Revista de la Liga with Graham Hunter

Alan McInally won the Bundesliga in his first season at Bayern Munich, missing only two games. He learned German and starred alongside legends like Klaus Augenthaler, Hans Pflügler and Jürgen Kohler. There was also current boss Hans-Dieter Flick, a quiet scholar of the game who has brought huge success to the club. Alan’s manager Jupp Heynckes was very demanding but brilliant. The players were weighed every day and trained every Sunday. Alan loved president Uli Hoeneß who was so kind to him when his career was tragically cut short by injury at the age of just 30.Also in part two, Alan vividly describes what it felt like walking out to play in a World Cup match for Scotland.Thanks for a brilliant Big Interview, Big ManGraham.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

Alan ‘Rambo’ McInally works so well on television because he brings the same passion and astuteness that he employed in his career as a clever, uncompromising striker. In this Big Interview, he describes in forensic detail a goal of the season he once scored for Aston Villa against Millwall.We chat about Alan’s move from Celtic to Villa where he played under the late Graham Taylor. He had great midfield suppliers like Gordon ‘Sid’ Cowans and the late great Neale ‘Tattie’ Cooper. Graham was a father figure, unyielding but without whose coaching Alan wouldn’t have achieved his next move, to Bayern Munich.Thanks for a brilliant Big Interview, Big Man.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 Alex Bruce. For the first time, here’s the full episode.In part two we hear about Alex’s admiration for Manchester United heroes Ronaldo, Giggs and Keane, but especially Rooney, a pal now but once an enemy who would target him for being Steve Bruce’s son. Alex thinks Wayne is underrated, one of England’s greatest players. We also hear how as a kid Alex would take shots at a young Kasper Schmeichel in their street and how one day they would grace the same Leeds United team.There’s talk about why Alex switched his international allegiances from the Republic to Northern Ireland – for once ignoring his father’s advice. Alex tells how the Championship is physically harder than Premier League, and how gaining promotion with Hull was an especially sweet experience because his beloved dad was the manager.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

Last season, our Socios at patreon.com/grahamhunter got an exclusive interview with Alex Bruce. For the first time, here’s the full episode.In part one we hear about how being the Manchester United captain’s son was just normality to Alex, how Old Trafford’s superstars were just his old man’s workmates. But what he saw inspired him, and he wanted it for himself. The culmination was when Alex graced the Wembley turf as an accomplished centre-half, although that FA final with Hull City – a five-goal thriller against Arsenal – ended in defeat.There’s chat about how his youth career faltered at Man U – and was then resurrected at Blackburn Rovers, we discuss Tom Huddlestone – a wonderfully gifted player who made everything look easy, and we talk of how a terrific Hull dressing room gave him no problem for being the boss’ son.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

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 five years of The Big Interview. This episode focuses on Henrik Larsson.First up, we’ll hear from stand up star Kevin Bridges and his tale of Larsson and the defiled Glasgow bus ticket. Then Line of Duty actor Martin Compston reflects on his love affair with Celtic’s magnificent number seven. Jocky Bjorklund talks about his former Old Firm rival and international teammate’s football intelligence before Stiliyan Petrov considers how Larsson inspired such confidence in his Celtic team-mates that they almost won the UEFA Cup. Chris Sutton rounds things off by saying that his Parkhead partnership with the legendary Swede was the happiest spell of his career. He felt that between them they could hurt any side in Europe.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 Martin Compston from season three.It was so much fun chatting with the guy who plays Detective Sergeant Steve Arnott in the phenomenally popular crime drama Line Of Duty. But did you know that Martin’s earliest role was playing sweeper in the youth teams of Greenock Morton and, later, the mighty Aberdeen? He quit football for his acting career, but his love for the beautiful game, nurtured by watching Celtic heroes such as Paul McStay and Henrik Larsson, never flagged. He played alongside Henrik once and was so starstruck he couldn’t speak.Martin has made a couple of football-themed movies. He gives us behind-the-scenes insights into performing with The Damned United actors Michael Sheen and Stephen Graham, and what it was like working with legendary director Ken Loach for the film Tickets.There’s stuff about being led astray by pal Greg McHugh before starring for José Mourinho’s side in a Soccer Aid match, and why he would love to play Scotland’s first world champion boxer Benny Lynch.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

In part two with Conor Coady we continue chatting about Wolves in Europe. Losing late on to serial winners Seville – who featured talents such as Jules Koundé and Éver Banega – in this year’s Europa quarter-final was agony. All their hard work felt in vain.There’s great stuff about the culture of recovery in place at Molineux thanks to their excellent sports science staff. This even features ice baths and, I kid you not, inflatable trousers. Then there’s Wolves’ secret weapon… a card game called Werewolf which brings unity to the squad.And we touch on Conor’s recent post-match interview after scoring for England against Wales… even a Scotsman can love that level of passion.Thanks ConorGrahamSubscribe 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

Chatting to a guy like Conor Coady reminds me why I do these Big Interviews. The Wolves’ centre-back’s enthusiasm for football is infectious and engaging.Brought up a Liverpool fan, he lived the dream for a while playing under youth coaches like Steve Highway, Steve Cooper and Rodolfo Borrell, men who made him a better person as well as a better, problem-solving player. Conor loved playing top clubs in the NextGen European tournament for under-19 footballers. A visit to Dortmund and a painful 6-0 lesson from Ajax stick in the mind. Being released from Anfield broke Conor’s heart, but his dad encouraged him to take his time and wait for his body to fill out, and he has flourished at Wolves.We chat about Wolves’ recent Europa adventures. Manager Nuno Espírito Santo is a hard taskmaster who hates losing. Even after the delicious victory at Beşiktaş he said he wanted more.Thanks ConorGrahamSubscribe 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

When asked who his toughest opponent in football was, Robert Huth doesn’t hesitate: Didier Drogba. Not just a beast, but also an immensely clever player. So was N’Golo Kanté, who Robert played behind at Leicester.In part two of this brilliant Big Interview, we also hear about Jurgen Klinsmann’s revolution at Germany which a young Robert was the beneficiary of. Despite resistance to his methods, Jurgen was an innovator who cut through the stuffy old ways which had placed the German national team in a rut. Robert’s surprise debut was against a magnificent Brazil side, and he describes watching from the bench one of the greatest Italy performances ever, in the 2006 World Cup. The defeat put Germany in despair, but Jurgen laid the foundations for 2014 glory.Thanks Robert.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

Robert Huth will forever be remembered by Chelsea fans for driving a groundsman’s buggy swarming with jubilant players during title celebration day in 2005.During Jose Mourinho’s Blues revolution not a second of training was wasted. Jose was a totemic figure and there was an intensity and an attention to detail that fired the players’ imaginations.It was all a far cry from the tough East Berlin neighbourhood where former centre-half Robert had been brought up, where you honed your skills on a gravel surface (just like in Scotland). His dad had been imprisoned for speaking out against the Communist regime. Judo taught Robert self-defence and confidence, but also humility and problem solving skills. He is a critic of the rigidity of modern coaching methods which don’t sufficiently account for what to do when things go wrong. I’m with him on that.Enjoy this brilliant Big Interview guest.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