Photo of Paul Hayward
Paul Hayward

Contributing Editor

Paul Hayward has been chief sportswriter at The Guardian, The Observer and Daily Telegraph and is a five-time Sportswriter of the Year. He is the author of England Football – The Biography, a 150-year history of the England men’s team, and has co-written books with Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Bobby Robson and Kevin Sinfield. He is also the co-host of the sports history podcast, How It All Played Out.

Photo of Paul Hayward

Paul Hayward

Contributing Editor

Paul Hayward has been chief sportswriter at The Guardian, The Observer and Daily Telegraph and is a five-time Sportswriter of the Year. He is the author of England Football – The Biography, a 150-year history of the England men’s team, and has co-written books with Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Bobby Robson and Kevin Sinfield. He is also the co-host of the sports history podcast, How It All Played Out.

  • Paul Hayward
    Tottenham’s private opulence vs West Ham’s public negligence: two clubs damned by incompetence

    Last-day Premier League relegation battle will make one club’s grand stadium a monument to folly

    Thu, 21 May 2026

  • Paul Hayward
    One nation state defeated, one to go – Arsenal’s path into football history is like no other

    Gunners are hardly paupers, but Champions League victory over PSG will give the Boys of 26 another chance to prove themselves

    Thu, 21 May 2026

  • Paul Hayward
    Man City overcome Chelsea in spiritless FA Cup final

    Fatigue and risk aversion made this 1-0 victory a truly forgettable showdown

    Sat, 16 May 2026

  • Paul Hayward
    Saints may prove to be sinners – just don’t blame the Southampton intern

    It was all going so well for Southampton until a phone camera clicked beside a tree near Middlesbrough, and someone’s smart idea began to look dumb

    Fri, 15 May 2026

  • Paul Hayward
    It’s not pretty, but an Arsenal triumph will quell a 22-year neurosis

    If the Gunners can hold off Manchester City, the catharsis felt by their fans will prove their pragmatic approach was correct

    Fri, 15 May 2026

  • Paul Hayward
    Bournemouth have Europe in their sights after Fulham fail to launch

    Manager Andoni Iraola may be leaving, but he leaves behind a team full of invention and creative energy

    Sat, 9 May 2026

  • Paul Hayward
    Bazball’s politburo must do more than drop Zak Crawley to restore trust

    England’s golden child looks set to become the fall guy for Brendon McCullum’s zombie project. But the team need more boundaries – on and off the pitch – if they are to resurrect its best bits this summer

    Fri, 8 May 2026

  • Paul Hayward
    We’ll do it the hard way: defiant Millwall won’t give up on dream

    ‘Brand disruptors’ condemned to play-offs but still determined to make it to Premier League

    Sat, 2 May 2026

  • Paul Hayward
    PSG vs Bayern was a love letter that the Premier League would do well to read

    It’s acceptable every now and then just to cheer when players of sublime talent simply want to outscore each other

    Fri, 1 May 2026

  • Paul Hayward
    A touch of Azaz, a moment of hope, and then City’s juggernaut steams on

    Southampton do the Championship proud but the power of the big club rules

    Sat, 25 Apr 2026

  • Paul Hayward
    Many are paying price for forgetting Saudi billions were never a free ride

    End of the nation state’s gravy train is a shock for many sports

    Fri, 24 Apr 2026

  • Paul Hayward
    Arsenal’s players cannot use Arteta’s intensity as an excuse for title failure

    With six games left to win the crown it is down to those on the field to take responsibility

    Sat, 18 Apr 2026

  • Paul Hayward
    How Tony Adams gave himself a sporting chance

    A new book adds layers to the Arsenal legend’s recovery story

    Sun, 12 Apr 2026

  • Paul Hayward
    We don’t appreciate Harry Kane enough

    There are no paragons in elite sport, but for over a decade Harry Kane has led by example with modesty, hard work and bags of goals. We mock his virtues when we should cherish them

    Sat, 11 Apr 2026

  • Paul Hayward
    Will golf ever kick its addiction to Tiger Woods?

    The legend’s shadow will hang over the Masters despite his absence to deal with his issues

    Sat, 4 Apr 2026

  • Paul Hayward
    England’s World Cup warm-ups left Tuchel with more questions than answers

    It would be foolish to derive too much into the Three Lions’ performances against Uruguay and Japan, but Tuchel’s indecision was a worry

    Thu, 2 Apr 2026

  • Paul Hayward
    Tuchel learns little for his big test as World Cup warm-ups begin with a dud

    England manager’s experiments are less about personnel than fitness as World Cup decisions loom

    Sat, 28 Mar 2026

  • Paul Hayward
    ‘This Sussex team will be broken up, so let’s give it a real go’

    Sussex head coach Paul Farbrace on the battle to survive and even prosper after financial disaster

    Sat, 28 Mar 2026

  • Paul Hayward
    Will the real Liverpool please stand up?

    Days after imperious Champions League performance, the Reds’ topsy-turvy Premier League season continued

    Sat, 21 Mar 2026

  • Paul Hayward
    Sport’s first super agent Jon Holmes on negotiating, mentoring and retiring

    The original super-agent, Jon Holmes, is retiring. He tells Paul Hayward the secrets of his 50 years in the business

    Sat, 21 Mar 2026

  • Follow

    The Observer
    The Observer Magazine
    The ObserverNew Review
    The Observer Food Monthly
    Copyright © 2025 Tortoise MediaPrivacy PolicyTerms & Conditions