The Upshot

Diego Maradona and Napoli: it was football's wildest romance. A head-spinning cocktail of devotion, chaos and glory - plus enough drugs to kill a horse. From prosthetic penises to doing coke in the Pope's bathroom, this is the story of Diego in Naples… Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cocaine-fuelled car chases. Ultras invading orgies. And Kyle Walker waving his willy around a Manchester bar. It’s been a wild year in the world of sport. And today we celebrate all of it, with our annual awards ceremony: the Shotties… If you’re enjoying the pod, please answer this quick survey to help us improve. It’s all multiple choice and takes 30 seconds: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe4IEGuJLGn8V0TvfEXY2hjVr-oC2bRgsiWY3fLS7jWzfveXQ/viewform?usp=sf_link Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He fights gangs, pens murder mysteries and once served a stint in the slammer. Steve Bruce is not who you think he is. From con tricks to cabbage crimes, this is his story… For more tales of sporting scandal, join 100,000+ subscribers who get our free weekly email: https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=poddescription Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Joey Barton is fucking mental. He punches children, quotes Nietzsche, and once sunk his teeth into his own club captain. And that’s just the tame stuff. From cigars in eyes to zoo animals on the loose, this is the story of the Premier League’s biggest wrong’un… For more tales of sporting scandal, join 100,000+ subscribers who get our free weekly email: https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=poddescription Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It was football’s wildest fairytale: in ten years ramshackle Wimbledon went from non-league to the top flight and FA Cup glory. But that’s only half the story. Vinnie Jones, John Fashanu and co were a bunch of absolute animals. They torched cars, held press conferences naked, and hospitalised each other with dressing room beatings. This is the story of the Crazy Gang… For more tales of sporting scandal, join 100,000+ subscribers who get our free weekly email: https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=poddescription Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The year is 1999 - Real Madrid are at war. Legendary striker Raul brands the dressing room “a cesspit of lies, treachery and whispers”. Something has to change... From murderous hitmen to pigs heads on the pitch, this is the story of the Galacticos… For more tales of sporting scandal, join 100,000+ subscribers who get our free weekly email: https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=poddescription Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Erling Haaland isn’t like other humans. He gorges on chicken livers, raps about world peace, and wakes up to the Champions League anthem. Every day. As the Robo-Viking smashes every record under the sun, we’re joined by Haaland expert Lars Sivertsen to explore the weird world of Erling Haaland… If you’re enjoying The Upshot podcast, please share it with your friends. It really helps us grow. For more tales of sporting scandal, join 100,000+ subscribers who get our free weekly email: https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=poddescription Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Trigger Happy TV creator Dom Joly joins us to discuss a tabloid sensation who smoked weed, punched coppers and made magic on the pitch. From drug scandals to accidental dick pics, this is Beefy’s story… If you’re enjoying The Upshot podcast, please share it with your friends. It really helps us grow. And for more tales of sporting scandal, join 100,000+ subscribers who get our free weekly email: https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=poddescription Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Everyone knows Roy Keane is a mad bastard. The United legend humiliated teammates, knocked out opponents and scrapped with his own manager. But there’s more. So much more. From drunken headbutts to kung fu kicks in the dressing room, this is his story… For more tales of sporting scandal, join 100,000+ subscribers who get our free weekly email: https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=poddescription Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You might remember Adrian Mutu as a promising Chelsea striker with a taste for cocaine. But Class As weren’t his only vice. From high speed car chases to drinking a porn star's blood, meet the Bad Boy of Bucharest… Jack (http://www.twitter.com/jackrivlin) and Zach (http://www.twitter.com/zachary_sl) are joined by JP Lockwood (http://www.twitter.com/jplockwood) to discuss the cokey Chelsea striker. For more tales of sporting scandal, join 100,000+ subscribers who get our free weekly email: https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=poddescription Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rugby playing cannibals. Stalkers in Serie A. Ghostly visitations from the late George Best. As Halloween draws near, we’ve braved the haunted crypts of Upshot Towers, digging up a selection of macabre, gruesome and terrifying tales. Gather round, children, for the scariest stories in sport… For more tales of sporting scandal, join 100,000+ subscribers who get our free weekly email: https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=poddescription Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With his good looks, magic right boot and penchant for queueing, David Beckham is a national treasure. But you didn’t tune in to hear about all that, did you? From knobbing his PA to the “stag do of the millennium”, meet the real David Beckham… For more tales of sporting scandal, join 100,000+ subscribers who get our free weekly email: https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=poddescription Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Masked hitmen. Sex tape blackmail. Organ harvesting allegations. It’s been an incredibly weird, sexually charged, and occasionally glorious decade for French football. We’re joined by ESPN’s Julien Laurens as we dive into Les Bleus' sinister sexual psychodrama... For more tales of sporting scandal, join 100,000+ subscribers who get our free weekly email: https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=poddescription Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mike Ashley's Newcastle reign was a disaster for fans, and behind the scenes it was booze-soaked chaos. The giant mug magnate enjoyed 14 years of drunken mayhem at St James Park. From puking in fireplaces to stripping at staff parties, welcome to Big Mike's decade on the Toon… For more tales of sporting scandal, join 100,000+ subscribers who get our free weekly email: https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=poddescription Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Drug-fuelled car crashes. 121 mistresses. Shagging the next door neighbour's daughter. No one does scandals like Tiger Woods. But if you think you know the full story, think again. Buckle in for the sordid tale of a golfer gone wild… For more tales of sporting scandal, join 100,000+ subscribers who get our free weekly email: https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=poddescription And get a rundown of the week’s funniest stories and clips on our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UpshotTowers/videos?view=0&sort=dd&shelf_id=0 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

They don't make managers like Neil Warnock anymore. He gave team talks naked, cut his players' toe nails and picked the team based on his wife's dreams. So by all means enjoy this podcast, but "enjoy it by being fucking disciplined"... For more tales of sport’s most colourful characters, join 100,000+ subscribers who get our free weekly email: https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=poddescription Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When Wayne Rooney burst onto the scene in 2002, there was only one nagging doubt. Would he have the sordid private life to match his undeniable footballing genius? It didn’t take long for him to deliver. From PVC grannies to spiking his teammates with Viagra, welcome to the wild world of Wazza… For more tales about sport’s most colourful characters, join 100,000+ subscribers who get our free weekly email: https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=poddescription Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you like to think rugby is a civilised sport played by gentlemen, stop reading now. From dealing drugs to defecating on dancefloors, the sport is filled with absolute wrong uns. As the World Cup kicks off, meet rugby's rowdiest reprobates… For more tales of sporting scandal, join 100,000+ subscribers who get our free weekly email: https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=poddescription Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From human trafficking charges to arson, Mauro Icardi's love life has thrown up some ludicrous drama. The former PSG striker and his wife Wanda are the stars of football’s most chaotic marriage. This is their story… For more tales from sport’s most colourful characters, join 100,000+ subscribers who get our free weekly email: https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=poddescription Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For a bloke who won the Ballon d'Or and lit up the World Cup, Michael Owen's life is comically dull. The England legend has never tasted tea or coffee, and his mum managed his bank account until he was 38. This is the story of England's weirdo wonderkid… For more tales from sport’s most colourful characters, join 100,000+ subscribers who get our free weekly email: https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=poddescription Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the mid 2000s Ronaldinho was the king of football... and an absolute shagger. But the madcap world of the buck-toothed genius was about to come crashing down. From four-way relationships to stints in the slammer, buckle in for the scintillating saga of Brazil’s sesh-head superstar… For more tales from sport’s most colourful characters, join 100,000+ subscribers who get our free weekly email: https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=poddescription Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Premier League doesn’t just specialise in high quality football and obscene sums of cash - it does a lovely side business in scandals too. Ahead of the new season, we’ve picked out the biggest rogues, shaggers and miscellaneous comedy characters.. From cat kickers to willy wavers, this is the 2023/24 wrong’uns XI… For more tales from sport’s most colourful characters, join 100,000+ subscribers who get our free weekly email: https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=poddescription Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Shane Warne wasn't like other sportsmen. A sex-mad cricketing genius, he once summed up his life: "I smoked, I drank, and I bowled a bit of leg spin. I don't have any regrets." From sexting scandals to lasagne sandwiches, welcome to Warnie's World… For more tales from sport’s most colourful characters, join 100,000+ subscribers who get our free weekly email: https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=poddescription Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You might remember Nicklas Bendtner as a misfiring Arsenal striker with godawful tattoos. But what he lacked in goals, he made up for in scintillating off-field scandal. From bedding baronesses to boob job blackmail, welcome to the ludicrous life of Lord Bendtner… For more tales of footballing drama, try our free weekly email, spilling the funniest stories in sport to 100,000 subscribers: https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=poddescription Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When Roman Abramovich sold Chelsea, the fans feared the worst. And it turns out they were right! Todd Boehly's first season in charge has been an absolute shitshow. From macho death grips to mysterious off-field scandals, this is the story of Chelsea's season from hell… For more tales of footballing scandal, try our free weekly email, spilling the funniest stories in sport to 100,000 subscribers: https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=poddescription Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ankle tags. Threesomes with Ashley Cole. Cat murder cover-ups. No one embodied noughties football excess like Jermaine Pennant. Jack and Zach from The Upshot are joined by Mickey Down (co-creator of HBO/BBC sensation Industry) to delve into the wild life of a Premier League bad-boy. Starting with his hungover hat-trick on debut for Arsenal, we explore some of Jermaine's most colourful antics and biggest scandals, including some utterly ridiculous tales of boozing, law-breaking and tabloid stitch-ups. And there will be the odd mention of actual football too. For more tales of footballing scandal, try our free weekly email, bringing 100,000 subscribers the funniest stories in sport: https://www.upshot.email/subscribe?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=poddescription You can buy Jermaine's book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mental-Behaviour-Ugly-Truths-Beautiful-ebook/dp/B07FV3NDTH/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to The Upshot podcast. Each week, we'll pull back the curtain on your favourite sports and dives into all the stuff BBC and Sky wouldn’t touch with a bargepole: drunken antics, dressing room squabbles and the simmering sexual tension of the French football team. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices