Listen to the stories behind football's biggest names, hosted by Simon Kuper and Mehreen Khan.
"Hosts Simon Kuper and Mehreen Khan know their stuff." â The Guardian
"The most interesting football podcast of the moment." â NRC, a leading Dutch daily
Heroes & Humans moves beyond the traditional boundaries of sports commentary to explore the lives of football's most interesting figures. Whether episodes are about Messi, Abramovich, Cruyff, ĆĂŒkĂŒr or Haaland, this is the go-to podcast for football audio-biographies. Released once weekly on Thursdays.
Simon Kuper, acclaimed by Time Magazine as "one of the world's leading writers on soccer," and an awarded Financial Times columnist, brings a three-decade career of interviewing and understanding the personalities that define the worldâs greatest sport. Having attended the last nine World Cups and boasting Europe's largest football library, Simon's insights are rooted in a profound depth of knowledge and passion for football.
Mehreen Khan, whose day job is as the Economics Editor at The Times, believes football is a "brilliant shortcut in how to understand societies, economies, and politics". She is a football obsessive and die-hard Chelsea fan. With her ability to intertwine socio-political narratives with pop culture savvy, Mehreen stands out in the football podcasting landscape. Her presence as one of the few female voices adds a valuable dimension, broadening the conversation for listeners.
Mehreen was previously the FTâs Brussels correspondent, before moving to The Times in 2022. She started her career in sports journalism at the Daily Telegraph in 2014, and wrote a football blog that touched on themes including Russiaâs breakaway Muslim separatism, German multiculturalism, and the earth-shattering magnificence of Andrea Pirlo.
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What happens when your greatest moment becomes both a blessing and a burden? This is not just the story of Geoff Hurst's World Cup hat-trick but a deeper exploration of a vanishing era of English football and the often-challenging lives of the heroes of '66 after their moment of glory.
In this episode, Simon and Mehreen uncover the complex legacy of England's World Cup-winning team through the eyes of its last surviving member. From modest wages and part-time jobs to the devastating impact of dementia on his teammates, Hurst's story reveals how differently football treated its heroes in the 1960s. They explore how these working-class heroes navigated life after football in an era before mega-contracts and media careers and how many struggled to find their place in the modern world.
Time stamps:
0:00: Introduction and the last survivor
04:15: Football in the 1960sâa different world
08:32: Working-class heroes and modest lifestyles
12:45: The road to the World Cup team
17:23: That day at Wembley
23:41: Life immediately after the victory
28:56: The struggle to adjust to normal life
34:18: Financial hardships of the '66 team
39:27: The dementia crisisâlosing teammates one by one
45:33: Bobby Moore's difficult later years
51:19: The forgotten stories of the other players
56:44: Part-time jobs and post-football careers
1:02:38: The burden of being forever '66
1:08:15: Modern football vs. the amateur era
1:13:27: Preserving the memory of a vanishing generation
1:18:52: What modern football can learn from '66
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Thank you for all your support. We really appreciate your comments and encouragement. - Producer Matt
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The Super Agents: How Mino Raiola Changed Football's Transfer Market Forever
How did a pizza waiter from Haarlem become one of football's most influential figures? This is the story of Mino Raiola, the super-agent who transformed the football transfer market, and his successor, Rafaela Pimenta.
In this episode, Simon and Mehreen explore the extraordinary career of Mino Raiola and his business partner, Rafaela Pimenta. From his early days working in his family's pizzeria to becoming the agent for stars like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, and Erling Haaland, this is the tale of how an outsider revolutionised football's transfer market through wit, work ethic, and an uncanny ability to see where the game was heading.
This episode reveals how Raiola's pizzeria mentality of personal service shaped his approach to representing players, his complex relationship with football's establishment, and how he built the most powerful agency in modern football.
