2024 ANNUAL FourFourlwo Digital THE VERY BEGT OF THE WORLD'S GREATEST FOOTBALL MAGAZINE « Edition2024 ANNUAL FourFourlwo | woen't supposed tobe tke thi. It wasnt meont tobe toy of fesxng norther nights beneath the harsh lore of foodlights; of $0.00 Gears racked with nerves 0 the men inblack and white ine up tothe stains of Handel, the ounting prospect of tussing with giant just seconds owey. But then Newcastle were never expected to gotecrsh the top fourin Eee Howe's frst full season in ‘thet. James’ dugout Inthislatst collection fam the wel’ leading Football ‘monthly youl scover how the Magpies reached the Champions League forthe frst mein two decodes and what the future may hold fora stte-bocked out vith seriously big ambitions Inthe folowing ges we wil alo dete inte Brighton's remarkable abit to mine previously undlscavered gems polish them toa shine and sellthem an for 0 sparkling profit, relive time when Parma were the toot of Europe, meet a Liverpool fon favourite with on enviable record on FIFA and lear whoti truly ‘means to nit your courixy by winning the game's oreotest prize. {Wallthat wasn enough, well be stopping to talk to Arsenals £105 midfield engine about his ams for club ond country, marveling atthe careers ofthe mary Scandinxion superstrs who graced a pitch ong before a certin Norwegian pulled on his frst pir of bots and immersing oursevesin the frankly brmy world of Gerord Pique’ seven-:sdeleogues. Play onlNewcastle United: Here to compete They might be ahead of the curve clready, but the Magpies won't be slowing down any time soon “Mauricio Pochettino: The bridge to happiness Poch on his mission to bring the good time bock to Starnfor Bridge ston Town: We are Premier League Charting the Hatter Sorina Wiegman Try telling her that girs shouldn't play football Sean« Meet the Scandi superstars who made their names long before Odegaard and Hoaland started ripping up trees Brighton & Hove Albion: Recruitment, recruitment, recruitment \When it comes to uncovering hidden treasures, nobody does it better Declan Rice \We sit down with the Hammers legend to talk England, Arsenal ‘ambitions and tortoises Tammy Abraham The Chelsea graduate on life inthe Eternal City The ight to save the San Siro levelling this iconic ground really the way to go? The rise of Parma \When the Crusaders conquered Euro80 88 6 00 106 42 18 1% 132 138 100 years of Wembley ‘A century atthe home of English football Kings League: The maddest league on Earth ‘What does a player do when they've retired having won ital? Invent. the most bonkers seven-o-side competition on the planet, obviously Diogo Jota ‘The Liverpool fan fovourite on World Cup heartache, Klopp's hammy ‘and tackling some ofthe finest pro FIFA players around FIFA ‘After three successful decades, FIFA and EA Sports hove gone their ‘separate ways. FFTlooks back on a memorable 30 years of gaming Emmanuel Petit How tragedy and controversy forged a World Cup winner Peter Drury ‘Sky's new voice of football recounts some of most famous moments ‘Alan Sugar Inside a fiery nine-year relationship that left a rather sour taste The forty cub 36 league goals in a single season? That all you got, Eling? Vincent Kompany at Burnley From tika-taka to Turf Moor and beyond Cristiano of Arabia How the arrival of CR7 is reshaping the Saudi Pro Leagueeae eee eect emer See eM een Pea Ne nes teigel MMA kg Crete ey sci acy? eRe eae nas sect fescue eGA Deena Pes aL Areas no Sen Crey pect DoT e era oNEWEASTLE TED “YEEEESOSA!" screomed Eddle Howe, thrusting a clenched righthand high int the oon alte May tftemoon a Stamford Bridge. A sweaty, sunburnt, caasonally topless Newcaste United way end responded in kind On the final day ofthe 2022-23 campaign, Howe wos punching afulstop toa remerkabe journey in which the Magpie’ boss andthe lus new owners had tansformed them from winlee relegation fodder to aLeogue Cup fina and fourth inthe Premier League owe & Coad unlcked the door tothe Champions Leogue in jst 18 months He hod spent most of tote taight boing tough question abou the c's investment from Saud Arabia, staying balanced trough the ight ond lows Ae he weed across the pte to opploud the supporters fer he ful time vets at Chelsea, be exploded for just, ‘moment, the eration atthe achievement briny visible, "The fist stage ofthe Magpies’ journey was complete but there's more to come. Tis is the nse try of Nencoste post akeover metamorphosis under Howe, and how the clubs owners intend to sustain that succes ‘VOLCANIC ERUPTION Newcastle area club wel acqusinted with adi. One ofthe most pronounced and recent came ata most Moineux in October 2021. Two bist of Wolves’ Eurodance goal musi sondwiched roe Jeff Hendrick stke forthe Magpies as We want Brucey out chant greeted onother locust defeat. Such depeasure at manage Steve Bruce had been an audible stople forthe mejorty ofa miserable stort oo ever-gome-od Teague campaign. No wins, thee dows, four defeats, 16 goals conceded It was match umber 99 nthe dogo for Broce and he was ino eal emergency situation His side zat econd bottom ofthe abe having alo bottled relegation the previous season, blore lat aly secured a1 2th-ploced ich, Federico Ferandes wor Newcastle's capi ot Molineux - somewhat bizare, he emerged forthe second half wearing Jeni Marqullo's shit insteod of own. encapsulate the cb’ yeunetion Tk was tough becouse the previous yeor we were in the same situation," the Argentine explains to FourourTwo row. The group knew the stuaton and how o corse