Heroes & Humans of Football – Details, episodes & analysis

Jose Mourinho is the arrogant and charismatic cult figure who divides opinions on the pitch and in the press room. Is he the genius strategist and saviour of failing clubs or just a toxic coach with main character syndrome?  This episode covers the rise of Mourinho, from his early beginnings in Portugal and Barcelona, to his time coaching Chelsea and Inter Milan. Simon and Mehreen analyse Mourinho’s rise to football supremacy with stories that even mega-fans (and mega-haters) may not have heard before. In the episode, Simon and Mehreen share their tongue-in-cheek, in-depth analysis of Mourinho—as a love bomber and a ‘f***boy’, Mourinho’s problematic takes, and how he has been able to use his intelligence, charisma, and good looks for both good and toxic purposes.  This is a two-parter; look out for the next episode on the fall of Jose Mourinho.  Time stamps: 00:30: Rise, fall, and redemption (?) 4:00: Growing up in a rapidly-changing Portugal 9:40: Rise of the intellectual and start at Barcelona 16:56: Frustration to first big break 21:01: Spotting weaknesses in his opponents 25:35: Mourinho - the handsome, the charismatic 28:53: Becoming the main character – Porto success to Abramovich knocking 35:34: Chelsea beginnings and rise of the media manipulator 43:25: Mourinho “the psychic” 44:43: Problematic takes on African players 47:12: Mourinho the love bomber 50:38: Chelsea becomes toxic 57:51: Chelsea sacking and next big move 1:03:04: Saviour of Inter Milan 1:08:26: Heading for Madrid Join the Heroes and Humans Supporters Club! Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and can’t 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, you’ll 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 football’s biggest personalities or just can’t wait for the next episode, we’ve got something for you. Don’t miss out! Support us and get more from your favourite podcast. Join us today at patreon.com/heroesandhumans Follow @heroesandhumans everywhere. Instagram TikTok Facebook X Visit our website for news & updates heroesandhumans.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sven-Göran Eriksson, former England and Lazio manager, has died at the age of 76. In this tribute episode, Mehreen and Simon discuss the colourful life and career of the small-town Swede who shook up English football as the country's first foreign national team coach and electrified the British tabloids at the height of media intrusion into the private lives of celebrities.  Mehreen and Simon are joined by Olof Lundh, Swedish sports journalist, on how Sven's career went from managing part-time players with Gothenburg in the '80 and ended in ignominy after an elaborate fraud involving the ghost owners of Notts County and a trip to North Korea. He was a perennial nearly-ran with England's "golden generation" of footballers, was duped by a "fake sheikh", and led a financially-doped Lazio in their greatest years, winning seven trophies in three years.   This is the story of Sweden's greatest ever coach and a remarkable footballing life. RIP Sven.  Timestamps: 00:20 Introduction 07:44: Humble beginnings and discovering football 13:25: Breakthrough with Gothenburg 15:51: Moves around Europe 17:50: The first foreign England manager 25:20: A calm demeanour in the hysterical noughties media 31:37: An English culture clash 34:08: Love affairs and the News International phone hacking scandal  38:19: Flirting with other jobs and the ‘fake sheikh’ 45:31: Simon’s take on interviewing Sven 49:35: Penalties misery and protection of players 52:58: The end of England 55:16: The Scam move to Notts County 57:43: Naivete and a move away from European football 1:02:05: Sven reveals he has cancer Join the Heroes and Humans Supporters Club! Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and can’t 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, you’ll 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 football’s biggest personalities or just can’t wait for the next episode, we’ve got something for you. Don’t miss out! Support us and get more from your favourite podcast. Join us today at patreon.com/heroesandhumans Follow @heroesandhumans everywhere. Instagram TikTok Facebook X Visit our website for news & updates heroesandhumans.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fifty years ago this week, Johan Cruyff took one of the most exciting teams in football history to the 1974 World Cup final. But his Holland lost to West Germany, largely because of what has gone down in Dutch history as “The Swimming Pool Affair” – a German tabloid’s front-page scoop that cost Cruyff great anguish and many hours in a phone booth calling his furious wife. We tell the story of Dutch “total football”, of the rock-star team that lived it large both on the field and off it, of the manager who was simultaneously coaching FC Barcelona, and of Johan Cruyff himself: the man who invented modern football, and fought with everybody, including with his biggest fan, Simon.  Timestamps: 00:00:29 - Introduction to the story of the 1974 Dutch national team and Johan Cruyff 00:02:23 - Explanation of the Dutch team's revolutionary playing style 00:03:19 - Background on the development of "total football" in Amsterdam 00:08:18 - Discussion of Cruyff's upbringing and early career with Ajax 00:10:05 - Cruyff's childhood and the impact of his father's death 00:11:30 - Introduction of Rinus Michels as Ajax manager 00:14:01 - Development of Ajax's new playing style under Michels and Cruyff 00:15:29 - Description of the dynamic between Cruyff and Michels 00:19:07 - Lead-up to the 1974 World Cup and the Dutch team's preparations 00:24:36 - Context of the 1974 World Cup in West Germany 00:27:02 - Description of the Dutch team's behaviour during the World Cup 00:28:17 - Cruyff's unconventional decisions in team selection 00:30:31 - Discussion of the Dutch team's appearance and iconic orange jerseys 00:33:03 - Description of the Dutch team's revolutionary playing style in action 00:36:07 - The "swimming pool affair" and its impact on Cruyff before the final 00:43:03 - The World Cup final against West Germany 00:45:55 - Aftermath of the final and Dutch reaction to finishing second 00:47:20 - Legacy of the 1974 Dutch team and Cruyff's impact on football 00:49:28 - Simon's experience interviewing Cruyff years later and subsequent fallout Join the Heroes and Humans Supporters Club! Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and can’t 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, you’ll 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 football’s biggest personalities or just can’t wait for the next episode, we’ve got something for you. Don’t miss out! Support us and get more from your favourite podcast. Join us today at patreon.com/heroesandhumans Follow @heroesandhumans everywhere. Instagram TikTok Facebook X Visit our website for news & updates heroesandhumans.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Afghan women’s national team doesn’t exist – not according to FIFA, anyway. The Taliban banned women's football when they took control of Afghanistan in 2021, forcing the team to flee the country for fear of their lives. But FIFA now refuses to recognise the team in exile, allowing the Taliban to continue their gender apartheid. Today, the team is fighting for FIFA recognition and their place in football. Living in exile and risking their lives to play football, the Afghan women's players are determined to return to the international game. Mehreen and Simon talk to Khalida Popal, the woman who defied the country's misogynistic norms to set up the national team. She became the first female captain, coach, and executive in Afghanistan's history. This is a story of a team’s courage and comradery in the face of death threats and sexual assaults. To support the Afghan women's team in their fight for recognition, you can sign this petition and follow Khalida Popal on LinkedIn:  https://www.change.org/p/fifacom-standwithafghanwomen-recognise-afghanistan-women-s-national-football-team-in-exile-follow-alivekicking23 https://www.linkedin.com/in/khalida-popal-64a29176?originalSubdomain=dk Timestamps: 00:00:02 - Introduction to the episode about Afghanistan's women's football team 00:03:47 - Khalida Popal joins to discuss founding the team 00:03:55 - Growing up in Afghanistan before the Taliban 00:05:09 - Early exposure to football in Afghanistan  00:06:09 - Returning to Afghanistan after 2001 and facing resistance to women playing football 00:08:56 - Setting up a girls' football team at school despite challenges 00:12:51 - Men discover and threaten the girls playing football 00:14:57 - Story of a teammate forced to stop playing by her family 00:18:06 - Establishing the Afghan women's national team 00:21:07 - Negotiating with the Afghan Football Federation for recognition 00:25:16 - Difficulties of managing the national team and facing abuse 00:30:10 - Fleeing Afghanistan due to death threats 00:33:56 - Evacuating players as Taliban returned to power in 2021 00:41:29 - Current players describe obstacles they faced playing in Afghanistan 00:43:01 - Players' experiences when Taliban took over in 2021 00:45:04 - Campaign for FIFA to recognise the exiled Afghan women's team 00:48:03 - FIFA's lack of response to requests for recognition Join the Heroes and Humans Supporters Club! Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and can’t 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, you’ll 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 football’s biggest personalities or just can’t wait for the next episode, we’ve got something for you. Don’t miss out! Support us and get more from your favourite podcast. Join us today at patreon.com/heroesandhumans Follow @heroesandhumans everywhere. Instagram TikTok Facebook X Visit our website for news & updates heroesandhumans.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's bizarre how long it took Argentinians to learn to love Leo Messi. His exile from his declining homeland always made him suspect. The comparison with Maradona hung over him from the start. And why was he hardly ever as good for Argentina as he was for Barcelona? We tell the story of the world's best player's complex relationship with his own country, and how it finally had a happy end. Timestamps: 00:00:02 - Introduction 00:01:18 - Messi's fraught relationship with Argentina 00:06:24 - Messi as the embodiment of the Pibe archetype 00:11:36 - Messi's early international career and struggles with Argentina 00:18:52 - 2014 World Cup and Argentina's attempt at a "Messi strategy" 00:24:06 - 2014 World Cup disappointment and Messi's frustrations 00:29:19 - Psychoanalysis of Messi's perceived lack of Argentinian-ness 00:36:58 - Messi finally wins Copa America in 2021 00:39:35 - 2022 World Cup in Qatar and initial struggles 00:40:24 - Argentina's resurgence and Messi's leadership 00:42:15 - Winning the 2022 World Cup as a team 00:44:26 - Messi's place in Argentinian history compared to Maradona 00:46:10 - Speculation on Messi's life without football 00:48:02 - Would the hosts want to hang out with Messi? Join the Heroes and Humans Supporters Club! Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and can’t 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, you’ll 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 football’s biggest personalities or just can’t wait for the next episode, we’ve got something for you. Don’t miss out! Support us and get more from your favourite podcast. Join us today at patreon.com/heroesandhumans Follow @heroesandhumans everywhere. Instagram TikTok Facebook X Visit our website for news & updates heroesandhumans.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gareth Southgate's tactical and managerial qualities still split fan opinion as he leads England in his fourth major tournament at the Euros in Germany this summer. But one thing that can't be disputed is Southgate's ability to unite his players in a team whose confidence has been battered by two decades of under-achievment. The former Aston Villa captain has been a leading voice against racism directed at young black English players and is arguably redefining the notion of Englishness in modern Britain.  Simon and Mehreen discuss the steps and experiences that how Southgate came to manage another golden generation of English footballers, growing up in a respectable family in South London, learning from the negatives, and bouncing back from *that* penalty miss in Euro '96. But will Gareth Southgate go down in history as a unifying England manager or just another nearly-ran?  Timecodes: 00:00:43 - Proposition: Gareth Southgate is a very laudable, commendable figure, but is he a national hero or overhyped mediocrity? 00:02:22 - Southgate's background and upbringing in Crawley 00:05:52 - Joining Crystal Palace as an apprentice and experiencing class division 00:08:31 - Southgate's playing career at Palace, Villa, and Middlesbrough 00:12:04 - First meeting with Southgate and the Euro 1996 penalty miss 00:19:25 - John Major's encouragement after the penalty miss 00:22:22 - Southgate's unfulfilled club career and disappointment 00:27:56 - Becoming England manager in 2016 after a national humiliation 00:33:06 - Resetting expectations and creating a high-performance culture 00:39:20 - 2018 World Cup and learning to love the new England team 00:43:16 - Black Lives Matter movement and Southgate's stance 00:50:00 - Euro 2020 final against Italy and the penalty misses 00:54:10 - Expectations for the 2022 World Cup and Southgate's limitations 01:00:22 - Southgate's vision of an inclusive and modern Englishness 01:04:34 - Conclusion and Southgate's potential legacy Join the Heroes and Humans Supporters Club! Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and can’t 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, you’ll 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 football’s biggest personalities or just can’t wait for the next episode, we’ve got something for you. Don’t miss out! Support us and get more from your favourite podcast. Join us today at patreon.com/heroesandhumans Follow @heroesandhumans everywhere. Instagram TikTok Facebook X Visit our website for news & updates heroesandhumans.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the eve of Euro 2024, Henry talks about nearly 30 years of dealing with England managers and players, from Glenn Hoddle to Harry Kane - with some very kind words for Jack Grealish. Henry Winter is one of the best known and most respected journalists in the English language. Having covered football for over 38 years, conducted over 1500 interviews, and attended thousands of matches, Henry might have a story or two to share. In this episode, we talk to Henry about football journalism, how it's changed over the decades, and the rise of modern media, as well as how he navigates the complicated relationships that journalists have with players and managers. Timestamps: 00:13:06 Discussion about how football clubs and players are doing more community work than the government, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. 00:16:22 Reflection on the changing relationship between football players and the press, from adversarial in the past to more cooperative now. 00:17:14 Discussion on the growth of fan-related content and how it reflects fans' frustration with mainstream media. 00:21:28 Admission of making a mistake by making fun of Ronaldo's weight on Twitter, learning a lesson about not personalising criticism. 00:22:39 Reflection on the moral substance of many football players, particularly in contrast to politicians. 00:27:14 Discussion about the most interesting people to meet in football, including Sir Alex Ferguson, Pele, and Jurgen Klopp. 00:29:57 Talk about who is best at discussing football itself, mentioning Glenn Hoddle and other players who didn't have much pace but became good managers. 00:30:56 Question about who one would be happy never to see again, with a reluctant mention of FIFA president Gianni Infantino. 00:31:33 Suggestion: Jurgen Klopp is one of the most misunderstood people in football, with more science behind his emotional style than people realise. 00:33:34 Discussion about England's chances in Euro 2024, praising players like Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden, and Declan Rice. 00:34:48 Talk about how social media affects players' mental health, with many going off social media due to abuse and intensity. 00:36:52 Pondering what one would be doing if not a football writer, suggesting possibly stacking shelves at Selfridges. Join the Heroes and Humans Supporters Club! Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and can’t 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, you’ll 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 football’s biggest personalities or just can’t wait for the next episode, we’ve got something for you. Don’t miss out! Support us and get more from your favourite podcast. Join us today at patreon.com/heroesandhumans Follow @heroesandhumans everywhere. Instagram TikTok Facebook X Visit our website for news & updates heroesandhumans.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jude Bellingham could go down as the best English player to never play in the Premier League, but how did he go from a shy and polite young boy from Stourbridge, to an integral part of Real Madrid's push for the Champions League title this season? This episode describes the careful and precise decisions of Jude Bellingham's career so far that have led him to the biggest stage of world football, despite still being 20 years old. From the thinking behind his shirt number at Birmingham, to rejecting England's biggest clubs in favour of a move to Germany.  Timestamps: 00:00:00 - Introduction to the podcast episode on Jude Bellingham. 00:02:07 - Discussing Bellingham being compared to the fictional character Roy of the Rovers. 00:07:00 - Bellingham's background and upbringing in Birmingham. 00:10:12 - Insights from Bellingham's youth coach Paul Robinson on coaching him at Birmingham City. 00:16:13 - Bellingham's decision to join Borussia Dortmund instead of clubs like Manchester United and Chelsea. 00:22:48 - Bellingham's time at Borussia Dortmund and his relationship with players like Erling Haaland. 00:29:27 - Bellingham's performance at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. 00:32:07 - Bellingham's transfer to Real Madrid in 2023. 00:41:44 - Bellingham's incredible goalscoring form for Real Madrid in his first season. 00:49:54 - Discussion on Bellingham's potential legacy and future. 00:57:20 - The rising trend of incredibly talented young footballers emerging at a very young age. 01:05:00 - Speculating on what profession Bellingham could have pursued if not football. Join the Heroes and Humans Supporters Club! Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and can’t 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, you’ll 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 football’s biggest personalities or just can’t wait for the next episode, we’ve got something for you. Don’t miss out! Support us and get more from your favourite podcast. Join us today at patreon.com/heroesandhumans Follow @heroesandhumans everywhere. Instagram TikTok Facebook X Visit our website for news & updates heroesandhumans.