything to weren’t built to be empty. Liverpool-wise, it’s as simple as wanting to me. They’re the first people I think about when I’ve had success with lift more trophies, because it’s a good thing to become accustomed to. Liverpool and now Scotland. Each one you win makes you hungrier for the next. Becoming a dad to Rocco and Aria has had a huge impact on me as For Scotland... wow. The Euros will be some experience. Hopefully it well. Between the kids and my partner Rachel, we’re a good little team. will be the first of several finals appearances for this group. We don’t It’s just love, isn’t it? I want the kids to be proud of me and what I’ve want to go there and make up the numbers, and we’ll do whatever we done when they’re slightly older and aware of everything. Rachel has can to give a good account of ourselves and make the nation proud. given up a lot to help me over the years. She’s been through everything I don’t think my approach will change at all. and you need someone like that. She supports me during the difficult times and is there with me in the good ones, too. They’re my ultimate People have talked a lot about my back story – from Queen’s Park to motivation. I believe I’m lucky to be naturally motivated, but if I ever Liverpool and the Scotland captaincy – but that ‘rags-to-riches’ stuff need to go that extra yard, they drive me on. I wish I could see the rest never came from me. I always prefer to look ahead. Others can speak of the family, but that day will come soon – you can be assured there about it, and maybe someday I’ll look back at everything, but that’s will be a giant Robertson party to follow. a long way off. It will be hard to top 2020 in football terms, but the great teams are When I left Queen’s Park it was all about Dundee United, then Hull the ones who succeed consistently. I want to push for more, and don’t and Liverpool – pushing myself as hard as I could to give myself the want to be sitting here in 30 years looking back on one-off moments best opportunity of fulfilling any potential I have. I still like to think of with Liverpool and Scotland. myself as an underdog – it gets the best out of me. I don’t pay too much attention to my own football journey, but if it encourages a few youngsters to stick at it and believe in themselves more, that’s brilliant. I think, in any walk of life, it must be an awful feeling to have regrets. I never wanted to think ‘what if?’ when it came to football. If I gave it my all and that meant 10 years at Queen’s Park, and then some time in the Juniors [Scotland’s non-league equivalent], so be it. If that was my best, then I could look in the mirror and be at peace with myself. Fortunately, I ended up on a different path and there’s much more I want to achieve. This last year has to be a success story – but not the success story. ‘Now You’re Gonna Believe Us’, published by Reach Sport, is available now in hardback and eBook. Andy is donating the proceeds to his new charity AR26. Visit ar26.org.uk for details MORE On FOURFOURTWO.COM • Craig Burley on France 98: “You may as well play Brazil, score a goal, dye your hair and get sent off” (by Nick Moore) • Will Liverpool equal Manchester United’s title record this campaign? What life is like back on the perch (by Chris Flanagan) • Quiz: Can you name all 24 countries who have reached Euro 2020? FourFourTwo January 2021 49

“I’M EVEn MISSInG THE ABUSE I U S E D NeilWarnockhasfoughtoffcoronavirus to save Middlesbrough from relegation and boss his 1,500th game in 2020. With that twinkle in his eye still there, he tells FFT that retirement talk will have to wait Words Ian Murtagh