The Athletic FC Podcast

The Athletic

The Athletic's flagship football podcast, hosted by Ayo Akinwolere

  • 56 minutes 15 seconds
    Has Mourinho added to Turkish football's chaos?

    No matter where he’s managing, Jose Mourinho simply cannot stay out of the headlines.


    His time managing in the Turkish Super Lig has seen more of the same.


    So is this ‘typical Jose’? Or is he a victim of the chaos that surrounds him?


    Host: Adam Leventhal

    With: Rory Smith & Andy Mitten

    Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead

    Producer: Mike Stavrou & Nick Thomson

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    4 March 2025, 4:38 pm
  • 45 minutes 22 seconds
    Arsenal's new sporting director: Who is in the frame?

    Last week, David Ornstein reported that Arsenal are looking to conclude their search for a new Sporting Director by the end of March.

    So, with the search set to conclude this month, who is the ideal candidate for the role and could this appointment be the missing link to help Arsenal finally end their wait for a Premier League title?

    Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s football correspondent David Ornstein and lead writer for The Athletic FC newsletter Phil Hay to analyse what the Gunners are looking for and who could be the man to replace Edu in trying to help Mikel Arteta bring silverware to the Emirates Stadium.

    Host: Ayo Akinwolere

    With: David Ornstein and Phil Hay

    Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead

    Producer: Guy Clarke

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    3 March 2025, 4:52 pm
  • 53 minutes 19 seconds
    Who needs European football the most?

    With just six points separating Nottingham Forest in 3rd and Aston Villa in 10th, European football is up for grabs in the Premier League.

    Adam Leventhal is joined by The Athletic's football writers Tim Spiers and Nick Miller to discuss which side needs European qualification the most.

    After wins midweek, Manchester City and Chelsea sit 4th and 5th respectively, are any of the chasing pack consistent enough to earn Champions League football?

    With Manchester United and Tottenham languishing in the bottom half of the table, which clubs are eyeing up the Europa and Conference League?


    Host: Adam Leventhal

    With: Tim Spiers, Nick Miller

    Featuring: Paul Taylor, Sam Lee, Liam Twomey, Chris Waugh, Jacob Tanswell

    Editor: Nick Thomson

    Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead

    Producer: Jay Beale

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    28 February 2025, 2:56 pm
  • 44 minutes 13 seconds
    How big does Man City's rebuild need to be?

    After a week in which they were dumped out of the Champions League and given a dose of reality by Liverpool, Man City got back to winning ways, beating Tottenham Hotspur 1-0 courtesy of Erling Haaland on his return from injury.

    So, with Haaland back from injury and their new recruits bedding in is the City rebuild not as big a job as we thought it might be?

    Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Man City correspondent Sam Lee as well as Jack Pitt-Brooke to analyse City's performance at the Tottenham Hotspur season before assessing the state of their squad rebuild.

    New signings Abdukodir Khusanov, Omar Marmoush and Nico Gonzalez are all discussed as well as the ageing spine of Guardiola's dynastic team before questioning whether the Spaniard can return City to their previous standards?

    Host: Ayo Akinwolere

    With: Sam Lee and Jack Pitt-Brooke

    Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead

    Producer: Guy Clarke

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    27 February 2025, 2:49 pm
  • 41 minutes
    Rashford & Asensio: Will Villa's gamble pay off?

    Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio couldn’t save Aston Villa last night as they lost 4-1 away at Crystal Palace.


    The two marquee signings were brought in to boost Unai Emery’s side at the business end of the season.


    But are Rashford & Asensio the solution to Villa’s problems right now? 


    Host: Ayo Akinwolere

    With: Jacob Tanswell & Rory Smith 

    Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead

    Producer: Mike Stavrou

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    26 February 2025, 3:29 pm
  • 45 minutes 41 seconds
    Is Premier League promotion still the promised land?

    Last season marked the first time since 1998 that all three promoted Premier League teams were relegated.


    It looks like history may repeat itself this season, after another miserable weekend for Ipswich Town, Leicester City and Southampton.


    So will all three go down? 


    And if so, what does it say about the gap between the Premier League and the Championship?


    Host: Ayo Akinwolere

    With: Stu James & Phil Hay

    Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead

    Producer: Mike Stavrou & Nick Thomson

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    25 February 2025, 3:38 pm
  • 49 minutes 46 seconds
    Is Salah set for the best Premier League season ever?

    Liverpool have moved 11 points clear in the Premier League title race with Mohamed Salah leading the way in their 2-0 win over Manchester City.

    His goal and assists are edging him towards records set by Thierry Henry and Kevin De Bruyne.

    Mohamed Salah is one of the Premier League’s Greatest but could he be THE greatest?

    Ayo Akinwolere is joined by Oli Kay, who was at the Etihad on Sunday for The Athletic as well as Simon Hughes, author of Chasing Salah: The Biography of Mohamed Salah.

    Host: Ayo Akinwolere

    With: Oli Kay and Simon Hughes

    Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead

    Producer: Guy Clarke

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    24 February 2025, 4:35 pm
  • 52 minutes
    How data and AI is shaping football

    Ever thought about how elite football clubs actually go about using data to analyse and recruit players?


    Well, The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast has the answers you need.


    Paul Power from sports data company, Skillcorner, joins the show to chat about how clubs really use data in recruitment and analysis.


    Plus… what the future could hold in terms of football’s relationship with AI?


    Host: Michael Bailey

    With: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Paul Power

    Producer: Mike Stavrou

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    23 February 2025, 7:00 am
  • 43 minutes 3 seconds
    The Preview - Man City vs Liverpool

    Manchester City host Liverpool on Sunday in what could be a decisive game in this season’s title race. 

    Pep Guardiola will be hoping to fix Manchester City’s out of possession problems, that contributed to them being dumped out of the Champions League midweek. 

    After consecutive draws away from home in the Premier League, can Arne Slot’s side make a statement at a ground they have won just once at in their previous 15 attempts? 

    The Athletic’s senior data analyst Mark Carey and data writer Thom Harris join Matt Davies-Adams to preview Sunday’s clash. 

    Plus we check in with the club podcasts across The Athletic FC, setting you up for the big fixtures elsewhere. 


    Host: Matt Davies-Adams

    With: Mark Carey, Thom Harris

    Featuring: James Pearce, Sam Lee

    Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead

    Producer: Jay Beale

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    21 February 2025, 1:32 pm
  • 42 minutes 22 seconds
    Can Mbappe reach Ronaldo's levels at Real Madrid?

    On a night Man City had no margin for error, Kylian Mbappe took away any hope scoring his first hat-trick at the Bernabeu for Real Madrid.

    With his treble, the Frenchman became just the fourth player to score a Champions League knockout hat-trick for Madrid following in the footsteps of the likes of Ronaldo Nazario, Karim Benzema and of course Cristiano Ronaldo.

    So can Mbappe reach Cristano Ronaldo's levels at Real Madrid?

    Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Real Madrid writer Guillermo Rai and Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero to analyse the win over Man City and how fair Carlo Ancelotti's side can go in this season's Champions League.

    Plus, French football writer Tom Williams drops by to discuss Mbappe's evolution and his use of speed through his career.

    Host: Ayo Akinwolere

    With: Guillermo Rai, Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero and Tom Williams

    Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead

    Producer: Guy Clarke

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    20 February 2025, 4:10 pm
  • 54 minutes 41 seconds
    Amorim's Man United: growing pains or a deeper crisis?

    Defeat at Spurs last weekend left Manchester United in 15th place in the table 


    Next up they take on a resurgent Everton managed by the first person challenged with bringing back the good times at Old Trafford.


    So from David Moyes to Ruben Amorim, United seems to be stuck in a cycle of underperformance. 


    So what is preventing them from moving forward?


    Host: Ayo Akinwolere

    With: Adam Crafton, Oli Kay, Carl Anka & Charlotte Harpur

    Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead

    Producer: Mike Stavrou 

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    19 February 2025, 5:41 pm
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