Nessun Dorma Retro Football Podcast

Most of the seismic decisions that have shaped the football history of the 80s and 90s have been external to the actual business of the game itself. However, 1986/87 saw the most significant managerial change of the era at Old Trafford. Gary Cook from Retro Football Network joins Martyn to re-assess Ron Atkinson's time in the job, the specifics that led to his dismissal in November 1986, the recep...

If winning the World Cup with Argentina in favourable conditions was one thing then guiding Napoli to their first ever league title was a completely different challenge. The south was not supposed to win Scudetti after all. Dominic Hougham and Martyn review a famous season in Italy, discuss whether or not it would be possible without the World Cup win and if this is the greatest 12 months that one...

The images of Everton's successes in 1984 and 1985 and burned onto the collective memory. So too, perhaps, their agonising failure in missing out on the Double in 1986. But why is their title win in 1986/87 so hidden in the shadows of time? Gary Naylor joins Martyn to throw some light on the triumph despite injuries and the sale of a goal machine and why the season as a whole does not find resonan...

Martyn is joined by Gary Cook from the brilliant Retro Football Network to talk about his new publication, the importance of preserving the past online, arrested development and if younger generations have the need to search out history when they have so much of the present to consume.  The physical copy of Retro Football can be found at https://amzn.eu/d/049QCZzk If you want weekly exclusive bonu...

Post Heysel, everyone in English football had resigned themselves to losing their best players east and south onto the continent's highest stages. Nobody considered that some may travel north. Martyn and John Mackay gladly recount just how Scottish football was turned upside down, the traditional flow of talent was reversed and how Graeme Souness found instant success. If you want weekly exclusive...

We are back on our journey through the 80s and 90s as we start our series on 1986/87. The second half of the eighties was arguably the greatest run of FA Cup Finals and this season's may sit above them all. From the fourth round victory at Old Trafford, Coventry City's joint managerial team of John Sillett and George Curtis were adamant that this could be their year. Standing in the Wembley Way wo...

The final part of our book showcase this summer features the unheralded tale of the US team's journey to Italia '90, so important as it was in laying the foundations for what was to come. Adam Elder is a writer for the New York Time and the New Yorker amongst many other publications and his story of an unlikely bunch of players resurrecting soccer in a country who wanted to forget pretty much anyt...

Stuart Steelyard, the man behind the excellent Stu's Football Flashbacks on social media, joins Martyn to talk about his first book on the chaotic and fun hinterland between Italia '90 and the birth of the Premier League, two years characterised by the sponsorship of the League Cup by Rumbelows. Thrills, spills, sprint challenges and televisions being won by the man of the match, so much was cramm...

Rob Fletcher returns to the show to talk about his new book on the famous Champions League Final of 1994 when AC Milan defied all the odds and predictions by eviscerating Johann Cruyff's famous Barcelona Dream Team. Martyn and Rob discuss the managers, the all-important preparation and what this final says about football at the time. The Final is a brilliant read and is highly recommended. https:/...

Looking for a World Cup history book to set you up for the big event - or indeed help you through the bloated mess - then you are in luck as Jonathan O'Brien has three volumes ready to go!  He sits down with Martyn to chat about the writing process, the most enjoyable tournament to research, the future of the competition and what ingredients make the perfect World Cup. All three volumes are releas...

In the first of a series of book specials, the journalist and columnist Robert Taylor joins Martyn to discuss his new book about following England throughout the last 50 years. They chat about obsessive fandom, the curse of big injuries and early goals, how critical we should be of England managers, why England underperform and indeed if they actually have and a lot more. This is a great read and...

The easiest draft in football history? Let's see.  Reigning ND World Cup Draft Champion Dominic Hougham returns to compete with Mac, Michael Hamlen and author of the brilliant 'The Heroes of Mexico 86' Richard Mulligan to find the best unique XI based purely on performances at the tournament.  With Martyn left to judge on defence, midfield, attack and overall balance it might just be more than who...

We started back in January with the qualifiers and now we are at the Azteca, bursting with 114,000 people for the World Cup Final of 1986. Aidan Williams and Dominic Hougham join Martyn to discuss the team selections and possible alternatives, the game, the impact of the last 20 minutes, the fascinating live coverage and debate where this Final and the tournament as a whole sits on the World Cup p...

