Ben McAleer

Ben McAleer

News writer & editor

📝 Bio: I am a freelance football expert with over 15 years’ experience in the industry. Having put the ‘free’ into freelance after graduating Bath Spa University with a degree in Media Communications in 2010, I was lucky enough to make the move into full-time work with football stats website WhoScored.com in 2013, progressing through the ranks until I became Head of Content in 2022 before leaving in 2025. I’ve been lucky enough to write about the sport I love for well over a decade, which includes the privilege of attending some of the biggest games in the Premier League and Champions League.

âšœ My Football Story: A frustrated Tottenham fan, I can recall my first ever match at White Hart Lane as my dad dragged me along to a drab 0-0 draw with Wimbledon in January 1999. While it hardly set the world alight, this was the match that remarkably made me fall in love with the beautiful game. Since then, I’ve been to countless games at home and abroad, as both a fan and as press, letting out a sound that no man should make as Dele Alli scored that goal at Crystal Palace. I’ve also had the privilege of seeing the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the flesh.

🎯 Areas of Expertise:

  • Expert opinion & analysis
  • Sub-editing
  • Scout reports
  • News writing & editing
  • Premier League, Champions League, Europa League & European football
  • Betting

🌟 Favourite Footballing Memory: Travelling to Wembley for the 2008 Carling Cup final as Tottenham beat Chelsea thanks to Jonathan Woodgate’s face. It was the longest 120 minutes of my life but the relief as the full-time whistle blew
 gives me goosebumps to this day. Taking my son to his first ever Tottenham game, albeit a pre-season one, also fills me with a sense of pride, even if he does insist he now supports Arsenal


Articles by Ben McAleer
  1. Arteta explains why Odegaard missed Arsenal's FA Cup win

    Mikel Arteta has confirmed the reason behind Martin Odegaard's absence from the matchday squad for Arsenal's FA Cup win over Wigan on Sunday. The Gunners eased past the Latics on home turf to breeze into the next round of the competition but Odegaard sat out the resounding home victory as the Norwegian's stop-start season continues.

  2. 'He needs to learn' - Lyon boss sends warning to Endrick

    Lyon boss Paulo Fonseca insists that striker Endrick needs to learn from his red card after the on-loan forward was dismissed during OL's 1-0 win at Nantes last weekend. The teenage striker was shown his marching orders on the hour mark in the narrow victory at the Stade de la Beaujoire last weekend which extended their winning run to six matches ahead of tonight's game against Nice.

  3. Real Madrid offer Mbappe injury update after striker sits out win

    Real Madrid have issued an injury update on star striker Kylian Mbappe ahead of their meeting with Benfica on Tuesday night. The Spanish giants play the Portuguese side in their Champions League playoff clash as the two sides vie to secure a spot in the last-16 of Europe's elite club competition. The fixture sees the sides meet just weeks after Benfica's dramatic 4-2 win over Los Blancos in the group phase.

  4. Diomande responds to claims Liverpool are his 'dream club'

    Yan Diomande has responded to claims that Liverpool are his 'dream club' with the Reds and Bavarian giants Bayern Munich among the teams linked with a move for the Ivorian. The teenage winger has established himself as one of the most exciting wide prospects in Europe and there are a number of elite teams keeping tabs on the RB Leipzig star.

  5. Hazard opens up on 'really bad' clashes with Mourinho

    Eden Hazard has opened up on some of the 'really bad' clashes with Jose Mourinho during their time together at Chelsea. The Belgian winger moved to Stamford Bridge in 2012 and established himself as a fan favourite during his seven years at Stamford Bridge before he went on to sign for La Liga giants Real Madrid in 2019 having won the Premier League, FA Cup and Europa League with the Blues.

  6. PSG vs Newcastle Player Ratings

    Willock nets but Barnes blunder costs Newcastle at PSG

    Joe Willock's powerful header on the stroke of half-time cancelled out Vitinha's opener as nothing could separate Newcastle and Paris-Saint Germain in a 1-1 draw on Wednesday. The result suited neither side as the Premier League outfit and their French counterparts dropped out of the top eight and into the play-off round in the Champions League.

  1. 'I love him' - Petit says Arsenal need Man Utd star to win title

    Arsenal hero Emmanuel Petit believes that Bryan Mbeumo is the player the Gunners need to secure Premier League glory. Mikel Arteta's men sit top of the table but their lead has been cut to just four points by Manchester City and Aston Villa following Arsenal's 3-2 loss to Manchester United on Sunday night. The result means the Gunners are now winless in three.

  2. Al-Nassr vs Al Taawound Big Match Breakdown

    Mane outshines Ronaldo as Al-Nassr edge Al-Taawoun

    Al-Nassr moved level with Al-Ahly and within two points of league leaders of Al-Hilal with a 1-0 win over Al-Taawoun on Monday evening. The home side were all over their visitors from the outset but really struggled to make their dominance count and it ultimately took a first-half Mohammed Al Dossary own goal for Jorge Jesus' side to claim all the spoils and claim a third successive league win.

  3. Watch out, Real Madrid! Lyon boss makes Endrick request

    Lyon boss Paulo Fonseca is said to be 'enamoured' with striker Endrick who has made a flying to start life with the French side. The Brazilian striker made the move to the Ligue 1 giants earlier this month and has gone on to become a mainstay for OL in the opening weeks of his time in France. Indeed, Endrick has been directly involved in four goals in his opening two league outings for Lyon.