Tom Burrows

Gazza’s chaotic 39 days at Kettering: Mid-training pizza, a fully clothed shower and a Ferrari promise Paul Gascoigne arrived at the sixth-tier club 20 years ago as a footballing legend. Those who were there at the time relive a crazy period

'Everyone finds him interesting because of what he's done, he's a football icon.

'And to be around someone like that and to have had that experience, not many people can say that'

The story of Gazza's 39 days at Kettering Town, told by those who were there

www.nytimes.com/athletic/630...

Gazza’s chaotic 39 days at Kettering: Mid-training pizza, a fully clothed shower and a Ferrari promise Paul Gascoigne arrived at the sixth-tier club 20 years ago as a footballing legend. Those who were there at the time relive a crazy period

🔈 Emotional team talks
🦷 A recreation of dentist chair celebration
🍕 Takeaway pizzas at training
🚿 Gazza in the showers fully clothed
👋 A bitter exit

Twenty years since Paul Gascoigne's only managerial job, a big read on his remarkable 39 days at Kettering Town

www.nytimes.com/athletic/630...

How Bryan Mbeumo became one of the Premier League’s hottest properties The forward has become a pivotal figure for Brentford and is likely to attract interest in the summer transfer window

Bryan Mbeumo is (finally) now a #MUFC player

I wrote this with @jaydmharris.bsky.social last season on the forward’s footballing journey, his steady rise at Brentford + hard work to improve his finishing, his love of chess and teaching himself how to play the piano

www.nytimes.com/athletic/604...

‘It’s Arsenal. They won’t just ignore it’ – Thomas Partey, the allegations and what the club knew Arsenal have been aware of complaints about Partey, all of which he denies, for more than three years. Questions are now being asked

“It’s Arsenal. They won’t just ignore it.”

Thomas Partey, the allegations and what the club knew

For @theathleticfc.bsky.social ⬇️

www.nytimes.com/athletic/648...

The heartbreaking death of Diogo Jota The Liverpool player died in a car accident 11 days after his wedding. The Athletic reports from Spain on a tragedy that stunned football

Diogo Jota won the Premier League and Nations League earlier this summer. Then on June 22 he married the mother of his three children.

In the early hours of Thursday, the Liverpool forward died in a car accident.

The Athletic reports from Zamora on what happened, and what has happened since.

Diogo Jota: Liverpool’s supreme goalscorer who was far more than just a footballer The Portuguese, who has died aged 28, was a force of nature on the pitch and cherished by his team-mates off it

Diogo Jota was a superb striker and a serial winner for Liverpool, Wolves and Portugal.

But he was far more than that.

He was a husband, a father and a cherished friend to the colleagues he leaves behind.

This is his story.

Premier League footballer Diogo Jota and his brother Andre Silva, a professional player for Portuguese side Penafiel, have died after being involved in a car accident in Spain.

What makes Thomas Frank special: ‘Secret sauce’, training for stoppage time and games of Risk What makes the Dane stand out on and off the field - according to those who know him best

After a fantastic spell at Brentford, Thomas Frank is the new #THFC head coach

I wrote this last season on what makes him special - his attention to detail, willingness to take risks + his personal touch

Piece with @oliverkay.bsky.social + @jaydmharris.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/598...

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas – from Arsenal youth captain to shame and prison for drug smuggling The story is one of a lower-league footballer who fell to temptation, with his lies and deceit bringing shame and now a prison sentence

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas was once a brilliant prospect for Arsenal and became an accomplished centre-forward for other clubs in England and Scotland.

Now he is in prison as an international drug smuggler.

@dtathletic.bsky.social & Stuart James tell the story of his downfall.

Luis Enrique and his daughter Xana.

Luis Enrique's daughter Xana died in 2019 at the age of nine from a rare form of bone cancer.

On Saturday, when his PSG side take on Inter in this year's Champions League final, she will be with him once again, this time in spirit.

@jacklang.bsky.social

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/638...

