The Athletic FC Podcast

Jason Wilcox has been in the eye of the storm at Manchester United ever since Lisandro Martinez publicly blamed the club’s Director of Football for the current balance of the squad.

So with sporting directors more in vogue and recognisable than ever before, are they no longer safe from scrutiny?

Kate Mason is joined by former England international Rob Green and the The Athletic's Matt Slater and Adam Crafton, plus Joel Roberts who is the Managing Director of the Association of Sporting Directors.

Host: Kate Mason
Panelists: Rob Green, Adam Crafton, Matt Slater
Guest: Joel Roberts
Producers: Xavi Bird, Lara Sinclair
Executive Producer: Adam Jones
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Four of the five managers nominated for the Men’s Coach of the Year at the Ballon d’Or ceremony last week hailed from Spain.

So what is it about Spanish managers, particularly from the Basque region, which makes them such good leaders from the dugout?

Emma Paton is joined by The Athletic's Barcelona correspondent Pol Ballus, Spanish editor Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero and Spurs writer Jay Harris to assess the influx of Spanish managers across Europe, Pep Guardiola's influence and which current players are destined to become stellar coaches.

Host: Emma Paton
Panelists: Pol Ballus, Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero, Jay Harris
Producers: Xavi Bird, Lara Sinclair
Executive Producers: Max Curwen Bingley, Adam Jones
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The November international break is typically a moment in the Premier League season when clubs fire and hire managers. So, with pressure mounting on the likes of Michael Carrick, Pierre Sage and Regis Le Bris, how many managerial changes could we see over the next few weeks?

Plus we hear how Ruben Amorim is getting on at AC Milan after a huge Milan derby win at the weekend, West Ham's move for Scott Parker and David Ornstein's weekly Q&A section where he answers his favourite questions from The Athletic subscribers.

Emma Paton is joined by The Athletic's Football Correspondent David Ornstein and Senior Football Writer James Horncastle.

Host: Emma Paton
Panelists: David Ornstein, James Horncastle
Producers: Mike Stavrou, Grayson Moody
Executive Producer: Adam Jones
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Arsenal made it 13 wins from their last 14 Premier League games, winning at Liverpool for the first time in 14 years in typically gritty style on Sunday.

So when neutral fans might have expected them to become more expansive this season, have they actually doubled down on what drove them to the title last campaign?

Plus, things get even worse for Michael Carrick and Manchester United at Chelsea, and have Spurs turned a corner?

Emma Paton is joined by former England international Rob Green and Man United correspondent Cerys Jones.

Host: Emma Paton
Panelists: Rob Green, Cerys Jones
Videographer: Lara Sinclair
Producer: Jay Beale
Executive producer: Adam Jones
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yes you’ve read that correctly, today we’re forgoing What If, and asking What is…

On today’s episode Emma Paton is joined in the studio by The Athletic’s Tim Spiers and Colin Millar to dissect what people actually mean when they say club ‘DNA’, and if it even exists in the first place.

Plus, have you ever imagined a John Terry led Chelsea? Worry not, we discuss where each top-six club might go if they had to nominate a club legend to grace the touchline.

Host: Emma Paton
Panelists: Tim Spiers, Colin Millar
Executive Producers: Adam Jones, Max Curwen Bingley
Producer: Mike Stavrou
Videographer: Grayson Moody
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.