out of, but t as not a god performance at Welves then Roibeck, lead commento for Bc Rocio Nencostl, tavelled beck fom the game that evening by rl, They given up he soys of Newent sodden suppor. “Tere wos one lad, remember wel who toldme thatthe season was aver, that hey were going down He wanted them togst relegoted becouse woud hurt [then owner) Mike hehe, ond that wos othe hod eh.” Five dys later, Ashley was gone. ‘Cans?” hod peeiousty been the code word among {8 Ann 2024 FourFourTwexom, fans ane-nord question posed afer every Update that contained even semblance of hope toto toever wor imminent. The Toon army hod been under celebratory starters orders for months but the tines hadete the ridge, nindizatin ofthe fon’ desir for change Inanmership come wo a pol conducted by the cb’ supporters’ tust- 933 per cent of members ote in favour of takeover being ‘renit by the Premier League, CP Coptal Partners, RE Spots & Medio cond the Publi Investment Fund were the prospective custoions, a consortium comprised of husbond-and-wife business porters Mehrdad Ghadouss and Amanda ‘Staveley bilonar th property developer the Reuben family and Sous rabies sovereign wealth und respecte ‘ith estimated assets of £538 bllon PIF ‘would be fronting 80 per cent ofthe dea Newcastle's defet ot Woes marked 18 ‘months since price of £305m hod been ‘greed vith Ashley, who wes finally ready to sallfter 14 unhoppy years But there was ‘210g, Amidapaliical pute, Saudi Arabia ere blocking Gator’ bell Sports netwark ‘rom broadcasting in their country -belN hod exlsiey screened Premier League ‘matches across the Mid East and North ‘fica since 2013 and had just renewed thelr ‘contac foremost £400, Deep Soud rab geting in the way of thot TV deal IF now wented set ot the Premier Logue table, through Nencoste. twas awkward “he breoktrough come four days after Newcoste’smiserobe Molineux afternoon Saud Arabia hed ofl ited the fourNEWCASTLE NITED s Wi b = st colleagues in the days following the takeover, | they followed him. Instead, they produced GALLOWGATESTAND Seetowrempore weihattesapetes | Sumintesel chester vihint eetnretlie Cautcing t ce “ner rac th hey soe or age MUU Cuts Te) roltetepaientortetxtpantaener | Corevocnuieysoace: tnt ce woes te dye rte | pve ry Nt ore edhe AUSTIN Sieefeceingth raven Satay | Tosongein encore be est PT A BY regomwasnom | Sethsng gbugincy Dee TT) F hima especies tn etesan | prt ur onte wc het concoes game's outome,"aflend of Bucetels FT. | enatouching noteof hope “Cause this is ‘Steve wos]ut doing hisb,tyingtabe | might tw, but upon eld ground professional unithelast day" contines | ond everthing they ried shor ok fente-bock Femandez “Ho one inthe squad | we wilebuld" Among Magpies ichards it new what was coming next.” Now 34,the | “ned the sentiment af the mement defender lftNewcostle tthe end ofthat | _Prermotch emotion ~furtharigited when Seoson and says payersrarey cussed | Calum Wilson put Nencostleohead ater the Saul Abie angle ofthe takeover. ‘two minutes - was Sobered by the visting Wetreetafecus onthe thingthatwe |. teamthat doy. In rue’ 000th gore at loweand we dos professionals, whichis | @manager,Tttenhom won 3:2. The days Playing foetal” hens. “We putenough | later the Newcaste boss wos socked, fenergyinat the toning ground The ather | The new owners weren content o bate ‘hinge were abwously what other people | relegation. "Do we want to win the Premier werelookingat-theyneededto tak about | League within five to 10 years” Staveley had thot not us ‘eke reporters on day one "Yes ‘sone viernes ot totalled onl a faction mere 44 Guimaraes! impoct proved seismic, and | t notjuston the pitch el insider ols FFT that te clin’ ervel added energy tothe day to-dey mood atthe trinng cere, and brought compotion onto further aut of his shel, The pairhed never met before, but have since ected os the best ‘man ateach other's weddings. Begining wih thet victory at Leeds, the Magpies won si games outof seven, crowing ‘hetero move 10 pants ea ofthe relegation zene. 288¢ commentotorRalsbeck noticed impoverents inthe teams ness and struct, “You could se that players »eC 2» a APES ane ee ea en TUT Sater ATU aay eT “DO SOMETHING BIG CUAL Cee ee ee eee eee u ais ce ‘ i Med De) Peg CULO GARY NEVILLE Kenny Dagstsfomerosstom | Wor BobtyjonedHarodinaingto | ‘anyinthecomioentliype so | Ne nea-aus months olen ae een ot 7 ye Pon entecenned ae etary Perens) rene ona Seer poner oe Peon taewos ntrupted by some dubious oinents ‘urere’ by Howe's men, with the manager confessing "we wented to sow the game down” The hosts scored o 98t-minute winner and, os both benches clashed, police interverton was required. The Kop less tha poitely encouraged Newest to Ue ex My deals thet were booed off every week when we go to ova grounds" ot Howe. "You dot want tobe populr. Were hereto win, weve hereto compete ond wellde whotever takes" Newenste would 90 cmos sit onths unbeaten in the league few weeks ltr, inthe comer ofthe 8rd box ot Fulham's Crven Cottage, looping ball out ofthe sky and on to Miguel lions left foot Inthe Bak of on the Paraguayan hiton instinctive vay victory. It wes the Fist dey of October, but the goal ofthe month awardhad okeody been seted Almion would be named Premier Leogue player ofthe month, too. "fl good before then, but the goals ‘question of confidence, andit began with scoring twice oainstFulhar league motchesimmediote preceding the ‘m-season Word Cup breck. In ex ger frce’ lost fall Newcoste season, Amicon hod stuckjustfourin the Premier League, square peg na round hole id rumours ‘fa anefer owe from the lib, In Howe's front-fot system he was bon aga Newcastle werent used ta hong payers Invohedin major touroments and even If Almioes Paraguay had qualified, the World Cup hit rived a on inopportune time ofter the Tesiders had beotanChelees to cement thi pot "Brona Guimaraes ond Colum corse back fem Gator, ond reer of them oked ly." sys ‘When the January tonsfer window opened, the ub were mere spectators Inside Newcastle, they preach prictely what they preoch publi insit Hurst co ied ea eno unre eo Uae me OY eerie perenninsernet ean) en es aed etter, ke 16 Seven matches, fs NEWCASTLE NITED The cub ore up opoins it. FP-vise. We howe to sl players to continue spending “owas the end ofthe month, there was movernent Jono Sheley and Crs joined Nottingham Fores, feng up mney for Newcastle t sign Anthony Gordan om Everton for 45m. An acting trot fron exating young Engish payer, but there was «bigger taking point on Tyneside "AM GAN TO GET ME SUIT MEASURED!” bellowed Don Bur, paying homage toon iconic Paul Gascoigne quote after the la hed helped Spurs reach the 1991 FACup eal. Neweastie had just won emi-fral ofthe oun -beatng Southampton 3-1 on ‘gregate- and wereint the Leogue Cup fa thee fest mojo showpiece since 1959. Iwas emational, ethane too emotions. ‘The wehleting vp tothe gore opin Newcast' players. Adtional media duties, tecining ticket laour an troveling were cllprelocedby otal wave of hope heaped conthem by afonbase who'd been wating 68 yar for amojor domestic trophy. CHAMPIONS LEAGUE? | CAN'T EVEN ‘PRONOUNCE IT” Asie tumed out the League Cp fn wes al ‘over when Marcus Reshford made it2-0 ix minutes before alsime with an effort tnt defected agorisingl beyond Lvs Kaus The Newcostle hr zhoice ookeepers ‘most ecent appearance for an Enlsh cut came in that ighimre 2018, ‘Champions League Fine for Lerpo0l against Rel Moi, and although neither Nick Pope suspended) noe Nortn Dubrava cup ed would hove prevented ether goal, ther cbsencecontibuted to wider ri of confidence tht Newcastle seemed tosuferin the unfair final ating It just lt ke the wrong time for us sighs Hurst. *The gore wos on enormous RG elton eee —] eee eee an EeeSNEWCASTLE ‘WITED aU See TT ag Senoutrtlshearetsr Few ert . beabig cubis got to be about winning, not aan roving a good time Inthe clubs ee rel tt under hein ownership they fled in brethtakng feshion.Itwas fourth versus nH Pare rreleripe hid anganindjenried In pl the Mogples passed new exam Peeteand that's because ofthe work were puting in. When you win, eveything fees better, but wee eo surer of ourselves” or tothe gome, Howe wos osed he'd allowed hime to actualy sy the words ‘champions League’ “Tear pronounce!” hejoked Now, wth Newcastle assured of top for rsh he ween o tongue-tied. "Weve shot head af sched” he si, before acknowledging that there were some “tig challenges cheod”. Newcastle were «a ChorionsLeogue club opin. thd been 20 years since you could say that FOUNTH-PLAGED PROBLEMS “wecant continue to spend £200 in one year Neveaste’s porting rector Don Ashworth od ato medi event shorty after last summer's tranfer window. Ashworth, the F's former technica rector, wasnt cheap himsell His high pole caution fram Brighton iced aml milion pound compensation pochoge that required he be fan gardening leave for si months befor he coud stare work nthe Nath East. With Champion League furs now on thei schedule, Newcastle re row in arace to deve upall of pitch mets ord gain «racial ground on the European elite, rom omeeca revenue, socal medi loving and band identity and aworeness use the UK-tostodlum nfostractre ond the tring fctes. Theres work tobe done Daniel added the hea of commercial strategy at Octagon, one ofthe werl's lorgst sports morkating agencies, and hos Played on odvisry ee on dats tha include Lerpoot's partnerships with Expeia and Standord Chartered He's wel postined to ‘mop out theroad thot Newcast foe There are to element he says. "One isinfostactr. The biggest commercial departments aren smalopertins you lookat Lierpoo they ve got significant interna resource to cet on al commer opportunities, Newcaetehove leady mode some pretty god strides interms of stfing Uupthat commercial team Its not big ‘east asthe paying sta butt canbe qute asignteant department to operate” (EO Daren Eales ad chit commercial ofcer Peter Siverstone, whohaveorvedin the pst 2 ments flom MLSside Atlanta Unite ond Arsenol respectively, oe seen cas siply the str of what's expected to bea steady Now oftop cass indviduls fromthe commerce wordicning Newcoste. They help ohit revenue objectives ond dive the tub forward The other things positoningin the marketplace, developing the brand communicating wht Newcastle Unite stands frond how they diferent fom other Premier Leogue tubs. Tha’ inking bockint the clubs hertoge, reating story that nt just intertwined with NEWCASTLE NITED ‘the ownership. When you go ino room to pitch to bron for sponsorship, you hove to realy sell the toy of NewcosteUrited.” Tn dune, Hewecate signed new E25 ‘-yeorshir sponsorship dea with Saud ‘bin events company Sela, maj ‘ned by PI. signer imprvernent on ‘thei previos agreement with Fund, twos righ than deoisat Aton Vilaor Everton, but still ound 50 per ent ofthe the valve ‘of tradtona Champions League cub. Lest yea they partnered wth e-commerce brand Noon (the Wide East's Amazon on sleeve sponsorship deal worth round £7.5m a year “Twobig commercial eontocts caming ‘rom