The Athletic FC Podcast

The Athletic

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

  • 46 minutes 22 seconds
    Can Newcastle finally end their trophy drought?

    The first piece of silverware in 2025 will be contested between Newcastle and Liverpool, when they meet in the Carabao Cup final. 

    The Athletic's senior writer George Caulkin joins Tim Spiers and host Adam Leventhal to discuss whether Eddie Howe's side can finally end their 70 year trophy drought.  

    Plus we check in with some of the club podcasts across The Athletic FC, setting you up for the FA Cup fourth round. 

    Host: Adam Leventhal

    With: George Caulkin, Tim Spiers

    Featuring: James McNicholas, James Pearce, Andy Mitten, Simon Johnson

    Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead

    Producer: Jay Beale

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    7 February 2025, 2:06 pm
  • 46 minutes 58 seconds
    Will the independent regulator fix football?

    We're joined by UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy to discuss the introduction of an independent football regulator within English football.

    Whether it’s financial mismanagement, questionable ownership, or lack of accountability - football in England has faced some huge challenges in recent years which is why the British government, wants to appoint an independent regulator.

    So why are the Premier League and its member clubs unhappy with the plan and are the concerns of fans really at the heart of all this, as all sides claim?

    Ayo Akinwolere is also joined by The Athletic's senior football news reporter Matt Slater and Phil Hay, lead writer of The Athletic FC newsletter.

    Host: Ayo Akinwolere

    With: Lisa Nandy MP, Matt Slater and Phil Hay

    Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead

    Producer: Guy Clarke

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    6 February 2025, 3:30 pm
  • 53 minutes 21 seconds
    Will Bayern dominate the Bundesliga again?

    After Bayer Leverkusen’s miraculous title-win last season, this season it seems to be business as usual, with Bayern Munich six points clear of Leverkusen at the top of the table.


    So, can anyone stop Bayern reestablishing themselves as the dominant force in the Bundesliga? 


    And is Vincent Kompany creating a side that are serious contenders for Champions League glory? 


    Host: Ayo Akinwolere

    With: Jan Åge Fjørtoft & Seb Stafford-Bloor

    Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead

    Producer: Mike Stavrou

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    5 February 2025, 4:46 pm
  • 55 minutes 38 seconds
    Rashford, Gonzalez, Tel: Transfer window analysed

    The January transfer window has officially shut.


    We saw Marcus Rashford move to Aston Villa on loan, while Manchester City brought in a much-needed midfielder in Nico Gonzalez.


    So… which teams were the winners and losers in the window?


    Host: Ayo Akinwolere

    With: David Ornstein, Rory Smith and Jacob Tanswell

    Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead

    Producer: Mike Stavrou & Nick Thomson

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    4 February 2025, 5:07 pm
  • 53 minutes 45 seconds
    Has Arsenal's academy revived their title hopes?

    Liverpool legend Alan Hansen who famously said "you can't win anything with kids"

    Yet on Sunday Arsenal’s teenagers took centre stage as they dismantled the champions with both Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri getting on the scoresheet.

    So can Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal win anything with kids?

    Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's James McNicholas and Phil Hay to discuss the 5-1 win over Man City. Art De Roche also drops by to discuss the emergence of the likes of Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri.

    Meanwhile, The Athletic's football correspondent David Ornstein also gives his thoughts on the impact the youngsters have had on the club's recruitment plans along with the pressure of their pursuit for a striker.

    Host: Ayo Akinwolere

    With: James McNicholas, Phil Hay, Art De Roche and David Ornstein

    Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead

    Producer: Guy Clarke

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    3 February 2025, 4:45 pm
  • 1 hour 7 minutes
    Anatomy of a Transfer

    Football fans are desperate for transfer news - and it's often bigger than the sport itself.

    Open twice a year - in January and the summer - the transfer window changes the game.

    But what actually goes on when deals are made?

    Join Adam Leventhal as he goes behind the scenes at training grounds, stadiums and offices to explain the anatomy of a transfer and to breakdown the complex process of what a player goes through when they move from club to club.


    Host: Adam Leventhal

    Exec Prod: Abi Paterson

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    2 February 2025, 6:00 am
  • 46 minutes 4 seconds
    The Preview - Arsenal vs Man City

    Arsenal host Manchester City on Sunday in what some are called the 'stay humble' derby.

    The last time these sides met was back in September's thrilling 2-2 draw, where things boiled over at full time.

    The Athletic's Arsenal writer James McNicholas and Manchester City writer Sam Lee join Tim Spiers and Adam Leventhal to preview Sunday's clash.

    Plus we check in with some of the club podcasts across The Athletic FC and set you up for the key games elsewhere.


    Host: Adam Leventhal

    With: James McNicholas, Sam Lee, Tim Spiers

    Featuring: Simon Hughes, James Maw

    Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead

    Producer: Jay Beale

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    31 January 2025, 2:02 pm
  • 48 minutes 16 seconds
    Is the new Champions League format better?

    On an evening of mayhem across Europe, Man City got the job done and avoided Champions League elimination, beating Club Brugge 3-1 to progress into the knockout phase.

    But is the prospect of Real Madrid or Bayern Munich in the play-off something Pep Guardiola's side will relish?

    Elsewhere, with Jhon Duran set to leave for Saudi Arabia and Arsenal interested in Ollie Watkins, could Aston Villa’s front line look a little different in the knockout stages?

    Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's James Horncastle and Phil Hay to reflect on an action-packed final night of the league phase of the revamped Champions League, while Aston Villa correspondent Jacob Tanswell joins to discuss the latest around both Duran and Watkins.

    Host: Ayo Akinwolere

    With: James Horncastle, Phil Hay and Jacob Tanswell

    Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead

    Producer: Guy Clarke

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    30 January 2025, 4:25 pm
  • 48 minutes 26 seconds
    Does the 'Big Six' still exist?

    Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are languishing in the bottom half of the table - they sit in 12th and 15th place respectively. 


    Tough times have fallen on two of the ‘Big Six’ - the traditional heavyweights of English football.


    So in terms of both on-pitch and off-pitch matters, does the idea of those aforementioned powerhouse clubs dominating the Premier League still ring true? 


    Host: Ayo Akinwolere

    With: Rory Smith, Tim Spiers, Matt Slater

    Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead

    Producer: Mike Stavrou

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    29 January 2025, 3:57 pm
  • 53 minutes 40 seconds
    Where have all the elite strikers gone?

    As revealed by David Ornstein on today’s Transfer DealSheet, Aston Villa could be tempted to sell Jhon Duran for around 80 million pounds.


    That valuation of the Villa striker got us thinking - what makes a top No.9 in 2025?


    And with many teams wanting an elite striker - why is it so hard to find them?


    Host: Ayo Akinwolere

    With: Mark Carey, Phil Hay & David Ornstein

    Executive Producer: Abi Paterson

    Producer: Mike Stavrou & Nick Thomson

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    28 January 2025, 5:13 pm
  • 48 minutes 28 seconds
    Is Amorim's brutal honesty helping Man United?

    A smashed TV, a lack of cash, and more box office quotes from Ruben Amorim who told the media after his side's 1-0 win at Fulham he would prefer to name his 63-year-old goalkeeping coach Jorge Vital on the bench ahead of Marcus Rashford.

    Having made it four wins from five, are Man United showing signs of improvement under Amorim?

    Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Manchester United correspondent Laurie Whitwell and Mark Critchley with Charlotte Harpur also dropping by to discuss Amorim's handling of the media and his man-management.

    Plus, with a week left of the January transfer window there's a focus on United's finances and whether they will be able to spend their way back up the Premier League table.

    Host: Ayo Akinwolere

    With: Laurie Whitwell, Mark Critchley and Charlotte Harpur

    Executive Producer: Abi Paterson

    Producer: Guy Clarke

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    27 January 2025, 3:15 pm
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