Zoo was a British monthly lads' magazines that focused on sex, humor, gaming, sports, cars, girls, celebrity, and fashion. It was published between October 1986 and January 2009. The magazine had a circulation of around 450,0000 copies per issue. The magazine also covered football (soccer), reflecting the interests of its readers. Football was an important part of Zoo's coverage, which included match previews, player interviews, and humorous takes on sporting events. This coverage helped position Zoo as a well-rounded men's magazine, combining erotica with popular culture interests.
Sports, especially football (soccer), were a staple feature in Zoo. From the start, the magazine featured a regular column called "Footballers", where readers could send in pictures of themselves playing soccer with their friends. In later issues, this section evolved into a full-fledged section dedicated to football, featuring articles on players, matches, and tactics. One such article was titled "The Big Match," which previewed upcoming games and offered predictions for the outcome. Another popular feature was "Player Interview," where Zoo interviewed famous footballers like David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Lionel Messi. These interviews explored everything from their childhoods to their current form and their thoughts on the game.
In addition to its serious coverage of football, Zoo often took a humorous approach to the sport. For example, one article poked fun at the FIFA World Cup by claiming that it was actually a competition to see who could drink the most beer while watching the games. Another article listed the top ten ways to tell if your girlfriend is more interested in football than you are. The magazine also published cartoons and jokes about sports, including one in which a group of women were shocked to discover that their boyfriends spent all day watching football instead of spending time with them.
Zoo's coverage of football helped establish it as a unique voice in British media. It combined eroticism with sports, gaming, humor, cars, girls, celebrity, and fashion, creating a well-rounded experience for its readers. While other magazines focused solely on sex or sports, Zoo found a way to incorporate both into its pages. This made it stand out among competitors like FHM and Maxim, which had a narrower focus.