the Sout cernpanies ase eyebrons, but Haddad reasons that nt as challenging ‘astuation as one might thnk “The Premier League have pti place oor markt vue! process where dels must be pre-approved he says. “Ary elated party wansacton has tobe tagged and subritted tothe Peer Logue The shit del they di this summer ‘eosensiblevolue” third major commer vers the it supplier -Newcaste’'s exiting dels wth ‘edging brand Castre. “Te be suprised if’ Costorekitenewol” one industry inser tls FF. "There ove Deena sees of SHIGHTON & Sework wth very goo coaches day to-do on the tering pitch, then get the oppotunty tosh ona Satur. “History tells us that we do gv chances to yung pleers; we play them inthe Premier League; we develop and improve ther with cour expertise ond cb etre, However, is leo cer that when the time right anit works for eveyone, they can move onto the next level of eltcut People try to toke alot of redence rom wht weve done, ‘A tlsed profile has the potential to make ‘more dificat aswel Inthe post couple of yor, als hove ccied the Amexto pooch layers, manager and backroom tf, wile the challenge of finding replacements who anit the requled stondod pil 050 bound to became tough. Departures havecreay punctucted, but not puncte ighton’s Premier League torte dote. There has been no et yetin thai progression Inthe space of 12 months technical director Dan Ashworth wos wooed by Newcastle, potl players Wes Bissoumo, More Carla ond Leandro Tozsord moved ‘onto pastures new, and manager Ghom Potter et tote chrgeat Chelsea. In theie Place come Weiras Ashworth replacement, Ceicedo, Perv Etupinon and Mitomainto the starting X- thse four ante bulng clreody’ and Roberto De Zar toner the ‘managerial ht seat. Despite the ition, fighton had the best saeson inthe istry. When Chala cure Todd Boch informed Berber los september ofhis intention to nfl otter and sera key to members to Stamford Bridge only week after signing the Seog’ ployer ofthe season, Cuca and two months before returning fr tele “TEYOU GET EVERYTHING RIGHT, THERE SHOULON'T BE A CEILING. ANYTHING 15 POSSIBLE FOR U5” head of soutng, oul Winsenley it wos the biggest test of Brighton's model to date Barer, who swt promoted Poul Jewel's sn, Sar tobe hood of rcrutment, most hovefelt ie he wos constantly having to open is secret succession planning dossier. "sna perfect science because in on ideal wel you woud, or example, be changing your manager a monthinte anew eon,” ays the chief execute of Potters ‘move. "But Roberto De Zeri wos ovolable because unfortunately warhadboken cut in Ukraine, andthe role he hod at Shoktcr Donetsk was no lange ible fa him. don want to say ers auc thing because of court's not, but the ting was fortunate for us without Rodet probably wouldn't havebeen avaible and our succession plan for Goham would hve token aiferent tun, Those oe the dynamics we cont cont With so many variables theres the obvious anger thot not everything continues to werk ‘out exotly according to Blom’ son. One Zeb rishidged coaching hie, «couple of signings ninspred ‘not ufling the potentio or empl run af oor form coud threaten to dro progress fighton allow doubt ar even pont et " Sorter and his boss-apoker professional, | [EMM remember-‘now the mpotorce of holding | [ERMAN thelenenewhen ther chaimenondenef | [EE executives may lose theirs. Decisions hove to | [PEamEEM be mede forthe right reasons without sing | [Mia Sight ofthe dubs long-term appreach. That = ol-bloeded decision-making wos required | 2019 when they decided to dismiss his Hughion, the manager whe hod led ther to promotion and twice kept ther up order to replace him wih Potter, whohad never cooched at Premier Leogue ott Defoe “There ore no qurentes in toplve sport cond sucess en acheied na staight Ine, oj Brber, "Tere wl be bumpin the ood ‘nd you haw to bul esionce, There oe tines when, despite the Best planning inthe werd and best progression of your tent on ‘nd off the eld tings dot work SWehaveacuturect this cub where were ‘roneporet, we communicate, and we dont ide when t goes wrong, We try tobe os ‘able nthe bod times ae we ae inthe good ties - hopeful tht brings tbiity Bock foster ond breeds confidence, s0 we can get ‘over that bump and achieve progression in ‘sight diferent woy chow wed nly mooie ot planned “Us about not devoting fom your plan when yu hit abump, becouse wil oppen. Ifyou devite every tie you ite bump, you wil deviate ot. That breed istbilty, reduces confidence and impact on moral, ‘nd then you gt people wanting t eave That phsophy has helped ighton to roses futher than mast people outside of ‘the club ever thought posite So, how bigh can the Seogul 2 yeu get everything right, thre should? bea ceing” Borer answers efshely. “tm nat saying were going tobe challenging for ‘Premier League tite or wining @ European ‘up butt we keep pushing, keep improving, eep finding new ways to compete and keep being os smart as we con then anthing ie possble for us: Tt toke bre man to dsogre: Brighton hove proved ll doubters wrong up to nw.Recent months have been memorable for England’s rapping midfielder - after lifting 0 European trophy in his last game for West Ham, he joined Arsenal for a club record £105m in July. As he tells FFT, he’s determined to guide the Gunners to glory \ . Words Chris Flanagan . Pictures Stuart Manley % s0Anouol2024FourFourtwecom afECLA HIE “HOW OLD IS THAT TORTOISE?” fin foetal of ol time these days, but he ost one of his crosy about the oe af domesticated reptles Arsenal 105m