Mark Doyle 2022 World Cup profile pic

Mark Doyle

Chief Features Writer

📝 Bio: After earning a degree in journalism from Dublin City University and covering a variety of sports in my native Ireland for nearly a decade, I joined GOAL in 2012, not long after moving to Bologna. I initially worked as a news writer before moving onto match coverage and then the editorial team. I've attended the past three World Cups, in Brazil, Russia and Qatar, and am now revelling in my role as Chief Features Writer. I'd like to think that being well-travelled gives me an interesting world view but, as an Irishman living in Italy, it mainly just means that I'm adept at mispronouncing words in two languages.

⚽ My Football Story: Like probably every GOAL reader, I grew up dreaming of becoming a footballing superstar but when Shamrock Rovers informed me that they had no need for a lazy left winger, I figured that writing about 'The Beautiful Game' would be the next best thing to playing it professionally. The plan's worked out pretty well for me so far but I still haven't hung up my boots and, at least once a week, I try (and fail) to evoke memories of Liam Brady in the minds of my Italian team-mates with my exploits on the seven-a-side pitches of beautiful Bologna.

🎯 Areas of Expertise: 

  • The European football scene, and the Italian game in particular

  • The governance side of the industry
  • Transfer market analysis
  • Generating ideas for features that the fans really care about
  • Producing strong opinion pieces that provoke debate among readers

🌟 Favourite Footballing Memory: From a professional perspective, it's unquestionably the 2022 World Cup final, an all-time classic that so emotionally draining it left both Argentine and French journalists in floods of tears. As a fan, though, nothing is likely to ever top being in the Curva Nord at the Stadio Olimpico for Bologna's historic Coppa Italia final win over AC Milan. I had complete strangers hugging me when the full-time whistle blew. It was pure magic and reminded me why I'm still completely in love with the game.

Articles by Mark Doyle
  1. Jose Mourinho Benfica Chelsea GFXGOAL
    OpinionJ. Mourinho

    Is Jose Mourinho still 'The Special One'?

    It was obvious that Jose Mourinho was finished at Fenerbahce the moment the full-time whistle blew in last month's Champions League qualifier at Benfica. However, it also felt like his time at the top was over, too, because Mourinho no longer seemed quite so special.

  3. Arsenal Eberechi Eze Bukayo Saka GFX 16:9Getty/GOAL
    OpinionArsenal

    Unleash Eze, Saka: Arteta must take the handbrake off

    There was an amusing moment at the end of Michael Arteta's pre-match press conference on Tuesday when a reporter asked if the 15-year-old Max Dowman had been included in the Arsenal squad for the Carabao Cup clash with Port Vale the following evening. "Yes," Arteta immediately responded, before then quipping, "Well, it depends, I might put the handbrake on!"

  4. Ryan Gravenberch Liverpool GFXGOAL
    OpinionLiverpool

    Bayern flop Gravenberch now Liverpool's best player

    A Spanish publication reported last week that Real Madrid want to sign Ryan Gravenberch, which would make sense, in fairness. Toni Kroos is still sorely missed at the Santiago Bernabeu after retiring after Euro 2024, as doubts persist over the likes of Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga to fill the void left behind by the genius German.

  10. Euro Leagues Winners and losers GFXGOAL
    Winners & LosersOpinion

    Mourinho, Fati and Europe's biggest winners & losers

    The latest round of action across Europe's elite leagues saw Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Porto maintain their winning starts to the 2025-26 season. However, while everyone expects Bayern to run away with the Bundesliga, Barca are hot on the heels of Madrid in La Liga, while Porto are presently processing the news that the most famous manager in the club's history has just taken charge of their hated rivals Benfica.

  1. Vitinha Achraf Hakimi Ballon d'Or GFXGetty/GOAL
    Ballon d'OrAnalysis

    Why Vitinha or Hakimi deserve the BDO more than Dembele

    Say what you will about the merits of the Ballon d'Or, but last year's ceremony was undeniably dramatic. The event organisers, France Football, have always insisted that "no player or club knows who has won the Ballon d'Or" before the victor is announced on stage - but Real Madrid refused to even turn up after learning hours in advance that Rodri had beaten Vinicius Jr to the men's prize.

  5. Liverpool Atletico Madrid ratings GFXGOAL
    Player ratingsLiverpool

    VVD scores last-minute winner as Isak makes Liverpool debut

    Liverpool have only gone and done it again! For the fifth game in a row, the relentless Reds managed to win a game that appeared destined to end in a draw by netting a late winner. This time, captain Virgil van Dijk was Liverpool's hero, heading home a 92nd-minute corner from Dominik Szoboszlai to earn his side a 3-2 victory over Atletico Madrid at Anfield.

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