With the fixture between Manchester United and Liverpool looming, Graham and Taylor break down the history of England's biggest (and most successful?) rivalry. Is there a rivalry between the two cities, not just the two clubs? How did the rivalry develop over the decades? Do Liverpool and Man Utd have more in common than they like to admit? All that and more!

On this week's episode, in honor of Real Madrid's absurd starting lineup this past weekend, we take a deeper look at the term that defines the club: Galacticos. What is the origin of the term? What does it mean? How many different versions have there been? Does the present incarnation of Real Madrid qualify? All that and much much more!

On this episode. Graham and Taylor take a longer look at the Champions' League's less-heralded sibling, the Europa League. What is the history of the tournament? How is it different from its big sibling? What changes are in store for the competition's format starting next season? And why don't we spend much time discussing it over on The Total Soccer Show? Plus, is the official anthem a banger, or just a banger to Graham?

On this episode, Ryan is joined by Graham and Joe to learn from history and reminisce about spectacular moments as they go deep on the origins of the terms "brace" and "hat-trick" as well as the best/most favorite examples of each. Sponsors! Today's episode is brought to you by... Shopify! Go to Shopify.com/soccer101 for a FREE fourteen day trial and get access to their entire suite of features. ExpressVPN! Go to expressvpn.com/soccer to get 3 additional months for free! The Soccer 101 theme, and plenty of other excellent music, can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com.

This week, our friends over at Can I Kick It are chatting with Cobi Jones about his life and legacy. So, we're airing their original bio episode of the USMNT legend in our feed to honor their efforts. Can I Kick it FC is a podcast built on telling the stories of Black athletes, coaches, and owners that have impacted the game of soccer on and off the pitch. Check them out wherever you get your podcasts!

On this week's episode, it's semi-strange topic for Graham and Ryan and a more relatable topic for Joe and Taylor: how do I choose a club to support? We discuss how we each came to support the teams we do, the things to consider when trying to decide who to support, the importance (or unimportance, depending on your perspective), and much much more! Sponsors! Today's episode is brought to you by Shopify! Go to Shopify.com/soccer101 for a FREE fourteen day trial and get access to their entire suite of features. The Soccer 101 theme, and plenty of other excellent music, can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com.

On this episode, Taylor is joined by Graham and Joe (whoever speaks first wins!) to discuss the Golden Goal rule. How did it first come to be, how long was it in use, what are some of the best examples of it working out, and why did it so quickly fall out of favor so quickly? Sponsors! Today's episode is brought to you by... ExpressVPN! Go to expressvpn.com/soccer to get 3 additional months for free! NetSuite! Head on over to NetSuite.com/soccer101 to get started with their specialized financial packages.  The Soccer 101 theme, and plenty of other excellent music, can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com.

In an homage to Daryl Grove's introductory explainer on pressing in episode 27, your intrepid podcasters take you on a longer journey through the topic: what does it mean, how do teams utilize it, who does it best, how has it evolved over time, what changes we might see in the future, and much much more! Sponsors! Today's episode is brought to you by NetSuite! Head on over to NetSuite.com/soccer101 to get started with their specialized financial packages.  The Soccer 101 theme, and plenty of other excellent music, can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com.

On this episode of Soccer 101, we discuss club ownership: who is allowed to own a team, and how do the regulations vary between leagues? Which owners have done a good job at the helm, and who leaves a lot to be desired? From fan ownership to controversial ‘sportswashing’ projects, we cover it all! Sponsors! Today's episode is brought to you by NetSuite! Head on over to NetSuite.com/sports to get started with their specialized financial packages.  The Soccer 101 theme, and plenty of other excellent music, can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com.

The first part of the above question might seem straightforward... and it is. But! There's a lot more going on. If a thousand people own a team, who makes the decisions? Why are fan-owned clubs becoming more popular? What's the difference between a breakaway club, a phoenix club and a supporter takeover? What are some of the biggest and/or best examples of fan-ownership? Graham, Ryan, and Taylor are together to answer all those questions and more! Sponsors! Today's episode is brought to you by... Shopify! Go to Shopify.com/soccer101 for a FREE fourteen day trial and get access to their entire suite of features. NetSuite! Head on over to NetSuite.com/sports to get started with their specialized financial packages.    The Soccer 101 theme, and plenty of other excellent music, can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com.

On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey, Graham Ruthven and Joe Lowery are talking balls. More specifically, the history and development of the humble soccer ball. From pig’s bladders to microchip-filled wonders, and everything in between, we’ve got it covered! This episode is brought to you by ExpressVPN! Go to expressvpn.com/soccer to get 3 additional months for free!

