Revista de la Liga with Graham Hunter

Here’s another chance to hear my interview with Andy Robertson from season three.We caught up with Andy in early 2018, just after he had played a pivotal role for Liverpool in an incredible 4-3 victory over Manchester City. That really was the moment Andy arrived at Anfield and looking back you can see how the green shoots for Liverpool’s long-awaited title win grew visible that day. There’s great stuff about what it’s like to play for Jurgen Klopp, what it felt like to be signed by Liverpool and how Kenny Dalglish is still such a huge, positive presence at the club.There’s also chat about why Celtic legend Henrik Larsson was Andy’s boyhood hero and about the ecstasy and relief that came with winning a play-off final with Hull.EnjoyGraham Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.revistadelaliga.com/subscribe

Pep Lijnders was in such demand as a coach that Porto took him from PSV Eindhoven at the tender age of 24. The move was a footballing culture shock – Porto’s winning mentality blew Pep away. Their scouting network is second to none, however, this risks impacting the academy. Therefore, Pep and his colleagues had to strive to create their own new generation of stars, and they certainly succeeded.Pep believes that a successful academy creates a father/son relationship between the young player and his club. He will give you that bit more once he makes the first team, and inspire another hundred boys at the academy.Thanks, Pep, that was one of the best.Graham.Subscribe to Between the Lines: The Stories Behind Great Sports Writing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.revistadelaliga.com/subscribe

Liverpool assistant manager Pep Lijnders provided me with simply one of the most insightful Big Interviews ever.You will hear how Jurgen Klopp and his Liverpool coaches speak in training as if they are instilling the players’ inner voice. The emphasis placed on how to press when they don’t have possession is phenomenal, and it needs perfect positioning and the players’ total buy-in. Liverpool overcome the adversity of missing stars by defiantly sticking to their philosophy, a ‘collective idea’ that is drilled into the squad. Captain fantastic Jordan Henderson is the team’s motor, the on-field leader and the link between the players and the management team.Mesmerising stuff.Graham.Subscribe to Between the Lines: The Stories Behind Great Sports Writing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.revistadelaliga.com/subscribe

Last season, our Socios at patreon.com/grahamhunter got an exclusive interview with Charlie Adam. For the first time, here’s the full episode.In part two we hear about Charlie’s legendary shooting ability as he describes a free-kick goal in a Wembley play-off final victory for Blackpool against Cardiff. He considers the goal fated because he had hit a carbon copy in training the day before.Charlie scored against Liverpool and the Anfield club decided to sign him. He endured a battle with Blackpool to gain his release, but it was worth it in the end. Charlie’s dad wept when he signed for his personal hero Kenny Dalglish. At Liverpool, Charlie proved the doubters wrong by demonstrating that he was most certainly good enough to play at that level. He pays tribute to Liverpool legends Luis Suárez and Steven Gerrard, describes what it was like to be man-marked by Phil Jones, and how the Old Firm atmosphere is second to none.Great stuff from a great guy.Graham Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.revistadelaliga.com/subscribe

Hola!Last season, our Socios at patreon.com/grahamhunter got an exclusive interview with Charlie Adam. For the first time, here’s the full episode.Charlie was brought up on a Dundee housing estate where he honed his skills by kicking a ball relentlessly at bin recesses and between washing poles. Charlie speaks about the early influence of his beloved late father, who taught him a work ethic and a relentless will to win. It all paid off because Rangers came calling.As an Ibrox youth he champed at the bit, trying outrageous stuff on the training field or sneaking in to watch the first team prepare. He was always watching, learning, visualising, plotting. To this day he is able to vividly describe his artistry in detail, how he precisely strikes the ball. For example, he relates how on earth he managed to score a goal for Stoke City at Chelsea from inside his own half.Part two coming soon.Graham Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.revistadelaliga.com/subscribe

