The city of Manchester is one that has been ruled by the red half for decades. Enter an Arab billionaire, a host of the world’s finest players and it is time for the blue half to have its say. United versus City is likely to be the local rivalry which decides who wins this season’s EPL title. We interview Aguro, Mancini, Richards, Kidd, Young, Scholes, Vidic, Cleverley and many more to find out more about the battle of Manchester. We also speak to misfiring $80m Chelsea striker Fernando Torres to see what he makes of his poor form and if he can return to his former glory.

Elsewhere, we speak to on-fire J.League and Socceroo star striker Josh Kennedy to discover why he is more than just a “big man up top” and why he lost his Jesus locks; we interview FFA technical director Han Berger at length about how we are indentifying the next generation of Socceroos and we expose the harrowing world of human trafficking in football.

OR - Also available on iPad (to be uploaded later today), with exclusive extra features including:

  • iPad exclusive extra – The Beautiful Game – bringing you the best pictures in football
  • Slideshow of the history of the Manchester Derby
  • Video footage of Perth Glory strike force Shane Smeltz and Billy Mehmet at the local gun range!

The December issue also features:

  • Top 10 raging chairmen - Why you shouldn’t tell your players “they can die” and other truly mad outbursts
  • The unknowns taking on Barcelona - FFT is partnering with the Nike Academy in England, where youngsters are looking for a pro contract
  • Michael Lynch - The bridesmaid in the country’s sporting capital – what life is like for Melbourne Heart
  • FIFA vs Pro Evo: 2012 Edition! - Can the pretender to the throne catch FIFA this year? We let you know...
  • Simon Hill - What happened to the young Aussie goalkeeper who just missed out on a dream move to Arsenal?
  • Socceroos take over our podcast! - When four Socceroos headed into our studios to answer your questions live!
  • One-on-One: Franz Beckenbauer - Der Kaiser answers your questions about winning World Cups, both on the pitch and in the dugout
  • Tony Dorigo - The best Melbourne-born England player ever talks us through his career
  • A-League Q&A: Billy Mehmet - Can the striker bring glory to Perth?
  • Football’s maddest superstitions – From sacrificing camels to watching Willy Wonka

    PLANET FOOTBALL
  • Cafu coaches two teams of supermodels!
  • Thiago Silva on old Milan and new Brazil
  • Lucas Neill and his KFC-loving team-mates
  • Plus Barcalona toons; the best of CSKA Moscow; The Butcher of Buenos Aires

    PERFORMANCE
  • Funny balls to help keepers. Just don’t head them...
  • Andy Carroll’s heading masterclass
  • How to eat like an EPL star by Phil Neville
  • Plus 10 Things We Learned This Month; Deco on finding space in midfield; how to defend from the wings; lead like Chelsea’s John Terry

Manchester Divided, featuring Aguero & Young Interviews
In the red corner, the heavyweight champions, intent on silencing their noisy neighbours. In the blue corner, the moneybags pretenders, hell-bent on becoming the city’s top team. At stake: world domination. FFT goes inside the revitalised rivalry that’s rocking football

 

Fernando Torres Exclusive Interview
All these posers and more answered as the EPL’s record signing tells FourFourTwo why it won’t be a two-horse title race and how Juan Mata can become the Blues’ main man

 

Josh Kennedy
Indisputably the Socceroos’ best striker at the moment, we chat with J.League goal-getter Josh Kennedy about his run of red-hot club and country scoring form.

Youth Development Part Three: Australia
Australian youth football used to be about results and strength. FFA technical director Han Berger explains how every level is now focused on technically gifted match-winners

 

 

Football’s Slave Trade
Every year, thousands of young Africans make a life-changing trip to Europe, promised a shot at their sporting dream. But often the promises turn out to be lies. FFT discovers the horrible truth about human trafficking in football