The Athletic FC Podcast
Gyokeres, Zubimendi & contracts: Arsenal's huge summer
With the contracts of key players up for renewal in the not too distant future, and a big summer window on the horizon, Arsenal’s new sporting director Andrea Berta has plenty to do. So where do Arsenal’s priorities lie this summer? And could Viktor Gyokeres be the answer to their number 9 dilemma? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: David Ornstein & James McNicholas Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2 avr. 2025 - 37 min 26 seg
How have Juventus fallen so far?
The days of Juventus winning Serie A season after season feel like they’re long gone. Last week, Thiago Motta was sacked with Juve languishing outside of the top four places. Add to that, they’re out of the Champions League and Coppa Italia as well. So… what has gone wrong at Juventus, and how do they rebuild? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Max Callegari & Carl Anka Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou & Nick Thomson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1 avr. 2025 - 50 min 01 seg
Spurs want Iraola - but does he want them?
Tottenham Hospur have made Andoni Iraola their top target if they decide to make a managerial change. Having taken his side to the last eight of the FA Cup - and with a European finish still possible in the Premier League. What more can Iraola do at Bournemouth? Ayo Akinwolere is joined by football data writer Thom Harris who was at Bournemouth's FA Cup quarter-final defeat at the hands of Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur correspondent Jack Pitt-Brooke and The Athletic FC's newsletter lead writer Phil Hay to discuss the attraction of Spurs to Iraola as well as analyse the work the Spaniard has done on the south coast. Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Thom Harris, Jack Pitt-Brooke and Phil Hay Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Guy Clarke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
31 mars 2025 - 38 min 05 seg
A World Cup Divided: Trump and 2026
In Los Angeles, California, four nations collided in a football tournament with an inescapable geopolitical backdrop. Canada, Mexico and Panama have all found themselves in the crosshairs of President Donald Trump within his first 100 days in office, and they all met, with the US, in the Nations League finals. Adam Leventhal has been looking into what happens when the sport and politics are thrust together like this speaking with the players, stakeholders and fans to find out how they feel about the various subplots surrounding this tournament and the 2026 World Cup. How do the co-hosts put on a united front when so much of the talk is of division? Host: Adam Leventhal Exec Prod: Abi Paterson Featuring audio from: The Daily, The Headlines, CBS, NBC, CSPAN, ESPN Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
30 mars 2025 - 01 hr 01 min 53 seg
Why are Chelsea signing players already?
The summer transfer window doesn’t open until mid-June, yet Chelsea are not waiting around, having already agreed deals for Dario Essugo, and Geovany Quenda. So why are Chelsea doing their business so early, and should other clubs be following suit? Host: Adam Leventhal With: Simon Johnson, Tim Spiers Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Jay Beale We want your feedback. Go to: theathletic.com/athletic/survey25 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
28 mars 2025 - 37 min 47 seg
Why is Trent set to leave Liverpool for nothing?
One of football’s worst kept secrets could soon be resolved as Real Madrid look to close a deal to sign Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold. So how did it get to this, the Reds losing a homegrown asset in the prime of his career on a free transfer and where will he fit at the Bernabeu? Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s football correspondent David Ornstein, Liverpool correspondent James Pearce and Phil Hay to delve into the detail around the increased activity regarding Alexander-Arnold’s future. Plus, the panel are joined by Real Madrid writer Guillermo Rai to discuss the possibility of a move to the Bernabeu including the use of the media in persuading players to head to the Spanish capital. Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: David Ornstein, James Pearce, Phil Hay and Guillermo Rai Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Guy Clarke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
27 mars 2025 - 41 min 16 seg
Is multi-club ownership here to stay?
This is the third and final part of our multi-club ownership series. We’ve learned how multi-club operations work and provided some practical examples from the world of football. Today - we answer your questions on the effectiveness and future of MCOs. So, can we say for certain multi-club ownership is here to stay? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Matt Slater Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou We want to hear about your podcast habits. Go to theathletic.com/athletic/survey25 to fill out a short survey and be in with the chance of winning £/$100 Amazon vouchers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
26 mars 2025 - 42 min 48 seg
Inside the world of multi-club ownership
Yesterday we heard part one of our multi-club ownership eries, as we learned about how MCOs work - and their purpose. Today, we get some real-world examples, hearing from inside the operations whose clubs include sides from the Premier League and Major League Soccer. So what is it like to own and manage multiple clubs in different leagues and sometimes in different sports? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Matt Slater, Tim Bezbatchenko & Larry Berg Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou & Nick Thomson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
25 mars 2025 - 42 min 26 seg
How is multi-club ownership reshaping football?
Whether it’s Manchester City, Chelsea or even Bournemouth more and more Premier League clubs are sitting as part of multi-club ownership portfolios. But why? How do multi-club ownership groups work, are they purely about making money, or do they help guarantee success on-the-pitch? Ayo Akinwolere is joined by Matt Slater for the first of our three-part series in multi-club ownership including Matt speaking with AJ Swoboda, Managing Director in the Americas for consultancy firm Twenty First Group about the role of MCOs within the global game. Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Matt Slater Featuring: AJ Swoboda Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Guy Clarke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
24 mars 2025 - 48 min 01 seg
Can Tuchel's approach win England the World Cup?
Thomas Tuchel’s first England squad selection has raised a few eyebrows, most notably the inclusion of both Jordan Henderson and Kyle Walker. During media duties this week, the England manager put an emphasis on physicality and pressing, a tactic not commonly associated with international football. He also voiced that he felt England were more afraid to drop out of Euro 2024 than having the hunger and excitement to win it. So is Tuchel's first squad a step forward or step back, and can his more proactive style of management win England the World Cup? Host: Matt Davies-Adams With: Jack Pitt-Brooke, Tim Spiers Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Jay Beale Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
21 mars 2025 - 29 min 55 seg