The Athletic FC Podcast

Host Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Jack Pitt-Brooke and Adam Crafton to reflect on Steven Gerrard's recent comments about Harry Kane and the 'big decision' he is once again facing over his future at Spurs... Has the lure of winning silverware elsewhere been softened by breaking both the England and Tottenham all-time scoring records and does the modern striker pride individual records o...

Mark Chapman get's reaction from The Athletic's Jack Pitt Brooke to Antonio Conte leaving his role as manager at Tottenham. Meanwhile Bayern Munich also made a managerial change as they sacked one of Europe's top young coaches, Julian Nagelsmann. The Athletic’s German football writer Raphael Hongistein & also former Premier League & Bundesliga striker Jan Åge Fjørtoft share their insight. ...

Hi guys. What you’re about to hear is a recent episode of The Athletic Football Tactics Podcast where the panel - consisting of Michael Cox, Mark Carey, Liam Tharme and Ali Maxwell - discuss whether we can truly measure the importance of a manager to a club’s fortunes. They explore the evolution of a manager’s role, from basic admin roles to becoming the central figurehead of a club in the modern...

Dan Bardell is alongside George Elek, Steve Freeth and Nick Miller as they react to England beginning their Euro 2024 qualification campaign with a win over Italy. Oli Kay sends his thoughts on Harry Kane becoming England's all-time leading scorer in Naples, Tim Spiers is in Stockholm ahead of a potential international return for Zlatan Ibrahimovic aged 41. Plus, the panel take stock of what's hap...

Ian Irving is joined by The Athletic’s Barcelona writers Pol Ballus & Laia Cervelló Herrero. After victory against Real Madrid sent them 12 points clear, Barcelona might have La Liga all wrapped up. But their problems are never far away, and now news that their young star Gavi could leave Camp Nou for free with a legal battle over his registration.. So what’s happened in this latest off the fi...

Following yesterday's foray into the big issues facing international football, host Mark Chapman and The Athletic's Matt Slater, Laura Williamson & Adam Crafton turn their attention to the club game... Why FIFA President Gianni Infantino's plans for a new Club World Cup was an inevitable response to the Super League idea, how 'global' and 'match-going' Premier League supporters are on a collis...

Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Matt Slater, Adam Crafton, and Laura Williamson to discuss the biggest changes to international football. In the week that FIFA announced an expanded 48 team World Cup, extended Gianni Infantino's reign as President, and dropped 'Visit Saudi' as a potential sponsor for the Women's World Cup, we ask what state international football is in, and whether FIFA a...

Ian Irving is joined by The Athletic's Jack Pitt Brook & James Horncastle to reflect on Antonio Conte verbal attack on his Tottenham players and the entire culture and direction of the football club after his side let a two goal lead slip at Southampton. In an astonishing outburst he branded his players “selfish”, said that they only play “for themselves”, and suggested that there was a cultur...

Dan Bardell is joined by George Elek, Dan Barnes and bet365's Steve Freeth for a relegation special, ahead of this weekend's Premier League action. With Patrick Vieira sacked by Crystal Palace, ahead of a visit to Arsenal, the panel give their reaction as well as speculating over who could take the reigns at Selhurst Park. Jacob Tanswell shares the tale of Southampton's sorry season, prior to taki...

Ian Irving is joined by The Athletic's Dom Fifield on Matt Woosnam to discuss what has gone wrong for Patrick Vieira as manager of Crystal Palace. *** This episode is brought to you by Betterhelp, Visit betterhelp.com/athleticfootball today to get 10% off your first month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining Mark Chapman to look at the career of Paul Pogba as he turns 30 it's James Horncastle and Carl Anka. Here they discuss whether the France and Juventus midfielder is overrated, why he has such a bad reputation in England, and whether Eric Ten Hag is actually the Manchester United manager that Pogba has been crying out for. And with his return to Serie A not going to plan, it begs the questi...

21-year-old Josko Gvardiol is a man in high demand. So, which European giant will win the race for his signature? Will Guardiola need to sell a defender first, can Todd Boehly's Chelsea keep spending and does Real Madrid's Champions League lure still trump the Premier League's riches? Host Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Pol Ballus and Simon Johnson to discuss... Plus, Rapha Honigstein ex...

