Heroes & Humans of Football Immaterial

Tipped as one of the longshots for England manager, Thomas Tuchel is the polarising German football coach known for his brilliance, fanaticism, and sometimes cruelty. 
Simon and Mehreen cover the fascinating and complex world of Tuchel, whose career is defined by never-ending cycles of success and self-destruction. They chronicle his rollercoaster career – from early days in Germany under the shadow of Jürgen Klopp, to rises and falls at Paris St Germain, Chelsea, and Bayern Munich. 
Discover how the enigmatic Tuchel’s unconventional training methods, tactical innovation towards coaching, and workaholic lifestyle lead him to become such a dividing and impressive figure of today’s football. 

Time stamps:
00:30 - Introduction to Thomas Tuchel
01:03 - His unique lifestyle and beliefs
01:41 - The cycle: Success and self-destruction
02:04 - Potential candidacy for the England national team
03:21 - Early career and influences
05:33 - Playing career and transition to coaching
07:24 - Influence of Ralf Rangnick
09:09 - Innovative coaching methods and rise at Mainz
​​23:23 - Sabbatical and learning from other sports
30:14 - Terrorist attack on Dortmund's team bus
32.20 - Strained relationship with Dortmund's management
33:56 - Move to Paris Saint-Germain
34:50 - Approach to managing star players at Paris Saint Germain
36:24 - Champions League final and abrupt departure from Paris Saint Germain
38:42 - Arrival at Chelsea and immediate impact
43:26 - Winning the Champions League with Chelsea
50:26 - Personal challenges and departure from Chelsea
53:36 - Brief tenure at Bayern Munich
55:40 - Speculation on becoming England manager

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Emma Hayes, one of the most influential figures in women's football, is embarking on a new chapter in her illustrious career. After 12 transformative years as the manager of Chelsea Women, Hayes is set to take on the role of head coach for the United States Women's National Team (USWNT). This episode explores Hayes' remarkable journey, her impact on the sport, and the legacy she leaves behind at Chelsea.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to Emma Hayes and her career transition
02:30 - Hayes' early life and journey into football management
05:15 - Building Chelsea Women from the ground up
09:45 - Hayes' coaching philosophy and leadership style
14:30 - Pioneering approaches to women's health in football
18:20 - Major achievements and trophies at Chelsea
22:10 - Personal challenges and growth as a leader
26:35 - Hayes' impact on the professionalisation of women's football
30:50 - The move to USWNT and future aspirations
34:15 - Legacy at Chelsea and in women's football

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In this special episode before the Euro 2024 final between Spain and England, Mehreen Khan and Simon Kuper answer your questions about the heroes and humans featured in the tournament. They discuss the performances of key players, why France and England have been so boring, and the perennial issues of politics, race and multiculturalism that have been a constant over the last month. Will Gareth Southgate’s controversial tenure be extended ? And why has Jude Bellingham evolved from golden boy to internet meme? How did the Netherlands go from Johan Cruyff to Wout Weghorst? And Simon refuses to self-sabotage by predicting who will win Sunday's final, but they do argue about Spain and England.

Don't forget to get in touch to add your thoughts on the heroes and humans of Euro 2024 via social media @heroesandhumans. 

Timestamps:
00:22 Special episode ahead of Euro 2024 final between Spain and England
00:45 Simon's experiences in Germany and reflections on the Dutch team
03:18 Talking about the final, Spain, and England
05:29 Question about Didier Deschamps staying on as French national team manager
06:24 Discussion about Gareth Southgate's future with England
13:39 Comparison of Spain and England's team compositions for the final
16:15 Political activism in football: French players' stance against the far-right
21:21 Analysis of Jude Bellingham's public perception and "villain arc"
28:28 Analysis of Euro 2024 compared to past tournaments
34:13 Question about the impact of urban planning on footballing styles
38:28 Discussion on playing styles in Euro 2024 including the Dutch shift to long-ball tactics
41:21 Predictions and analysis for the Spain vs England final
44:25 Final question about explaining Johan Cruyff to children at Taylor Swift concerts

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In this special pre-Euro 2024 final episode, Mehreen and Simon delve into the stories of Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, the two young stars who have lit up the tournament and represent a new, diverse Spain. They discuss the remarkable journeys of these players, their backgrounds, and the societal and cultural implications of their success. From Yamal's record-breaking goal to Williams' impactful presence on the field, this episode is about football and so much more.

