Anantaajith Raghuraman

⚽ || 📝

Football Data and Tactics Writer @TheAthleticFC

[Anantaajith Raghuraman @anantaajith]

Absolutely delighted to have been able to write one of The Athletic's first cricket features - and no one better to write it about than the amazing @imVkohli!
A phenomenal cricketer with a generational body of work in whites when interest in Tests was ebbing away 💯

[The Athletic @TheAthletic]

Indian cricketer Virat Kohli, who can't walk down the street in his home country without being mobbed, is retiring from the game's longest format.

@anantaajith pays tribute to a superstar who thrilled one billion of his countrymen and women and, above all, made them dream again.

🔗 https://t.co/w85rUUb3Er

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

On the first day of the 2025-26 season, Elliot Anderson provided a glimpse of what to expect from him.

His assist in Nottingham Forest's 3-1 win over Brentford was the product of some of his best qualities — his off-ball movement, his athleticism, and his passing quality.

Manchester City and Manchester United both want the midfielder.

@Anantaajith explains why — free to read ⬇️

https://t.co/XubwiyQGaD

[Anantaajith Raghuraman @anantaajith]

A pleasure contributing to this with the amazing @MarkCarey93 @ThomHarris_ @Conor0Neill_ @LiamTharmeCoach and @Walid_4
All the key tactical info you need before the chaos unfolds next week is here - check it out! 👇

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

The 2026 World Cup is less than a week away, and it’s gigantic.

Three countries, 12 groups, 48 teams, 1,248 players.

To help you get to grips with such a sprawling tournament, The Athletic's data & tactics writers have analysed every group and picked out the stylistic trends and key players you should keep an eye on this summer.

🔗 https://t.co/d0gwLVStcA

[David Ornstein @David_Ornstein]

🚨 Liverpool make contact with RB Leipzig as Yan Diomande pursuit steps up. #LFC currently in strongest position on player side if 19yo winger moves - #RBLeipzig determined not to sell. #PSG interest remains firm but less advanced at present @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/dt64tbgGNo

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

Barcelona's decision to make an early move for Anthony Gordon has ignited this summer's transfer window — but why him, what next for Rashford, and which wide attacker should your club go for if they can't land either of those?

@anantaajith analyses the scene ⬇️

🔗 https://t.co/AXhgXczYIR

[David Ornstein @David_Ornstein]

🚨 Andoni Iraola clear favourite to succeed Arne Slot as Liverpool boss. #LFC may talk to other candidates like Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness & Pierre Sage of Lens but 43yo Spaniard leading contender post #AFCB exit + close to Richard Hughes @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/lLJ6Lr5V5p

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

Want to understand our methodology for Transfer Tiers?

@SebSB lays it all out:

■ The idea behind Transfer Tiers
■ What we asked the experts
■ How we define the Transfer Tiers
■ Why every player listed could play for an elite team

Read for free: https://t.co/PK9mIPXO19

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

The story of Crystal Palace's tumultuous season and Oliver Glasner's farewell:

🔵 Bridges rebuilt at a Soho restaurant
🔴 The players' mid-season regroup
🔵 How the Conference League galvanised the group
🔴 The role of Paddy McCarthy
🔵 Leipzig, redemption, victory

A manager who might have left under a cloud mid-campaign exits instead having claimed a third piece of silverware in 12 months. He departs in glory.

📝 @MattWoosie

FREE READ: https://t.co/dq3vzheSM8

[Laia Cervelló Herrero @Laia_Cervello]

My first year working as a sports journalist coincided with the arrival of a player roughly my age at Barcelona. Her name was Alexia Putellas.

She is now leaving the club as a legend after 14 years. She has won 4 CL titles, 10 leagues and 2 Ballon d'Or.

https://t.co/J9w7D3oZBJ

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

📈 Why Manchester United are the most-improved team
😬 Newcastle United's worrying tendency
🔝 Arsenal scoop the set-piece prize (shock)
⛔️ In praise of Sunderland's low block
🎭 Bournemouth: the entertainers
🦶 And why both of Rayan Cherki's feet are precious

The Athletic's Alternative Premier League awards

📝 @MarkCarey93

🔗 https://t.co/jltzrDj5jQ

[Mark Carey @MarkCarey93]

A few of @TheAthleticFC's complete 2025-26 player dashboards for known departing Premier League players this season.