Time stamps:
0:00: Introduction and background
03:40: Early life in Haarlem and the family pizzeria
08:22: Entry into football and first deals
15:44: Meeting Zlatan Ibrahimovic
21:33: Partnership with Rafaela Pimenta
27:16: Building the perfect agency
34:55: The Pogba transfer saga
42:18: Managing player careers and investments
48:37: Battles with clubs and FIFA
54:29: Legacy and influence on modern football
59:13: Rafaela Pimenta takes the reins
1:05:42: The future of football agencies
1:11:27: Final thoughts on Raiola's impact
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Football and the trenches: The 1914 Christmas truce
In 1914, 110 years ago exactly, British and German troops came up from the trenches to meet in no manâs land and play football. This remarkable event, known as the Christmas Truce, is the subject of todayâs special episode.
Instead of focusing on one hero, human, or villain, this Christmas episode examines the humanity behind war, discussing how football has united people across languages, cultures, and history.Â
Simon and Mehreen delve deep into the story of World War I and beyond. They track the history of this poignant event, discussing its impact on Adolf Hitler (spoiler: he didnât want to talk about it), the rise and suppression of womenâs football, and discussing the event against wars and conflicts of today.
This poignant, moving episode is ideal listening for football and history lovers alike and signals the start of Heroes & Humansâ Christmas break. Thank you for listening to our episodes in 2024. It's been a true pleasure to see how football has united so many listeners across the globe.
Time stamps:
0:43: Setting the scene, 1914
6:30: Christmas Eve, 1914
11:25: How football united the warring sides
17:47: Was there just one Christmas truce match?
22:50: Were there any more sporting truces?
27:31: A gender revolution and the early rise of womenâs football
31:05: Battle of the Somme and the end of the Great War
37:30: The legacy of the First World War, 110 years later
41:42: Reflections on todayâs wars and conflicts (e.g., Russia-Ukraine)
Like this episode? Make sure to vote for Heroes & Humans of Football at the Sports Podcast Awards: https://bit.ly/4fkQ8uAÂ
Join the Heroes and Humans Supporters Club!
Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and canât wait for the next episode? Why not become part of our exclusive community and get even closer to the action?
By joining our official H&H Supporters Club on Patreon, youâll unlock access to behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, bonus content, and special Q&A sessions with your hosts, Mehreen and Simon. Whether you're looking for deeper insights into footballâs biggest personalities or just canât wait for the next episode, weâve got something for you.
Donât miss out! Support us and get more from your favourite podcast.
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The Brazilian Ronaldo and the 1998 World Cup Mystery
Our first-ever live show, recorded at the Kilkenomics Economics & Comedy Festival in Kilkenny, Ireland.Â
The sold-out event saw Simon and Mehreen take to the stage, discussing all things football with the prize-winning author Roddy Doyle.
Die-hard Chelsea fan Doyle spoke with H&H for over an hour, where they discussed topics such as:
Doyle's lifelong connection to Chelsea Football Club, its fan base, and Mehreen's experiences as a British Asian Chelsea fan
The role of football in Irish identity and cultureâfrom traditionally supporting English cups to the legacy of the 1990 World Cup
The globalisation of football and the universality of football fandomsâthe 'dark joy' of critique and how adversity creates deeper connections in the community
 The legacy of Roy Keane
Join the Heroes and Humans Supporters Club!
Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and canât wait for the next episode? Why not become part of our exclusive community and get even closer to the action?
By joining our official H&H Supporters Club on Patreon, youâll unlock access to behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, bonus content, and special Q&A sessions with your hosts, Mehreen and Simon. Whether you're looking for deeper insights into footballâs biggest personalities or just canât wait for the next episode, weâve got something for you.
Donât miss out! Support us and get more from your favourite podcast.
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Who is Manchester Unitedâs new manager Ruben Amorim?
Eric Cantona is the epitome of Rimbaud and Rambo: an artistic poet and violent, tough man. So how did this paradoxical player transform Manchester United in the 1990s? And how did this affect English football as a whole?
In this episode, Simon and Mehreen delve deep into the life and times of French footballer Eric Cantona. They track his playing career in France, how he was the missing piece of the puzzle for 90s Manchester United, and his abrupt footballing career-end at the age of 31.Â
This is the story of a man who was built like a boxer and thinks of himself as an artist. Famous for his kung-fu kicks, red card troubles, and propensity towards violence, this episode discusses how he also embodied a new type of footballer in the 1990s and a work-hard mentality of football as an art.
Put your collars up for this insane, violent, and often poetic tale of the man of one of Manchester Unitedâs most integral figures.
Time stamps:
0:36: Introduction and statsÂ
03:44: Early life in Marseille
07:29: A gifted young footballer and early playing career
11:13: Controversy and trouble in French clubs
13:40: Move to England (and a love for Rimbaud or Rambo?)
17:12 Cult hero and collar up at Leeds
22:32: Ferguson chooses Cantona for Manchester United
26:32: Strong start at Manchester United
29:53: Raising the bar at Manchester United
35:27: Simonâs Financial Times front page cover on Cantona
45:51: Community service and controversies
49:16: Karate kicking journalists
52:35: French national football team
57:47: Unexpected retirement, acting career, and politics
1:03:43: Whatâs Cantona up to now?Â
1:11:29: What if Cantona hadnât played football?
Join the Heroes and Humans Supporters Club!
Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and canât wait for the next episode? Why not become part of our exclusive community and get even closer to the action?
By joining our official H&H Supporters Club on Patreon, youâll unlock access to behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, bonus content, and special Q&A sessions with your hosts, Mehreen and Simon. Whether you're looking for deeper insights into footballâs biggest personalities or just canât wait for the next episode, weâve got something for you.
Donât miss out! Support us and get more from your favourite podcast.
Join us today at patreon.com/heroesandhumans
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Megan Rapinoe is one of soccerâs most talented players, yet has an influence and legacy that extends far beyond the pitch. How did one American sportswoman become such a central figure in conversations about homophobia, feminism, and racism?Â
This episode tracks Rapinoeâs life, from growing up in a relatively poor working-class background to becoming the GOAT of womenâs soccer. Mehreen and Simon examine how witnessing severe drug abuse and her family upbringing shaped her understanding of privilege and injustice.
This episode unpicks the polarising views of Megan, which are often at the centre of wider cultural wars. The episode discusses Rapinoe being the first top soccer player to come out (which was actually not too controversial), to being one of the first sportspeople to take the knee in 2016 (which was).
On one hand, Rapinoe is hated by president Donald Trump (âWoke equals failureâ) and was once called the âmost annoying sportsperson everâ by Piers Morgan. On the other hand, she is celebrated as a figure with a strong moral compass â standing up for injustices, unfair pay, and archaic power structures.
Is Rapinoe the new model for the next generation of sports stars? Or should politics be kept off the pitch?Â
Time stamps:
0:36: IntroductionÂ
4:43: A child of Trumpâs AmericaÂ
9:45: A growing childhood interest in soccer
11:42: Recognising privilege and witnessing fentanyl addictionÂ
17:17: College scholarship and move to Oregon
20:25: Discovering her sexuality
25:59: A poorly-paid pro, viral moments, and coming out
29:45: Intersectionality, homophobia, and equal pay
33:23: Racism and taking the knee in 2016Â
38:39: Trump vs. Rapinoe (with a father that votes for him)
44:27: Class action lawsuit for equal pay
47:10: Rapinoeâs legacyÂ
Join the Heroes and Humans Supporters Club!
Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and canât wait for the next episode? Why not become part of our exclusive community and get even closer to the action?
By joining our official H&H Supporters Club on Patreon, youâll unlock access to behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, bonus content, and special Q&A sessions with your hosts, Mehreen and Simon. Whether you're looking for deeper insights into footballâs biggest personalities or just canât wait for the next episode, weâve got something for you.
Donât miss out! Support us and get more from your favourite podcast.
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No footballer in history has had a career at the top for as long as Cristiano Ronaldo. Nearing his 40th birthday, when will it be time for Ronaldo to finally retire? And will he bow out gracefullyâor cry?
This is the second and final episode on Cristiano Ronaldo. Simon and Mehreen track Ronaldoâs life from 2009 onwards, detailing his transition to family man, his atmospheric rise on social media, and his footballing career after Manchester United.
This episode covers Ronaldoâs rivalry with Messi, his fear of decline and irrelevancy, and his dedication to football at every stageâwhether itâs the Euros or in the Saudi league. Is it because of Ronaldo that football has reached a fetishisation of high performance?
This is the finale of the highest-paid athlete on earth who rose from nothingâa person who embodies hustle culture but whose self importance is so grandiose one canât help but mock it.
Time stamps:
0:36: Ronaldo joins Real Madrid
5:05: Rivalry with Messi
9:11: Perfect life, perfect child, perfect wife?
17:01: Global icon and social media superstar
22:41: Euro 2016
29:13: Manchester United and Juventus
34:28: Humiliation and personal tragedy
37:55: Joining the Saudi pro league
41:36: Decline in the Portuguese national team
44:11: GOAT status or pipped to the post?
49:17: The Muslim conspiracy and ongoing legacy
Join the Heroes and Humans Supporters Club!
Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and canât wait for the next episode? Why not become part of our exclusive community and get even closer to the action?
By joining our official H&H Supporters Club on Patreon, youâll unlock access to behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, bonus content, and special Q&A sessions with your hosts, Mehreen and Simon. Whether you're looking for deeper insights into footballâs biggest personalities or just canât wait for the next episode, weâve got something for you.
Donât miss out! Support us and get more from your favourite podcast.
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Cristiano Ronaldo: The alcoholic's son who became a workaholic
Vain, disciplined, consistent: Cristiano Ronaldo is a football legend like no other. How did this hyper-athletic, prone-to-cry Portuguese player become such a dominant forceânot only in football but on the world stage?
This episode is the first of two on the legendary football player and covers Ronaldoâs early life. The episode chronicles Ronaldoâs childhood, growing up as an unwanted child in relative poverty in Madeira, and his move to the Portuguese mainland, where he became determined to work harder, better, and faster than everyone else.
Simon and Mehreen paint a picture of Ronaldoâs ascent to international fame and superstardom, giving insight into his relationship with Alex Ferguson and Ronaldoâs tendency to always be an individual rather than a team player.
This is the first part of a story of the man who takes himself so seriously he has become a memeâand how his egocentric, strict discipline and routine helped to propel him to the top.
*Trigger warning: Mentions of sexual assault allegations, marked in the timestamps*
Time stamps:
0:36: Introduction and stats
4:01: Growing up in poverty in Madeira
9:22: Arrival to the mainland and showing fierce discipline
15:13: Youth career and rising competition for fame
20:40: Arrival at Manchester UnitedÂ
26:36: UEFA 2004 and a teenagerâs determination for greatness
30:20: Controversies and acclaim at Manchester UnitedÂ
39:00: Ronaldoâs first Ballon DâOr (but not the last)
46:22: Alex Fergusonâs infantilisation of Ronaldo at Manchester United
50:25: Sexual assault allegations in Las Vegas *TW: contains mentions of alleged sexual violence that some listeners may find upsetting*
56:12: Wrap up and look towards part two
Join the Heroes and Humans Supporters Club!
Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and canât wait for the next episode? Why not become part of our exclusive community and get even closer to the action?
By joining our official H&H Supporters Club on Patreon, youâll unlock access to behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, bonus content, and special Q&A sessions with your hosts, Mehreen and Simon. Whether you're looking for deeper insights into footballâs biggest personalities or just canât wait for the next episode, weâve got something for you.
Donât miss out! Support us and get more from your favourite podcast.
Join us today at patreon.com/heroesandhumans
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