The Athletic FC Podcast

In April 2023, civil war broke out in Sudan. It continues to this day leaving in its wake the worst humanitarian crisis in the world, according to the United Nations. Despite this, Sudan’s national football team has qualified for the Africa Cup of Nations in 2025 and tops its World Cup qualification group. They are a source of hope to a nation left in ruins. In this special episode of The Athletic FC Documentary we’ll take you into the war torn country where amateur matches continue amid the shelling, and football grounds have become burial grounds. At a refugee camp in neighbouring Chad, we’ll hear of the horrors of war and how football is helping children there. And hear how geo political influence, immigration and perilous journeys over land and sea are part of this journey with Sudan, football and a war struggling to be seen and heard. Credits Written and presented by Adam Leventhal Produced by Abi Paterson Additional reporting in collaboration with Tom Rhodes and Zamenfes Gebremikae Featuring footage from beIN Sport, Al Jazeera, British Pathé, Sky News, Fairshot, SuperSport, Sudan FA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Manchester City host Tottenham at the Etihad, the first game since Pep Guardiola announced he’ll be staying in Manchester a little longer. Tottenham were beaten at home to Ipswich last time out, while Manchester City are four games without a win in all competitions — the panel assess which side look better placed to bounce back. All that plus a look at the fixtures elsewhere with drop ins from the club podcasts across our network. Host: Adam Leventhal With: Tim Spiers, Nick Miller Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producers: Mike Stavrou & Jay Beale Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we’re talking; captains, differentials, and when to wildcard. You know it. We’re talking Fantasy Premier League aka FPL. So, how has a fantasy game changed the way we watch football? Host Ayo Akinwolere Guest, Sam Bonfield. Mark Critchley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pep Guardiola has agreed to extend his contract as Manchester City manager So why has he decided to stay and will he be able to build another team to dominate the Premier League? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Sam Lee and Pol Ballus Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s focus is on Kylian Mbappe’s stuttering start to life at Real Madrid Has the big-money move made Madrid worse? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Dermot Corrigan and Tomas Hill Lopez-Menchero Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week across The Athletic we’re focusing on the people that own the 20 clubs that make up the Premier League. So who are they? How much does it cost? and what do they get in return? Ayo Akinwolere is joined by Matt Slater and Adam Crafton is assess and debate how the nature of Premier League ownership has changed since the league's inception. Phil Buckingham also drops in to discuss his article on how much each ownership group has invested since taking control of their respective clubs as well as the impact the likes of Abu Dhabi's wealth has had at Manchester City. Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Matt Slater, Adam Crafton and Phil Buckingham Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Guy Clarke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’re eleven games into the season, today we’ll be assessing the table – and asking the question – is the quality of the Premier League the best it’s ever been? Host: Adam Leventhal With: Tim Spiers, Nick Miller Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

England have had nine players drop out of their squad ahead of their matches against Greece and the Republic of Ireland. Captain Harry Kane is not impressed speaking out about the importance of playing for the national team. So is Kane right? Outside of major tournaments is international football respected? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Phil Hay, Jack Pitt-Brooke, Chris Waugh and Nick Miller Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Guy Clarke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roma have sacked a second manager in less than two months and are now in talks to bring former coach Claudio Ranieri out of retirement. So… can Ranieri stabilise the turbulent Italian club? And what is the latest on Roma’s owners, The Friedkin Group, and their proposed takeover of Everton? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: James Horncastle and Paddy Boyland Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami crashed out of the MLS Cup in the first round of the playoffs. So what now for Messi and Miami after being granted a place in the Club World Cup? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Felipe Cardenas and Phil Hay Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After another defeat Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou was quick to accept responsibility following their 2-1 home loss to Ipswich Town. So why are the Spurs so inconsistent and what can they do to fix it? Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Charlie Eccleshare and Phil Hay to analyse Spurs' start to the season with Jon Mackenzie also dropping in to analyse their underlying numbers in comparison to last season's lightning-fast start. Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Phil Hay, Charlie Eccleshare and Jon Mackenzie Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Guy Clarke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Liverpool take on Aston Villa at Anfield. One team flying high, the other begging for the international break to come just a little bit quicker. Will we see Luis Diaz down the middle again? Can Ollie Watkins actually take a big chance? And has someone explained to Tyrone Mings how goalkicks work? Chelsea host Arsenal in another momentous fixture this weekend. Already both teams putting this in the "must win" category, but does this whole game hinge on Cole Palmer's availability? All that plus Angeball, the Chris Wood derby and what we're calling el Crapico. Host: Michael Bailey Guests: Tim Spiers, Jon Mackenzie Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Abi Paterson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As demonstrated in the Champions League this week Viktor Gyokeres is European football's in-form striker. The Sporting striker's hat-trick against Man City puts him on 23 goals in all competitions already this season. So, after failing to break through at Brighton, could Gyokeres finally be ready for the Premier League? Ayo Akinwolere is joined by The Athletic's Liam Tharme and Mark Carey to look at the numbers behind Gyokeres incredible season while David Novo, from Portuguese publication Record, gives the perspective from Portugal. Plus, former Coventry City assistant manager Adi Viveash also shares his account of working with the Swedish striker closely and helping to develop his game prior to his move to Sporting. Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Liam Tharme, Mark Carey, David Novo and Adi Viveash Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Guy Clarke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edu has resigned as Arsenal’s Sporting Director and is expected to join Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis’ portfolio of clubs. So why has Edu left the Gunners at a critical point of their project under Mikel Arteta? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: David Ornstein and Art de Roché Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While their rivals faltered around them on the weekend, Arne Slot’s machine increased their lead at the top of the Premier League. As Xabi Alonso, who was the early favourite to replace Jurgen Klopp, arrives at Anfield in the Champions League… how different might life have looked for both Liverpool and Bayer Leverkusen? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: James Pearce and Seb Stafford-Bloor Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So Man City suffered defeat in the Premier League for the first time this season away at Bournemouth on Saturday. Added to that, ahead of the game manager Pep Guardiola outlined their mounting injury list, so how much trouble are City in - and could the demands of the season lead to a more open title race? Ayo Akinwolere is joined by Oli Kay and The Athletic FC newsletter’s lead writer Phil Hay to analyse the champions start to the season. Man City writer Sam Lee explains the context of their injury list. As well as that senior data analyst Mark Carey drops in to provide context to the state of the table after 10 games and NBA Daily host Dave DuFour has his say on Guardiola drawing comparisons to NBA over fixture congestion. Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Oli Kay, Phil Hay and Mark Carey Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Guy Clarke Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to The Preview on The Athletic FC, where each week we go deep on the biggest game of the weekend. This week — we’re focusing on Manchester United against Chelsea. In the first Premier League game since Erik ten Hag's sacking, interim boss Ruud van Nistelrooy will be looking to get his side back on track. But with the chance to go nine points clear of United, can Enzo Maresca make a statement in Chelsea's bid for Champions League football? Plus, we look at the fixtures elsewhere with drop ins from the club podcasts across our network. Host: Adam Leventhal With: Tim Spiers, Jon Mackenzie Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Jay Beale Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Manchester United have reached an agreement to make Ruben Amorim their head coach. So how did the deal come about and is Amorim more suited to succeed at Man United than Erik ten Hag? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Laurie Whitwell, David Novo, Mark Critchley, Andy Mitten Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Nick Thomson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Real Madrid were expecting Vinicius Junior to win the Ballon d’Or on Monday night, but it didn’t go their way. The decision prompted Madrid to cancel their trip to Paris and effectively boycott the event. So.. have Real overreacted? And are they facing bigger problems on the pitch? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Dermot Corrigan and Phil Hay Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Things are looking good for Chelsea in the Premier League. Despite this, their manager Enzo Maresca has urged captain Reece James to show more leadership. So is a “proper leader” what Chelsea are missing? Host: Ayo Akinwolere With: Liam Twomey and Phil Hay Executive Producer: Adey Moorhead Producer: Mike Stavrou Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices