20/13 -- A Tribute to Sir Alex Ferguson

My love affair with the world’s greatest football tournament began as a 14 year-old as I was there to see England lift the trophy at Wembley. Later in life I was privileged to write Pelé’s official autobiography and tell the inside story of the great man’s first World Cup at the age of 17 and interviewed many of The Greatest Ever World Cup Team, Brazil 1970. How I pulled off becoming the only journalist to interview Diego Maradona one-to-one in the back seat of Ossie Ardiles’ car in 1986 must be one of the most off beat World Cup stories of all time. As Chief Football Writer for the Daily Mirror I was at the Azteca Stadium to witness both the Hand of God and the Greatest Ever World Cup goal within minutes of each other.

At Italia ’90 it was all about Gazza’s tears, and I was there to document all the behind the scenes stories. Four years later, I was at the press conference following Maradona’s failed drugs test. At France ’98 I witnessed David Beckham’s red card and the incredible fall out. Prior to the 2002 tournament I won the award of “Sports Story of the Year” by breaking Roy Keane’s bust up with Mick McCarthy, while I was also at the press conference when Ruud Gullit announced he was leaving the World Cup squad. In my career with the Mail, Mirror and Express I have known and become friends with most of the Boys of ‘66. My greatest wish - to see England win the World Cup in 2026 after 60 years of hurt!