Football's Greatest: Could It Be Magic?

Jeff is joined by Joleon Lescott to discuss Manchester City’s Premier League title win in 2012, one which some believe to be the greatest ever. Big names and big characters are brought up, including Roberto Mancini, Yaya Toure, Vincent Kompany and Mario Balotelli. They discuss: THAT game against QPR: the comeback, Aguero’s goal and Joey Barton’s red card The most influential player in that City squad Why many of City’s players were happy to see Mancini go the year after the title win Joleon also reveals how Balotelli’s iconic ‘Why Always Me?’ Celebration at Old Trafford came about and recalls the love-hate relationship between the forward and Mancini. He also discusses Emmanuel Adebayor’s famous celebration against Arsenal, the Premier League legend who used to try and distract him during a match and the former England manager who made him cry. He also answers this question: who would win a match between the 2012 title winners and City’s current all-conquering side? Football's Greatest is a Folding Pocket production with BBC Studios. 🚨 EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/fgpod Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In our latest Replay, former Arsenal, Aston Villa and England forward Paul Merson talks about the impact of Harry Redknapp on his career from our Greatest Mavericks episode. The two men had a memorable season together at Portsmouth in the Championship, winning the title and gaining promotion to the Premier League. This bonus episode also includes unheard material, including a brilliant story where Merse recalls the time he took an unsanctioned mid-season break in Barbados and Harry found out. He also reveals: Why Harry was such a brilliant manager to work under Harry’s hilarious assessment of his Portsmouth squad as he tried to convince Merse to join The set of fans with a fearsome reputation who gave Merse a standing ovation Football's Greatest is a Folding Pocket Production with BBC Studios. Listen to or watch the full episode of Football's Greatest Mavericks with Paul Merson, where he talks about Jack Grealish, Ian Wright, Paul Gascoigne and Diego Maradona among others: Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/footballs-greatest/id1721822502?i=1000643477759 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/032OzhhC8OVG1Th3ZqzeuM?si=0272c8ee280a4d0e YouTube - https://youtu.be/O6ZU4Zpd2V0?si=tZXHuTTxGgSuZtDI 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Germany legend Michael Ballack joins Jeff Stelling to discuss his Top 5 Bundesliga players.  Which midfielder was the best player Michael Ballack played with during his career? Who has seen off all-comers at Bayern Munich? Who has changed the way his position on the football pitch is played? As well as picking his Top 5, Ballack gives his opinion on England’s Jude Bellingham, marks out what has impressed him about Xabi Alonso’s managerial career so far and recalls how he felt when his former clubs Chelsea and Bayern Munich contested the 2012 Champions League Final. Football's Greatest is a Folding Pocket production with BBC Studios. 🚨 EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/fgpod Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Watch or listen to our previous episode with Michael Ballack where he discusses his greatest ever German players in the Premier League: Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/footballs-greatest/id1721822502?i=1000645958379 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/0hNWiqCWugNK1hZR6QI6OP?si=fd7c2bd82a8d4fe8 YouTube - https://youtu.be/8XYx4ajTIeE?si=5y0QJ2FveWnW-0_Q 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the second of our 'Replays', former England midfielder James Milner discusses the impact of Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool. With Klopp aiming to win a second Premier League title before leaving in the summer, Milner takes us back to the start of his reign at Anfield. We go inside the dressing room and on to the training pitch as Milner provides an insight into how Klopp turned around the club's fortunes. What was Klopp like to work with when he first arrived? How did he use anger to set standards early on? What preconceptions might Klopp have had about English footballers? Milner also recalls the funny conversation he and Klopp had about changing his role with Liverpool, why he claims to have made Andy Robertson's career and how his 'team first' mindset allowed him to flourish at Liverpool, even when asked to play out of position. Football's Greatest is a Folding Pocket Production with BBC Studios. Listen to the full episode of Football's Greatest Managers with James Milner here: Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/footballs-greatest/id1721822502?i=1000641800758 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/5T6hSpxGThz864pdtkHuEj?si=553636e4fc1c49c5 Watch on YouTube - https://youtu.be/C2waGCay9d4?si=nIQyDksE7I3cEH-V 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

