Revista de la Liga with Graham Hunter

Here’s another chance to hear my interview with Steve McManaman from season two.Johan Cruyff once described Steve as the partner to everyone on the pitch. He epitomised elegance, passing ability and vision, and graced the field with Real Madrid legends such as Roberto Carlos, Zinedine Zidane, Raul and the Brazilian Ronaldo. There was also Claude Makelele, the unsung hero who Steve reckons was the cog that made Los Galacticos tick and whose departure spelled their decline.We hear about how before that, this boyhood Evertonian learned at the feet of Liverpool greats. About how his decision to depart Merseyside for Real – a club apparently in turmoil – was vindicated when he won the Champions League in his first season there. About how conflict with the Madrid hierarchy spoiled a golden era. And if you want to know what it was like in the Camp Nou away dressing room after scoring in a Los Merengues victory in the semi-final of the Champions League, then listen in.This is truly legendary stuff. Enjoy it. 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

Hello Big Interview listeners - you're about to hear something a little different, from BackPage, the producers of this fine show. It's the first episode in a new season of a podcast they make called Between the Lines - The Stories Behind Great Sportswriting. In each episode, either Martin or Neil, whose voices you'll know from our Q & A episodes, speaks to a book or author about a book or a long-form story they have written. In this episode, Neil speaks to Ben Reiter of Sports Illustrated, the author of Astroball - The New Way to Win It All. The book tells the story of how the Houston Astros went from the worst team in baseball to become serial winners. The strategies implemented there - in the fields of data, recruitment and player optimisation - have already begun to direct the next step in the evolution of elite football. Fans of Liverpool will be glad to hear their club namechecked by Ben in this chat. You can subscribe to Between the Lines from BackPage using the links below.Catch the new season and loads of archive episodes on the iphone podcast app or Spotify or on Google Podcasts for Android. 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!The title of Per Mertesacker’s new autobiography is BFG: Big Friendly German. When we visited him in outer London, we found him indeed to be an amiable fellow. Yet this World Cup and triple FA Cup winner was nothing but imposing when he starred as a centre-half for Hannover 96, Werder Bremen, and, most famously, Arsenal and Germany.Nowadays, Per is the manager of the Gunners’ academy, and he gives us a fascinating insight into how he instils the three core values of Respect, Discipline and Humility into his young charges, reflecting the old-school upbringing which he benefited from.Per loved his time playing at Arsenal, but missed the more intimate relationship between fans and stars which exists in Germany. He explains why he trained to help the mentally ill instead of learning how to use a rifle, talks about the pressure becoming the primary earner for a family can place on talented kids, and is brilliant on that incredible 7-1 drubbing of Brazil in the semi-final of the 2014 World Cup.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 Joleon Lescott. For the first time, here’s the full episode.In part two, Joleon speaks about rediscovering his other youthful passion, DJing, and how he now evokes joy on the dancefloor as he used to spark delight on the terraces. He also describes how undiagnosed dyslexia compelled him to develop mental agility and resourcefulness that he would apply to the beautiful game. There’s chat about his Manchester City defensive partner, the extraordinary Vincent Kompany, and about how it took until retirement for Joleon to fully realise just how massive an achievement winning the Premier League title was.If you would prefer not to wait 12 months to listen to these extra interviews, it’s time to become a Socio at patreon.com/grahamhunter 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 Joleon Lescott. For the first time, here’s the full episode.As a teenager at Wolves, Joleon once pushed himself so hard that he was physically sick but then continued training. It was an attitude that didn’t go unnoticed and one that he applies in his new role developing loan players at Manchester City, the club at which he excelled.In part one, Joleon also describes the desire to win that City’s owners possess – don’t expect them to relent until they win the Champions League.If you would prefer not to wait 12 months to listen to these extra interviews, it’s time to become a Socio at patreon.com/grahamhunter 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

Aaaand here's part two of this month's Q & A. Questions, as ever, from our wonderful socios at patreon. 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

It's time for the second part of our monthly Q & A episode. Thanks to all of you who sent in questions for Graham. If you'd like to submit your questions to Graham every month, it's time to become a Socio. Join us at patreon.com/grahamhunter to get an exclusive Big Interview every month and the audio versions of all Graham's ESPN columns 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 the first part of this month's Q & A - questions as ever from our socios. 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!As a kid, Alex Bruce travelled to Wembley to see his father, Manchester United legend Steve, lift the FA Cup. The experience sparked a dream, and one day he too would grace the Wembley turf, although his final with Hull City – a five-goal thriller against Arsenal – ended in defeat.I caught up with defensive stalwart Alex at his current club Kilmarnock, where he described what it’s like being treated as the boss’ son, how the Championship is the most physically demanding league in the world, and exactly why he has so much admiration for Rooney, Ronaldo and Giggs.Alex is great talking about how his youth career faltered at Man U – and was then resurrected at Blackburn Rovers, and the sheer joy of achieving promotion to the Premier League with Hull; 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

Here’s another chance to hear my interview with Thomas Hitzlsperger from season two.Thomas is one of football’s deep thinkers, now a considered and astute media analyst, but when he was a player he wasn’t averse to taking a gamble – not least giving up on the Bayern Munich academy for a go at the English top division. For Aston Villa and for this elegant midfielder with a wicked left foot, it was a move that paid off in spades. Thomas vividly recalls his stunning volley which helped Stuttgart win the title on the final nerve-wracking day of the 2007 Bundesliga. You’ll also hear about his time with the German national team, and how ‘Das Reboot’ finally knocked Spain off their perch.I don’t need to exhort you to enjoy this Big Interview – I just know you will. 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