World Football

Rock bottom and 30 years without a win

03 Sep 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The former Leicester and Sunderland winger Matt Piper opens up about how his life spiralled out of control after injuries forced him to retire at just...

Messi moving, the Jacob Blake boycotts and Hiddink's Curacao

27 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Mani Djazmi, Pat Nevin and Heather O'Reilly reflect on Lionel Messi's decision to leave Barcelona with Gaston Recondo, who was one of the journalists ...

Looking ahead to the UEFA Champions League final

20 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Mani Djazmi, Pat Nevin and Heather O'Reilly preview the UEFA Champions League final between Paris Saint Germain and Bayern Munich. We also hear from t...

How to run a football club during a pandemic

13 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Lille owner Gerard Lopez gives an insight into the challenges of running a football club and outlines his vision for how to compete with Europe's bigg...

Five minutes from Death. A Footballer in Beirut

06 Aug 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Lebanon international Edmond Chehade tells us how he was caught in the blast that rocked Beirut. We also hear from his team-mate Omar Buigel. Also on ...

The return of Ricky van Wolfswinkel and the misunderstood Nicolas Anelka

30 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Dutch striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel discusses his return to football after brain surgery. And the former France and Real Madrid player Nicolas Anelka ...

Başakşehir win the Turkish League and Remembering Biri Biri

23 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Swiss midfielder Gökhan İnler talks about winning the Turkish title with Başakşehir. And the Gambia captain, Pa Modou Jagne, pays tribute to his c...

Jay Bothroyd, the J-League and playing with Gaddafi

16 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Footballer Jay Bothroyd tells stories from his time in Italy and Japan. Coach Carrie Taylor tells us why she quit San Diego Loyal after just two games...

MLS is back, chaos in Melbourne and an unstoppable Faroese

09 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

D.C. United coach Ben Olsen talks about the return of soccer in the USA. Melbourne City's French midfielder Florin Berenguer discusses his club's effo...

Tough times in Colombia and Brazil

02 Jul 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Goalkeeper Vanessa Cordoba discusses the frustrations of being a female footballer in Colombia. We're in Brazil to find out more about the controversi...

Black Lives Matter: The backlash

25 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sparta Prague's Costa Nhamoinesu describes the racist incidents in Czech football in reaction to the Black Lives Matters movement. The former Austral...

'1970 wasn’t football... it was like Cirque du Soleil'

18 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Sunday will be the 50th anniversary of the World Cup final of 1970 when Brazil beat Italy 4-1 in Mexico City's Azteca stadium to win their third World...

Tackling racism “too big and too deep for football”

11 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

French World Cup winner and vocal anti-racism campaigner Christian Karembeu discusses the continuing fallout from the killing of George Floyd in the U...

Black Lives Matter: Protests, racism and football

04 Jun 2020

Contributed by Lukas

USA internationals Jess McDonald and Bill Hamid discuss what it means to be African-American, as protests sweep across the world following the death o...

Brescia's Massimo Cellino on Serie A restart and Balotelli

28 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The owner of Brescia, Massimo Cellino, joins us to discuss plans to restart the season. He also gives his views on the future of the club's mercurial ...

Wolfsburg's Kevin Mbabu and Nigeria's Efe Ambrose

21 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Wolfsburg's Swiss international, Kevin Mbabu, talks about the return of the German Bundesliga. And we also hear from the former Celtic and Nigeria pla...

Referee Mark Clattenburg and the return of Suwon’s Adam Taggart

14 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Mark Clattenburg discusses the implications of Covid-19 for referees and looks back on his career highlights. Australian international Adam Taggart ta...

In conversation with Finland captain Tim Sparv (bonus podcast)

08 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this bonus podcast, the FC Midtjylland and Finland midfielder Tim Sparv discusses life in lockdown, qualifying for Euro 2020, his love of books, cl...

Neven Subotić and the return of the Bundesliga

07 May 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Union Berlin's Neven Subotić discusses the imminent return of football in Germany. The Finland captain Tim Sparv talks about his frustration over the...

Carli Lloyd, Vivianne Miedema and Socceroo Adam Taggart

30 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

USA international Carli Lloyd reflects on her career and talks about the impact of Covid-19. Australia's Adam Taggart discusses the return of football...

Brescia's Simon Skrabb and Damien Comolli

23 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Brescia's Simon Skrabb talks about life in lock-down and the possibility of Serie A football returning. And the former Liverpool and Fenerbahçe Sport...

Paderborn's Christian Strohdiek and footballer-turned-chemist Toni Dovale

16 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Spanish footballer Toni Dovale talks about his work as a pharmacist during the Covid-19 crisis. And Paderborn captain Christian Strohdiek discusses th...

Torino's Ola Aina and RB Salzburg coach Jesse Marsch

09 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Torino's Ola Aina talks about life in lockdown and Red Bull Salzburg's American coach Jesse Marsch discusses his career and philosophy. (Photo by Pier...

In conversation with Jesse Marsch (bonus podcast)

09 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this bonus podcast, hear the full interview with Red Bull Salzburg's American coach Jesse Marsch. Mani Djazmi spent an hour talking to him, about h...

Pay cuts, Christian Kabasele and football in Nicaragua

02 Apr 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Watford and Belgium defender Christian Kabasele talks about life in lock down. Pat Nevin and Heather O'Reilly discuss whether top earning footballers ...

Christian Karembeu, coronavirus and the resilient Paul Canoville

26 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Christian Karembeu pays tribute to Real Madrid's former President, Lorenzo Sanz who died after contracting the coronavirus. Paul Canoville remembers t...

Gaëtan Bong, coronavirus and the last game in Zanzibar

19 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Cameroon's Gaëtan Bong talks about isolation, learning to cook and keeping fit during the coronavirus pandemic. And in search of football, we travel ...

The hero of Saarbrücken, Coronavirus and Odion Ighalo

12 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

FC Saarbrücken goalkeeper Daniel Batz talks about his German Cup heroics. And Odion Ighalo talks about his dream move to the club he supported as a y...

Rafael Benítez, Coronavirus and coaching in Bhutan

05 Mar 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Rafael Benítez tells us how the Coronavirus has left his team, Dalian Professional FC, stranded in Spain. And coach Josh Shepherd talks about his adv...

Sadio Mané, Alicia Ferguson and the worst tackle in history

27 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Liverpool's Sadio Mané discusses an amazing season so far. And the former Australia international Alicia Ferguson looks back on her career.(Photo by ...

David Ospina, Mark Schwarzer and Libya's Mohamed El-Monir

20 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina recalls the moment he collapsed on the pitch with concussion. LAFC's Mohamed El-Monir describes his journey from war-...

Norway coach Lars Lagerbäck and Ada Hegerberg's dad

13 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The coach of Norway, Lars Lagerbäck, talks about the talents of Erling Håland, Iceland's remarkable Euro 2016 run and his dreams of retirement. And ...

In conversation with Lars Lagerbäck (bonus podcast)

13 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this bonus podcast you can hear the full interview as Mani Djazmi meets the Norway coach Lars Lagerbäck.

The Milan Derby, Asmir Begovic and San Diego Loyal

06 Feb 2020

Contributed by Lukas

AC Milan goalkeeper Asmir Begovic looks ahead to the Derby della Madonnina. And we hear from San Diego Loyal coach Carrie Taylor about the launch of L...

Scoring records, maternity matters and remembering Rensenbrink

30 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Mani Djazmi, Pat Nevin and Heather O'Reilly discuss the week's biggest stories including Canada's Christine Sinclair becoming international football's...

Kerr's trophy target and rebuilding Berahino

23 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

We hear from Australia striker Sam Kerr as she starts her quest for trophies in the Women's Super League with Chelsea, Mani Djazmi, Pat Nevin and Heat...

Cruyff's Ecuador and AFCON adjustments

16 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

The new Ecuador manager Jordi Cruyff joins Mani Djazmi, Pat Nevin and Heather O'Reilly to discuss the challenge that he faces in trying to qualify the...

Olivier Dacourt, Tony Adams and the heroes of Réunion

09 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

Olivier Dacourt pays tribute to his former AS Roma team mate, Daniele De Rossi, who has announced his retirement. We hear from one of the players of S...

In conversation with Tony Adams (bonus podcast)

09 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In this bonus podcast, the former England and Arsenal captain Tony Adams looks back on his career.