Some excellent servants for their respective clubs 👏

[Mark Carey @MarkCarey93]

Bruno Fernandes broke the Premier League assist record today.

Incredible considering he had none in his first seven games of the season.

An excellent achievement, made all the more impressive when you look at the names on the list 👏

@TheAthleticFC

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

In an exclusive interview with The Athletic, Liverpool's Florian Wirtz opens up on:

🔺 How he handled criticism after his £100m transfer
🔺 Hitting the gym to cope with the physicality of the Premier League
🔺 Why he ‘liked’ Mohamed Salah’s latest controversial social media post
🔺 Why criticism of Arne Slot is just noise ‘on the outside’
🔺 His ambitions with Germany at the World Cup

✍️ @JamesPearceLFC

🔗 https://t.co/svFvrtLmiM

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

Thomas Tuchel has certainly ruffled some feathers with his 26-man England squad for the World Cup.

But for all the talk about those who missed out, what will the 26 players he has picked offer?

Here's The Athletic's player-by-player analysis of the England squad — their strengths, weaknesses, experience and availability this season.

📝 @Zonal_Marking, @MarkCarey93, @ThomHarris_ & @anantaajith

FREE READ: https://t.co/7Qp7jeaf3C

[Mark Carey @MarkCarey93]

England's World Cup squad...analysed.

Team effort with @Zonal_Marking, @ThomHarris_, and @anantaajith to give a breakdown of all 26 players.

Read piece for @TheAthleticFC here:

https://t.co/Nx2gWRKvqv

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

🔴 Liverpool's surprise struggles
⚪️ Tottenham Hotspur's struggles predicted?
📈 Manchester United better than expected
🐈‍⬛ Sorry for underestimating you, Sunderland...

On the final Alternative Premier League Table of the season, @anantaajith looks back at our pre-season predictions...

FREE READ 🔗 https://t.co/Vs3pGe0qoj

[Anantaajith Raghuraman @anantaajith]

Away from his searing pace and aggression on the pitch, Kagiso Rabada is thoughtful and measured.

Got a chance to speak with him very briefly on fast bowling, instincts, setbacks & resilience

Story out on @TheAthletic (free to read):

https://t.co/39pOKAlDkj

[Sid Lowe @sidlowe]

In 24 hours, Mikel Arteta took Arsenal to first league in 22 years, Andoni Iraola took Bournemouth to Europe for first time ever and Unai Emery took Aston Villa to first European trophy in 44 years, first of any kind in 33 years. All born within 30 miles of each other. Gipuzkoa.

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

The inside story of Arsenal's Premier League title win that was six years in the planning:

♦️ Arteta’s 2020 meeting with Kroenkes that changed everything
🔎 Much of scouting team replaced by Football Intelligence Unit
📈 Mapping potential decline of rivals to find ‘win window’
🔴 A 2019 staff survey suggested working at Arsenal was ‘toxic’
🚑 Disputes over injuries that verged on ‘civil war’
📊 Revamp of analytics team
🤝 Unwavering support for Arteta

📝 @gunnerblog

FREE READ 🔗 https://t.co/qRTzttwKaP

[Pol Ballús @polballus]

Excl. interview with Eric Garcia.

A football 'geek' who has had the season of his life at Barça. He can watch over four games a day, started his coaching badges at 16 and at 25 has no doubts he'll be a manager one day.

@TheAthleticFC
https://t.co/xDktH3yQ8B

[The Athletic | Football @TheAthleticFC]

♦️ Different roles under Amorim and Carrick
♦️ How United's summer 2025 transfer window has helped
♦️ Only three assists when United were winning?
♦️ And how his teammates have... assisted the chase for assists

Bruno Fernandes has equalled the Premier League's seasonal assist record — @Ankaman616 & @anantaajith analyse how he did it...

FREE READ 🔗 https://t.co/VDzNLkcPr7