The Athletic FC Podcast

3.9 (796)
FOOTBALL
UPDATED DAILY

The Athletic's flagship football podcast, hosted by Ayo Akinwolere and featuring the likes of David Ornstein, Phil Hay, Adam Crafton and Matt Slater will take you inside the biggest stories in football told by the best reporters in the business. We cut through the noise to tell you what’s really happening - and why it matters.

7 HR AGO

How significant is Man City’s defeat?

So Man City suffered defeat in the Premier League for the first time this season away at Bournemouth on Saturday. Added to that, ahead of the game manager Pep Guardiola outlined their mounting injury list, so how much trouble are City in - and could the demands of the season lead to a more open title race? Ayo Akinwolere is joined by Oli Kay and The Athletic FC newsletter’s lead writer Phil Hay to analyse the champions start to the season. Man City writer Sam Lee explains the context of their injury list. As well as that senior data analyst Mark Carey drops in to provide context to the state of the table after 10 games and NBA Daily host Dave DuFour has his say on Guardiola drawing comparisons to NBA over fixture congestion. Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Oli Kay, Phil Hay and Mark Carey Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Guy Clarke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

46 min
3 DAYS AGO

The Preview - Man United vs Chelsea

Welcome to The Preview on The Athletic FC, where each week we go deep on the biggest game of the weekend. This week — we’re focusing on Manchester United against Chelsea. In the first Premier League game since Erik ten Hag's sacking, interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy will be looking to get his side back on track. But with the chance to go nine points clear of United, can Enzo Maresca make a statement in Chelsea's bid for Champions League football? Plus, we look at the fixtures elsewhere with drop ins from the club podcasts across our network. Host: Adam Leventhal With: Tim Spiers, Jon Mackenzie Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Jay Beale Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

50 min
4 DAYS AGO

Inside Amorim's move to Man United

Manchester United have reached an agreement to make Ruben Amorim their head coach. So how did the deal come about and is Amorim more suited to succeed at Man United than Erik ten Hag? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Laurie Whitwell, David Novo, Mark Critchley, Andy Mitten Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Nick Thomson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

53 min
5 DAYS AGO

Real Madrid's Ballon d'Or boycott

Real Madrid were expecting Vinicius Junior to win the Ballon d’Or on Monday night, but it didn’t go their way. The decision prompted Madrid to cancel their trip to Paris and effectively boycott the event. So.. have Real overreacted? And are they facing bigger problems on the pitch? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Dermot Corrigan and Phil Hay Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

40 min
6 DAYS AGO

Are Chelsea lacking leaders?

Things are looking good for Chelsea in the Premier League. Despite this, their manager Enzo Maresca has urged captain Reece James to show more leadership. So is a “proper leader” what Chelsea are missing? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Liam Twomey and Phil Hay Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

43 min
28 OCT

Man United sack Ten Hag: Why now & what next?

Erik ten Hag has been sacked as Manchester United manager having won just four games from 14 in all competitions at the start of this season. So, why now and what next for Man United? The Athletic's David Ornstein, who broke the story along with Adam Crafton, drops in to reveal the detail within United's decision while Ayo Akinwolere is joined by Laurie Whitwell and Mark Critchley to analyse the decision to let Ten Hag go. Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Laurie Whitwell and Mark Critchley Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Guy Clarke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

39 min
25 OCT

The Preview - Arsenal vs Liverpool

Welcome to The Preview on The Athletic FC, where each week we go deep on the biggest game of the weekend. This week — we’re focusing on Arsenal vs Liverpool. Plus, we look at the fixtures elsewhere with drop ins from the club podcasts across our network. Host: Adam Leventhal With: Tim Spiers, Nick Miller, Michael Cox, James Pearce Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Jay Beale Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

47 min
24 OCT

Are Tottenham's owners looking to sell?

With Tottenham on the lookout for potential new investors this week has seen speculation intensify around the possibility of Amanda Staveley, who brokered the Saudi Public Investment fund takeover of Newcastle United, setting her sights on Spurs. But would Spurs be able to spend enough to make a difference on the pitch? Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic Matt Slater and Jack Pitt-Brooke to discuss Tottenham’s need for external funding, the role of Daniel Levy and how any investor would fit into the current power dynamic at Spurs as well as assessing the type of profile that would suit them. Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Matt Slater and Jack Pitt-Brooke Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Guy Clarke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

45 min

See All (943)

3.9

out of 5

796 Ratings

Pretty, pretty, pretty good!

28 Oct

CharlieDavies96

A great podcast with some excellent and varied content and guests who really know what they’re talking about. The hosts are also great, though if I’m being hypercritical it would be great if Ayo could taper down his use of the phrase ‘lets get into this one’ as I feel like I hear it almost every episode. Alongside the informative content there is also a Iittle levity which is good too!
Betting adverts

2 days ago

mccloryliam

Generally enjoy the content but very disappointed that Betfair have been able to purchase a section of the weekend preview show. Extremely poor form.
Excellent

3 days ago

doubleblue1878

It should be called the rich clubs podcast. That’s all you ever discuss
Enjoyable Pod - Apart From The Betting

21 Oct

Banksy19

I really enjoy this show as a weekly preview to the games ahead. I like the focus on the big fixture but still having time to talk through the others. I’m a United fan so we’ve been highlighted a few times but I do wonder about clubs lower down the table - do they get highlighted much or will that happen more nearer the end of the season as relegation 6 pointers? Adam L is funny and I enjoy the casual laidback approach to the discussions. The only thing which I am disappointed in is the betting adverts. Appreciate not everyone feels the same but gambling addictions are a real problem in the UK and I don’t like this being part of the actual show. Understand they can buy advert spaces but I don’t think they should be included as a slot.

The Athletic's flagship football podcast, hosted by Ayo Akinwolere and featuring the likes of David Ornstein, Phil Hay, Adam Crafton and Matt Slater will take you inside the biggest stories in football told by the best reporters in the business. We cut through the noise to tell you what’s really happening - and why it matters.