NEW ISSUE: Year of the Boss
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First a message from our editor, James Andrew:
This season more than any other in recent years, there seem to be a lot of questions in the Premier League. We’ll get answers over the course of the next nine months, but most of those uncertainties centre on the managers.
Ahead of this season kicking off, nine clubs had new bosses, one more than before the 2016-17 campaign. Add in Manchester United and Spurs last term, and 11 have changed manager since January 1.
In the 34 years of the Premier League, the title has been won 26 times by either Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, Jose Mourinho, Jurgen Klopp or Pep Guardiola. For the first time in the league’s history, none of those five are around, so it’s a new era, and every new appointment has carried an element of risk – even at the top with Manchester City and Liverpool.
The stakes are equally high for clubs who finished further down the league last season, aiming to ascend – Bournemouth, Chelsea, Fulham, Newcastle, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest will also be hoping their new manager gets it right, as will newly promoted Ipswich.
Title-winner Mikel Arteta is the only Premier League gaffer who wasn’t appointed this decade – Arsenal fans will no doubt hope and expect that the Gunners can pick up where they left off, so it will be fascinating to watch how this season of change plays out.
Enjoy the mag,
James
Year of the Boss
There are 11 new Premier League managers since the start of 2026 – nine of them coming in this summer. Defending champion Mikel Arteta will have new faces to beat this season – with Enzo Maresca, Xabi Alonso, Michael Carrick and Andoni Iraola all looking to dethrone him. We run the rule over the new gaffers this season.
Cherries head to Europe
For the first time in their history Bournemouth will compete in Europe. It is some journey for the club and fans as they nearly went out of the Football League less than two decades ago. With new gaffer Marco Rose replacing Andoni Iraola he will lead the club on their first European adventure.
From Lion’s Den to Dragon’s Den
Before Theo Paphitis was known for giving wannabe entrepreneurs a chance to achieve their dreams on BBC’s Dragon’s Den – he was chairman of Millwall. Under Paphitis, Millwall went to the FA Cup final and qualified for Europe, the former owner gives his take on his time at the club.
All around the World
Seasoned football traveller and writer Paul Watson brings some of the weirdest and wonderful stories from the wide world of football, we bring you 20 of the best tales.
Agueroooooooooo!
Manchester City hero Sergio Aguero re-lives that iconic goal that won the first Premier League title at the Etihad and the rest of his glittering career.
The Boy’s a Bit Special
Get the lowdown on Brighton’s big-money teenage signing and the Man City player compared to Raheem Sterling.
The man who has done it all
Player, manager, pundit, commentator, national icon – there is not much Chris Kamara has not done in football. He opens up to FourFourTwo about his career and his battle with speech apraxia.
Around the Grounds
Millwall boss Alex Neil talks about last season’s play-off heartbreak and how guiding the Lions in the Premier League would be his ultimate achievement.
Elsewhere, in our new feature ‘Beyond the Turnstiles’ we take a trip to the Matlock Town and tell you why it should be on your bucket list of grounds to visit.
In the Players Lounge this month…
Steve Coppell on befriending Indian cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, Neal Maupay discusses winding up Arsenal and Clarke Carlisle opens up on being Britain’s brainiest footballer.
The Mixer
Our latest merch round-up features a piece of the World Cup final pitch, Juventus and Brentford’s stunning new change strips and the England team as you have never seen them before.
We spy a 1978-1980 Cardiff’s home shirt in Classic Kit and let you know the best website to keep track of your football ground visits.
Kevin Keegan remembered
Following his death, FourFourTwo re-publish our big interview with King Kev looking back on his career and life on and off the pitch
Upfront
Think you’re a football expert? Prove it by getting 100 per cent in our Ultimate Quiz. Columnist Jules Breach looks ahead to three of the big talking points in the Premier League this season.
Demba Ba selects the games that changed his life and The Script frontman Danny O’Donoghue discuss all things Manchester United.
Karen Carney hails sporting geniuses and an actor in the People I Admire.
Perfect XI
Jan Molby picks his ultimate XI from former teammates made up of Liverpool and Denmark legends.
