Greg O'Keeffe

Those who watched him play for #Everton's first team said Billy Kenny had it all - but by 21 he had retired from football & his life was out of control. After decades of silence he tells his story (Boxing Day special - Athletic is £1 a month for a year) theathletic.com/2275890/2020/1…

Barcelona could win La Liga against Real Madrid today - but it is not the first time a rivalry has proved historically damaging. ■ The chaos and carnage of River Plate’s win over Boca Juniors in Copa Libertadores final ■ Arsenal’s Invincibles clinching the title at White Hart Lane ■ Manchester City inflicting “the worst result in my history” on Sir Alex Ferguson’s United ■ Sheffield United relegating Sheffield Wednesday 📝 @GregOK 🔗 nytimes.com/athletic/72620…

With the news of Ricky Van Wolfswinkel retiring, who scored his only Premier League goal against Everton, I decided to dig deeper. A player has scored their first Premier League goal for their new club 225 times against Everton, the most of any club in the competition. #EFC

@chiratantoine Sure go ahead

@GregOK Hello Greg! Is it possible to talk in DM ? Thanks !

Pleased for Wednesday fans. Hopefully the start of better times #swfc

'I'm running on adrenaline because the support we had was something I don't think I'll ever experience again' Jordan Adams spoke to #BBCBreakfast after running the London marathon with a fridge strapped on his back - and will now be joined by his brother Cian to take on 32 marathons in 32 days across Ireland's 32 counties bbc.co.uk/sport/athletic…

As first called by @_pauljoyce, Everton planning to raise issue of consistency with PGMO after yesterday's decision not to award them a penalty for Mateus Fernandes' handball More on @TheAthleticFC

Everton - and perhaps Tottenham - may wonder why a penalty wasn't given against West Ham United's Mateus Fernandes, who appeared to swipe the ball away from Thierno Barry with his hand. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall equalised for Everton a few moments later — Callum Wilson popped up with the winner for West Ham.

The first time was so nice, he had to do it twice. 😎 #TBT to Leighton Baines scoring TWO free-kicks in the same game against West Ham. #WHUEVE 🔜

🚨 BREAKING: Chelsea part company with head coach Liam Rosenior. #CFC wanted to give 41yo much longer but results dictated otherwise. FA Cup + CL push key factors. Calum McFarlane to take interim charge before permanent appointment in summer @TheAthleticFC nytimes.com/athletic/72186…

in 1974, a japanese pharmacist in tokyo released a dreamlike psychedelic acid-folk album. it was the only record he ever released and it was lost for DECADES, until being rediscovered in 2024. he passed away in 2021, never living to see people listen to his music again.

First phase in Jonathan Klinsmann's recovery from "brutal" neck break begins after complex operation in Germany 👇 #USMNT #Klinsmann 🇺🇸🇩🇪 nytimes.com/athletic/72188…

When his Real Sociedad side take on Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey final later today, Pellegrino Matarazzo has a chance to make history. No American coach has ever won a major title in Spanish football. @dermotmcorrigan spoke to the 48-year-old manager, a maths graduate who has turned La Real's season around. 🔗 nytimes.com/athletic/72045…

It is a union that few saw coming; Mark Goldbridge, shock jock for football’s YouTube age, teaming up with Gary Neville, Sky Sports’ most prominent pundit and aspiring media mogul. Behind the move is an understanding that supporters — particularly younger fans — want fan-led content. Uncensored authenticity has appeal in good times and especially the bad. 📝@PJBuckingham 🔗 bit.ly/3OJ7LwI

Tottenham Hotspur haven't won in the Premier League in 2026, and the Europa League holders are now precariously perched in the bottom three. They couldn’t, could they? As history will attest, there have been some shocking relegations in the football world. @GregOK looks at five other clubs who weren’t too big to go down. 🔗 nytimes.com/athletic/71161…

The ball was bundled into the net at the far post and the visiting supporters went wild. While the celebrations continued, I was sitting 136 miles away, in a dark corner of a TV studio in west London, fearing the worst. As the video assistant referee (VAR), I had spotted three potential offences in the build-up. As I worked through the checks, it felt like the walls were closing in, the darkness was intensifying and my mouth was getting drier while my heartbeat rose. In 20 years as a referee on the pitch, I never felt the kind of pressure that goes with being a VAR. Eventually, more than three minutes after the goal had been scored, I confirmed that it could stand. It had felt like a waste of everyone’s time, that a joyous and spontaneous moment had been ruined by a nerd desperate to find cause to wreak misery. Nothing could be further from the truth. Referees are people too, and feel the pain inflicted by a video review system that is simply not fit for purpose. Graham Scott, The Athletic's new referee columnist. 🔗 nytimes.com/athletic/71836…

@Beesotted Message sent

@GregOK Done 👍

@Beesotted Hi is it possible to follow on on here so I can send a quick DM please?

@Beesotted Thankyou 🙏

🔵 NEW 🔵 "Everton's future is very bright" - @KieranMaguire Today's Everton podcast has just dropped! 🎧 Listen in 👇 patreon.com/posts/15457725…

Kosovo 0-1 Turkey FT thoughts with @GregOK & @FelipeCar for @TheAthleticFC - What the USMNT can expect from Turkey - How Yildiz-Kokcu-Kadioglu axis unlocked Kosovo - An incredible atmosphere in Pristina nytimes.com/athletic/71562…