EFPA FOOTBALL

What happens when a professional footballer plays their final match?

For some, retirement means moving into management, coaching or television. Others start businesses, invest in football clubs or leave the sport behind altogether.

Our retired footballers section follows former players after their playing careers end.

We look at what they're doing now, why they retired and how their lives have changed since leaving professional football.

Former Arsenal star Lukas Podolski has built business interests away from the pitch, while Eric Cantona moved into acting after his Manchester United career. Other players have taken much less expected routes.

We also revisit the careers of footballers who have slipped out of the headlines, from former Premier League favourites to stars of European competitions.

For supporters who grew up watching these players, there's always an interest in finding out where life has taken them.

Football Clubs, Managers and Historic Moments

Every football club has its own history, traditions and stories.

From Manchester United and Liverpool to Barcelona, Real Madrid, AC Milan and Bayern Munich, Europe's leading clubs have given supporters countless memorable moments.

Our football clubs section looks at the events that have helped shape these teams.

We cover famous transfers, deals that never happened, historic grounds, training facilities and the decisions that changed clubs for better or worse.

Managers are another important part of football history.

Sir Alex Ferguson, José Mourinho, Pep Guardiola and Carlo Ancelotti have all left their mark on the game, but management isn't always about the biggest names.

We also follow former players who move into coaching, managers working their way through the lower leagues and the occasional appointment that leaves supporters scratching their heads.

Alongside these stories, we cover major football competitions, from domestic cup tournaments to European club football and the World Cup.

Football Fans and Famous Celebrity Supporters

Football supporters come from every walk of life, including some of the world's most famous actors, musicians, television presenters and public figures.

But which football teams do they actually support?

Our football fans section answers those questions, looking at the clubs followed by well-known personalities and the stories behind their loyalties.

Some celebrities have supported the same team since childhood. Others have family connections to particular clubs, while a few have left supporters guessing for years.

We also explore football culture, rivalries, matchday traditions and the relationship between clubs and their fans.

After all, the people in the stands are as much a part of football history as those on the pitch.

Classic Football Shirts, Kits and Club Colours

Football shirts can bring back memories of an entire season.

A particular sponsor, collar design or colour scheme can instantly remind supporters of a famous player, a cup final or a team they watched growing up.

Our football shirts and kits section looks at the history and design of some of the game's most recognisable strips.

Why do certain clubs wear particular colours? When did badges become common on football shirts? And why do some classic kits remain so popular decades after they were first worn?

From traditional football strips to the bold designs of the 1990s, we cover the shirts, club badges and kit choices that have become part of football culture.

The Stories Behind the Beautiful Game

Not every great football story involves winning a league title or lifting a trophy.

Sometimes it's an unlikely transfer, a strange disagreement between teammates, a famous player's family connection or a surprising career away from football.

Those stories are an important part of EFPA Football.

We aim to give readers more than basic results and statistics, bringing together football history, player information, memorable incidents and the latest stories worth reading.

There's always another football question to answer, another forgotten player to revisit or another remarkable tale from the game.

And with more than a century of professional football to draw upon, we're unlikely to run short of material anytime soon.