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🗣️ “If I hadn’t gone to jail, I’d be dead now. It was the reset I needed.” Troy Deeney on coming back from the brink

🥃 From drinking Jack Daniel’s before non-league matches to scoring 140 goals for Watford, Troy Deeney’s football story is as raw as it gets.

🎤 We sat down with the former Hornets skipper for a wide-ranging interview on prison, that Leicester moment, Premier League success, and his managerial ambitions…

🤪 ON PLAYING DRUNK

“At 18, you don’t get hangovers… I had a Jack Daniel’s before the game and we were good to go.”

Deeney admits he was regularly intoxicated while playing for non-league Chelmsley Town before Walsall spotted him scoring seven goals in a game. After moving to Vicarage Road, he admits his life was completely out of control.

⏰ THE WAKE-UP CALL:
In 2012, amidst his father battling throat cancer, Deeney was sentenced to 10 months in prison for affray. He served 13 weeks—a moment he Credits with saving his life.

“I was living too recklessly away from football… It was like a hard reset for me. In jail, all you have is time. You’ve got nothing but time, you’re just sat there. I write a lot… I think.”

⚽️ "DEEEEEENEY!"
Just nine months after leaving prison, Deeney was etched into Football League history with his iconic 97th-minute winner against Leicester City, 20 seconds after Anthony Knockaert’s penalty save.

“In the moment, I was so calm – it felt like everything slowed down, like you see in the movies… As soon as it hit the net, it felt like an eruption of noise.”

🌳 MANAGEMENT & DALE VINCE:
After leaving Watford as a club legend and captaining them in the Premier League, Deeney’s brief, fiery spell as manager of Forest Green Rovers ended in controversy—and a war of words with owner Dale Vince.

“My rant was just immaturity… [but] the bit of satisfaction for me is that everything I said turned out to be true. I’ve just done my LMA manager’s diploma... when it’s time, we’ll do what we need to do.”

🔗 FULL INTERVIEW BELOW

🚨 WHAT IF? 🚨

If Manchester City were retroactively stripped of every title won between 2009 and 2018, English football’s history books wouldn't just be edited—they’d be completely rewritten. 🏆❌

Here is how the Premier League landscape changes if runner-up teams are awarded the crowns:

🏆 2011/12: Sir Alex Ferguson gets his 14th Premier League title. The "AGÜEROOOOO" moment vanishes from the trophy archives. Fergie's legendary career ends with back-to-back league titles.

🏆 2013/14: Steven Gerrard's slip erased as he FINALLY gets his Premier League winners' medal. Liverpool claim the title six years earlier than 2020, and Brendan Rodgers becomes a Premier League-winning manager.

🏆 2017/18: Jose Mourinho’s 81-point United side take the crown over Pep’s 100-point "Centurions." Jose gets his 4th Premier League trophy—and his crowning glory at Old Trafford.

The Domestic Cup Chaos ☕️

2011 FA Cup: Stoke City win their second major trophy.

2014 League Cup: Sunderland end a 41-year major silverware drought.

2016 League Cup: Jürgen Klopp wins a trophy in his first five months at Anfield.

2018 League Cup: Arsène Wenger gets a final piece of silverware on his Arsenal farewell tour.

💭 What about the teams finishing 5th that lost out on tens of millions in Champions League money?

🧐 What about the managers sacked for missing out on Top 4 by a single point?

🤔 What about the butterfly effect on transfers and player careers?

The Last Tango in Albiceleste. 🇦🇷💃

🇦🇷 Adidas has dropped a special-edition Argentina collection to celebrate Lionel Messi's iconic national team career.

The centerpiece? A bespoke farewell jersey featuring:

✨ Reinterpreted Sun of May flag design
✨ Gold detailing & Messi's signature 'M' logo
✨ Commemorative 'No. 10' sign-off & CLIMACOOL+ tech

Leo will wear the shirt for one final night during his farewell appearance for Argentina against Benin on October 6th.

The collection (kits, pre-match gear, culture wear) is available today at adidas.com & select retailers. 🇦🇷✨

🗣️ YOU ASK THE QUESTIONS

🦁 We're speaking to Fran Kirby about her incredible career - what would you like to ask? Best questions get in the magazine 👇

The SPZL F.C. lineage continues. 👟🔥

🇬🇪 Gary Aspden and Adidas drop their third football-heritage capsule this Friday, September 25th — starring Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

🏟️ Featuring Gazelle SPZL F.C., Winterhill hikers, tracksuits, and terrace staples.

🧣🧢⚽️ There are ten pieces of heritage-informed footwear, apparel and accessories, plus a curated edit of accessories – a scarf, cap and pitch-ready football

📲🛒 Available via the CONFIRMED app & select stores.

🤌 Mamma mia!

Pure '90s nostalgia with a modern twist 🇮🇹

and the Italian FA have dropped a new EQT capsule, bringing back the iconic stylised "i" archive logo—now updated with a fourth star for the 2006 World Cup triumph ⭐️

☕️ Relaxed fits, retro colourways, and pure street culture.

🛒 Available now

📸📆 Ballon d'Or: From The Archive