Jamie Carragher never enjoyed international tournaments and wonders if England puts too much into its club game – which is a matter life and death – instead of valuing national side’s endeavours more.Also in part two, he describes the 1999 Champions League final between Manchester United and Bayern Munich, and argues that David Beckham’s performance that night – and his talents in general – are undersold.We chat about Liverpool’s incredible 4-0 trouncing of Barcelona last year in the Champions League semi. Jamie says that Jurgen Klopp makes players believe that they can do anything.Lastly we talk about Xavi, the player Jamie most admires because he had such a quick footballing brain. He took charge of a game and told others what to do.Thanks Jamie, that was sheer class.GrahamSubscribe to Between the Lines: The Stories Behind Great Sports Writing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.revistadelaliga.com/subscribe

Jamie Carragher’s new book The Greatest Games documents the best matches he has experienced as a player and as a spectator. He played in a few crackers, not least the 2005 ‘Miracle of Istanbul’ when Liverpool came back from the dead against AC Milan in the Champions League final.As a pundit, Jamie employs the same exacting standards he applied to his long and auspicious career as an Anfield defender. He has to, because supporters are incredibly well informed and analytically astute these days. And Jamie wants to ask why a manager makes a decision rather than just lobbing criticism.We chat about Jamie’s time playing for England under Sven-Göran Eriksson. Sven picked the safest options and didn’t impart anything new. His coaching was very basic. Yet British players are too loath to criticise. Former Liverpool coach Pepe Reina once told Jamie and Steven Gerrard that he was surprised that they and other senior pros were so humble and silent.EnjoyGrahamSubscribe to Between the Lines: The Stories Behind Great Sports Writing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.revistadelaliga.com/subscribe

Welcome to our Big Interview Icons series where we shine a light on a legend whose name has lit up some of the conversations I’ve had with my guests over the last six years of The Big Interview. This episode focuses on Zinedine Zidane.Former Bayern Munich and Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves talks about what struck him most when he first played against his hero: he was very quiet, and a tackle with him was like colliding with a brick wall.Jimmy Bullard admired Zidane so much that he even wore his boots and shorts like him. In fact, on one occasion the tightness of his shorts was such that it impeded him from scoring an easy goal for Wigan!Next up is Steve McManaman, who speaks about how Zizou endured a frustrating start at Real Madrid. Then came the 2002 Champions League final win over Bayer Leverkusen, and nobody doubted the great man after it.Lastly we hear from former Real president Ramón Calderón, who says how promoting Zinedine from the position of reserve team coach to the biggest role in club football management was a risk that paid off.Enjoy.Graham Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.revistadelaliga.com/subscribe

Here’s another chance to hear my interview with Terry Gibson from season three.I know Terry well from covering Spanish football over the years, and I find him to be one of the most engaging, funny and astute analysts of the game.He recounts honestly what it felt like to depart Tottenham, the club he has always loved and who he felt had treated him shabbily. There’s great stuff about his only career hat-trick – for Coventry against the mighty Liverpool, and just how lax Ron Atkinson’s regime was at Manchester United. Alex Ferguson was the new broom and Terry and Fergie soon fell out. Terry withdrew his initial threat to quit football, telling the great manager: I’ll be back to score against you and to win a trophy. He made good on both promises, and the second one was fulfilled when Wimbledon lifted the 1988 FA Cup.Take it away, Terry.Graham Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.revistadelaliga.com/subscribe

As part of the post-Kobe earthquake rebuilding job Stuart Baxter was allowed to sign Danish superstar Michael Laudrup. They gained promotion but the experience drained him of every ounce of energy.Stuart speaks of his love of South African football, especially at Kaizer Chiefs where he won the double in his first season. Fate seems to have stood in the way of him making it big in Blighty. Circumstances denied him key roles at Manchester United and Celtic, but he had the honour of working with Hoops legend Henrik ‘Henke’ Larsson when they were both at Helsingborgs. He brokered Henke’s loan deal to Manchester United where Sir Alex Ferguson adored him.This is a fascinating Big Interview. Just fascinating.GrahamSubscribe to Between the Lines: The Stories Behind Great Sports Writing Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.revistadelaliga.com/subscribe