lub record signing is bac on friar turk this efteroon, meeting FourFourTwo st our come ise wondering round quietiyin the background I's 1 thanks for asking, Coincidentally, we'e just few hundred ete trning round where so-born mide leorned is enthe ages of seven and 1, “Lspnt the fst part of my coreer coming tury. he explain to FT. Today out location has nating todo wth the Blues and everthing todo with convenience ~ ces popping into see us on is way home fom his newtrcrng base ot London Coney ust 2019 and Noverber 2021, Despite a significant increase in for the some dawn to-eorthpersonatt cut the household pt ond intontly Below Fenay but ou wth ser focus on winning, hemor business Asenat cult classe buted banana cay sit fom the eaty 1950s ond chucking ‘al Seprecatinly, having cmos toppled shen ested to lean forward for one porter photograph, cons frst day at Acenain ly, he mode toos many people os he could, eager to make a good impress in beginning to bul relationships. He even mode sure to quickly been the traning ‘rund dog: chocolat abrado oth named and inteded to yearby Gunners manager Me ‘bio furtner boos the fay atmosphere round the ploce. New signings are sometimes abit quit when they arive ta cl, and they tl ‘ime to be integrated” sys Ree, "But itUDIDN'T SLEEP WITHTHE TROPHY!” “THAT NIGHT WAS $0 EMOTIONAL ~ WHEN BOWEN RAN THROUGH AND SCORED, | FELT RELIEF TO BE HONEST”Europ Leogue semis. The eration spied ve va his itl of Spnish eferee Jesus GManzano, such ha beens dest win a trophy forthe cub that gove him his beak tt the highest evel flowing his release by Chelsea. Hs manager Mayes had sma et hie frustration bl oer that right, sent rm the touche fer keg aba ct alloy. Together, the duo wentbock othe drawing boar on cil everything ther powerto nau that when the Conference League ame rou this ie they went the Woy When Jord Bowen raced clerin the 90th minute ofthe final ogoinst renin, the ‘moment hod ave “I's up for gabe now" bellowed commentator Adam Surnmeton, bonawing the grect Ban Moore's legendary line fom arsnats st gasp til triumph at Anfield in 1989, West Ham ond the Gunners, United by an immevtal sentence ~and now by Decion Re. 'AEpean showpiece woul have meant somuch tote at any stage of his career ven thot thee was significant chance oud be his swansongin West Ham colours, itwas even moce consequent. Tio years cole, ic bod experienced the other sie of majo fnal th Engind ot the Euros “That feeling of seing alte Iain ploers running of then ing the trophy in ont of Uus- twas hore, ane that dont want to fee goin" he tld FF i 2021 ‘Undestondably,n rogue, the pressure he fet towin wos enormous. "When Jredran trough ond score, et rele tobe honest” heexplin now. "When you gointe afi you never krow what's going to happen. One teamis going to walkway dappointed and oneteamis going to be buzzing, When Jerrod went one-on-one withthe goalkeeper, toseehim sere and our fens erp two unbelievable. That night wos so emotional Te win toheorthe fons singing my nome, then tot the trophy, wes juts speci: ces omy his two bothesinclded, werein the cowed towiness tel The West Hom skipper was soonjenedon the pitch by his young nephew, both dancing together in front ofthefons.*He got ontothe pitch wth | Aa ‘me an wes singing Some songs” chucles ce "So many people were osking me who he was end was saying, He's my nephew Then alloy farm anon wich was very speci They've aways been with me, mum ‘nd dod and ve kept my bothers cose os well that suppart network. They've been key, supporting me trough the tough times and the goad times. You nee that” Thenext mornin, ice posed for pictues Kissing the trophy in bed hishotal com, ‘though he laughs when we osk whether he ‘actly spent the ight longi "No no, Tid saep with he inset "The cabinet wos ght outside my rom, sn the morning ust droggedt in” ‘The team returned to London and boarded ‘an open-top bs rm Upton Park to Strtfod town hol where Rie ried the trophy aot ‘once agin at cv reception attended by ‘thousands of euphoric Homers fans “That oy represented what West Hors about, the ays nom. "rom the od Boleyn Gound to Stratford ea st insane - Ive never sen nything ke ‘That ehicreception would be his final actos «Viet Hom player. That day, Dav Svan Confirmed that a ansfer seemed ireninent "We rome him he could 9 reveced the Hommes chokman “You cot ask foramean\whobas cmmited more tous this season There are thee or four bs who have shown intrest ond expect te offers il start to come in today” Despite rumoured interest fom ahostof sides including Bayern Murch, Manchester United nd his old lub Chee, eventual iRoutforissignatre. The Freier League champions went a for shaving a 90m td tumed down, butt had aeady been widely eprted thot Rice's preference was ein the Gunners who were Feody 1990 further inthe attempts to seal 1 deol. Cty withdre, leaving the path lar for Arsenal to agree a £105m dbrecord tronsfer, surpossing the £72 fee they old for ile’ Nicolas Pepe in 2013, t would also ‘ake Rice the most expensive rch player ‘er topping Jock Gress £100 move to Cy two years ogo. Before offical falng the steh on «fve-yor cokrct with the option fer an tetra yeor— Ree ane shortage of people to 20y goodbye o"caled David Moyes ond wo had realy ice conversation” sys Rice “fet tke we owed to eachother to peak have so much respect fr him. talked to Nobes Mork Noble oot wes. @ had one for im because e's Mr Wet Ham, but he war buztng for me. He was happy that coud push nyse ond compete inthe Charnpions