*** This episode is brought to you by Betterhelp, Visit betterhelp.com/athleticfootball today to get 10% off your first month. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dan Bardell is joined by Tim Spiers, George Elek and bet365's Steve Freeth as Liverpool look to push on from their 7-0 thrashing of Man Utd, while Erik Ten Hag's side look for a response. In the title race, Man City once again play ahead of Arsenal with Pep Guardiola's side taking on Crystal Palace followed by Arsenal travelling to Fulham on Sunday. Down at the bottom Bournemouth welcome Liverpool...

Joining Mark Chapman to talk through yet another Paris Saint-Germain Champions League exit is The Athletic's Peter Rutzler and french football expert Tom Williams. After the French giants limped out of Europe's top club competition there will be plenty of sneering and sniggering towards them, but why is that? And is it fair to do so? It's a result that forms more questions now than answers - what...

Ian Irving is joined by two writers from The Athletic’s who were at Stamford Bridge to see Chelsea knock Borussia Dortmund out of the Champions League - Liam Twomey & Simon Johnson. Is this the start of something for Graham Potter at Chelsea ? Or is it merely a stay of execution with the next defeat pushing him back to the brink of the sack with question marks over where the club is heading? H...

Enzo Fernandez, Bernardo Silva, Joao Felix, Ruben Dias, the list goes on... Boasting an academy record which is the envy of most clubs in world football, The Athletic's Stuart James was granted special access behind-the-scenes at Benfica's famed academy to find out what makes it so special... Alongside host Mark Chapman and Portuguese football expert Jack Lang, the panel examine Benfica's unique a...

Mark Chapman is joined from The Athletic by Adam Crafton also two of our writers who were at Anfield yesterday Oli Kay & our Liverpool writer James Pearce.. Does it show United are still playing catch up with Liverpool or was it a freak result? What were the reasons behind Liverpool's performance and how should Man United manager Erik ten Hag respond? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for...

Ever wondered what really happens in a Premier League changing room? What triggers fallings out between footballers and managers? Fascinated by the nomadic lifestyle of modern players and what the constant relocating means for family members? This is The Real Footballer Show - and you are literally the first people to ever hear it. Joining host and broadcaster Jaydee Dyer and former West Ham, Wolv...

Dan Bardell is joined by George Elek, Tim Spiers and bet365's Steve Freeth as Manchester City look to respond to Arsenal opening up a five-point lead in the Premier League. Chelsea welcome Leeds United to Stamford Bridge with the pressure ramping up on Graham Potter while Manchester United look for a first win at Anfield since 2016, while the Reds head into the game unbeaten in four without conced...

Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's r Rafa Honigstein & also Seb Stafford-Bloor to discuss the German Bundelsiga - perhaps the most exciting league in Europe this season. 11 years since a team other than Bayern Munich were champions, this year the top four teams are separated by four points & four German teams in the last 16 of The Champions League.. So why is the Bundesliga so strong...

Joining Mark Chapman is Jack Pitt Brooke and Tim Spiers to cover the past month at Tottenham Hotspur and what the future could yield for the club. In this episode the panel discuss the managerial situation, whether Antonio Conte will be there next season, and what exactly Cristian Stellini's role has been with the assistant filling in on the touchline - and overseeing excellent results. Plus with...

Does Bukayo Saka need better protection from Premier League referees? Do Arsenal themselves rely too heavily on the 21-year-old, and, with the world at his feet, how seismic a moment is it in Arteta's 'process' that he has decided to commit his future to his boyhood club? Host Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Adam Crafton and Arsenal correspondent Amy Lawrence to discuss... How do you stop...

Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Adam Crafton & Laurie Whitwell to discuss whether this is the start of something big for Erik Ten Hag at Old Trafford or another false dawn as seen under the likes of Louis van Gaal, José Mourinho & Ole Gunnar Solskjaer The Athletic's Newcastle writer Chris Waugh shares his thoughts from Wembley, outlining where improvement is needed despite the gia...

Dan Bardell is joined by George Elek, bet365's Steve Freeth and Tim Spiers ahead of Sunday's Carabao Cup Final at Wembley with both Casemiro and Bruno Guimaraes returning for Manchester United and Newcastle United respectively. The title race is hotting up too with Arsenal heading to Leicester and Man City off to Bournemouth. Can Graham Potter hold on at Chelsea - and who will hold onto their Prem...