And then there were four. Mac and Martyn attempt to make sense of another French failure against their arch nemesis but give some justified praise for an excellent West German defensive performance. Belgium did everything right for the best part of an hour before the real Diego masterclass from Mexico got underway. If you want weekly exclusive bonus shows, join our Nessun Dorma community chat, wan...

Martyn, Mike and Rob settle down to revisit one of the great weekends in World Cup history. France and Brazil produce a classic and a goal that would be lionised if the result had been different, the hosts suffer a fate that many will over the years: defeat to West Germany on penalties, the surprise package carry on and England v Argentina provides enough for an entire series. France v Brazil - ht...

World Cup author Dominic Hougham joins Martyn to see France break a bit of a hoodoo, West Germany bore their way past Morocco, Bobby's boys march on despite another shaky start and Denmark absolutely losing their collective mind. Italy v France - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nV1Ocz4GyzY Morocco v West Germany - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNA2e_cdt4I England v Paraguay - https://www.youtube...

It's knockout time! Michael Hamlen from the brilliant 80s&90sFootball is here to look at the first two rounds of Last 16 matches including the first classic of the competition between the USSR and Belgium, Brazil coming to life against Poland, the hosts progressing and Diego warming up for immortality. Mexico v Bulgaria - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9JPDvqeMso&t=2s USSR v Belgium - https://ww...

Gary and John return to wrap up the group stages of the 1986 World Cup. Ian St John has a meltdown watching Scotland somehow managing to miss out against the "scum of world football". West Germany are the latest to be put to the sword by Denmark but end up on the better side of the draw as a result and there is quite the debut for a young Brazilian right back by the name of Josimar. Brazil v North...

Mac Millings makes his tournament debut as England's hopes hang by a thread. Bobby Robson is forced into some changes and, although familiar issues are still apparent early on against Poland, goals change games. And careers. There is also Morocco discovering what can be done when you cross the halfway line, progress for the hosts, Paraguay and Belgium fight to avoid the USSR, Italy remain unconvin...

Mike takes to the lectern as he guides us through the crushing beauty of Denmark's destruction of Uruguay. There's also Gordon Strachan's struggles with advertising boards, iconic branding of World Cups, Belgium get back on track while France and the USSR warm down into the knockouts. Iraq v Belgium - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liOXMZwJkF8 West Germany v Scotland - https://www.youtube.com/wat...

Aidan Williams returns as England's tournament goes from bad to worse in Monterrey, lightning doesn't strike twice for Northern Ireland, the World Cup's poster boy has a major misstep, the greatest clearance of all time and much more. Hungary v Canda - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohDvj08eybk Brazil v Algeria - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3qnpl9AB3c England v Morocco - https://www.youtube....

On the 30th anniversary of Euro '96, the author Richard Chamberlain provides us with a telling reminder that there was more to this tournament that a homecoming from the sporting wilderness and an internal feel-good summer. The inside story on all the participants can be found in his new book which is out later this year. He talks to us about the project as a whole, the resonance in a post-Southga...

Martyn is joined by Gary and debutant John Mackay get stuck into a bumper couple of days. Scotland make an unfortunate start against the Danes after Uruguay set out their stall against a West German side in a state of disarray. There are a couple of heavyweight clashes with some pulled punches and much more. Paraguay v Iraq - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8GCTxga8jw Uruguay v West Germany - htt...

Mike and Martyn get set to devour a feast of World Cup action over these two days. We have Maradona and Passarella clashing over drugs and affairs before South Korea took turns in having a kick without any serious sanction, Hungary being smashed by the USSR, an early victory for the hosts amidst political turbulence and an arachnid taking over the Azteca, Northern Ireland and Algeria failing to li...

It is time to start your Mexican waves! Jonathan O'Brien is here to discuss the opening game, how the World Champions were placed, who the European Champions had turned to up front, a handball goal that was actually chalked off and Spain and Brazil remind us why we should be careful what we wish for when trying to the rid the game of technology. Italy v Bulgaria - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M...