World Football

The former Leicester and Sunderland winger Matt Piper opens up about how his life spiralled out of control after injuries forced him to retire at just 24. Mani Djazmi, Pat Nevin and Heather O’Reilly discuss the big-name signings that have joined the Women's Super League in England this season. And we speak to San Marino midfielder, Alessandro Golinucci, as the team continue to search for the country‘s first competitive win. Photo: Millwall's Tim Cahill fights for the ball with Sunderland's Matt Piper during their FA Cup semi-final at Old Trafford in 2004. Credit: Paul Barker/AFP via Getty Images.

Mani Djazmi, Pat Nevin and Heather O'Reilly reflect on Lionel Messi's decision to leave Barcelona with Gaston Recondo, who was one of the journalists to break the news in Argentina.With Major League Soccer joining Basketball and Tennis in calling off matches in solidarity with anti-racism protests in the USA, we hear from Colorado Rapids forward Kei Kamara and discuss the social consciousness in American sports.And we'll hear why Curacao's footballers are dreaming of reaching the World Cup with former Real Madrid, Chelsea and Netherlands manager Guus Hiddink at the helm, from possibly the country's most-capped player, Gevaro Nepomuceno.Photo: Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona looks dejected after Barcelona's 8-2 defeat to Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League. Credit: Manu Fernandez/Pool/Getty Images

Mani Djazmi, Pat Nevin and Heather O'Reilly preview the UEFA Champions League final between Paris Saint Germain and Bayern Munich. We also hear from the former Stuttgart and RB Leipzig coach Alex Zorniger who discusses the unstoppable rise of German coaches.Picture: Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Munich celebrates after scoring his team's third goal against Olympique Lyonnais (Franck Fife/Pool via Getty Images)

Lille owner Gerard Lopez gives an insight into the challenges of running a football club and outlines his vision for how to compete with Europe's biggest teams. We also hear from a history-making African coach, as he prepares his team for the European Champions League. Presented by John Bennett, Pat Nevin and Alicia Ferguson.Picture: The owner of Lille Gerard Lopez during a team presentation prior to a pre-season friendly in France (Photo by Jean Catuffe/Getty Images)

Lebanon international Edmond Chehade tells us how he was caught in the blast that rocked Beirut. We also hear from his team-mate Omar Buigel. Also on the show, Tony Dorigo recalls stories from his Torino days.Picture: The Lebanese flag sits on the rubble in Beirut, in the aftermath of a massive explosion in the city. (PATRICK BAZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Dutch striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel discusses his return to football after brain surgery. And the former France and Real Madrid player Nicolas Anelka looks back on his career.Picture: Ricky van Wolfswinkel of FC Basel celebrates victory against Vitesse Arnhem (Laurens Lindhout/Soccrates/Getty Images)

Swiss midfielder Gökhan İnler talks about winning the Turkish title with Başakşehir. And the Gambia captain, Pa Modou Jagne, pays tribute to his country’s greatest ever player, Biri Biri.Picture: Players celebrate as Basaksehir clinch their first ever Turkish Super Lig title (Onur Coban/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images).

Footballer Jay Bothroyd tells stories from his time in Italy and Japan. Coach Carrie Taylor tells us why she quit San Diego Loyal after just two games. And Chris Hughton pays tribute to his former manager Jack Charlton.Picture: Jay Bothroyd of Consadole Sapporo paying against Kawasaki Frontale (Masashi Hara/Getty Images)

D.C. United coach Ben Olsen talks about the return of soccer in the USA. Melbourne City's French midfielder Florin Berenguer discusses his club's efforts to get out of Melbourne before shutdown. And we hear from a 61 year old footballer from the Faroe Islands.

