The Athletic FC Podcast

Host Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Editor-in-Chief Alex Kay-Jelski, Deputy Editor Laura Williamson and Investigations writer Matt Slater, to pause and reflect, just days before the World Cup kicks off in Qatar... How Qatar retained the World Cup following the controversy surrounding their bid to host. The moral dilemmas of covering and even sending reporters to the tournament, how much...

Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Adam Crafton & Laurie Whitwell to discuss Cristiano Ronaldo's interview where he criticised the club & his manager. Is this the end for him at Old Trafford? Greg O'Keefe then tells us the challenges Frank Lampard faces in turning round Everton who seem to be slipping into another crisis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Athletic has a brand new documentary series following Ukrainian football club Shakhtar Donetsk. Here is an introduction to the series In this episode, The Athletic’s Adam Crafton speaks to Taras Stepanenko, the captain of Ukrainian football club Shakhtar Donetsk, as he and his young family take refuge in an underground shelter when war breaks out in Ukraine.  Adam also meets with Shakhtar's Cr...

Dan Bardell is joined by The Athletic's Tim Spiers and Rich Amofa as well as bet365's Steve Freeth ahead of the final weekend of Premier League action prior to the World Cup. Chelsea's visit to Newcastle is top of the bill before looking ahead to Nathan Jones' Southampton start away at Anfield, before discussing Wolves welcoming Arsenal to Molineux. Plus there's reaction to the latest in the Crist...

The Athletic's Adam Leventhal is joined by Jack Pitt-Brooke and Jay Harris for reaction to Gareth Southgate naming his 26-man squad for the World Cup in Qatar. The big news is Leicester's James Maddison is finally in the squad, plus a surprise inclusion for Chelsea's Conor Gallagher, as well as a place for Newcastle's in-form striker Callum Wilson. There's a look at how those three will feature du...

Mark Chapman & The Athletic's George Caulkin sit down with Martin O’Neill to talk about his new book On Days Like These and his life in football.  As well as discussing the numerous career highs, Martin also shares his regrets during managing in the Premier League. Martin talks about the charisma of playing in Brian Clough’s legendary Nottingham Forest team & about his time as manager of t...

Rio Ferdinand's 3-part documentary series, 'Tipping Point' aims to find real solutions to the racism, homophobia and mental health crisis which plague our sport... prior to its release, Rio sat down for an honest conversation with The Athletic's Roshane Thomas on the current state of play. Host Dan Barnes is joined by Roshane and editor Richard Amofa to keep that conversation going. Over the cours...

Adam Leventhal is joined by football correspondent David Ornstein & senior football news writer Matt Slater to discuss the latest on FSG's decision to explore an exit from Anfield. Merseyside football writer Simon Hughes shares his thoughts on the decision too, giving insight into the American consortium's reign at Liverpool over the past 12 years and the impact the decision to sell could have...

In breaking news, The Athletic's David Ornstein reveals Fenway Sports Group (FSG) has put Liverpool up for sale. Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Adam Crafton & Jacob Tanswell to discuss the breaking news that Southampton have sacked manager Ralph Hasenhuttl.  Adam also discusses his new podcast series Away From Home, where he follows Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk's during their cham...

Dan Bardell is joined by George Elek, The Athletic's Tim Spiers and bet365's Steve Freeth as Arsenal head to Chelsea in the weekend's standout Premier League game. The panel also look ahead to Liverpool's visit to Tottenham following Antonio Conte's first anniversary in charge of Spurs. Plus there's a look ahead to Unai Emery starting his reign at Villa Park against Manchester United, including so...

The group stages of the Champions League are now over & despite pulling various levers Barcelona have not qualified for the knockout stages Mark Chapman is joined by Spanish football journalist Alvaro Romeo & The Athletic’s Oliver Kay to discuss what has gone wrong & what are the financial consequences of being eliminated?  And with stalwarts Atletico & Juventus also being eliminat...

Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Tottenham Hotspur writer and Serie A expert James Horncastle to analyse one year of Antonio Conte at Tottenham Hotspur. Fresh from winning their Champions League group to make it through to the last 16 of the competition, the panel comment of Spurs' style of play under the Italian as well as the mentality he has instilled, helping to get the best from Harry...

Host Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Carl Anka to explore why 14 years on from Uriah Rennie's last Premier League game, he remains the only black referee in Premier League history...  What are the major obstacles that continue to prevent aspiring male and female officials - from marginalised or ethnic communities - from reaching the Premier League? The cost, the abuse, and how much progre...

Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's James Pearce to discuss What is going wrong at Liverpool & the financial implications on missing out on a top four place. We’ll hear how Manchester United are weighing up changes to their goalkeeper department and the future of David De Gea - Laurie Whitwell joins us. And David Ornstein will tell us about the MLS club who are confident of signing Lionel...

Dan Bardell is joined by The Athletic's Tim Spiers, George Elek and bet365's Steve Freeth as Man City look to leapfrog Arsenal at the top of the Premier League and Graham Potter returns to Brighton with his in-form Chelsea side. Following Unai Emery's return to the Premier League the panel give their take on the Spaniard taking over at Aston Villa, as well as Villa's visit to Newcastle United. The...

Mark Chapman sits down with Sean Dyche who is looking to return to being a football manager after nearly ten years with Burnley - including seven seasons in the Premier League. Sean outlines why his brand of football is sometimes misunderstood, explains why Pep Guardiola compared facing Burnley to visiting the dentist & what he is looking for in his next role & the moment in football be wi...

Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Aston Villa writer Gregg Evans and Pol Ballus to discuss Unai Emery's appointment at Aston Villa. The end of Steven Gerrard's reign is analysed prior to look at what Emery will bring with him to Villa Park having taken Villarreal to Europa League success as well as last season's Champions League semi-finals since being sacked by Arsenal in 2019. Spanish foo...

Host Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Merseyside football writer Simon Hughes, editor Dan Barnes and author Jimi Jagne, to discuss the issues facing Everton, in light of revelations about John Bramley-Moore (after whom the site of their new stadium is named) and his involvement in the slave trade... The panel detail Bramley-Moore's connections to the horrors of slavery in Brazil and handle...

Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Phil Hay to share his insight on the future of Jesse Marsch as Leeds manager - could he hang on till after the World Cup? Our Newcastle writer Chris Waugh details how Eddie Howe has turned his side into top four contenders as he approaches a year in charge. Dan Bardell tells us what went wrong for Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa and who he'd like to see as th...

Dan Bardell is joined by George Elek, Bet 365's Steve Freeth and the Athletic's Tim Spiers to look ahead to all the action in the Premier League this weekend. We start with reaction to Aston Villa sacking Steven Gerrard on Thursday night, with Villa fan Dan very pleased with the decision, before moving on to the big game at Stamford Bridge on Saturday evening between Chelsea and a Ronaldo-less Man...

Adam Leventhal is joined by The Athletic's Laurie Whitwell & Jack Pitt-Brooke to reflect on Manchester United's comfortable win over Tottenham that was overshadowed by Cristiano Ronaldo leaving Old Trafford before the final whistle after being an unused substitute. What did this performance tell us about Erik ten Hag’s influence on his United side? What does the defeat say about Spurs nearly a...

Adam Leventhal is joined by The Athletic's Dom Fifield and Crystal Palace writer Matt Woosnam to discuss and dissect Crystal Palace's start to the new Premier League season. After making it three unbeaten against Wolves on Tuesday night we explore how the South London club continue to evolve under Patrick Vieira, the key men on the pitch including Eberechi Eze and Wilfried Zaha, plus what does the...

Mark Chapman presents a special report from The Athletic's Tim Spiers who, over the weekend, was granted an all-access, behind the scenes pass on a match day in the life of a professional footballer... With special thanks to both Omar Beckles and Leyton Orient FC, Tim was invited into the Grenada international defender's home for breakfast with his family, right through to moments before kick-off...

Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Sam Lee & Oli Kay to reflect on that titanic battle that saw Liverpool see off Manchester City at Anfield. Pep Guardiola suggested afterwards that his side get a bit of a raw deal at Anfield - is he right? Also, we’ll cross to Spain to look back on an El Clasico victory for Real Madrid that puts Barcelona manager Xavi under pressure with The Athletic's...

Dan Bardell is joined by George Elek and bet 365's Steve Freeth as Jurgen Klopp and Liverpool look to get their Premier League campaign back on track up against Pep Guardiola's Man City. Steven Gerrard's position at Aston Villa has been up for debate ahead of Chelsea heading to Stamford Bridge. Plus Newcastle United visit Old Trafford looking to upset Manchester United, meanwhile, will Tottenham f...