Could It Be Magic?

Big moves that don’t happen. Being left out of a match day squad. Hearing you’re not good enough.  Football is full of regrets and in this latest compilation episode of Football’s Greatest with Jeff Stelling, we hear some of our guests’ biggest ones from their careers. Former Australia keeper Mark Schwarzer explains how a move to Arsenal fell apart in 2010 and why it left him frustrated and upset with the Fulham manager Mark Hughes and the club’s owner. Brighton midfielder James Milner recalls how it felt to be subbed off by Fabio Capello after just 25 minutes of his first ever game at the World Cup in South Africa, how he managed to work his way back into the manager’s plans and his disappointment after the controversial defeat to Germany.  Jeff’s old Soccer Saturday pal Phil Thompson remembers how he discovered he wouldn’t be captaining England at the 1982 World Cup and why it left him so distraught. Matt Le Tissier talks about when he was left out of the 1998 World Cup squad by Glenn Hoddle, why Paul Gascoigne’s omission later left him hurting even more and how powerless he felt as England exited the tournament after losing to Argentina in a penalty shoot-out. Coming soon - Football’s Greatest: Eras with Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes. Join the pair as they take you inside one of the most dominant periods ever seen in the Premier League. Expect tales about Sir Alex Ferguson, Eric Cantona and David Beckham, the rivalries and the inside track on some of the biggest games and players from the 90s and 00s. Follow Football's Greatest and join in the debate: YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@footballsgreatestpod Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/footballsgreatestpod Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ftblsgreatest TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@footballsgreatestpod Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/footballsgreatestpod Football's Greatest is a Folding Pocket production with BBC Studios. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week’s best bits is all about some of the Premier League legends who have been discussed over the course of the Football’s Greatest series. Paul Merson recalls what it was like to play with Ian Wright, what made him such a great goalscorer and how he could also handle himself, including in the players lounge after. Joleon Lescott talks about what made Wayne Rooney such a tough opponent on the pitch, how his strength compared to Didier Drogba's and why he thinks Sir Alex Ferguson was able to get the best out of Rooney. Michael Ballack explains why he thinks Jurgen Klinsmann opted to join Tottenham in the mid-90s at the peak of his career, why the move was such a success and the impact it had in Germany. Matthew Le Tissier remembers how Stuart Pearce used to terrify him as a young player, and even made renowned Saints hard man Jimmy Case think twice about taking on the man the fans nicknamed ‘Psycho’.  COMING SOON - Football’s Greatest: Eras with Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes. Join the pair as they take you inside one of the most dominant periods ever seen in the Premier League. Expect tales about Sir Alex Ferguson, Eric Cantona and David Beckham, the rivalries and the inside track on some of the biggest games and players from the 90s and 00s. Follow Football's Greatest and join in the debate: YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@footballsgreatestpod Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/footballsgreatestpod Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ftblsgreatest TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@footballsgreatestpod Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/footballsgreatestpod Football's Greatest is a Folding Pocket production with BBC Studios. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Glenn Hoddle, a former professional player and manager, shares his reflections on David Beckham's infamous red card at the 1998 World Cup and discusses its portrayal in the recent documentary. Meanwhile, Matthew Le Tissier recounts his memorable clashes with Arsenal's Martin Keown, detailing the challenges they posed during games. The guests explore themes of rivalry, leadership, and the emotional turmoil players face, offering a candid look at the ups and downs experienced on the pitch.

Over the next few weeks we'll bring you some of the best moments from the Football's Greatest series so far. This episode focusses on the greatest managers. James Milner recalls the change at Liverpool from Brendan Rodgers to Jurgen Klopp, his first impressions of the German and their conversation about converting him into a full back. Gordon Strachan discusses Sir Alex Ferguson's impact at Aberdeen, his desire to win above all else, how the players were afraid to get injured because of the consequences, and what it was like to be the target of the manager's anger. German legend Michael Ballack talks about the charisma of Jose Mourinho and how he got his Chelsea players to follow him. Paul Merson compares the qualities of George Graham and Harry Redknapp, how Redknapp could be tougher than you think and the hilarious conversation that persuaded him to drop a division to go to Fratton Park. ANNOUNCEMENT: Coming soon - Football’s Greatest: Eras with Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes. Join the pair as they take you inside one of the most dominant periods ever seen in the Premier League. Expect tales about Sir Alex Ferguson, Eric Cantona and David Beckham, the rivalries and the inside track on some of the biggest games and players from the 90s and 00s. Follow Football's Greatest and join in the debate: YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@footballsgreatestpod Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/footballsgreatestpod Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ftblsgreatest TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@footballsgreatestpod Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/footballsgreatestpod Football's Greatest is a Folding Pocket production with BBC Studios. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It’s the final episode of Football’s Greatest: Euros and Merse and Jeff are rounding it off with one last Q+A. They tackle questions from you like: is Declan Rice is overrated? How will Arne Slot get on at Liverpool? And did Merse really ask a team-mate to injure him so he could go to the races? They also discuss how news journalists could be ruthless, whether Sean Dyche should be on the shortlist for the England job, the Dutch revolution at Manchester United, if Aston Villa can stay in the top 4 next season and Merse explains why Michael Olise and Eberechi Eze were like a pair of shoes. ANNOUNCEMENT: this may be the last Euros show but coming in August - Football’s Greatest: Eras with Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes. Join the pair as they take you inside one of the most dominant periods ever seen in the Premier League. Expect tales about Sir Alex Ferguson, Eric Cantona and David Beckham, the rivalries and get the inside track on some of the biggest games and players from the 90s and 00s. Follow Football's Greatest and join in the debate: YouTube: www.youtube.com/@footballsgreatestpod Instagram: www.instagram.com/footballsgreatestpod Twitter: www.twitter.com/ftblsgreatest TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@footballsgreatestpod Facebook: www.facebook.com/footballsgreatestpod Football's Greatest: Euros is a Folding Pocket production with BBC Studios Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Gareth Southgate has stepped down as England manager so Merse and Jeff debate who should follow him in the top job. Graham Potter or Eddie Howe? Jose Mourinho or Jurgen Klopp? Merse picks out another contender and argues passionately why it should not be a foreign manager. They also discuss Southgate’s legacy, give their thoughts on why England lost to Spain in the Euros final, wonder if Jude Bellingham is a problem and whether Harry Kane still has a future at international level. If you want to get in touch and ask the guys a question, here what to do: Email: footballsgreatest@foldingpocket.co.uk WhatsApp: 020 395 19653 (+44 20 395 19653 from outside the UK) Follow Football's Greatest and join in the debate: YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/@footballsgreatestpod Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/footballsgreatestpod Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ftblsgreatest TikTok: http://www.tiktok.com/@footballsgreatestpod Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/footballsgreatestpod Football's Greatest: Euros is a Folding Pocket production with BBC Studios. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Arsenal legend Paul Merson and Jeff Stelling preview the Euros final: player-for-player, who has the better squad? Is Lamine Yamal the best 16 year-old footballer Merse has ever seen? Will it be seen as a failure if England don't win it? They also discuss whether Harry Kane really is, as Gary Neville suggested, the best England player ever, if Gareth Southgate is an elite football manager, how Merse enjoyed Ronald Koeman suffering at the hands of karma on Wednesday and why he thinks England make the pitch look like a Power League one... If you want to get in touch and ask the guys a question, here what to do: Email: footballsgreatest@foldingpocket.co.uk WhatsApp: 0203 951 9653 (+44 203 951 9653 from outside the UK) Follow Football's Greatest and join in the debate: YouTube: www.youtube.com/@footballsgreatestpod Instagram: www.instagram.com/footballsgreatestpod Twitter: www.twitter.com/ftblsgreatest TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@footballsgreatestpod Facebook: www.facebook.com/footballsgreatestpod Football's Greatest: Euros is a Folding Pocket production with BBC Studios. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's another Q&A with Merse and Jeff and among the questions in this episode: should Ivan Toney start for England? Who was the strongest footballer Merse played with or against? And what do they love and hate about modern football? Merse also names the clubs he would have liked to play for during his career and gives his take on Enzo Maresca and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall's moves to Chelsea. If you want to get in touch and ask the guys a question, here what to do:  Email: footballsgreatest@foldingpocket.co.uk What's App: 0203 951 9653 (+44 203 951 9653 from outside the UK) Follow Football's Greatest and join in the debate: YouTube: www.youtube.com/@footballsgreatestpod Instagram: www.instagram.com/footballsgreatestpod Twitter: www.twitter.com/ftblsgreatest TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@footballsgreatestpod Facebook: www.facebook.com/footballsgreatestpod Football's Greatest: Euros is a Folding Pocket production with BBC Studios. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How come Merse is so confident England will beat the Swiss and win the Euros? Why should Gareth Southgate have no excuses for the quarter-final? And who needs to have a word with Jude Bellingham? Merse and Jeff discuss all of that plus whether the Euros have harmed Southgate's chances of landing a job with a top club, the enduring drama that is Cristiano Ronaldo, why France are dull to watch, their top 5 players of the tournament so far and whether Erling Haaland would score 60 goals in the National League. ANNOUNCEMENT: Our next episode on Saturday is another Q&A with Merse and Jeff. Has Merse asked out any more pop stars (see last episode)? We can't promise more revelations like that but you can ask them about almost anything to do with football or themselves. Send us a voicemail or message at: Email: footballsgreatest@foldingpocket.co.uk WhatsApp: 0203 951 9653 (+44 203 951 9653 from outside the UK) Follow Football's Greatest and join in the debate: YouTube: www.youtube.com/@footballsgreatestpod Instagram: www.instagram.com/footballsgreatestpod Twitter: www.twitter.com/ftblsgreatest TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@footballsgreatestpod Facebook: www.facebook.com/footballsgreatestpod Football's Greatest: Euros is a Folding Pocket production with BBC Studios. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Why did Merse leave Arsenal for Middlesbrough? Who should follow Gareth Southgate as England manager? Did Merse really once ask out Kylie Minogue? Jeff Stelling and Paul Merson answer all of these questions and more in their second Q&A on Football’s Greatest: Euros. If you want to get in touch and ask the guys a question, here what to do:  Email: footballsgreatest@foldingpocket.co.uk WhatsApp: 0203 951 9653 (+44 203 951 9653 from outside the UK) Follow Football's Greatest and join in the debate: YouTube: www.youtube.com/@footballsgreatestpod Instagram: www.instagram.com/footballsgreatestpod Twitter: www.twitter.com/ftblsgreatest TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@footballsgreatestpod Facebook: www.facebook.com/footballsgreatestpod Football's Greatest: Euros is a Folding Pocket production with BBC Studios Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices