The Athletic FC Podcast

Hosts Dan Bardell and George Elek are joined by bet365's Steve Freeth, to preview the FA Cup 4th round action, starting with a nostalgic fixture on Friday night as Middlesbrough host Manchester United...Plus, has Liverpool's super-smart recruitment set them up to compete for years to come, did Spurs panic buy in January, will Roy Hodgson keep Watford in the Premier League and is it promotion or bust for Scott Parker's Bournemouth. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Chapman and Matt Slater discuss sport’s impact on culture, politics and society and sport in China since the 2008 Games and how international leagues such as the NBA, the WTA and the English Premier League operate in a challenging region that offers an enormous market for business. Our guests today are Mark Dreyer a China Sports Insider, and author of "Sporting Superpower: An Insider's View on China's Quest to Be the Best" and William Nee, who is the research and advocacy coordinator at Chinese Human Rights Defenders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosts Dan Bardell and Flo Lloyd-Hughes are joined by The Athletic's Everton correspondents Greg O'Keeffe and Patrick Boyland, to reflect on a whirlwind month or so at Goodison, as Frank Lampard was finally unveiled as Rafa Benitez' successor AND both Donny van de Beek and Dele Alli signed on Deadline Day to kickstart this new era...Our panel reveal how Lampard came out on top among a seemingly endless list of candidates - which included the likes of Wayne Rooney - who will make up his back-room staff, how he can help reignite Dele Alli's career and if Alli and DvB can even operate in the same team!Plus, senior writer Dom Fifield sets the record straight on Lampard's tenure as Chelsea head coach and explores what 'Lampard-ball' could look like at Everton. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's Adam Crafton & David Ornstein to discuss the biggest transfer deals of the window taking you inside Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's move to Barcelona, Dele Alli 's move to Everton and why other players such as Jesse Lingard didn't get the moves they hoped for.The Athletic's Chris Waugh also drops by to discuss an intense window for Newcastle United who didn't get everything they wanted but did they get what they need to stay in the Premier League? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Chapman & The Athletic's Matt Slater are joined by Garry Cook, who over the course of a 30 year career is sport has held executive positions at Nike - where he led the Jordan brand - the UFC and he was also the CEO of Premier League side Manchester City helping to secure the £210 million takeover by current owner Sheikh Mansour. As well as sharing some of his own experiences in the business of sport, Garry also gives his thoughts on the current landscape of Premier League football including the takeover of Newcastle United. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosts Dan Bardell and Flo Lloyd-Hughes are joined by The Athletic's Man City writer Sam Lee, to discuss Raheem Sterling's 'complicated' relationship with Man City and manager Pep Guardiola as the prospect of leaving the reigning Champions at the end of his current deal looms large for the England superstar...What is it like to play 'Pep Roulette' as a City squad member and more on Guardiola's January transfer plans, Plus, Dan and Flo find time to react to Roy Hodgson's impending return to the Premier League with Watford. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Chapman is joined by The Athletic's David Ornstein & Adam Crafton to look at deals that could be done in the final week of the season. They also discuss managerial recruitment as Manchester United step up the hunt for a permanent head coach.Later in the pod we’ll discuss Watford’s struggles with Adam Leventhal and our Investigations Writer Joey D'Urso will detail the story of a bookmaker receiving hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of bets on a player receiving a yellow card in a Premier League game. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosts Dan Bardell and George Elek are joined by bet365's Steve Freeth to look ahead to another big weekend of Premier League action... Is James Ward-Prowse the best Free-Kick taker in PL history? Is Conor Gallagher better off at Selhurst Park than returning to Stamford Bridge, did Steven Gerrard's return to Goodison Park just get a whole lot harder and much more... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Chapman & The Athletic's Matt Slater speak to Isha Johansen, who is a member of The FIFA Council, the main decision making body of world football about a range of topics including the challenges she's encountered on her journey to the corridors of power, biennial World Cups, plus diversity and sustainability in the game.Previously Isha was President of the Sierra Leone Football Association , one of only a few women in the world to have headed a national football association. Isla is also owner and CEO of Sierra Leone National Premier League club FC Johansen, the club she started to provide guidance and opportunities to children whose lives had been disrupted by civil war. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosts Dan Bardell and Flo Lloyd-Hughes are joined by Joey D'Urso, Investigations writer for The Athletic, to explore the Premier League's increasingly close relationship with Cryptocurrency, NFT's and the Metaverse...What is a 'non-fungible token', why is John Terry promoting something called the 'Ape Kid's Club', what do a cartoon monkey and the Mona Lisa have in common and why supporters should care how millionaire players choose to invest their money. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.