Up Front

As another Premier League season comes to an end, a familiar story unfolds - Manchester City, Premier League champions. Elsewhere, Burnley, Sheffield United and Luton Town head straight back down to the Championship - with a record low points total. So with each passing season - is the Premier League becoming more of a closed shop at the top and more difficult than ever to survive at the bottom? I...

Since Sir Alex Ferguson left the Premier League, Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have been the two dominant forces in English football. As Jurgen says auf wiedersehen and speculation rises around Pep’s future, the lack of an obvious successor is apparent. In this week’s episode Simon, Graeme and Troy will be taking a look at which managers are next in line to take over from the best in the game. Wh...

In the second episode of 'Three Up Front', Simon Jordan, Troy Deeney and Graeme Souness discuss Manchester United's travails after they suffered their most humiliating defeat of the season at Crystal Palace. The trio look at where this once great club is and what the expectations should be for next season… With Sir Jim Ratcliffe becoming more of a prominent voice in football operations, Manchester...

Welcome to the first episode of 'Three Up Front' brought to you by William Hill. A new show that combines three of football's most distinctive voices to bring you no-nonsense football opinions, discussions and ensure talking points are analysed from the perspectives of a player, a manager and an owner.   In our debut episode Simon Jordan, Graeme Souness and Troy Deeney sit down to analyse the unde...

Three of football's most opinionated voices come together to bring you no nonsense football opinions, discussions and no doubt banter, each and every week alongside our normal programming, Up Front is not going away. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode we are joined by a Chelsea legend who led the club through an unprecedented era of success, winning every available trophy along the way. John Terry is a serial winner, a stalwart defender and, for many, the ultimate leader. The former England captain often divided opinion throughout his career, combining outstanding play with off the field issues to become one of the most notab...

On today’s episode we are joined by the youngest of four brothers from one of the most famous boxing families. Fighting out of Liverpool and coached by Joe Gallagher, Callum Smith went on to gain British and European success at super middleweight before overcoming George Groves for the WBA Strap. His continued rise within Boxing led him face to face with Cancelo Alvarez, which unfortunately for Sm...

On today’s episode we are joined by a top England Rugby International, who in recent times won the Premiership title with Leicester Tigers before returning to his roots with Bristol Bears. Ellis Genge faced early struggles in his life, growing up in the working class area of Knowle West in Bristol. An angry young man who faced problems in school and with the law, he found solace in an unlikely pla...

On today’s episode we are joined by one of the greats of German Football. Born in East Germany at a time of upheaval and division, Michael Ballack went on to become a legend for his country, making 98 appearances and scoring 42 goals. Through playing street football at an early age, Ballack found his love for the game and knew he wanted to become a pro. He came to prominence at Kaiserslautern and...

On today’s episode we are joined by one of the most iconic Italians to grace the Premier League. From humble beginnings in Sardinia, Gianfranco Zola was famed for playing the game in a beautiful way. He became one of the rising stars in his hometown which earned him a big money move to Napoli who were led by the God-like figure Diego Maradona. After impressing in Naples, he moved to Parma and form...

On today's episode we are joined by a player who burst onto the scene for Arsenal as a teenager, showing a tenacity and technical ability that few English players have ever possessed. After a breakout performance against Messi and Guardiola’s Barcelona, the sky seemed to be the limit for Jack Wilshere but an ongoing ankle issue would lead to him retiring from the game at age 30 after spells at Bou...

On today’s episode, we are joined by a two time Premier League winner with over 50 caps for England. Paul Ince’s 20 year career took him from his local club West Ham, to Italy, Old Trafford and Anfield as he became one of the few players to represent both sides of the Premier League’s fiercest rivalry… Paul went on to become a manager, learning his trade at Macclesfield Town and MK Dons before a s...

On today’s episode, we are joined by a Premier League great who started off in non-league football and went on to become PFA Player of the Year. Les Ferdinand enjoyed a successful and varied career playing for clubs such as QPR, Tottenham Hotspur as well as being part of the ‘great entertainers’ under Kevin Keegan at Newcastle United. After retirement he returned to West London and took up the rol...

In this episode, we are joined by our first ever guest from the world of MMA, the welterweight world champion of the world Leon Edwards. One of just 3 UFC champions ever from the UK, Leon has a unique story full of tragedy, resilience and glory. Born in Jamaica before moving to Birmingham, Leon was raised around gang culture, tragically losing his father to gun crime at a young age. MMA would be h...

In this episode, we are joined by Sheffield's own, former welterweight champion of the world Kell Brook. In a long career that featured 40 wins and only 3 losses, Kell fought the very best, never turning down a fight, even when the odds were stacked against him. He won his IBF welterweight championship of the world in historic fashion beating Shawn Porter in his own backyard to put the world on no...

On today’s episode, we are joined by the Manchester United and Danish icon, Peter Schmeichel. Regarded by many as the greatest goalkeeper in Premier League history, Schmeichel was a leader in a dominant Manchester United side, winning the treble in 1999 as well as inspiring his native Denmark to a shock title at the European Championship in 1992. Join us as we delve into Schmeichel's incredible ca...

On this week’s episode we are joined by a rarity in English football an American in the dugout. Jesse Marsch started his career in the MLS before moving into football’s Red Bull model. After spells in Salzburg and Leipzig, he moved to the Premier League, leading one of the country’s most iconic clubs in Leeds United. Charged with saving the club from relegation after a period of decline under Marc...

On today’s episode, we are joined by a double Olympic champion who went on to play a pivotal role in bringing the Olympic Games to London in 2012. From athlete to administrator, Sebastian Coe has been one of the key figures in the world of athletics for nearly 45 years. A world record breaker, his career was marked by rivalries with Steve Ovett and Steve Cram which electrified the nation as they w...

In this special episode of Up Front, we take a look back on the first year of the podcast. Since the first episode was released in April, we have welcomed some of the most compelling and talented people from across the world of sport onto the show. In this end of year special Simon will give you an insight into his favourite moments, anecdotes and arguments of the series so far whilst also giving...

On today’s episode, we are joined by Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler. The epitome of ‘local lad done good’ Robbie Fowler was one of the most naturally gifted goal scorers to grace the Premier League earning him the nickname 'God' among the Anfield faithful. Nobody in Premier League history has scored as many goals as quickly as Fowler. His tally of 64 goals before the age of 21 surpassed the record...

In this episode, we are joined by 2-weight world champion Chris Eubank Snr, a boxing legend whose journey from South London to the ring via New York is etched in boxing folklore. Eubank was known for his eccentricity and unique blend of charisma and showmanship which made him a standout figure in the world of boxing and beyond. During the 1990s, Eubank engaged in two legendary clashes with Nigel B...

On this week's episode, we sit down with one of the most beloved British boxers of all time - Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton. Hatton's journey from a council estate in Hattersley to becoming a two-weight world boxing champion is the stuff of legend. His epic showdowns with boxing giants Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao saw thousands follow him to Las Vegas, leaving a mark on boxing history. But...

On today’s episode we are joined by one of only four Englishmen to win the Ballon d’Or. Michael Owen was a phenom who burst onto the scene with THAT goal against Argentina in the 1998 World Cup. He went on to score over 150 goals for Liverpool before becoming a ‘Galactico’ at Real Madrid. He returned to England in 2005, joining Newcastle United but his injuries had started to take their toll. He w...

On this week's episode, we sit down with a true force of nature in the world of boxing - Derek Chisora. From his meteoric rise as a British heavyweight contender, capturing the public's attention with his raw power and fearless attitude, to facing off against some of the sport's biggest names, Chisora has showcased his warrior spirit time and again. His battles against the likes of Vitali Klitschk...

On this week's episode Simon sits down with EFL Chair Rick Parry, a visionary in English football. As the top-flight's chief executive, he brokered the largest TV rights deal in history at the time, £700million, and the division prospered. He was also Liverpool's chief executive for 12 years, presiding over that iconic Champions league triumph in Istanbul. Now, in his current role as the chairman...