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Carlo Ancelotti, son of poor Italian farmers, could be about to win a record fifth Champions League with Real Madrid. That’s pretty good for a guy whose managerial career started with him refusing to sign Roberto Baggio. This episode describes how the nicest man in football learned how to handle the egomaniacs around him, give players the power, and always made sure that everybody ate well together. The secrets of “quiet leadership” all around the world, from the coach whose own role model is Vito Corleone. Timestamps: 0:00 - Introduction to the episode on Carlo Ancelotti 0:29 - Ancelotti's background as a player and coach who won multiple Champions Leagues 2:21 - Ancelotti's qualities of being funny and having empathy 2:59 - Ancelotti's early life and family background in a farming village in Italy 6:22 - Ancelotti's time playing for Arrigo Sacchi's revolutionary AC Milan team 9:27 - How Ancelotti dealt with egos like Silvio Berlusconi as a player at Milan 11:51 - Ancelotti's early coaching jobs and transition to a more flexible style 14:50 - Ancelotti getting fired just before halftime at Juventus  16:31 - Ancelotti's successful stint at AC Milan as a manager winning the Champions League 19:00 - Ancelotti's time at Chelsea and getting fired in the tunnel after winning the double 22:19 - Ancelotti building Paris Saint-Germain into a top club after their takeover 25:39 - How Ancelotti managed egos like Zlatan Ibrahimovic at PSG 28:19 - Ancelotti's first stint at Real Madrid and his relationship with Cristiano Ronaldo   34:49 - Ancelotti's short tenures at Bayern Munich, Napoli and Everton 36:57 - Ancelotti breaking his Champions League wins record in his second Real Madrid stint 39:41 - Ancelotti's empathetic man-management style with players like Vinicius Jr, Bellingham 44:13 - Ancelotti potentially becoming Brazil's next manager 46:27 - Discussion on Ancelotti's leadership style and legacy Join the Heroes and Humans Supporters Club! Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and can’t 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, you’ll 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 football’s biggest personalities or just can’t wait for the next episode, we’ve got something for you. Don’t miss out! Support us and get more from your favourite podcast. Join us today at patreon.com/heroesandhumans Follow @heroesandhumans everywhere. Instagram TikTok Facebook X Visit our website for news & updates heroesandhumans.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mohammed bin Salman may be the most influential person in global football, even though he doesn’t seem to like the game. In 2021, the Saudi millennial crown prince became the ultimate owner of Newcastle United, when the Premier League club was bought by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund. The country’s de facto leader is also pumping billions into the Saudi Pro League, where Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar are on the crown’s payroll. MBS is almost certain to win the ultimate prize of hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2034, and probably also the Women’s World Cup 2035 – despite Saudi Arabia’s not very woman-friendly reputation. All this for a man who seems to have never taken an interest in football, neither as a fan nor as a player. In 2014, hardly anyone even in Saudi Arabia had heard of him. How did he go from a nobody to the most powerful ruler in the country’s history? And why did he then jump into football? Mehreen and Simon chart the life of a once unremarkable, and not very wealthy, lowly prince, who has risen to become the most authoritarian leader in Saudi’s modern history. It’s a story of a rapid rise to the top, dictatorial power, extra-judicial killings, and trillions of dollars that are being deployed to refashion the Saudi economy. With his nation’s petrodollars, MbS is now taking over golf, Formula 1, and even snooker. But MbS’s most controversial foray into global sport is the world’s most popular game. Why is MBS in football, and will he stay? Timestamps: 00:01:04 - Introducing Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) 00:01:32 - Mehreen discusses her connection to Saudi Arabia as a Muslim 00:03:02 - Discussion of MBS's background and rise to power in Saudi Arabia 00:06:44 - MBS locking up his own mother early in his reign 00:08:25 - MBS's attempts to modernise and reform Saudi Arabia 00:12:19 - MBS's envy of Qatar hosting the 2022 World Cup 00:14:13 - MBS's appearance at the 2018 World Cup opening match in Russia 00:16:15 - The murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi by Saudi agents 00:20:28 - MBS's decision to host the 2034 and likely 2035 World Cups in Saudi Arabia 00:23:24 - MBS's purchase of Newcastle United FC 00:28:10 - Saudi investments in bringing star players to the Saudi Pro League 00:32:42 - Analysis of MBS's motivations for investing heavily in football/sports 00:39:19 - Comparing MBS to Roman Abramovich's ownership of Chelsea FC 00:42:37 - What career MBS might have had if not a Saudi prince Join the Heroes and Humans Supporters Club! Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and can’t 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, you’ll 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 football’s biggest personalities or just can’t wait for the next episode, we’ve got something for you. Don’t miss out! Support us and get more from your favourite podcast. Join us today at patreon.com/heroesandhumans Follow @heroesandhumans everywhere. Instagram TikTok Facebook X Visit our website for news & updates heroesandhumans.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices