Compassionate, competitive, Polish league obsessive: the real Bruno Fernandes. What would Manchester United have been without him these last 6 years? Always produces, always provides, almost never injured - and when you meet him you understand why he's their leader www.thetimes.com/article/3382...

Brexit stopped his move from Stockport to...Real Madrid but typically Andy Mangan bounced back. Now scouting for Brazil while assisting the 'mini Jürgen Klopp' at Swansea he has quite a story to tell. PS lovely to find out what a gent Snoop Dogg is www.thetimes.com/article/1620...

👀 Today's peep inside our World Cup special, which is out now: 📖 @jnorthcroft.bsky.social Takes us behind the scenes at the 7 World Cups he's covered, from sublime play to fists flying in the media room. 🛒 Read the full story and 20+ more by ordering yours here: tiny.cc/rgrz001

The abrupt departure of James Ellis means only Mikel Arteta is left from the brains trust that transformed Arsenal In 16 months a sporting director, his deputy, the de facto CEO, the academy head and now the technical director have gone The inside story www.thetimes.com/article/98b2...

Arne Slot's biggest problem at Liverpool? He's just not Jürgen Klopp. He's a winner, is handling big obstacles like squad transition/PL's style change and signs are it's coming together. Yet some won't give it time. A delayed reaction to losing a great leader. www.thetimes.com/article/66f9...

you can read the @jnorthcroft.bsky.social piece online here: www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...

When Scotland set off for 1978 World Cup there was much optimism that they would ‘shake them up’ but as 6-year-old @jnorthcroft.bsky.social documented it didn’t last too long Find out more here - bit.ly/49SL93e

The best intro ever to the Transfers Podcast? 😂 Listen to and watch The Transfers Podcast on iTunes, YouTube, Spotify, Acast + more: podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t... open.spotify.com/episode/65wp... www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTP1... @jnorthcroft.bsky.social @duncancastles.bsky.social

good morning

Dwight Yorke v Steve McClaren for a place at the World Cup. Caught up with Yorke about his coaching journey - he's driven, driving standards and creating a buzz about his team. Chats with Fergie and little old ladies feature too. #MUFC #AVFC #Concacaf thetimes.com/sport/football…

As a big fan of chicken shops and nights out in Liverpool (though has been a while) I loved this. Written by a mate. He captures the scene perfectly - and why we keep coming back, against our better judgement, for "chicken roulette" open.substack.com/pub/liverpoo...

Amazing privilege to receive an Honorary Doctorate from #DeMontfortUniversity even if it meant wearing Dundee United colours and looking a bit like Henry VIII. There's a particular energy to DMU - seen in how students celebrated getting their degrees :) Thanks @leemarlow.bsky.social and @dmu.ac.uk

Good on Vitinha for being too embarrassed by that pathetic VAR penalty to take it properly

Arne Slot's success raises an awkward question for those (like me) who thought Jurgen Klopp did an incredible job. Was Klopp not the man we thought? Or...did what he hand on, and how and why he did it, show how good he was? www.thetimes.com/article/df2b...

...but what were Real Madrid doing with their wall?!

Even better from Rice #horse

Remember David Moyes telling me years ago: "Dec - he's got a kick like a horse" Feels like there are fewer brilliant free kick goals these days but that was one of the best you'll see from Rice.

Our paywall is down this weekend and all Times and Sunday Times content is free 🧵 I wrote these two pieces in December about football losing variety and flair through coaching that takes the agency away from players. This on the general theme 👇 www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...

Salah could do a Rubik's cube with the outside of that foot

Great trip to Leverkusen, getting to understand the rise of a clever but grounded club - and the Xabi Alonso effect. My god he's good. Wouldn't mind watching that football for €17/game. Xabi loves details and the bashed up bin in the away dressing room is one. www.thetimes.com/article/5142...

City v Real Madrid: great entertainment but essentially because it's so ragged. Both sides poor versions of themselves at the moment.

Ideas lose power, revolutions fade. I've felt this for a while, watching positional (Pep-style) football. Players who once wowed playing safe or touching the ball 4 times in a half. Patterns we've all seen before. There are other ways to play...as 24/25 shows. www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...

Richard Hughes. Know it's an unpopular opinion, but I think he's quite good at his job. From hiring Slot to getting it right on Gravenberch to bringing Iraola to England to putting this brilliant Bournemouth squad together...some of the reasons are in here: www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...

Brendan Rodgers 2.0. His second coming in Glasgow. He has had a sustained career of fine football and achievements but his current work at Celtic might prove his best yet. www.thetimes.com/article/326b...

NEW!! Sunday Times football correspondent Jonathan Northcroft is one of the very best in the business. We talk about his time in football from Aberdeen to Leicester, Sir Alex Ferguson to David Moyes, England and much more!! @jnorthcroft.bsky.social markgordon.media/jonathan-nor...

Hugh McIlvanney said Denis Law was the only British footballer who would have got into Brazil's divine 1970 team. His finishing was razor sharp, cheeky, as refined as art. Aberdeen's greatest. And just a lovely man who wore his greatness lightly, with a twinkle in his eye.

I'll probably get chased out of Leicester for saying this - but loving the Forest story. Doing things differently, doing things the Nuno way, doing things that have an element of Clough. They have same points after 20 games as Leicester in 15-16... www.thetimes.com/sport/footba...

David Moyes has agreed to become Everton manager again. Will return on a two and a half year deal. Official announcement soon.

• Kolo Muani's next club • Rashford leads Man Utd exodus • Slot's bald genius • Fixing Man City • Arsenal's Arteta error • Do-or-die Tottenham pursue Skriniar • Dani Olmo • Forest & Villain @transferscast.bsky.social special with @jnorthcroft.bsky.social podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/t...

The more you look at, and look into, Arne Slot the more you realise he's a special manager. When did he last lose an away game? 2023. Enjoyed delving into his background, appointment and methods for this. Might need to work on his dad jokes. www.thetimes.com/article/aff4...

The journalist, the manager, the fax machine and the hairdryer - www.bbc.com/sport/footba...

My friend & exceptional writer @jnorthcroft.bsky.social recently wrote one of those controversial articles that makes you think. The headline is like a hammer: "How Pep and data destroyed game's beautiful variety" 😱🫤 I spoke to him about it on #CoffeeWithGuillem: youtu.be/Z_3A9G4JxL0

Went home to Aberdeen and to Govan/Manchester to help BBC make these: rich new TV doc and podcast series on Fergie. Somehow he seems even bigger from a distance. Watch Sir Alex on iPlayer www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/epis... Sporting Giants: Sir Alex Ferguson on Sounds www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand...

Cole Palmer: a superstar in sliders who makes you love football all over again. Watch him and smile. Hear him and smile. My player of 2024 and it wasn't even close. www.thetimes.com/article/7efc...

Spurs v United was one of the best games of shockingly bad football you'll ever see.

God I hate VAR.

Such a low quality, low entertainment Manchester derby so far.

Continuing last week's theme - Jack Grealish, a symbol of the game's lost flair. On the one hand he is now a world, European, English champion and tactically accomplished. On the other, watching him just isn't the fun it used to be. And is he having fun? www.thetimes.com/article/224f...

Afro hair discrimination. A seemingly small issue with a big impact. Please read my blog👇🏾💛

Superb piece this. Says something different to mine today but that's cool.

Football in 2024 is absolutely incredible. And underwhelming. Something is missing - I think it's variety. Is English football all starting to look the same? Managers and SDs have been in touch to say that know exactly what I'm talking about... www.thetimes.com/article/c813...

Last plug. How FIFA ignores its own to, once again, ignore migrant workers. www.forbes.com/sites/samind...

I reckon Liverpool should sign Mo Salah

Harry Maguire has just gone on an overlap. Safe to say - whatever the outcome tonight - that Manchester United are already massively braver under Amorim

Gary Neville put it nicely in commentary. There's a "peace" to Liverpool. They outclassed City as if outclassing City is normal.

Feeling sad that Pedro Neto never got to play with Fabio Grosso.

Oh well they wanted more eventful football than under David Moyes.

Hear hear.

A piece with Phil Foden - a straightforward, normal lad despite his exceptional talent. On what it's like being sworn at by Pep, how he had to learn six different positions to play for City and why Liverpool of Salah/Mane/Firmino were best team he has ever faced. www.thetimes.com/article/1513...