The Big Interview With Graham Hunter

This is part one of our March Q & A show - covering my reading preferences, the difference between football media in Spain and the UK, and how this cursed virus might impact European football and the Spain national team in particular. The questions come from our beloved socios, our members, at patreon.com/grahamhunter. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com

In part two, Paul Robinson tells how Leeds United’s glorious ride came to its crashing end. It was a time of layoffs and fire sales, and he movingly describes how financial implosion affects a football club. But he sympathises with then chairman Peter Ridsdale, a man who loved the Whites, a man who was only guilty of chasing his dreams.After Leeds, Paul formed a second love – Tottenham Hotspur. He won the League Cup there and managed to switch off from his little son’s illness when he crossed the Wembley white line. Happily, Robinson junior is now thriving as a talented cricketer.Paul could be described as the goalkeepers’ goalkeeper – a man who has pondered the psychology of the role. He knows the torment that follows a blunder (it was timely that I caught up with him just hours after Adrian’s nightmare performance for Liverpool against Atlético, as described in part one). You need to have a golfer’s mentality, Paul says, to immediately put the last mistake behind you. Don’t go chasing the game, don’t try to

Paul Robinson experienced incredible highs and crushing lows during his goalkeeping career.The Yorkshireman was a Leeds United academy product and he was there during their glory, glory days under chairman Peter Ridsdale. What players they had – think of names like Smith, Woodgate, Kewell, Maybury, Kelly, Bowyer, Harte and Radebe.Paul came under the wing of brilliant, tough-but-fair youth coach Paul Hart and was toughened up by John Burridge at Durham City – in my opinion the most wonderfully nutty No1 in British football history. Paul explains how ‘Budgie’ had a truly extraordinary enthusiasm for the beautiful game and a massive heart. An injury crisis handed Paul his first-team debut against Chelsea. He was only eighteen, but he loved every minute of it. Eventually, he would star against top Champions League teams, including a Barcelona side which featured the magical Rivaldo.You will love this Big Interview with this engaging, thoughtful, articulate man.Graham. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mo

Here’s another chance to hear my interview with Walter Smith from season two.Walter gives us a first-hand insight into the heady days when Scottish clubs competed at the highest levels of European football. As assistant to Jim McLean he helped guide Dundee United to a UEFA Cup final and was only denied a place in the European Cup final by a Roma side well versed in the game’s dark arts. He moved to Rangers to assist the charismatic Graeme Souness where born leaders like Terry Butcher flourished. Taking over the reins, Walter’s Rangers went on an incredible European run, almost reaching the Champions League final. Signing Paul Gascoigne was surprisingly easy – all Walter had to do was ask, but managing the impish genius was another challenge altogether. As for Brian Laudrup, well, he was easy to work with, and a joy to behold plying his trade.Brilliant stuffGraham Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or g

Last season, our Socios at patreon.com/grahamhunter got an exclusive interview with Simon Stainrod. For the first time, here’s the full episode.In part two, Simon chats about what it was like to actually play against Cantona – a lesson in one-touch football. He criticises the modern tendency to over-teach promising kids, and suggests coaches should instead go off for a cup of tea and let them get on with expressing themselves. Simon speaks about discovering Ousmane Dembele and how he feels that clubs are nowadays less inclined to take risks on flamboyant individuals. He also explains how playing in the 1982 FA Cup final was a profoundly emotional moment for him, and how winning the league with Falkirk – where he was allegedly paid £1 per week! – was one of the happiest times in his career.If you would prefer not to wait 12 months to listen to these extra interviews, it’s time to become a Socio at patreon.com/grahamhunter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If

Last season, our Socios at patreon.com/grahamhunter got an exclusive interview with Simon Stainrod. For the first time, here’s the full episode.The term ‘maverick’ is overused in football, but my pal Simon genuinely does it justice. As a lad, he was inspired by watching elegant heroes like George Best who managed to thrive on the battlefields of the 1960s and 70s. This striker of many clubs even got to play alongside a couple of them: Tony Currie – a man of immense courage and physical strength, and Jimmy ‘Jinky’ Johnstone, who no matter how many times he was kicked, just kept getting back up. Simon speaks about the joy, artistry and daring with which football should be played, and the joy it should provide for the fans. And if you want to hear how he tried to persuade Howard Wilkinson NOT to sign Eric Cantona… then listen in.If you would prefer not to wait 12 months to listen to these extra interviews, it’s time to become a Socio at patreon.com/grahamhunter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf

In part two, Sven chats more about Lazio’s famous Scudetto win in 2000. He and his players did their bit on the last day – then endured an agonising wait listening to the radio for Juventus to lose against Perugia.At Sampdoria and Lazio, Roberto Mancini was Sven’s artist, a man who breathed football and went crazy when things went wrong. It was he and Gianluca Vialli who had insisted that Sven be their next manager at Samp.We hear about Sven’s time as England coach – his one regret is that he didn’t employ a psychologist to focus on penalty shootouts. He did have the pleasure of getting to work with David Beckham, a man he thinks the world of. Sven even tried to sign Becks for Leicester City – but Victoria put the kybosh on that!There’s chat about the magnificent Pavel Nedvěd, who was such a workaholic that Sven had to ban him from the Lazio training ground during the summer. Sven also describes how he had a contract to become Chelsea boss in front of him but pulled out after the tabloids got wind and accused

I travelled to Sven-Göran Eriksson’s home beside a glittering Swedish lake to hear about a glittering career. Sven managed numerous clubs, including both of Rome’s sides, and enjoyed more glory than Julius Caesar – notably four Coppa Italias, the UEFA Cup, the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup and, twenty years ago, a rare Serie A for Lazio.Sven’s success was partly due to his willingness to listen to his players. Even a teenager – albeit the genius Clarence Seedorf – was allowed to give him advice. Much of our conversation was about Lazio’s extraordinary title win, but Sven’s passage to that club was only gained by jilting Blackburn, and he was eternally grateful to Rovers owner Jack Walker for being so understanding. By the time he had assembled his holy trinity – Roberto Mancini, Siniša Mihajlović and Juan Sebastián Verón – he knew Lazio would win the Scudetto.That Serie A was won after a ding-dong battle with Carlo Ancelotti’s mighty Juventus – a club Sven snubbed. He also waxes lyrical about another managerial legen

In the second part of our Champions League Q & A, Erling Braut Håland and Timo Werner are among the footballers up for discussion. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com

HolaFor our February Champions League Q and A, we got a lot around of questions around the Madrid-Man City tie, so we bundled them together for the first half of this episode. Part two coming soon.G Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com

Are you ready to meet Robert Snodgrass, King of the Prank Calls? In part two, Snoddy talks us through his hilarious prank call routines. It's one of the funniest Big Interviews we've ever recorded. There's plenty football, too.Enjoy!Graham Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com

Hold onto your hats, listeners... here comes Snoddy!We recorded this on the 32nd floor of a skyscraper in Canary Wharf on February 14, 2020... and yes, love was in the air. I love the way Snoddy plays football for West Ham. And I love his infectious personality.In this first part, he talks us through growing up in the Gallowgate, the support of a tight-knit family, how Leeds United made him a man and why Scotland should have stuck with Gordon Strachan.Sit back, relax, enjoy some Snoddy time! Graham Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com

Here’s another chance to hear my interview with Peter Crouch from season two, when the striker was still playing football, at Stoke City.There was a myth about Peter: that he had a good touch for a big bloke. In reality, he just had a fabulous touch, period. He gives us an amazing insight into the relentless practice – as well as the instinct – behind some of his most famous goals, including an extraordinary overhead kick which he netted for Liverpool against Galatasaray. Peter speaks about his sheer joy for the game, and how he was inspired by watching guys like Roy Wegerle who played in an exciting QPR team. He waxes lyrical about Gareth Bale – a player he always knew would make it at the highest level, and explains ‘The Stoke Effect’ – how top sides like Arsenal choke whenever they visit The bet365 Stadium.Brilliant stuffGraham Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visi

Last season, our Socios at patreon.com/grahamhunter got an exclusive interview with Shay Given. For the first time, here’s the full episode.In part two, Shay speaks about the loneliness of life between the sticks, who the world's best No1s are and why, and why we now live in such a golden era of goalkeeping. Former Newcastle stalwart Shay also describes his best-ever save, denying Kevin Phillips with his fingertips in a Tyne-Wear derby, and the ecstasy of narrowly clinching a World Cup place in front of 100,000 passionate Iranians.If you would prefer not to wait 12 months to listen to these extra interviews, it’s time to become a Socio at patreon.com/grahamhunter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com

Last season, our Socios at patreon.com/grahamhunter got an exclusive interview with Shay Given. For the first time, here’s the full episode.Ever heard about the one about the Irish coastguard getting called out to ‘rescue’ Damien Duff? Shay relates this story, and others, from his time as goalkeeper for the Republic of Ireland, for whom he won an incredible 134 caps. He also tells how hard graft on the family farm during his early years made him the man he is, and why he considers socialising so crucial to team bonding.If you would prefer not to wait 12 months to listen to these extra interviews, it’s time to become a Socio at patreon.com/grahamhunter Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com

In part two of our conversation, Tim Sherwood delves into Blackburn’s incredible league win of ’95.The race between Kenny Dalglish’s side and Alex Ferguson’s great Manchester United team was epic, and no love was lost between the Glaswegian managers. It was a nerve-racking, ding-dong affair between real men which went down to the final day. Tim admits that Rovers would never have recovered if they had blown it. Incredibly, Blackburn had to train on a public park, regularly pausing their drills to let funeral corteges through to a nearby cemetery.Tim is also great talking about his coaching and managerial career, not least identifying and developing youngsters. In his view, fledgling players need to go out on loan to toughen up and learn the ropes, but he prefers League One where they will get a game, rather than the Championship where they will warm the bench. Tim was foiled in his efforts to bring Isco and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Tottenham, but he was the sole voice at Spurs who kept the faith in a teen

Tim Sherwood is a true football man. An accomplished, intelligent midfielder and a natural leader, he captained Blackburn Rovers to their famous Premier League title win in season 1994-95.In part one of our chat, he describes how a coach at Norwich changed his attitude; he gave up on showboating and grew up, into a team player. The transformed Tim was hot property, and he explains how Kenny Dalglish recruited him for his Blackburn project from under the noses of Derby County. Glory beckoned.Rovers had hard, winning players like David Speedie and Gordon Cowans. Tim himself could be tough – he once pulled out Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit’s hair band and made him cry. Seriously, that actually happened.EnjoyGraham Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com

Graham answers more questions from our socios. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com

Every month Graham answers questions from our socios - this time, that means Barca, Man Utd, erm ... Tarantino... and more! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit revistadelaliga.substack.com

Having witnessed Micah Richards’ incisive football analysis on television, I just knew I had to grab him for a Big Interview. I was not to be disappointed.As a talented, hardworking defender, he didn’t have his troubles to seek – injuries interrupted and shortened his career. But Micah will always be remembered as a winner, having lifted the FA Cup and the Premier League trophy with Manchester City.He was such good pals with Mario Balotelli at City that they both sported the same eccentric haircut, and while Micah is frank about his friend’s flaws, he also speaks about the often-unfair treatment he, and footballers in general, receive. He is similarly open about his transformative relationship with his Sky Blues boss Roberto Mancini, a man who players either loved or hated.Micah’s descriptions of the remarkable 2011-12 league winning campaign which went down to the last seconds of the last day, are captivating, and the reason we do these Big Interviews.EnjoyGraham Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for mo