The Athletic FC Podcast

On the eve of his first anniversary as Aston Villa manager, Unai Emery has Villa within striking distance of the top of the Premier League.Having returned to English football last season, following an ill-fated 18 month spell at Arsenal, Michael Bailey is joined by The Athletic's Adam Crafton and Gregg Evans to analyse the Spaniard's resurgence in the West Midlands.Aston Villa writer Jacob Tanswell shares his take on Villa's start to the season, their best season 1998/99, while Arsenal correspondent James McNicholas reviews his time in North London before assessing how he feels seeing Emery thrive at Villa Park.Produced by Guy ClarkeAdditional Production: Mike StavrouExecutive Producer: Adonis Pratsides**• This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ATHLETICFOOTBALL and get on your way to being your best self. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Adam Leventhal returns to preview Premier League matchday nine.The weekend starts with a Merseyside derby at Anfield. With only one win against Liverpool since 2010, can Sean Dyche’s team take advantage of Liverpool’s dodgy form in early kickoffs?Then we’re off to Stamford Bridge, as Chelsea host Arsenal. With Arsenal’s recent dominance we ask if the title of ‘biggest club in London’ has swung back to North London.And Man City host Brighton on the back of a blip, with three losses in the last four games. Will they right the ship, or can the Seagulls add to their misery?Adam Leventhal hosts Jay Harris, Tim Spiers and Luke Bosher.Producer - John Rogers***• This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ATHLETICFOOTBALL and get on your way to being your best self.• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/athleticfootball  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Contracted through to 2025, there's no immediate sign of Pep Guardiola leaving Manchester City.Yet with Roberto De Zerbi taking his Brighton & Hove Albion side to the Etihad this weekend, he could outlines his credentials to succeed the Spaniard at City with Guardiola a known admirer.Adam Levethal is joined by The Athletic's Italian and German football correspondents James Horncastle and Raphael Honigstein, with Man City writer Sam Lee also dropping in to assess Guardiola's impact on the Premier League and European Football before assessing the candidates who could be viewed as Guardiola successors.Produced by Guy ClarkeAdditional Production: Jay BealeExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead, Adonis Pratsides***• This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ATHLETICFOOTBALL and get on your way to being your best self.• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/athleticfootball  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As England secured their place at Euro 2024, we watched on in awe at another Jude Bellingham masterclass - is there a better player in world football right now?And as England boss Gareth Southgate continues to bristle at questions over his team selection and along culture war lines - has the manager’s more 'combative' character, changed how you feel about him?Adam Leventhal is joined by The Athletic’s England correspondent Tim Spiers and reporter Adam Crafton to discuss...Produced by Adonis PratsidesAdditional Production: Mike StavrouExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead***• This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ATHLETICFOOTBALL and get on your way to being your best self.• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/athleticfootball  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Host Adam Leventhal and a couple of The Athletic's resident gamers, Jay Harris & Art de Roché, reflect on the cultural impact, messy divorce and exciting future of FIF... EA SPORTS FC 24!Why Gianni Infantino will miss the PR cover the game inadvertently provided for FIFA and why EA were happy to go it alone. How the franchise pulled clear of rivals like Pro Evolution Soccer and their efforts to impact the sport in the real world.With interviews from David 'DJ' Jackson (VP of Brand at EA SPORTS) and Leah Revelle (leading female FC streamer in North America) on the decision to incorporate the biggest stars from the Women's game in 'Ultimate Team', gaming addiction and spending on 'packs'.Produced by Adonis Pratsides & Jay BealeAdditional Production: Mike StavrouExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead***• This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/ATHLETICFOOTBALL and get on your way to being your best self.• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/athleticfootball  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ahead of Manchester United’s board being set to vote on selling a minority stake in the club to British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe Ayo Akinwolere is joined by Matt Slater, David Ornstein and Adam Crafton is debate the proposal.Following Sheikh Jassim’s Qatari group claiming to have withdrawn from the process the panel analyse Ratcliffe's offer to purchase a 25% minority stake in the club, in return for sporting control at Old Trafford.Plus there's debate around what impact it could have on the Glazers' tenure as well as which personnel could be at risk following INEOS involvement at Manchester United.Produced by Guy ClarkeAdditional Production by Mike StavrouExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead***• Get Coors Light delivered straight to your door with Drizly or Instacart by going to coorslight.com/athleticfootball  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this edition of the Weekend Preview we welcome another round of Euro 2024 qualifiers, with England potentially securing qualification if they can see off Italy on Tuesday.With the Three Lions in good shape ahead of Germany next summer, we ask the panel whether they’re comfortable with the ‘favourites’ tag and which countries fear them the most.Also, with the UK and Ireland having been confirmed as hosts of Euro 2028, our panelists get out their crystal balls to predict the starting lineups five years from now.Adam Leventhal hosts Nick Miller, Tim Spiers and Thom Harris. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Following the release of the David Beckham documentary that everyone is talking about, Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s Adam Crafton, Carl Anka and Felipe Cardenas to discuss Beckham and how he became a global icon that broke America.We’ll also hear Adam in conversation with Paddy Harverson - former Manchester United Head of Communications, during the peak of Beckham’s celebrity.How much of the documentary is a true reflection of the player and the man? Or is it all part of the Brand Beckham plan?Produced by Guy Clarke & Jay BealeAdditional Production: Mike StavrouExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic’s Chelsea writer Liam Twomey and our tactics writer Michael Cox to reflect on the career of Eden Hazard following his retirement this week.Was he a player that didn't quite hit the heights expected or was his approach to the game - married with his undoubted ability - make his achievements all the more impressive?We detail why his dream move to Real Madrid didn't work out and hear from Premier League defenders who actually had to try and stop Eden Hazard at a time when he was one of the best players in the world.Produced by Mike StavrouAdditional Production: Jay BealeExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead, Adonis Pratsides Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ayo Akinwolere is joined by Benji Lanyado & The Athletic’s Roshane Thomas to assess how quickly West Ham have rebuilt after selling Declan Rice to Arsenal in the summer...They discuss the work that manager David Moyes has done to integrate new summer signings and doubling-down on a style of play that has led to a surprisingly strong start in the Premier League.Roshane also shares details of Jarrod Bowen's new seven-year-contract and there is a closer look at how midfielder Lucas Paqueta has developed.Produced by Adonis PratsidesAdditional Production: Mike StavrouExecutive Producer: Adey Moorhead Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.