Timestamps:
00:00:29 - Introduction to Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams
00:02:23 - Background on Lamine Yamal's early life and football journey
00:12:00 - Nico Williams' incredible family story and his rise in football
00:20:02 - Discussion on the significance of Yamal and Williams in modern Spain
00:26:35 - Analysis of their playing styles and contributions to the Spanish team
00:31:58 - Historical context and comparisons with past Spanish teams
00:35:03 - Issues of race and identity in Spanish football and society
00:45:07 - The future prospects of Yamal and Williams
00:50:29 - Closing thoughts and reflections on Spain's new era in football

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Fifty years ago this week, Johan Cruyff took one of the most exciting teams in football history to the 1974 World Cup final. But his Holland lost to West Germany, largely because of what has gone down in Dutch history as “The Swimming Pool Affair” – a German tabloid’s front-page scoop that cost Cruyff great anguish and many hours in a phone booth calling his furious wife. We tell the story of Dutch “total football”, of the rock-star team that lived it large both on the field and off it, of the manager who was simultaneously coaching FC Barcelona, and of Johan Cruyff himself: the man who invented modern football, and fought with everybody, including with his biggest fan, Simon. 

Timestamps:
00:00:29 - Introduction to the story of the 1974 Dutch national team and Johan Cruyff
00:02:23 - Explanation of the Dutch team's revolutionary playing style
00:03:19 - Background on the development of "total football" in Amsterdam
00:08:18 - Discussion of Cruyff's upbringing and early career with Ajax
00:10:05 - Cruyff's childhood and the impact of his father's death
00:11:30 - Introduction of Rinus Michels as Ajax manager
00:14:01 - Development of Ajax's new playing style under Michels and Cruyff
00:15:29 - Description of the dynamic between Cruyff and Michels
00:19:07 - Lead-up to the 1974 World Cup and the Dutch team's preparations
00:24:36 - Context of the 1974 World Cup in West Germany
00:27:02 - Description of the Dutch team's behaviour during the World Cup
00:28:17 - Cruyff's unconventional decisions in team selection
00:30:31 - Discussion of the Dutch team's appearance and iconic orange jerseys
00:33:03 - Description of the Dutch team's revolutionary playing style in action
00:36:07 - The "swimming pool affair" and its impact on Cruyff before the final
00:43:03 - The World Cup final against West Germany
00:45:55 - Aftermath of the final and Dutch reaction to finishing second
00:47:20 - Legacy of the 1974 Dutch team and Cruyff's impact on football
00:49:28 - Simon's experience interviewing Cruyff years later and subsequent fallout

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The Afghan women’s national team doesn’t exist – not according to FIFA, anyway. The Taliban banned women's football when they took control of Afghanistan in 2021, forcing the team to flee the country for fear of their lives. But FIFA now refuses to recognise the team in exile, allowing the Taliban to continue their gender apartheid. Today, the team is fighting for FIFA recognition and their place in football. Living in exile and risking their lives to play football, the Afghan women's players are determined to return to the international game.
Mehreen and Simon talk to Khalida Popal, the woman who defied the country's misogynistic norms to set up the national team. She became the first female captain, coach, and executive in Afghanistan's history. This is a story of a team’s courage and comradery in the face of death threats and sexual assaults.

To support the Afghan women's team in their fight for recognition, you can sign this petition and follow Khalida Popal on LinkedIn: 
https://www.change.org/p/fifacom-standwithafghanwomen-recognise-afghanistan-women-s-national-football-team-in-exile-follow-alivekicking23
https://www.linkedin.com/in/khalida-popal-64a29176?originalSubdomain=dk

Timestamps:
00:00:02 - Introduction to the episode about Afghanistan's women's football team
00:03:47 - Khalida Popal joins to discuss founding the team
00:03:55 - Growing up in Afghanistan before the Taliban
00:05:09 - Early exposure to football in Afghanistan 
00:06:09 - Returning to Afghanistan after 2001 and facing resistance to women playing football
00:08:56 - Setting up a girls' football team at school despite challenges
00:12:51 - Men discover and threaten the girls playing football
00:14:57 - Story of a teammate forced to stop playing by her family
00:18:06 - Establishing the Afghan women's national team
00:21:07 - Negotiating with the Afghan Football Federation for recognition
00:25:16 - Difficulties of managing the national team and facing abuse
00:30:10 - Fleeing Afghanistan due to death threats
00:33:56 - Evacuating players as Taliban returned to power in 2021
00:41:29 - Current players describe obstacles they faced playing in Afghanistan
00:43:01 - Players' experiences when Taliban took over in 2021
00:45:04 - Campaign for FIFA to recognise the exiled Afghan women's team
00:48:03 - FIFA's lack of response to requests for recognition

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