Leogue this year. He Sid I's nating more than yeu desea! sare ofthe payers messaged me os wel ~ Thod plenty of replesin the group chat we shared toeter, was token aback Thee all sch close fiends of mine ond speak to them regulary texted the manager ahead ofthe ist game this ecsen simpy to say, ‘ood ick forthe season ond ee you soon He ep, which was ice want to eep a postive relationship with him becouse he wos 0 good tome, andthe supporters were, too theyre special. Thnow ieshord when you se player move onto nother lb, but Tr sure they understand hopefully when I eethem again, be abe tos0y goodbye pope tbe pret stenge when I play ogoinst ‘many eds krow and geton with they be saying tu on the ptch, tm sure! Weve got them a the Emirates Stadlum frst on Boxing Dey then et the Landon todum ltrin the 00 art be bilan to go back here and ee everyone” “TT WAS HARD FOR NODES AG HE'S HR WEST HAM. HE SAID, ‘T'S NOTHING MORE THAN YOU DESERVE™ MapaAshe speaks fondly about his former cub, Ieedearhe means every single word uring 10 years at West Horst inthe fst team, ‘memories were created thot ellcherish for the rest ois fe. He may be wearing another shire these dys but stove forthe Hammers wil ever ein “Tobe caleda West Ham legend one dy, ‘maybe, would be real hanout the then 20-yer-old od FT back in 2019, when we suggested oi thet he ha the potential to achive precely thot Four years 90, Rice was modest enough to sate it merely os on ambition rther han on expectation. Today, heremains medest enough tbe reluctant to ssume he occomplihed his rission = ven though only he, More and ily Bonds have ever ited ery sr of major siverware atthe, 1 wos the thd ever coptan to trophy for West Hom, but wouldnt oy whether im legend or not." he replies now. "lust ied to perorm aswel as could across he nearly 2sD appearances I made. gave eveything forthe cut, never missed training ond payed ‘ery gore with my heart on my sleeve without West Hor, dont ct where "dbo. Tobecome ofectbaleris really tough ints, but when got my opportunity, tok ieand ha the bockng of the fons and al the ‘managers and players I worked wth ~ ee, The kept sing each season. very yea hare were mre questions. Can be do it agar? Con he get better? Can he kep being West Hor’ Stor man? loved tkin thot challenge on ~ I wontedt perform forthe supparters ond give them exchement every week Being medecopain of such ohistr tub woe proud moment, onthe feng Id ter scoring my rst ever goal for West Hom [against Arsenal in 2015] will never leave me, the woy the staium erupted that dy. There are so many highlights: the relationships Ive formed the connection wth te fone athe tof. I couldn't hove asked for anything mre ‘West Ham made me the man Lam From day one ot Arsenal leas brought the exoct some commitment and eccaton this new cb. He knows no other way. Hs bond withthe Gunoers fase was instant, and wil only keep growing Asis corer progressed in recent seosons, with England as well as West Hort was ‘lear that big-money tronsfer wos always {a quesionofwhen rather thon ily the day crved in mid-tuy, ase completed his switch tothe Emirates puting pento paper roto but twice Arsenal were presumably taking ne chances "We signed tthe ning ground ond we signet ot the stodium” reves ie, os such an amazing feng to sign for Arsen, Just becouse of how historic he cubis, and ‘proud moment fer mys to get to where "ve got to, making ig move. all been ‘whirwind rm sll ony setting in now, to be honest. t's herd to describe how intense but good t's been. ts exactly haw I wanted to push myself and exactly what needed” ‘Gen the interest fm severathearyeight lub including Treble winners Manchester Cty. hy waste was so keen tin Arsenal? Nooked athe squad, how young eveyone wos, how good they/e been forthe lost Wo cor thre sesons, not ony last yer, andthe ‘eoectory theyre curently on,"he expos. Ts myself fiting in sloting nity, ond ‘the manogerad.a huge sayin winnie ne cover. It was the erect ft, being a London boy ond getting to ploy fr Arsenal = think Ia wosthe perfect mave fr meat hs toge cofry creer” ‘The fct the Gunners anther menager were 0 enthuse did much to persuade fim, Since leaving Highbury forthe Emirtes 7 2006, Arsenol hove hora been known for ‘pushing the boot outwith transfer fees, but ‘they viewed Rie so mportant to Arteta pojectthot they made an exception -the fist ime they broken the Bish nsf record fora domestic player since reruting ‘Nan Bilin 1971. Sporting director Edu ond hie executive officer Vial Venkatesham {ett to Los Angles totoktoSton and Josh rcenke, presenting a cos sto why they should plsh the cash on Rice. The owners [stened, and gave the een ight When you're wanted asa fothalerond ‘cub eal goes fer you tha’ special sys ce "And snot ie when they ty to gn you, they do eventing, then when you get tothe cub youre qu forgotten Ist fot ‘that ove from everyone, the energy. 'show they supprt you, how rice allthe staf are, how everyone tals you, hw the toting ' just genuinely how the cubis one fly, because the boss has pushed the emphasis conthat. Im enjoying Even during his ntl weeks working with ‘tet, he's been thoroughly impressed by what he's sen, “ts tact, how he sets steams up, thedifferent woys he has of paying” he continues. "Youhove team it ‘land's extremely diet, because there ‘reso many tings ging on in your brain ~ ‘mental demanding. “It's teoming more about my posto, how he demands So much fom you an the ter, how intense heis ine good way nd how he pushes yeu f youre e lane numbers when ove playing for Arsenal's inreibly tcugh ‘ove the heartoet ofthe team and nese tobe onthe bal constant, 50's where you poston youselfon thepltch andalso about hebing thers. Sometimes i beter to tay ‘may fom the bl to open up stuf for your teor- mates. st loods of erent ects. [Now matches ae so mentally caning for me, 0 there's alt going on inside mead ‘ontop of playing octal "But Tknow theres so mony morelevelsto reach ad fe tke Mie isthe best monoger totoke me thee leaned somuch over my ‘te under David Moyes ond heimproved me ‘4 payer.Now lean odd anew dimension tomy game - thing possibly hadnt waked conbefore, weaknesees had, ond Mikel can tring the best ut of me, he's why I decided tojoln Arsenal”Inesitaby, hil his totus a8 on England regularhod aleody put him in the spotight, the €105m price tag wl place even ore ‘media fecuson him this term. By now, hes ‘experienced enough to know tees nothing hhecando tochonge that "te crey, says ce, asked how height have reactedas child hade been told he'd beworth £105m one day. "But tobe honest, vent even thought abut it Te transfer tious happened, 105m, leant do much bout that, ie whats IF anything think itshowshow well ployed at West Hom over the st ew yeors. Ne estobished myself as «Premier Leogue plyerin the past four or five yeas ~ Ive not played or ne season, the anater comes and ve ben bought for that thnow the Premier Leogue inside out, "ve got experience eventhough Pm young, and I wont to pay tet Dock opel Tcan ‘Asked no he deals with the medi focus that aplyer of his sttus wil avoys receive is onsneris simple. just dont tsten ot ortead ihe says. "When | was oid Lused to getatfecte byt so much more, butrow ok everthing wth pinch oft. Things wilde news fora couple ofhous then the doy ofr’ forgtten - t's prt ond poral offetba ty pay wel you get prised, if you dot ply well especialy wth my pice tag, you get ised and people wont otk about you But that's why we pay football - peopl re asked tog thelr opinions and Teant stop thot” Five years og, without a heop of experince behind hn 19-yer-ld ce wos notably ‘more frog. nhs estinterew with FT, he looked bockon the pening doy ofthe 2018-19 carpoign, when he was substiuted ataltime aginst Liverpal with West Hor 2-0down He doubted him so much on the etn trip to London that he decided to cock manager Manuel Pellegrin fhe could go ‘nloon ta Championship club, Wie the Cleon bos sci no, an ce soon regained hie confidence an flourished. Holfa decode on, he wos makings debut for Arsenal onthe opening doy of there se0s0n os an entirely more confident person “Deitel he tells FFTrow," was only oki In2018 -youpay inthe Premier eague, you ‘make mistakes and bock then when youre just storing ou, you thinks the end ofthe world. m stl going to make mistkes now, “ARSENAL WAS THE PERFECT FIT, BEING A LONDON BOY - IT FELT RIGHT AT THIS POINT IN MY GAREER”“THEY WERE SENSATIONAL AND DESERVED THE TITLE - NOW THE AIN 1S TO GO A STEP FURTHER”ar Lae ee = evenremember what did yesterdoy!™ he laughs. “Fm nt sure f wel see on vinci seoson again. That Avsenal team re legends and wil be spoken about freer With this young squed we have, we wantto be seen in {sma ight os wel. and Ibdive we've got the tear to push” ‘rsenal came agonisingly close to gory last season, tang the standing for much ofthe campsign befor faltering inthe final weeks with dows agent Liverpool, Southampton tnd e's West Ham, where the Gunners led but were pegged back. ‘tet’ ut impressed many people last term, howeve, Rice ncaded. "though they were bilan" e sys. "Other thon the bp at the end they were senstinal to wotch and pay against ther wos realy tough They deserved to win the league -it warn ‘meant to be, but ts year that's the am, to 0 one tp further. "When I played aginst Arsenal ith West arnt wes the energy, te spi the dive, fventhing [twos how Mikel pushes team fromthe sideline you could see how up for ithe was It makes you want play fc him and gt the win When youToce them, they suffocate you, un har presshard and make ivextemely hod forthe opponent. nother words is style that sus Rice down tothe ground. “Definitely — keto be igh energy, rent foot, wining my al and wining my toes os a numbers or ruber eight." he enthuses. "know Mikel lows tha, too Fer many yeors after Paik Vick exited Highbury for Juventus in 2005, the Gunners never replaced what he Frenchman offered ~a dominating miler who brought not just outrageous talent, but perzonaity ond sit, dng the team a foundation rom which they enjoyed copious succes. While ice nt exactly the some typeof player some have Suggested that he on provide many of hase ‘uals inthe cus bid to become league champions ence more. its abi pressure ond bi chollenge,* he Says ofthat comparison. "Wire wos the best inthat poston during that era ~e monster, nergy, gs, character, leadership. be bad the tm stil uyng to eal of that tomy game, even though Ive got tin small doses. rm tying to push myself tobe a that vet. ~ hopeful con emulate something ofthat rarer tis cub 1 wy to impose myself ono fotbaliptch, to geal be high energy, be vocal tohelp my team-mates. Theyre ite things you do tory tobelp We dreody have many leaders inthe side who demand and push each other ~ todd one more can ony be a good thing, Vira won 0 rophy inser ost gore for the Gunners the 2005 FA Cup Fina gaint Manchester United -ond Rice won trophy ins very rs, steering Arsenal to victory in the eutain-sing Community Shed. After his Conference Leegue win fr West