The Second Captains Podcast

John Martin, FAI Director of Football, discusses Ireland’s decision to play Israel, UEFA pressures, sporting consequences and protecting players from the controversy. The conversation turns to 15-year-old Manchester United prospect JJ Gabriel, his future and the demands facing teenage stars. Plus, Ken’s claim to be six-foot-three sparks a spirited height debate.

William Ralston, football writer and author of The Impossible Job, brings rare insight from researching referees across Europe and working at grassroots level. The discussion explores the weekend’s Premier League controversies, VAR’s impact, ProRef’s first apology, and the intense psychology of officiating. There’s also debate on elite refereeing, managerial pressure, Ballon d’Or hype, and the League of Ireland title race.

Gavin Cooney, Irish Times sports journalist, witnessed an unforgettable Irish Open weekend. Shane Lowry shattered the record by 11 shots amid Air Force One fly-bys, Chinook helicopters and extraordinary security. The conversation explores Trump’s whiskey tariff claim, his remarks on Irish unity, golf’s warm embrace of political spectacle, Lowry’s career revival and Solheim Cup drama.

Lars Sivertsen, a Norwegian football writer and broadcaster, joins the discussion on Arsenal’s ominous Champions League form, Martin Ødegaard’s electric start, and Liverpool’s defensive reset under Andoni Iraola. Troy Parrott’s late winner, Jonathan Pearce’s dramatic commentary, Alexis Mac Allister’s contract dilemma, and the curious intelligence of parrots also feature.

82,000 in the stadium and 1.6m watching on RTE - there's never been an event like this in Irish sport.We look back on a mesmerising but surreal evening in Croke Park with Sinead O'Carroll and Malachy Clerkin. We discuss Katie's insights on Katie', grabbing the mic, how boxing was always the easy bit, and if she is 100% definitely retiring.Plus there's Westlife, the Croker crowd, seeing both sides of boxing, walk-on music and doing it her way.Monday’s shows are free to all. To listen to all our programming throughout the rest of the week, join the Second Captains World Service. There’s no contracts, no hidden fees and shows can be listened to on all good podcast apps, on Spotify or through our website. It’s independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Ken’s Football Show, The Politics Podcast, and lots of added extras. You’ll also be supporting the development of our longer-form work, such as our international series’  ‘Where Is George Gibney?’ and Stakeknife. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For players new to La Liga, there's no better way to get people's attention than scoring the winner against Real Madrid. Betis Troy has lift-off - but did he really RAM Jose Mourinho's historic quotes back down his throat, or is it possible that the interpersonal rivalry element of this story has been exaggerated for dramatic purposes? We talk about Arsenal's dominant victory against Chelsea, and why, despite Michael Carrick's words, it shouldn't be much consolation for Manchester United that Everton's two goals were miracle-strikes. Miguel Delaney joins us to talk about Arsenal-Chelsea and related issues. Did we see new layers to Mikel Arteta's side? Should they have done the deal for Morgan Rogers or will it ultimately prove wiser to wait? And can the PL cash bubble really keep inflating forever? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been a hell of a week on the World Service - Ken is  back - Katie build-up has been emotional - And on top of all that, we’ve made friends within Hector Bellerin!Plus there was transfer window madness, and today one of Germany’s most respected football writers, Christoph Biermann, joined us to talk about his new book: Game Theory: How Luck and Analytics shape football.Next week we have the Champions League, we will review Troy V Jose and Katie's fight, plus there's Trump's trip to Doonbeg and a few big GAA and rugby stories coming to the boil.Monday’s shows are free to all. To listen to all our programming throughout the rest of the week, join the Second Captains World Service. There’s no contracts, no hidden fees and shows can be listened to on all good podcast apps, on Spotify or through our website. It’s independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Ken’s Football Show, The Politics Podcast, and lots of added extras. You’ll also be supporting the development of our longer-form work, such as our international series’  ‘Where Is George Gibney?’ and Stakeknife. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We welcome former world champ and one of the best coaches and boxing analysts in the world, Andy Lee into studio. Andy has coached Katie, has fought on the same card as her, and was in London for her moment of Olympic glory.Ken took a look at who has moved, and more importantly, who hasn’t, on the final day of the transfer window, and how a butterfly flapping its wings creates an angry fan on the other side of the world.To listen to all our programming throughout the rest of the week, join the Second Captains World Service. There’s no contracts, no hidden fees and shows can be listened to on all good podcast apps, on Spotify or through our website. It’s independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Ken’s Football Show, The Politics Podcast, and lots of added extras. You’ll also be supporting the development of our longer-form work, such as our international series’  ‘Where Is George Gibney?’ and Stakeknife. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Week two of the Premier League season has concluded - and SC’s football correspondent has finally deigned to check in. Ken explains his absence and reports on his activities. We follow Troy Parrott’s quest to establish himself at Ireland’s new pet club, Real Betis. Some unduly harsh reviews of his full debut remind us that Spain is traditionally a difficult feeding ground for number 9s. We talk about the spiralling inflation in the Premier League transfer market. How can this be explained? Is it new accounting rules? Too much money chasing not enough talent? The level of computerised games? Sheer rank stupidity? Chelsea under Alonso, Pep's message, Cherki's laces, John McGinn and Cosette-Gakpo feature along the way. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been a daft week here on Second Captains with a stonking opener to Premier League season, Troy Parrott making his La Liga debut, the biggest, fastest, strangest sale in sports franchise history, and Glasgow Celtic flaming out of the Champions League.Next week is even tastier with Katie Taylor's historic fight in Croker and more importantly, the return of Ken Early!To listen to all our programming, go to secondcaptains.com/join There’s no contracts, no hidden fees and shows can be listened to on all good podcast apps, on Spotify or through our website. It’s independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Ken’s Football Show, The Politics Podcast, and you’ll also be supporting the development of our longer-form work, such as our international series’ ‘Where Is George Gibney? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.