Graham, Joe, Ryan and Taylor take a quick look at the history of commentary in soccer, before discussing their favorite play-by-play and color commentators and revealing their favorite-ever moments in punditry. GOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!! Today's episode is sponsored by NetSuite! Head on over to NetSuite.com/sports to get started with their specialized financial packages.  The Soccer 101 theme, and plenty of other excellent music, can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com.

Ryan is joined by Graham and Taylor to discuss the history of chanting and singing at football: how did it start, how has it evolved, why does it lend itself to problematic lyrics, and what are our favorites from history. There was a lot more singing than 2/3 of the podcast members were comfortable with, but hopefully that translates to 100% of listeners enjoying the episode! Today's episode is sponsored by NetSuite! Head on over to NetSuite.com/sports to get started with their specialized financial packages.  The Soccer 101 theme, and plenty of other excellent music, can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com.

Graham and Taylor continue to talk video games on this week's episode! This time, it's Football Manager! What is it? Why is it so popular? How into the weeds can you wade? What has been its real-world impact? We're getting into it!

This episode of 101 fell in an international break, so Ryan Bailey, Taylor Rockwell, Joe Lowery and Graham Ruthven are here to discuss the process of World Cup qualification. We run through how each of FIFA’s confederations determine their participants in soccer’s showpiece, and suggest some alternative methods that might be used. The Soccer 101 theme, and plenty of other excellent music, can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com.

Graham Ruthven takes us through a history of Scottish football, from their role in helping develop and spread the game to The Three Kings era to a mythical time when they qualified for multiple World Cups in a row. But what's gone wrong since then, why has domestic football in Scotland suffered, and where can it go from here? Plus, pronunciation quizzes and Graham getting uncomfortable talking about his personal life! This episode is brought to you by ExpressVPN! Go to expressvpn.com/soccer to get 3 additional months for free! The Soccer 101 theme (and plenty of other excellent music) can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com.

On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey, Taylor Rockwell, Graham Ruthven and Joe Lowery discuss Major League Soccer’s showpiece event, the All-Star Game! The gang look at its history, the events that surround it, and suggest some intriguing tweaks to the format…  Alternate title: Hey now, you’re an (MLS) All-Star (Game)! The Soccer 101 theme (and plenty of other excellent music) can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com.

On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey, Taylor Rockwell, Graham Ruthven and Joe Lowery talk about uniforms! When did they first appear in soccer, how did teams pick their colors and what are the modern economics of jersey sales? This episode is brought to you by ExpressVPN! Go to expressvpn.com/soccer to get 3 additional months for free! This episode features (excellent) contributions from Charlotte FC midfielder Brandt Bronico, who is an ambassador for Soccer Resilience (soccerresilience.com), a sports mindset agency.

On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey, Taylor Rockwell, Graham Ruthven and Joe Lowery look at what happens between seasons! Do players actually get any time off these days? If so, what do they do with it? And how do they get back up to speed when pre-season comes around?  This episode is brought to you by ExpressVPN! Go to expressvpn.com/soccer to get 3 additional months for free! This episode features (excellent) contributions from Charlotte FC midfielder Brandt Bronico, who is an ambassador for Soccer Resilience (soccerresilience.com), a sports mindset agency.

On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey, Taylor Rockwell, Graham Ruthven and Joe Lowery delve into the dark arts! What constitutes cheating in soccer? How innocuous—or serious—can it be? And what are some of the most famous examples from the history of the game? Sponsors! ExpressVPN! Go to ExpressVPN.com/soccer to get an extra three months of ExpressVPN for free! The Soccer 101 theme (and plenty of other excellent music) can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com.

On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey, Joe Lowery and Graham Ruthven are on hand to answer a listener’s question about Academy systems. What are they? Why do soccer teams have them? How many parallels do they hold with Harry Potter’s academic upbringing? Sponsors! ExpressVPN! Go to ExpressVPN.com/soccer to get an extra three months of ExpressVPN for free! The Soccer 101 theme (and plenty of other excellent music) can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com.

Taylor is joined by Felipe Cardenas to break down Argentina's victorious campaign at the 2021 Copa America. Specifically, our goal is to figure out 1) why this silverware matters so much for the legacy of Lionel Messi, but also 2) how did this team put it all together to get their first winners' medals since 1993? Sponsors! ExpressVPN! Go to ExpressVPN.com/soccer to get an extra three months of ExpressVPN for free! The Soccer 101 theme (and plenty of other excellent music) can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com.

