FourFourTwo UK

welcome

The first time I picked up a copy of FourFourTwo, I was a 10-year-old boy way back in September 1994. On the front cover of that very first issue was then-England manager Terry Venables. So it’s somewhat fitting that as I sit here writing my first letter as Editor of this fine publication, 26 years and 308 issues later, it’s Venables and his England team from 1996 that feature prominently in this issue – and on our cover. That long, hot summer was the last time football came home. Now it’s coming back 24 years later, with Wembley hosting seven games at Euro 2020. England will play in at least three of them – fingers crossed, it’ll be five. In these pages we celebrate Euro 96, taking a day-by-day look back at one…

fourfourtwo uk

Editorial Editor James Andrew Art Director Anthony Moore Chief Sub Editor Gregg Davies Editor at Large Andy Mitten Deputy Editor Joe Brewin Senior Staff Writer Chris Flanagan Online Editor Conor Pope Women’s Football Claire Bloomfield Thanks to Ryan Herman, Huw Davies, Steve Wright, Iain Noble Contributors Marcus Alves, Patrick Barclay, Paul Brown, Caio Carrieri, Sean Cole, Richard Edwards, Chris Evans, Emanuele Giulianelli, Andy Greeves, Martin Harasimowicz, Si Hawkins, Steve Hill, Louis Massarella, Martin Mazur, Nick Moore, Leo Moynihan, Andrew Murray, Gary Parkinson, Sam Pilger, Felipe Rocha, Paul Simpson, Jon Spurling, Tim Stillman, Ivan Tomic 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 licensing@futurenet.com Subscriptions Online orders & enquiries www.myfavouritemagazines.co.uk Group Marketing Director, Magazines & Memberships Sharon Todd Senior Direct Marketing Executive Faith Wardle Circulation Head of Newstrade Tim Mathers Production Head of…

darren anderton

The message flashes up on FFT’s phone, and it’s rather unexpected. It’s from Darren Anderton. “Hi, there’s been a bomb scare.” We’ve arranged to interview the Euro 96 star at Home House in central London, but our Wednesday lunchtime rendezvous has been thrown into doubt by an unexpected security issue. As we arrive, police cars are all around. The place is cordoned off. As far as FFT interviews go, this is an unusual start. Thankfully, following a short delay, Home House is reopened and Anderton arrives to greet us, waved inside by a Tottenham-supporting police officer. “One of them was definitely a Spurs fan,” says the former White Hart Lane hero, laughing. “He said, ‘Hi Darren, how are you doing? All clear!’” Anderton splits his time between Europe and Monterey in California these…

the mixer the best of football

JAPAN HOME SHIRT £69.95 adidas.co.uk Can’t we just invite Japan to Euro 2020? As their appearances at the 1999 and 2019 Copas America have shown, the Samurai Blue are always willing to broaden their horizons – and with a new kit like this, they really should be welcomed to Europe’s grand show with open arms. Their latest effort comprises a blue, wavy camo motif, resplendent with red trim and darker navy shorts. Last chance, Mr Ceferin. No? Fine then. ADIDAS MALMO SHOES £84.95 adidas.co.uk Adidas’ classic City Series was a huge hit with punters in the ’70s and ’80s, offering terrace casuals a welcome distraction from trying to kick lumps out of each other. The good news is that the Malmo is back for a modern refresh, and still looks as stylish as ever with…

games that changed my life cesar azpilicueta

Osasuna 1 Getafe 0 February 28, 2007 Copa del Rey “The most special day of your career is when you make your senior debut. To play for Osasuna when I was an academy player aged 17 was something I dreamed of, but I was so nervous. I got the call from my reserve-team manager two days before the match. It was the second leg of the Copa del Rey quarter-final – we lost 3-0 in the first leg, but won the second leg and I got an assist! I couldn’t play more than about an hour – I was completely burned out after giving everything for the team.” Chelsea 6 Wolves 0 September 25, 2012 League Cup “I’d been looking forward to my Chelsea debut and was excited when I signed. Roberto Di Matteo was…

rematch of the day

Euro 96 was one of the most remarkable summers in modern English history, but spare a thought for those who were too young – or abroad, or in prison – to experience it. Not just the games, but the whole Britpop-fuelled spirit that pervaded the nation’s bars, before they became gastropubs and stopped showing football. If only there was a way to go back. Enter Jack Pop and Chris Webb, who loved that era so much they’re recreating it. Rematch of the Day is a one-off one-dayer in which people relive the sights, sounds and smells of Euro 96. It’ll happen on May 2 at London’s Boston Music Room and Dome, where Pop – usually a record label boss – staged a recent festival. “Chris came down to that, shortly after going…