Our team of the decade (Part two)

01 Jan 2020

Contributed by Lukas

In the second of two special programmes, Mani Djazmi looks back on more of his favourite interviews from the last ten years, as we compile a World Foo...

Our team of the decade (Part one)

26 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

In the first of two special programmes Mani Djazmi looks back on some of his favourite interviews of the last ten years, as we compile a World Footbal...

The Miracle of Atalanta and the Fifa Club World Cup

19 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Atalanta's Hans Hateboer talks about their unlikely Champions League adventure. The Esperance midfielder Kwame Bonsu reflects on the Fifa Club World C...

Suriname, Real Betis and Ajax memories

12 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Suriname national coach and former Ajax player, Dean Gorré, joins Mani Djazmi and Pat Nevin. We'll ask why Suriname, with a population of half a mill...

Alex McLeish and Zamalek's coaching carousel

05 Dec 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Former Rangers and Scotland coach Alex McLeish looks back on his career. And we find out more about Zamalek's controversial President, Mortada Mansour...

Flamengo celebrates!

28 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Flamengo legend Dejan Petković discusses a crazy 24 hours for his former club. And the Brazilian football journalist Ricardo Setyon also joins Mani D...

Gus Poyet, Finland's history-makers and Jose's return

21 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Gus Poyet discusses Jose Mourinho's appointment as coach of Tottenham Hotspur. And Mani Djazmi reports from Helsinki as Finland's national team qualif...

Finland and the promised land

14 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Mani Djazmi travels to Helsinki as Finland attempt to qualify for Euro 2020. We hear from the former international Hannu Tihinen and current players, ...

Equal pay, broken bones and whisky bets

07 Nov 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Mani Djazmi and former Scotland and Chelsea winger Pat Nevin discuss this week's biggest football stories.Clare Walsh, Football Federation Australia's...

Mia Hamm, Heather O'Reilly and the return of Mr Odemwingie

31 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

World Cup winner Mia Hamm joins the team to pay tribute to Heather O'Reilly, who has finished her playing career by winning the NWSL title. And Peter ...

Raúl Jiménez, Heather's last match and the memories of a referee

24 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Heather O'Reilly looks ahead to the NWSL final, Mexican striker Raúl Jiménez talks about life at Wolves, and former referee Abraham Klein remembers ...

Quique Sanchez Flores, Clive Allen and stories from North Korea

17 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Former India coach Stephen Constantine tells more stories from his globetrotting career. Watford coach Quique Sanchez Flores talks the challenge of re...

The coach of Afghanistan and Tore Andre Flo

10 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Afghanistan coach Anoush Dastgir talks about the challenges he faces. And the former Chelsea and Norway striker Tore Andre Flo looks back on his caree...

Bayern's heavy hitters and Schalke's dreamers

03 Oct 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Former Swiss international Ramon Vega reflects on Tottenham's humiliating 7-2 loss to Bayern Munich. He also remembers the racism in Italian football ...

Kevin-Prince Boateng and knife throwing Colombians

26 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Fiorentina's Kevin-Prince Boateng talks about his globe trotting career and tells us why Gennaro Gattuso threatened to kill him. The Colombian footbal...

Goalscorers, superstitions and R.I.P Restless Rudi

19 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen talks about his tough journey from the slums of Lagos to Lille. We pay tribute to the globetrotting coach Rudi Gutendor...

Per Mertesacker and football Hong Kong style

12 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

World Cup winner Per Mertesacker talks about his struggle with pre-match anxiety and sings his favourite Bob Marley song. And the Hong Kong internatio...

Addiction, recovery and the genius of Georgi Kinkladze

05 Sep 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Former Manchester City player Jeff Whitley looks back on his career and his battle with addiction. And Cameroon international Gaetan Bong discusses th...

How not to run a football club and other stories

29 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Parma's Marco Ferrari, Pat Nevin and Heather O'Reilly discuss the business of football. Espérance player, Junior Lokosa, looks back at this year's fa...

Leadership lessons with Graham Potter

22 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The coach of Brighton, Graham Potter, tells us about his leadership style and how he's used the writings of the Dalai Lama to help motivate his overth...

A World Cup winner, Kasper Schmeichel and Alejandro Bedoya

08 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

USA international Jessica McDonald on winning the World Cup. Kasper Schmeichel remembers the good old days of playing street football as a kid. And fo...

Ellis, Sin Bins and Salah

02 Aug 2019

Contributed by Lukas

US Women's Head Coach Jill Ellis will leave her role at the end of October, after winning back to back World Cups. Host Mani Djazmi, former Chelsea wi...

The good, the bad and Koscielny

25 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Steve Crossman is joined by World Cup winner Heather O'Reilly and former Nigeria international Peter Odemwingie to discuss the week's big stories. Pet...

AFCON 2019: Legends, dreamers and super fans

18 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Kalusha Bwalya and Joseph Antoine Bell look back at the Africa Cup of Nations. Plus, we meet super fan Alvin Zhakata who travelled from Cape Town to C...

Egyptian woes, Nigerian highs and a Malagasy surprise

11 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Mani Djazmi returns to Cairo for AFCON 2019 and speaks to Nigeria’s William Troost-Ekong and Madagascar’s Anicet Andrianantenaina. We also reflect...

Tea drinkers, orange lionesses and a World Cup final

04 Jul 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Heather O'Reilly and Spain's Verónica Boquete look ahead to the women's World Cup final. We also hear from the former French international Melissa Pl...

Football, football everywhere...

27 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Former USA midfielder Heather O'Reilly is at the World Cup in France. From the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, Nigerian captain Mikel Jon Obi looks ba...

A week in Cairo for AFCON 2019

20 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Kenya’s Victor Wanyama, Guinea’s Aly Keita and the former Egypt goalkeeper Nader el-Sayed look ahead to the Africa Cup of Nations.Presenter Mani D...

Adventures in Guam: The 2022 World Cup journey begins

13 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Mani Djazmi travels to the tropical island of Guam for the World Cup qualifier against Bhutan.(Picture: Courtesy of the Bhutan Football Federation)

The Women’s World Cup kicks off

06 Jun 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Mani Djazmi, World Cup winner Heather O’Reilly, Pat Nevin and Peter Odemwingie are in Paris for the start of the women’s World Cup. We hear from t...

Antonio Conte, Sadio Mané and the Champions League final

31 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

An exclusive interview with the new Inter Milan coach, Antonio Conte. We also hear from the President of Inter, Steven Zhang. Also on the show, Liverp...

World Cup dreams and Hakeem al-Araibi

23 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

USA international Jessica McDonald looks ahead to the World Cup. And refugee footballer Hakeem al-Araibi talks about his time in jail. Presenter Mani ...

Cup Finals, Solomon Islands and the Corsican mafia

16 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Greek Cup final hero Chuba Akompa talks about winning the double with PAOK. Italian defender Elena Linari explains why qualifying for the World Cup wa...

Champions League dreams and developing Iran

09 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Iranian-American coach Katayoun Khosrowyar talks to Mani Djazmi, Pat Nevin and Heather O'Reilly about the week's big football stories and the challeng...

Thomas Rongen: Memories of Cruyff, Beckenbauer and the Rolling Stones

02 May 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Dutch-American coach Thomas Rongen joins Mani Djazmi, Pat Nevin and Peter Odemwingie to share some of his memorable football stories. From his old tea...

Casablanca derby, chasing PSG and India's Aditi Chauhan

25 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We report from the Casablanca derby and hear from the coach of Raja, Patrice Carteron. India's goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan talks about her career and hop...

Istanbul derbies and a journeyman's adventures

18 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

We're in Istanbul for a weekend of derbies, as Basaksehir go in search of their first ever trophy. And the former Hamilton Academical striker Richard ...

Simon Mignolet, Östersunds and the Chelsea academy

11 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet discusses the title race. Östersunds midfielder Charlie Colkett talks about his journey from the Chelsea academy,...

Júlio César, Pascal Chimbonda and Racing Club's celebrations

04 Apr 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Pat Nevin and Mani Djazmi are joined by the former Tottenham defender Pascal Chimbonda to talk about his old club's new stadium and racism in the game...

Magnus Hedman: Drugs, black holes and suicidal thoughts

28 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Swedish goalkeeper Magnus Hedman talks about his battles with depression and drug addiction. He also recalls the moment he almost committed suicide. A...

Indian adventures and Eduardo at carnival

21 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Former Croatia and Arsenal forward Eduardo da Silva looks back on his career. And we're joined by the former India coach Stephen Constantine. Plus, Au...