On this week's episode, Taylor takes a deep (but brief) look at some different leagues and clubs around the world to determine 1) the actual requirements for a soccer pitch to be a soccer pitch but then 2) the most commonly used dimensions for professional soccer the world over. Plus, why are measurements different from country to country, and which leagues tend to have the biggest fluctuation in field size? Sponsors! ExpressVPN! Go to ExpressVPN.com/soccer to get an extra three months of ExpressVPN for free! The Soccer 101 theme (and plenty of other excellent music) can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com.

On this week's episode, Taylor takes a look at some of the iconic kit colors in international soccer and tries to get to the bottom of how they came to be. Nations discussed in this episode are Italy, Japan, Croatia, the Netherlands, Sweden, Brazil, and Australia. We mostly left out countries that pull their color scheme from the national flag, because otherwise that would make for a very short episode.  Sponsors! Manly Bands! Order your wedding band at ManlyBands.com/soccer and get 21% off, plus a free silicone ring! The Soccer 101 theme (and plenty of other excellent music) can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com.

Graham and Taylor are here to discuss a topic 21 years in the making: the FIFA video game series. How long has it been around? How have the games evolved over time? What are the different options to play and why you don't just have to fear mean teens on the Internet! Plus, the role the games have played in developing the game here in the US, and the future of the series with FIFA (the governing body) going their own way.

On this week's episode, Taylor breaks down two different senteces that are each chock full of soccer phrases and terms that are commonly used but not always commonly understood. Terms discussed/explained in this one: The zones on the pitch (specifically Zone 14) Parking the bus Down the channels Overlapping run Inverted winger The Mixer Half turn Sixes and sevens Professional foul vs Cynical foul - When to use which Under the cosh Unplayable Today's episode is brought to you by... ExpressVPN! Go to ExpressVPN.com/soccer to get an extra three months of ExpressVPN for free! The Soccer 101 theme (and plenty of other excellent music) can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com.

On this week's episode, Taylor explains all you need to know about the Concacaf Nations League: what is it, how does it work, and why did it need to exist in the first place? Plus, the second half of the episode is a preview of the USMNT's opponent on Thursday night: Honduras. How will they line up, who are their key performers, and where will the main areas of opportunity be for the United States? Today's episode is brought to you by... ExpressVPN! Go to ExpressVPN.com/soccer to get an extra three months of ExpressVPN for free! The Soccer 101 theme (and plenty of other excellent music) can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com.

Taylor is joined by Felipe Cardenas of The Athletic to explain the basics on the Copa America itself, as well as its biggest rivalries. Felipe then gives a lot of excellent insight into the situation in Colombia that led to them withdrawing/being forced to withdraw from hosting their half of the tournament this summer. What happens next for both Colombia and the 2021 Copa America? Felipe has thoughts. Sponsors! Manly Bands! Order your wedding band at ManlyBands.com/soccer and get 21% off, plus a free silicone ring! The Soccer 101 theme (and plenty of other excellent music) can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com.

Hosts David Gass and Josh Schneider-Weiler go in-depth on all things transfer, and share some of their favorite transfers of all time. Why are agents so prevalent? How do buy-out clauses differ from release clauses (and what are both of those things)? When are fees paid? All those questions answered, plus Gass saying "amortization" roughly 10 times. The Soccer 101 theme (and plenty of other excellent music) can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com.

On this episode of Soccer 101, Joe digs into the penalty kick rule. Where did it come from? When did it originate? And who invented it? All that, and more, on the show. The Soccer 101 theme (and plenty of other excellent music) can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com.

On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey explores the legend of Matt Le Tissier—and his distinct lack of international call-ups. Premier League fans of a 90s vintage will have fond memories of Le Tissier, who spent his entire career at Southampton, and scored some of the most breathtaking goals of the era.  Talent oozed from his pores, and he is still considered one of the Premier League’s greatest-ever players. But he managed just a handful of appearances for England. Why is that? This episode is brought to you by ExpressVPN! Go to expressvpn.com/soccer to get 3 additional months for free! The Soccer 101 theme (and plenty of other excellent music) can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com.

Today's episode tells a story of political strife, armed conflict, World Cup qualification, missed penalties, and the power of one individual to inspire a country, as Taylor answers the question: did Didier Drogba really stop a civil war? Sponsors! BlueChew! You can try it for free by going to BlueChew.com and using the promo code "SOCCER" at checkout! Manly Bands! Order your wedding band at ManlyBands.com/soccer and get 21% off, plus a free silicone ring! The Soccer 101 theme (and plenty of other excellent music) can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com. Here's a link to a video of Drogba highlights that features the song played in this episode!

This week, Taylor takes a looong look at the career of Marcelo Bielsa to determine why he is so revered by so many people despite never winning that many trophies or titles.  Today's episode is brought to you by... ExpressVPN! Go to ExpressVPN.com/soccer to get an extra three months of ExpressVPN for free! BlueChew, a unique online service that delivers the same active ingredients as Viagra and Cialis, but in CHEWABLE form and at a fraction of the cost! You can try it for free by going to BlueChew.com and using the promo code "SOCCER" at checkout! The Soccer 101 theme (and plenty of other excellent music) can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com.

This week, Taylor gets to the bottom of a question that no-one is asking but everyone might want to know: why are there 11 players on a soccer team? Or, maybe more specifically, how did 11 players per team become the norm for world football? Plus, Beowulf, mass brawls and weird numerical policies! This episode is brought to you by Stereo! Download the Stereo app to check out our latest live show! The Soccer 101 theme (and plenty of other excellent music) can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com.

On this week's episode, Taylor takes a long look at the Concacaf nations where the USMNT has the worst record away from home, and tries to figure out why things tend to go so poorly in one particular locale.  This episode is brought to you by Stereo! Go to Stereo.com/rockwellTSS for tune-in information for our latest live show—we go live every Thursday! The Soccer 101 theme (and plenty of other excellent music) can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com.

Graham and Taylor head to South America to discuss one of the longest-running, most prestigious club competitions in world soccer: the Copa Libertadores. What is it, how does it work, who can play in it, and how do they qualify? Plus, which clubs have been the most successful historically, and how have Brazilian clubs come to dominate it more recently?

On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey explores the world of loans in soccer. How and why did the loan system start? Why is it useful? And how is it exploited? This episode is brought to you by ExpressVPN! Go to expressvpn.com/soccer to get 3 additional months for free! This episode is brought to you by Stereo! Go to Stereo.com/rockwellTSS for tune-in information for our latest live show—we go live every Thursday! The Soccer 101 theme (and plenty of other excellent music) can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com.

On this episode of Soccer 101, Taylor discusses the history of soccer/football at the Olympics, and prevents some explanations for why the World Cup has so much more significance. Plus, how did eligibility requirements change over time, why was Mexico City's elevation significant in changing the foundational Olympic philosophy, and why did Eastern Bloc countries perform so well for so long? Sponsors! This episode is brought to you by… Stereo! Go to stereo.com/rockwellTSS for information on our latest live show—we go live every Thursday to answer your questions and talk about the latest episode of Soccer 101!  The Soccer 101 theme (and plenty of other excellent music) can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com.

On this episode of Soccer 101, Joe Lowery dives into the world of super agents. Who are they? What do they do? And do they wear their underwear on the outside of their pants? Sponsors! This episode is brought to you by… HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/12soccer and use code 12soccer for 12 free meals, including free shipping! Stereo! Go to stereo.com/rockwellTSS for information on our latest live show—we go live every Thursday to answer your questions and talk about the latest episode of Soccer 101!  The Soccer 101 theme (and plenty of other excellent music) can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com.

On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey explores the story of the team he holds dear to his heart, AFC Wimbledon. The club was founded by fans in May 2002 following the highly controversial decision to allow the original Wimbledon FC to relocate to Milton Keynes.  A version of this story1 is available in the book of essays ‘Losers: Dispatches from the Other Side of the Scoreboard,’ published by Penguin. This episode is brought to you by ExpressVPN! Go to expressvpn.com/soccer to get 3 additional months for free! This episode is brought to you by Stereo! Go to Stereo.com/rockwellTSS for tune-in information for our latest live show—we go live every Thursday!

Why are there so many Uniteds and Towns in England, Spartas in Europe, and rowing-inspired football teams in Brazil? Taylor attempts to explain the history of some of soccer's most common naming conventions, including Albion, Athletic, Dynamo, CSKA, and many more! Plus, possible explanations for why West Brom are The Baggies. Sponsors! This episode is brought to you by... ExpressVPN! Go to ExpressVPN.com/soccer to get 3 months free on a one year package. Stereo! This episode is brought to you by Stereo! Download the Stereo App and listen to this week's Soccer 101 LIVE SHOW on Thursday, February 25th at 8PM ET! Taylor will be live on the Stereo app with Alexis Guerreros to talk more about this episode and much much more! You can download the Stereo app and get ready to the show by following this link: stereo.com/rockwelltss The Soccer 101 theme (and plenty of other excellent music) can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com      

With the 2021 SheBelieves soon to kick off, Taylor takes a look at the history of the competition. What came before it, how and why did it come to be, and what's at stake this time round? Sponsors! This episode is brought to you by... ExpressVPN! Go to ExpressVPN.com/soccer to get 3 months free on a one year package. Stereo! This episode is brought to you by Stereo! Download the Stereo App and listen to this week's Soccer 101 LIVE SHOW on Thursday, February 18th at 6PM ET! Joe and Taylor will be live on the Stereo app to talk more about this episode and to interact with you, dear listener. You can download the Stereo app and get ready to the show by following this link: stereo.com/joelowery! Or this link: stereo.com/rockwelltss! The Soccer 101 theme (and plenty of other excellent music) can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com

On this week's episode of Soccer 101, Taylor answers a question he's been trying to figure out for weeks: which Americans have the best goal scoring records in Europe? We look at the top five goal scorers, but also go through more than a few names on the honorable mentions list. If you've never seen it (or even if you have) here's the link to Clint Dempsey's beauty against Juventus. Sponsors! This episode is brought to you by... HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/10soccer and use code 10soccer for 10 free meals, including free shipping! Stereo! This episode is brought to you by Stereo! Download the Stereo App and listen to this week's Soccer 101 LIVE SHOW on Thursday, February 4th at 6PM ET! On Thursday, Ryan and Taylor will be live on the Stereo app to talk more about this episode and to interact with you, dear listener. You can download the Stereo app and get ready to the show by following this link: stereo.com/ryanbailey! Or this link: stereo.com/rockwelltss! The Soccer 101 theme (and plenty of other excellent music) can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com

On this episode of Soccer 101, Joe Lowery talks all about La Masia. What is it? How did Johan Cruyff change it? And how important is it today? This episode is brought to you by Stereo! Download the Stereo App and listen to this week's Soccer 101 LIVE SHOW on Thursday, February 4th at 6PM ET! On Thursday, Joe Lowery and Taylor Rockwell will be live on the Stereo app to talk more about La Masia and to interact with you, dear listener. You can download the Stereo app and get ready to the show by following this link: stereo.com/joelowery! Or this link: stereo.com/rockwelltss!

On this episode of Soccer 101, Taylor gives a three-pronged explanation for why so many Americans play (or have played) in the Bundesliga. We'll also take a look at how Spain and the Netherlands approach international players, as well as how changing policies in England could make it easier for Americans to make the jump abroad. Sponsors! This episode is brought to you by... ExpressVPN! Go to expressvpn.com/soccer to get 3 additional months for free! Keeps! Go to keeps.com/soccer101 to to receive your first month of treatment for free! The Soccer 101 theme (and plenty of other excellent music) can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com

On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey explains everything you need to know about the Champions League and its origins as a competition. Plus, a Back to the Future reference inside the first 90 seconds. This episode is brought to you by Stereo! Download the Stereo App and listen to the Soccer 101 LIVE SHOW on Thursday 28th January, 5 p.m. ET!

It's a Ripped-from-the-headlines-of-the-life-of-Graham Special! What are match programmes and why are they still around? Do they exist in other sports and in other countries around the globe? How long have they been a thing? What are some of Graham's favorites, and will anything ever top the one with John McGinn on the cover? Answer: no.

On this episode of Soccer 101, Joe Lowery rolls out the tactics whiteboard and dives into the fundamentals of man-marking and zonal-marking. This episode is brought to you by Keeps! Go to keeps.com/soccer101 to to receive your first month of treatment for free! The Soccer 101 theme (and plenty of other excellent music) can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com

On this episode of Soccer 101, Ryan Bailey explores the story of Paul Gascoigne. The maverick midfielder was one of England’s brightest talents, a born entertainer, and an imperfect hero. This episode is brought to you by ExpressVPN! Go to expressvpn.com/soccer to get 3 additional months for free! This episode is brought to you by HelloFresh! Go to HelloFresh.com/10soccer and use code 10soccer for 10 free meals, including free shipping!

On this episode of Soccer 101, Joe Lowery dives into the origin of the red (and yellow) card. From the Battle of Santiago to the streets of London, the story of the red card is a winding one.  This episode is brought to you by ExpressVPN. Go to expressvpn.com/soccer to get 3 additional months for FREE! The Soccer 101 theme (and plenty of other excellent music) can be found right here: https://aerialist.bandcamp.com