Brandon Williams and a case that highlights football’s laughing gas issue Nitrous oxide - or laughing gas - has been used by some footballers in recent years but it is now a banned substance in the UK

The sad tale of Brandon Williams - who was handed a suspended prison sentence on Friday - and a sorry case that highlights football’s issue with laughing gas

My piece with @gregok.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/630...

Have Crystal Palace brought modern fandom to the Premier League? Palace's fanbase are the antidote to the sanitisation of English football fandom - they bring something real and unfiltered

Crystal Palace’s fanbase are the antidote to the sanitisation of English football fandom — and on a glorious, historic day for their club in winning the FA Cup final, they put on a show.

They produced something unfiltered. Something real.

Carlo Ancelotti has been appointed as head coach of the Brazil national team and will start work on May 26.

The 65-year-old Italian will leave Real Madrid after their final game of the La Liga season against Real Sociedad.

More from @david-ornstein.bsky.social ⬇️

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/633...

Inter’s old limitations are beginning to look like new frontiers – next stop, Munich Joy and despair were in plentiful supply as Inter claimed victory against Barcelona in a Champions League semi-final for the ages

The crazy is deep in this club. It can’t be straitjacketed or sedated. In the end, it gets out — and on nights like Tuesday, after everything, the fans are mad for it.

Next stop, Munich. Inter’s old limitations are beginning to look like new frontiers.

📝 @jameshorncastle.bsky.social

Think the Premier League season is over? These are the games you still need to watch With a fight for Champions League places, fond farewells and a scrap for a precious point, here are the Premier League games you have to see

▪️#SaintsFC searching for one point to avoid equalling #DCFC record
▪️KDB farewell at #MCFC
▪️Crunch games in fight for a #UCL spot, incl #NFFC v #CFC on final day

With the title and relegation places wrapped up, a look at what's left to play for in the Premier League

www.nytimes.com/athletic/632...

Liverbird Upon My Chest: The unlikely origin story of Liverpool’s ‘new’ fan anthem A song originally written in 1984 has become the soundtrack to Arne Slot's latest title charge - its creators explain how

Fantastic scenes at Anfield yesterday, where there were plenty of renditions of 'A Liverbird upon my chest'

I told the story here of the song's origins and how it became the soundtrack to this triumphant #LFC title-winning season

www.nytimes.com/athletic/618...

👀 Director of football's 'moles' claim
🗣️ Players accused of 'mental failings'
❌ Cancelled days off and 'mutiny' talk
⚽️ Record campaign for goals at both ends

Welcome to Roberto De Zerbi’s Marseille.

✍️ @tomwfootball.bsky.social

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/631...

How Liverpool won the Premier League – featuring Dire Straits, coffee club and one big outburst How Dire Straits, coffee club and one volcanic outburst from Arne Slot helped secure an historic triumph

🎵 Unlikely squad anthem: Sultans of Swing by Dire Straits
☕️ Coffee bar masterstroke
🗣️ Slot's outburst at half time against Southampton in March

This is how Arne Slot's Liverpool won the title.

✍️ @jamespearcelfc.bsky.social

www.nytimes.com/athletic/623...

Inside Nabil Bentaleb’s incredible comeback after cardiac arrest: ‘It’s not about how you fall, but how you get up’ Bentaleb suffered a cardiac arrest while playing football last June. The Athletic spoke to those close to him about his remarkable return

Nabil Bentaleb suffered a cardiac arrest on the evening of Tuesday June 18, 2024. The Algeria international had been playing an 8-a-side game of football with friends.

He was in a coma for two days.

After 243 days, he was a footballer again.

This is how he did it.

How Bryan Mbeumo became one of the Premier League’s hottest properties The forward has become a pivotal figure for Brentford and is likely to attract interest in the summer transfer window

Another two goals for Bryan Mbeumo today. What a season he’s having 🐝

Wrote this earlier this season on how he became one of the Premier League’s standout players

His performances have put him firmly on the radar of Europe’s top clubs this summer

www.nytimes.com/athletic/604...