US Women's Team v US Soccer Federation: A quest for equality

15 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Two-time world champion Kristine Lilly talks about the US Women’s National Team's decision to file a lawsuit over a dispute for equal pay. The panel...

Why France's women are ready to lift the World Cup

08 Mar 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Amandine Henry tells us why France's women can win the World Cup, while Mathieu Flamini explains why he wants Champions League football for Getafe and...

Hegerberg's hiatus, double El Clasico and the fall of Chelsea's Roman Empire?

28 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

She's the best player in the world, the winner of the Ballon d'Or and she has won the Champions League three times. But Norwegian striker Ada Hegerber...

Gus Poyet, sectarianism and the Dalai Lama

21 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Gus Poyet talks about the lack of respect in the modern game. Pat Nevin discusses the problem of sectarianism in Scottish Football. And World Cup win...

Timothy Weah, Mark Schwarzer and national identity

14 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

PSG striker Timothy Weah talks about the lessons learned from Mbappe, Neymar and his father, George Weah. We're also joined by the former Australian g...

La Liga's Ambition and Aspire's role in Asian Cup Success

07 Feb 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Mani Djazmi is joined by the former Chelsea and Scotland winger Pat Nevin, Heather O’Reilly the American three-time Olympic Gold medalist and World ...

Kluivert, Rossi and the Asian Cup Final

31 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Former Ajax, Barcelona and Netherlands striker Patrick Kluivert, who is now the assistant coach of the Cameroon national team, shares his thoughts on ...

Back at the Asian Cup

24 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

It is crunch time at Asian football's biggest tournament as we enter the knock-out stages. As the transfer window begins to close we find out what its...

Sven Goran Eriksson, Carl Ikeme and the coach of Matabeleland

17 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Sven Goran Eriksson talks about his addiction to football. The former Wolves and Nigeria goalkeeper Carl Ikeme talks about his retirement from the gam...

Giorgio Chiellini and Kyrgyzstan's African Prince

10 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

The Juventus and Italy captain, Giorgio Chiellini, talks about his career and tells us how the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo has changed the dressing r...

World Football at the 2019 Asian Cup

03 Jan 2019

Contributed by Lukas

Bernd Stange has one goal above all others when he leads Syria into the finals ; to put a smile back on the faces of the country's war-ravaged people....

John Arne Riise: Bullies, Golf Clubs and Istanbul

25 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The former Liverpool, Roma and Norway footballer John Arne Riise looks back on his career and remembers the many highlights, such as the 'Miracle in I...

Mourinho, the FIFA Club World Cup and Nelson Mandela the Wedding Crasher

20 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Former South Africa international Shaun Bartlett talks about his meetings with Nelson Mandela. Plus, Heather O'Reilly Pat Nevin and Peter Odemwingie d...

Racism, Sébastien Bassong and River Plate Win!

13 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Former Tottenham and Cameroon player Sébastien Bassong talks about the racism he has suffered. Mani Djazmi reports from the postponed Copa Libertador...

Copa Libertadores Take Two

06 Dec 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Mani Djazmi hosts the show from Madrid where River Plate and Boca Juniors are set to play the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final Sunday.The mat...

The Biggest Game That Never Was

29 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

The story of the Copa Libertadores final between River Plate and Boca Juniors, which was controversially postponed following an attack on the Boca tea...

The Big Ticket in Town

22 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

World Football comes from Buenos Aires, ahead of the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final between fierce rivals Boca Juniors and River Plate on S...

Stories from Inside the Dressing Room

15 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Heather O'Reilly, Peter Odemwingie and Pat Nevin discuss the big football stories. Should TV cameras be allowed in the dressing room? The education of...

Controversial Refs, Shop Windows and Saying 'No' to Zlatan

08 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

Heather O'Reilly, Pat Nevin and Peter Odemwingie join Mani Djazmi to discuss the week's biggest stories. We also hear from controversial French refere...

Derbies, Rivalries and a Trip to Soweto

01 Nov 2018

Contributed by Lukas

World Cup winner Heather O'Reilly, former Premier League striker Peter Odemwingie and Pat Nevin once of Chelsea, Everton and Scotland swap stories abo...