Honit reonthe's bogged a winers’ medal in two onsecutve cub games freer teams When Asenol beat Forest 2-10 week afer the Community hel, id ie expect to se presentation ceremony purely ot ofhabi?ECLA aE “IPS EASY TO PLAY WITH JUDE. | LL SAY, “YOU GO AND ATTACK, AND 1 CAN DO WHAT 1 00 BEST” ru \ 4 A 4 Wd * be Cnet tanayou cn ploy n= Tve been ooking forward to heating that anthem forthe rete, A cub lhe Arsenal deers to be inthe Champions Leogue an fel ike anything could happen. look inter lot season -they went athe way tothe fina ond noone expected tht, <0 you can geno gret run. Lbive we con ompete with the best ‘Away fom the intense pressures fete lve footbll Ree hos been developing enother Sporting prowess in recent es. "Gf my thing now - think ve become odlted to behonest,"he soy. "Tis summer especialy, ve tie to ply 08 mucha Leon, whether itsrinenols or 18 holes Weve got te oF roup ot Arsenal 0 we try toget ot often as possible on play around. We pion tokeep Rupand vist mony diferent courses coun the country.” _Athome, he hat an edorabe dog called ao atnough the cockopoo does lays helphim torela. Rai ledge, even he's ‘bit emnayng!” chuckles Rie, “He's @ 0d og. think ol cockapoos are he that =I talk toa otof people who have them Theyre ust chaos ond that's whot hes, but he's sweet, bless he. Its hardto fing time to wok him myself becouse Im so bus, but e's found ‘best rend in my ded. Theyow each oe. "think my ded eves him more than Ido ces international comsritment futher ‘roma his sched, bt hel never complin tout that, such shispide ta represents country Allbeing wel, he could ecch half ‘entry of cops forthe Thre Lions ery neat year aheod of Euro 2024, Love playing for England mea 50 cops now, hopefully ‘ean get that bigrilstone. Thee are some important games coming up and anather tournament [fel the everyone is pushing ing good direction Going int the Eros, we want to make that one step beyond” ‘Mer reaching the Euro 2020 Fal, ging cone ste further hod been the torget ot he Wor Cup, 00 Rice andhis team-mates performed wellin ater, ut Fence caught ‘them with a coupe af sucker punches in the quae finland the dear wos oe. "We wore so ulucky agains France 1 ont think we deserve tlse tha game, recalls ice now. But the smal moments in football meter ond France won the gamein those small moments There were questions out us ahead ofthe World Cup De England score enough goal? I think when we let the tournament, we'd scored the most goal of ‘any side, with the attacking syle we ployed. Werhaie tins, for sure The quod stop, superstars everywhere. It's about oding Illtogether and doing on the pitch, going the extra mie and winning a competion: ‘Many fons hope the emergence of ue ‘otinghom wil help with tht ~Reol Madrid's new boy isstillonly 20 and Ries 24, soit Sseersitly thot they play longsde each ‘other for along time “Yeoh, hope 50” soys ce "Since frst played vith Jude, nthe lst ‘wo anda haf yeorshe's goneuptoancther level 1 e05)oploy with im -soy, "So ‘and attack, nd | do what do best’ which 'Swhat the manager wants. Italows de to fous, so weve gt a ood relationship and he's any galing to get etter. Real he looks so confident and sured" “Throughout tisnterew ice has projected exact those seme quite. He's ‘the same person he was when we fest met im four years ago, but is words cre debvered wth greater uthorty that maturity brings He's aware he's moving towords the peck yeors ois career nds deterrined to extract os much out of them «possible. The jovial end side will never leave butte closing few minutes of ur ct have mode it abundontly cleat he has lasek focus:on wining on achievernent “Ifyou tld me that 0 24, have made ‘more thon 250 Premier League appearances won what é won and progressed how Fe progressed, Iwould have snapped your hand ‘fhe says."Tve only been arsenal for ‘two months, but fm ready to keep pushing. Te got six yeors at Asena.nd hopefly ‘they sk very succesful ones. In thereat 12 months theres the Euros, the Premier {League onthe harpions League end oping we con win trophies. Thats the main ‘hing for me. Hopfulyinayeor'time Ibe sathere with afew medal That's aim.” 1's fiting way to end our conversation, ’plesure, top man, thonk yuh sys, shaking FTby the hand, then courteousy posing fr photos ith anyone who wont fone - making suet fina tie to speak to the teenoge son af our snapper, who's come ‘ong to help out during the schoo! holiday, ‘he pst feu monthshave propelled the midfeder toon even grete stardom than ‘before, but hore til not the tines bt of ‘ego about the man. As the torise ‘continues to wonder around quietly, ice waves geodbye ond depots, inseorchot further gry ever the year ahead FourFourtwo.com Anol 2024 61Tammy Abraham has loved life under Mourinho since moving to Roma in 2021, and while the striker isin no hurry to leave Serie A - or pesto - behind, he’s not ruling out a Chelsea return.. Words Alasdair Mackenzie happiness the leorineforword strides gocefuly to a small meeting room ot feome’straning round. Lifes good. ‘Tiss. odie, the usl effect hat FourfourTwo as on people—the marksman become a father forthe first ime afew days before we meet. “I don think the feting hos ckedin yt he rns proudly. Baby ‘Amat etal brought even more joy ito fe tht hos looked resy ever since the £ 25yeorld decided to 0 Jose Mourinho ut it~swop the rin of London forthe unchine of Rome inthe summer of 2021. ‘Adopting toc new team ina new league presented few completions es Abraham» FourFourtwo.com Ano! 2024 63