Mohamed Salah with his arms outstretched to celebrate. Small white box reading 'An excerpt from The Athletic' on top of a bigger black box with a white border, reading 'This contract’s lucrative nature reflects Mohamed Salah’s status and his ongoing excellence, even though he’ll turn 33 in June.' Below the text on the next line, still in the black box, reads 'Simon Hughes'.

It took almost a year for Mohamed Salah to sign a new Liverpool contract - this is the inside story:

🔺 Why Salah’s camp had concerns last autumn
🔺 What ruled out PSG & Saudi
🔺 Why ‘process’ took so long
🔺 Richard Hughes’ role & importance of Arne Slot

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/626...

Mohamed Salah signs new two-year Liverpool contract Mohamed Salah has signed a new two-year Liverpool contract. The Athletic reported on Wednesday Salah and team-mate Virgil van Dijk were closing in on new Liverpool deals. Salah had entered the final m...

🗣️ "I'm enjoying my life here, enjoying my football. I had the best years in my career."

Mohamed Salah has signed a new two-year Liverpool contract.

Shock, relief and ‘smelling’ the sack: What it’s like to be fired as a manager Ivan Juric is the latest Premier League casualty but there are many ways for a manager to be dismissed

📺 Poyet finding out he'd gone at #BHAFC while working on the BBC
👃 How they can often 'smell' it coming
🏖️ Taking a holiday before period of self-reflection
🐛 What draws them back in

After Juric's #SaintsFC exit, a big read on what's it like to be sacked as a manager

www.nytimes.com/athletic/626...

Craig Johnston won five leagues and a European Cup at Liverpool — but that’s his least remarkable achievement.

He designed the world’s most famous football boot, created a game show, wrote a hit single and went bankrupt.

@tburrows16.bsky.social

🔗 www.nytimes.com/athletic/623...

This is the story of Craig Johnston – a footballer like no other The ex-Liverpool midfielder - and football boot engineer, game show creator and musician - reveals why he is just getting started

🏆 5 league titles + European Cup with #LFC
🎙️ Co-wrote Anfield rap
🏥 Retired at 27 to look after his sick sister
👟 Invented Adidas predator
📺 Created TV game show + minibar security system
💷 Went bankrupt

My interview with Craig Johnston, a footballer like no other

www.nytimes.com/athletic/623...

Former footballer Joey Barton found guilty of assaulting his wife The court was told how Barton pushed his wife, Georgia, to the ground before kicking her in the head at their home in 2021.

Former footballer Joey Barton has been found guilty of assaulting his wife.

The court was told how Barton pushed his wife, Georgia, 38, to the ground before kicking her in the head at their home in Kew, south west London.

✍️ @tburrows16.bsky.social

Former footballer Joey Barton found guilty of assaulting his wife The court was told how Barton pushed his wife, Georgia, to the ground before kicking her in the head at their home in 2021.

My write up from court today after ex-footballer Joey Barton was found guilty of assaulting his wife in their family home

Barton was handed a suspended prison term

The court heard how Georgia was left with a ‘golf ball’ size lump on her forehead

www.nytimes.com/athletic/622...

Manchester United created a stir with their vision for the club's new 100,000-capacity stadium.

We take a look at designs and artists' impressions from other stadium projects, what got put forward and what, if anything, was ultimately delivered.

🔗 bit.ly/4hRpURH

Man United and the promise of a 100,000-capacity stadium: What other projects tell us Manchester United have bold ambitions for their new stadium but it can be a long road to an artist's impression becoming reality

Last week #MUFC unveiled their grand plans for a new stadium and now hope to follow #THFC and #EFC in seeing their designs come to life

Yet some projects never become a reality

A big read exploring stadium proposals over the years vs what was ultimately delivered

www.nytimes.com/athletic/621...

Why Hidetoshi Nakata, face of the 2002 World Cup, retired at 29: ‘I’m not a fan of football’ The midfielder became a global star and earned moves to Italy and England but has never regretted his decision to stop playing

'I never had a dream to become a professional footballer, but somehow it happened and I played in World Cups and I went to Italy and England. I played all the time for passion. I’m not a fan of football, I like to play football'

My interview with Hidetoshi Nakata

www.nytimes.com/athletic/617...