"We're off to Fratton Park, where there's been a red card, but for who, Chris Kamara...?" On the 14th anniversary of that legendary moment, Chris Kamara and Jeff Stelling recall how it happened in the first of our Football's Greatest replays. Kammy reveals how it changed his life and recounts how a series of events led to one of football's funniest moments. Happy Chris Kamara Day! Listen to the full episode of Football's Greatest Partnerships with Chris Kamara here: Apple - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/footballs-greatest/id1721822502?i=1000640994540 Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/61vP09YQMLyT9mjOxVCexf?si=ff9627594e1c46da Watch on YouTube - https://youtu.be/3appaUxJ35w?si=TMKL-VCNWZlJ_2Mq Football's Greatest is a Folding Pocket production with BBC Studios. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Expect crunching tackles, pinching and crazy eyes as Southampton legend Matthew Le Tissier reveals his Top 5 toughest opponents to Jeff Stelling on the latest Football's Greatest podcast.   Who was the most annoying player he faced in the Premier League? Which defender had the longest metal studs he’d ever seen? And who intimidated even Vinnie Jones? Le Tiss also recalls the England hero who scared him early in his career, the Manchester United player who frustrated him most and the defender he says was "a Rolls Royce." You can still catch Matt's previous episode with Jeff on his greatest set piece takers: 📺 https://youtu.be/V-qPu3ESR-8?si=vGVI_6Osn2VQfF_2 Football's Greatest is a Folding Pocket production with BBC Studios. 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 🚨 EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/fgpod Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The legend that is Chris Kamara is back alongside Jeff Stelling to discuss his top 5 unbelievable football moments. Which World Cup goal broke his heart? Which soccer match does he watch every year? And why did he once race Jeff in Japan using only one leg? He also states why he thinks Gazza was the best in the world in 1990, names his favourite match ever and explains why he had no idea that one of the most controversial goals in football history had actually happened. Football's Greatest is a Folding Pocket production with BBC Studios.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 EXCLUSIVE NordVPN Deal ➼ https://nordvpn.com/fgpod Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sir Geoff Hurst is with Jeff on the pod this week to talk about his greatest ever England football matches. They cover the 1966 World Cup, including the feisty win over Argentina, how he discovered he was playing ahead of Jimmy Greaves in the final, scoring the hat-trick against West Germany that made him a legend and which team-mate ended up in someone’s garden on the night they celebrated England’s men’s greatest ever success on a football field.  He also discusses what he believes is the worst decision ever in international football (not that one), why VAR makes him angry, almost joining Manchester United, walking football with Harry Kane and whether he thinks the current England side will win something in the coming years. Football's Greatest is a Folding Pocket production with BBC Studios. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Former England manager Glenn Hoddle joins Jeff to choose his greatest midfielders on the latest episode of the pod. Which current Premier League star does he thinks still isn’t trusted by England management? Why does every team need a Declan Rice? And what was his reaction to the David Beckham documentary? Glenn also explains why he dropped Gazza from the 1998 World Cup squad, reveals the real reason why Matt Le Tissier received fewer chances with England, recalls when a football legend tried to unsuccessfully man mark him and discusses why he thinks he was sometimes the recipient of criticism from the press. Football's Greatest is a Folding Pocket production with BBC Studios. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who’s the most complete keeper in the Premier League: Alisson or Ederson? Did Aaron Ramsdale deserve to lose his place to David Raya in the Arsenal goal? And why did he love working for Jose Mourinho at Chelsea? These are some of the questions Jeff puts to former Middlesbrough, Fulham and Australia keeper Mark Schwarzer on this week’s pod.  They also discuss how he was left fuming with Mark Hughes and Fulham when a potential move to Arsenal collapsed in 2010, why he’s backing his Aussie compatriot Ange Postecoglu to be a success at Tottenham and he reveals why modern keepers have one eye on the cameras when making saves now. Plus he explains why he thinks last summer was the right time for David de Gea to leave Manchester United, which Liverpool keeper threw the ball like a javelin and why the Champions League theme music still gives him goosebumps. Football's Greatest is a Folding Pocket production with BBC Studios. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices