Soccer 101

The Athletic
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All the soccer history and explainers you can handle Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. 12/12/2025

    How has punditry shaped our understanding of soccer, and what is its role in the modern game?

    This week, Graham and Taylor are diving into the world of soccer punditry: what they do, why they do it, the early pioneers, the importance of ex-players in generating greater understanding of the game itself, and the best (and worst) examples of modern punditry. WE HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠We're posting all our episodes here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Smash the like and subscribe etc.! JOIN THE TSS+ PATREON! Check out our Patreon, which houses bonus podcasts, access to our exclusive Discord, blog posts, videos, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    41 min

  2. 05/12/2025

    Northern lights and summer soccer: all about the Norwegian top flight

    We continue to look at domestic soccer in the countries that have qualified for the 2026 World Cup, and this week it's our friends in the north: Norway. How has the Norwegian top flight evolved over the decades, why doesn't have the awesome name it used to have, a club that could never lose, and much much more! Plus, we ponder just how many goals Haaland could score if he took his talents to the south beach... of Oslo. WE HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠We're posting all our episodes here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Smash the like and subscribe etc.! JOIN THE TSS+ PATREON! Check out our Patreon, which houses bonus podcasts, access to our exclusive Discord, blog posts, videos, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    28 min

  3. 20/11/2025

    Why do American and European stadiums look so different?

    Why do American sports teams constantly build shiny new stadiums while many European clubs play in the same grounds that their supporters grandparents' attended? In this episode, we dig into the cultural, economic, and fan-experience factors that explain why stadium life looks so different on each side of the Atlantic. We explore whether U.S. fans secretly wish their venues had more European-style permanence, why European clubs are suddenly embracing American design trends, and what’s driving the wave of mega-renovations across the continent. WE HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠We're posting all our episodes here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Smash the like and subscribe etc.! JOIN THE TSS+ PATREON! Check out our Patreon, which houses bonus podcasts, access to our exclusive Discord, blog posts, videos, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    39 min

  4. 14/11/2025

    How did Qatar arrive on the soccer landscape, and how has the Stars League been impacted by Saudi Arabia?

    On this episode, we’re unpacking the Qatari Stars League — what it is, how it works, and how it’s evolved. We run through the league’s biggest clubs and current powerhouse, the stars who’ve defined it, and what the overall level of play actually looks like compared to the rest of the Gulf and Asia. We also dig into how the league fuels the national team and what all of this means for Qatar’s chances at the 2026 World Cup. WE HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠We're posting all our episodes here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Smash the like and subscribe etc.! JOIN THE TSS+ PATREON! Check out our Patreon, which houses bonus podcasts, access to our exclusive Discord, blog posts, videos, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    38 min

  5. 07/11/2025

    The biggest and best rivalries of the Premier League Era

    This week, we're talking mind games, vegetables and voyeurism: it's the best rivalries of the Premier League era. From entire teams to managers to individual players... and even all the way down to team mates: we're talking it all! WE HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠We're posting all our episodes here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Smash the like and subscribe etc.! JOIN THE TSS+ PATREON! Check out our Patreon, which houses bonus podcasts, access to our exclusive Discord, blog posts, videos, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    49 min

  6. 31/10/2025

    Ivory Coast’s Soccer Factory: Where the Next Drogba Might Be Playing Right Now

    We dive into Ligue 1 LONACI, the top flight of Ivorian football. How did it start, who dominates it today, and how does it stack up against the continent’s best? We try to determine why the league isn't stronger, where the young talent tends to go, and ask how the domestic game feeds into the national team’s success. WE HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠We're posting all our episodes here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Smash the like and subscribe etc.! JOIN THE TSS+ PATREON! Check out our Patreon, which houses bonus podcasts, access to our exclusive Discord, blog posts, videos, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    37 min

  7. 23/10/2025

    Is Tottenham a big club, and when exactly did "Spursy" become a thing?

    We come in peace, Spurs supporters! I promise you! No cheap shots or annoying jokes... or at least that's the goal. Instead, this week, we're looking at the present state of Tottenham Hotspur. Are they a "big club" and also why does that matter? Plus, when did "Spursy" go from being a self-deferential bit to an outright joke at the club's expense? We also explore Tottenham's history (the good and the bad), and ponder a reality in which Poch is still at the helm. WE HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠We're posting all our episodes here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Smash the like and subscribe etc.! JOIN THE TSS+ PATREON! Check out our Patreon, which houses bonus podcasts, access to our exclusive Discord, blog posts, videos, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    41 min

  8. 17/10/2025

    Soccer in Colombia: A 2026 World Cup primer

    We're continuing our look into domestic soccer in the countries that have qualified for the 2026 World Cup, and this week... it's Colombia! The country of Valderrama and James Rodriguez features one of the oldest leagues in South America, has had years-long breaks with FIFA, was unintentionally impacted by the Clinton administration, and keeps on kicking. Who are the top flight's most decorated teams, what is the strength of the league relative to its confederation, and... what exactly is the name of the league itself? All that and much more! WE HAVE A YOUTUBE CHANNEL! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠We're posting all our episodes here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Smash the like and subscribe etc.! JOIN THE TSS+ PATREON! Check out our Patreon, which houses bonus podcasts, access to our exclusive Discord, blog posts, videos, and much more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    28 min
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About

All the soccer history and explainers you can handle Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Channel
    The Athletic
  • Creator
    TSS
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2025
  • Episodes
    242
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Soccer 101
  • Provider
    The Athletic Media Company

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