Goalkeeper Vanessa Cordoba discusses the frustrations of being a female footballer in Colombia. We're in Brazil to find out more about the controversial decision to resume football. And we pay tribute to the only Iraqi to score at a World Cup, Ahmed Radhi.(Picture: Colombian players watch the penalty shoot-out against Argentina during the 2019 Pan-American Games by CRIS BOURONCLE/AFP via Getty Images)

Sparta Prague's Costa Nhamoinesu describes the racist incidents in Czech football in reaction to the Black Lives Matters movement. The former Australia international Alicia Ferguson reacts to the announcement that Australia and New Zealand will host the 2023 women's World Cup. And the owner of Mexican club Santos Laguna, Alejandro Irarragorri, tells us how Covid-19 has affected his club and his country.(Picture: Paul Pogba of Manchester United takes a knee in support of the Black Lives Matter movement by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Sunday will be the 50th anniversary of the World Cup final of 1970 when Brazil beat Italy 4-1 in Mexico City's Azteca stadium to win their third World Cup in 12 years. But this wasn't any old World Cup-winning team. It's a team that's become encircled by an almost mystical aura, and carries the seemingly eternal tag of the greatest team in the history of football. We'll hear memories from Pele and the late Carlos Alberto, and find out how that team influenced a man who, many years later, would coach a Brazil team to another World title. To discuss why Brazil 1970 is so revered, Mani Djazmi, Pat Nevin and Alicia Ferguson are joined by two experts - Ricardo Setyon, who’s been to nine World Cups, often working with the Brazil teams; and Andrew Downie, who’s a veteran foreign correspondent including nearly 30 years in Latin America, much of them in Brazil, and is the author of a soon-to-be-published book about the 1970 World Cup called ‘The Greatest Show On Earth’. Pat also goes behind the scenes at the Etihad Stadium to tell us what it’s really like to commentate on a Premier League game behind closed doors during the coronavirus pandemic.Picture: Pele celebrates Brazil's victory in the 1970 World Cup final. (Getty Images)

French World Cup winner and vocal anti-racism campaigner Christian Karembeu discusses the continuing fallout from the killing of George Floyd in the United States and how football should tackle racism moving forward. Valencia midfielder Francis Coquelin tells us about life in lockdown ahead of the return of La Liga. And Parma defender Matteo Darmian gives us the inside track on his former Manchester United bosses Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.Picture: Christian Karembeu talks during Day 2 of Soccerex Europe Convention (Getty Images)

USA internationals Jess McDonald and Bill Hamid discuss what it means to be African-American, as protests sweep across the world following the death of George Floyd. Plus, the Ferencvaros player, Tokmac Nguen, tells us why he decided to show his solidarity after scoring a goal in the Hungarian league.(Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)

The owner of Brescia, Massimo Cellino, joins us to discuss plans to restart the season. He also gives his views on the future of the club's mercurial striker Mario Balotelli.(Photo by Enrico Locci/Getty Images)

Wolfsburg's Swiss international, Kevin Mbabu, talks about the return of the German Bundesliga. And we also hear from the former Celtic and Nigeria player Efe Ambrose.(Photo by TOBIAS HASE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Mark Clattenburg discusses the implications of Covid-19 for referees and looks back on his career highlights. Australian international Adam Taggart talks about the return of football in South Korea. And Dynamo Dresden's Alexander Jeremejeff tells us about his club's set back, after two team mates tested positive for the Coronavirus.(Photo by Aitor Alcalde/Getty Images)

In this bonus podcast, the FC Midtjylland and Finland midfielder Tim Sparv discusses life in lockdown, qualifying for Euro 2020, his love of books, climate change, Qatar's human rights and playing with Theo Walcott and Gareth Bale.(Photo by MARKKU ULANDER/Lehtikuva/AFP via Getty Images)

Union Berlin's Neven Subotić discusses the imminent return of football in Germany. The Finland captain Tim Sparv talks about his frustration over the delay to Euro 2020. And 50 years on, we remember Feyenoord's 1970 European Cup triumph.(Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)

USA international Carli Lloyd reflects on her career and talks about the impact of Covid-19. Australia's Adam Taggart discusses the return of football in South Korea. We also hear form Arsenal's Dutch striker Vivanne Miedema.(Photo by Brad Smith/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

Brescia's Simon Skrabb talks about life in lock-down and the possibility of Serie A football returning. And the former Liverpool and Fenerbahçe Sporting Director, Damien Comolli, unpicks some of the problems facing clubs due to the Coronavirus pandemic.(Photo by Anders Ylander/Ombrello via Getty Images)

Spanish footballer Toni Dovale talks about his work as a pharmacist during the Covid-19 crisis. And Paderborn captain Christian Strohdiek discusses the prospect of football returning in Germany.Picture: Thai football league's Navy FC player Toni Dovale poses with a ball outside his family's pharmacy (Credit: MIGUEL RIOPA/AFP via Getty Images)

Torino's Ola Aina talks about life in lockdown and Red Bull Salzburg's American coach Jesse Marsch discusses his career and philosophy. (Photo by Pier Marco Tacca/Getty Images)

In this bonus podcast, hear the full interview with Red Bull Salzburg's American coach Jesse Marsch. Mani Djazmi spent an hour talking to him, about his career, his principles, and coaching the phenomenon of the season, striker Erling Haaland.

Watford and Belgium defender Christian Kabasele talks about life in lock down. Pat Nevin and Heather O'Reilly discuss whether top earning footballers should take pay cuts. And journalist Camilo Velasquez sheds a light on football in Nicaragua, where games are still continuing despite the corona virus outbreak.(Picture: Christian Kabasele of Belgium in action during the international friendly match against Japan. Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Christian Karembeu pays tribute to Real Madrid's former President, Lorenzo Sanz who died after contracting the coronavirus. Paul Canoville remembers the racism he suffered playing for Chelsea in the 1980s. And Mani Djazmi, Pat Nevin and Heather O'Reilly choose the footballers who shaped their lives.(Picture: Paul Canoville knocks the ball into an empty net to score for Chelsea. Credit: Mark Leech/Getty Images)

Cameroon's Gaëtan Bong talks about isolation, learning to cook and keeping fit during the coronavirus pandemic. And in search of football, we travel to Zanzibar for a Premier League match.(Photo: Gaetan Bong deep in thought during a Brighton v Crystal Palace match. Credit: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images)

FC Saarbrücken goalkeeper Daniel Batz talks about his German Cup heroics. And Odion Ighalo talks about his dream move to the club he supported as a young boy.(Photo: Daniel Batz of FC Saarbruecken celebrates after his sides victory following a penalty shootout in the DFB Cup (By Alex Grimm/Bongarts/Getty Images)

Rafael Benítez tells us how the Coronavirus has left his team, Dalian Professional FC, stranded in Spain. And coach Josh Shepherd talks about his adventures in Bhutan.(Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Liverpool's Sadio Mané discusses an amazing season so far. And the former Australia international Alicia Ferguson looks back on her career.(Photo by Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Colombia goalkeeper David Ospina recalls the moment he collapsed on the pitch with concussion. LAFC's Mohamed El-Monir describes his journey from war-torn Libya to California. And the former Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer tells us how he's helping to raise funds after the Australian bushfires.(Picture: David Ospina of Colombia saves a penalty from Jordan Henderson of England in the penalty shoot out during the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

The coach of Norway, Lars Lagerbäck, talks about the talents of Erling Håland, Iceland's remarkable Euro 2016 run and his dreams of retirement. And Stein Erik Hegerberg, the father of Ada and Andrine, tells us how 'tough love' helped his daughters to grow into top footballers. Presenter Mani Djazmi is also joined by Heather O'Reilly and Pat Nevin.Picture: Lars Lagerback on the touchline, prior to the International Friendly match between Denmark and Iceland in Herning (Credit: Dan Mullan/Getty Images).

In this bonus podcast you can hear the full interview as Mani Djazmi meets the Norway coach Lars Lagerbäck.

AC Milan goalkeeper Asmir Begovic looks ahead to the Derby della Madonnina. And we hear from San Diego Loyal coach Carrie Taylor about the launch of Landon Donovan's new team.Photo: Inter Milan football fans during a Serie A match against A.C. Milan at the San Siro Stadium in Milan (Credit: by David Cannon/Getty Images).

Mani Djazmi, Pat Nevin and Heather O'Reilly discuss the week's biggest stories including Canada's Christine Sinclair becoming international football's record goalscorer. As FIFPro launch their Global Player's Council, Chelsea and England's Anita Asante talks about the challenges they want to tackle in women's football, while Anderlecht and Belgium's Vincent Kompany says 'something has to give' to ease the congested fixture calendar in the men's game and insists the make-up of boardrooms must change if football is to address its' racism problem. Plus after the death of Rob Rensenbrink, his former Netherlands and Anderlecht teammate Arie Haan joins us to remember the two-time World Cup Finalist.(Photo: Anita Asante and Vincent Kompany talking with other players and the media at the launch of FIFPro's Global Players Council. Credit: FIFPro/Twitter)

We hear from Australia striker Sam Kerr as she starts her quest for trophies in the Women's Super League with Chelsea, Mani Djazmi, Pat Nevin and Heather O'Reilly discuss whether you can be the world's best player without winning silverware. Burundi captain Saido Berahino opens up about 'never getting over' his move to Tottenham falling through and rebuilding his career in Belgium with Zulte Waregem.Manchester United midfielder Jackie Groenen joins us to look ahead to their FA Cup Fourth Round tie against Manchester City and to talk about the explosion of passion for women's football in her native Netherlands. And we discuss the potential legal action against Fifa by some of the world's top football agent in response to the world governing bodies' plans to limit the commission agents can receive from transfers.Photo: Sam Kerr celebrates scoring for Australia at the 2019 World Cup. Credit: Naomi Baker - FIFA via Getty Images

The new Ecuador manager Jordi Cruyff joins Mani Djazmi, Pat Nevin and Heather O'Reilly to discuss the challenge that he faces in trying to qualify the country for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and Barcelona's decision to replace Ernesto Valverde with Quique Setien.Former Nigeria striker Peter Odemwingie takes a break from the golf course to talk about the Africa Cup of Nations reverting back to January for next year's competition in Cameroon. And the team discuss the news that the Scottish FA are set to ban children under 12 from heading the ball in training, due to fears over the links between football and dementia.Image: Jordi Cruyff speaks during his presentation at the headquarters of the Ecuadorean Football Federation in Quito. Credit: Getty Images.

Olivier Dacourt pays tribute to his former AS Roma team mate, Daniele De Rossi, who has announced his retirement. We hear from one of the players of Saint-Pierrois, the team from Réunion who caused shock in the Coupe de France. And the former Arsenal and England captain Tony Adams looks back on his career.(Picture: Olivier Dacourt, Mark Viduka and Rio Ferdinand celebrate after a goal for Leeds United against Real Madrid.Credit: Alex Livesey/ALLSPORT)

In this bonus podcast, the former England and Arsenal captain Tony Adams looks back on his career.

In the second of two special programmes, Mani Djazmi looks back on more of his favourite interviews from the last ten years, as we compile a World Football ‘team of the decade’. We hear again from Megan Rapinoe, Pep Guardiola and the ‘Pele of Peru’, Teofilo Cubillas.

In the first of two special programmes Mani Djazmi looks back on some of his favourite interviews of the last ten years, as we compile a World Football ‘Team of the Decade’. In part one, we hear again from Mexico’s flamboyant goalkeeper Jorge Campos, Brazil’s 1970 World Cup winning captain Carlos Alberto and Johan Cruyff.

Atalanta's Hans Hateboer talks about their unlikely Champions League adventure. The Esperance midfielder Kwame Bonsu reflects on the Fifa Club World Cup. And Heather O'Reilly, Pat Nevin and Mani Djazmi discuss the latest controversy involving Arsenal's Mesut Özil.(Photo: Atalanta players line up at the start of the Uefa Champions League game against FC Shakhtar Donetsk. Credit: Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy/Ukrinform/Barcroft Media/Getty Images)

Suriname national coach and former Ajax player, Dean Gorré, joins Mani Djazmi and Pat Nevin. We'll ask why Suriname, with a population of half a million people, has produced so many talented footballers over the years. Plus, Dean Gorré shares his memories of Johan Cruyff. Also on the programme, we find out about how Real Betis are trying to save the planet.(Photo: Coach Dean Gorré entering the field during a Suriname training session at the Essed Stadium in Paramaribo. Credit: VI Images/Getty Images)

Former Rangers and Scotland coach Alex McLeish looks back on his career. And we find out more about Zamalek's controversial President, Mortada Mansour, who has sacked 25 coaches in 5 years since taking over the Cairo club.Picture: Egypt's Zamalek players celebrate after they won the CAF Confederation Cup final against Morocco's RSB Berkane (Photo by Islam Safwat/NurPhoto via Getty Images).

Flamengo legend Dejan Petković discusses a crazy 24 hours for his former club. And the Brazilian football journalist Ricardo Setyon also joins Mani Djazmi, Pat Nevin and Heather O'Reilly to give his view, after Flamengo win both the Copa Libertadores and the Brazilian league title.Picture: Brazil's Flamengo fans surround the bus carrying the Flamengo football team during the celebration parade after their Copa Libertadores victory against Argentina's River Plate. (Photo by CARL DE SOUZA/AFP via Getty Images)

Gus Poyet discusses Jose Mourinho's appointment as coach of Tottenham Hotspur. And Mani Djazmi reports from Helsinki as Finland's national team qualifies for Euro 2020.(Photo: New Tottenham Hotspur coach Jose Mourinho, during a training session at Tottenham's Training Centre. Credit: Getty Images)

Mani Djazmi travels to Helsinki as Finland attempt to qualify for Euro 2020. We hear from the former international Hannu Tihinen and current players, Leo and Sauli Väisänen. Also on the show, Pat Nevin talks to Chile-based footballer Richard Barroilhet about the political protests and violence which have resulted in the cancellation of matches.(Photo: Teemu Pukki of Finland celebrates after scoring in the Uefa Euro 2020 qualifier against Bosnia and Herzegovina - Credit: TF-Images/Getty Images)

Mani Djazmi and former Scotland and Chelsea winger Pat Nevin discuss this week's biggest football stories.Clare Walsh, Football Federation Australia's head of game development, talks about the countries' new pay deal that will see players of the women's national team get the same salary as their male counterparts.We mark the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall by remembering an extraordinary bet between an East German player and a West German cabinet minister.Following Andre Gomes' horrific injury David Busst, who was forced to retire after his double broken leg, joins us to talk about how to deal with the aftermath.And podcast listeners can hear from Granada's Nigeria striker, Ramon Azeez, who says he wants their opponents to fear the club that are just two points behind the leaders in their first season back in the top division.(Photo: Sam Kerr celebrates scoring for Australia. Credit: Getty Images)

World Cup winner Mia Hamm joins the team to pay tribute to Heather O'Reilly, who has finished her playing career by winning the NWSL title. And Peter Odemwingie and Pat Nevin discuss the problem of feuding team mates.(Photo: Mia Hamm of Team USA is embraced by teammates as they celebrate victory over China in the Final match of the Fifa Women's World Cup at the Rose Bowl in 1999, Credit:Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)

Heather O'Reilly looks ahead to the NWSL final, Mexican striker Raúl Jiménez talks about life at Wolves, and former referee Abraham Klein remembers the 1970 World Cup.Image: Raúl Jiménez celebrates scoring for Wolverhampton Wanderers against Southampton at Molineux (Credit: Carl Recine/Reuters)