The Big Interview With Graham Hunter

In Part Two of this Big Interview, Walter Smith takes us to Ibrox, where he served first as assistant to Graeme Souness and, of course, later became a celebrated Rangers manager in his own right.That move to Glasgow, to the club he supported as a boy, introduced Walter to a facet of coaching he had not experienced at United - with Rangers able to source and buy great footballers.Walter is responsible for bringing some undeniably brilliant players to Ibrox and he tells the story of how he convinced Brian Laudrup to move to Scotland and become a Rangers legend.Another famous acquisition was Gazza. Walter had no trouble in selling the club to Paul Gascoigne - as he will explain - but the former Rangers manager recalls with some affection the various challenges which came with managing a unique character like Paul.Enjoy! 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 revistadelal

Furious Italians. Corrupt officials. The legendary Jim McLean. A sea plane. All of these feature in Part One of this Big Interview with Walter Smith, which we recorded on the stunning grounds of Cameron House on the Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond.It was going to take something special to outdo that scenery. But Walter managed just that, recalling his time spent working under McLean at Dundee United and how the iconic manager inspired loyalty in his players - as well as fear.Their United side reached the semi-finals of the European Cup but that campaign ended in Rome, on a night made infamous by a crooked referee and the threats Roma’s players made to McLean. Walter explains how he helped the United manager escape unscathed.And Walter also talks about winning the European Youth Championship with Scotland in 1982, during an era when it seemed as though the country would always produce exciting, natural footballers, and how only Andy Roxburgh could see that talent pool was going to dry up.Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. Se

For our latest clip show, we head to the city I call home. I did write a book about the football team, but I swear that when the topic of FC Barcelona has arisen on The Big Interview, it has been at the urging of my guests and not myself.So we look back at what some of our guests had to say about this modern Barcelona team - one that has, at various points in its evolution, been called the Greatest Team in the World. Good title for a book, that.You’re going to hear from Jody Morris and how he was meant to be marking Pep Guardiola but ended up with some kid called Xavi in the quarter-finals of the Champions League in 2000. Damien Duff then discusses what it was like to play against Frank Rijkaard’s Barca in the same competition five years later.And Darren Fletcher also explains what it’s like to not play against them, but to watch and wish that you were – in a Champions League final.David Moyes and Gordon Strachan will argue that it is Andres Iniesta - and not Lionel Messi - who is the jewel in the... Hosted o

Here's Part Two of The Big Interview with Jonny Evans. What happens when a student of football like Jonny, meets a school master of a coach like Louis Van Gaal? The manager who ended our guest's long career at United also accelerated his development as a modern centre half. You're going to hear about it.Jonny also tells us what it's like to spend 90 minutes in the company of the world's elite forwards.How can you try to get the upper hand against Didier Drogba? In what area of the game is Thomas Muller the best in the world?Jonny also describes the moment a not-so-sympathetic Zlatan Ibrahimovic encouraged him to get up, after the big Swede left the defender on his backside.Jonny may yet add new names to that illustrious list of rivals, since he harbours an ambition to one day play in La Liga. Spanish football would be lucky to have him.Enjoy! 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 ep

In the latest episode of The Big Interview, we bring you a seasoned Premier League footballer; a champion; a man brought up in Belfast but who came of age after moving to Manchester, winning trophies at home and abroad.He made his international debut before he had even kicked a ball competitively in England - in a victory over Spain no less - and most recently represented Northern Ireland in the European Championships.This is The Big Interview with Jonny Evans, and I was speaking to him towards the end of what has been a fantastic season for West Brom, the latest chapter in his success story as a celebrated defender in the Premier League.In Part One, Jonny describes the events that have led him here - from growing up in Northern Ireland pretending to be Paolo Maldini to trying to make a name for himself as a young player at Manchester United.He also talks about winning the Championship at Sunderland under Roy Keane and how the Irishman showed that he was still a winner when his team were back in... Hosted on

The latest Big Interview clip show is about the gaffer, whoever he may be. Pretty much every single footballer we spoke to during the first season of these podcasts had at least one incredible story about a manager they had played under.In this podcast you’ll meet motivators, bullies, innovators and comedians. Sometimes, that’s just one guy we’re talking about.We’re going to start and finish with two people who played under Jose Mourinho – although it is fair to say that Damien Duff and Kevin Bridges don’t have too much else in common on the footballing front.In between those two, Chris Waddle tells us what he now sees as the method behind the bullying of Arthur Cox at Newcastle United. Gary McAllister then tells us how Howard Wilkinson transformed Leeds United from a Second Division team into a side capable of winning the English Championship.Joe Jordan shows us the revolutionary preparations undertaken by Don Revie; Peter Beardsley rooms with his Fulham manager Kevin Keegan, in a flat above the... Hosted on

Prior to this chat with Craig Gordon, I played him a video of Victor Valdes and Jose Pinto talking about the concept of playing out from the back at Barcelona, and how their role in the team changed from being a conventional goalkeeper to playing as another outfield player.That helped set the tone for a fascinating discussion about Craig’s remarkable campaign at Celtic this season, during which he has proven he can play out from the back just as the Spanish pair did at the Camp Nou.We also talk about the devastating injury which kept the Scotland player out of the game for two years. The story of Craig’s comeback is as uplifting as any you are likely to hear.He reveals his admiration for Gigi Buffon too, before Craig discusses his role as part of the Riccarton Three and the public stance he took against a despotic owner at Hearts.Power to the keeper.Enjoy! 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 acce

This is our third and final instalment in our mini series on maverick footballers - the guys who have created so many happy memories for all us football fans.If you’re into Celtic then you will probably never forget some of the special moments Shunsuke Nakamura gave to you. In this clip show, Gordon Strachan talks about all the work behind the scenes which caused that magic.Similarly, Evertonians adore Duncan Ferguson, and David Moyes explains what the big Number 9 had to offer on his return to Goodison.Also, if you are an Ipswich fan of a certain vintage, the name of Kevin Beattie may take your breath away. He is a unique character in English football and Terry Butcher describes how his former team-mate could have been one of the all-time greats on the pitch… and the running track.Finally, Tino Asprilla has often been accused of costing Newcastle United the Premier League title under Kevin Keegan. But Peter Beardsley delivers a retort in this podcast.Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf

At the end of our live Big Interview with Alex McLeish, the former Scotland manager was gracious enough to stick around and answer questions from the audience, and we bring you that Q&A here as a special bonus feature.Alex tells the story of Alex Ferguson’s attempt to orchestrate a move to bring the defender from Aberdeen to Old Trafford, and how the Manchester United manager had a hand in discouraging bids from other English clubs.Ferguson was also aware of the importance of fitness and Alex explains how that manifest during his time at Aberdeen, as well as giving his own views on the importance of recruiting experts to help ensure players at the their physical peak.And he talks about his decision to step down as Scotland manager and what lies ahead in his career, while also telling one of the greatest anecdotes you’re likely to hear: when Socrates showed Gordon Strachan how a Brazilian takes a drugs test.Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you

We recorded this Big Interview with Alex McLeish live during the Aye Write book festival in Glasgow and, in part two, we leaf through the chapter of his management career marked player recruitment.We learn how close Alex came to bringing a certain Andres Iniesta to Rangers on loan, and the repercussions his enquiry had at the Camp Nou. Alex also explains how he was urged by his sons to sign Lionel Messi after they discovered the teenage prodigy while playing Football Manager.His time in charge at Ibrox taught Alex a great deal about signing players, something which he did not find easy to do at Birmingham City, where he worked under owners who required “sugar” when it came to agreeing transfers.Alex also reveals his passion for film - from sneaking into a cinema to watch Clockwork Orange at the age of 12, to being invited by Irvine Welsh to attend the world premiere of Trainspotting 2.Choose life. Choose to listen to this Big Interview.Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This i

It was a great privilege to have Alex McLeish, a real hero of mine, as the guest for the second ever live Big Interview, which we recorded at the Aye Write book festival in Glasgow.It was also my good fortune for the event to fall the day after Barcelona pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in football history - wiping out a 4-0 first-leg defeat by winning 6-1 at the Camp Nou in a truly incredible Champions League match.I couldn’t pass up on the opportunity to ask Alex to give his take on that game for the first part of this podcast and uncover what it is that allows the best players to win, and keep winning.Alex then took us back to his formative years as a footballer; the constructive criticism from his father, playing games constantly at a local field and, later, training with his Aberdeen team-mates in the car park opposite Pittodrie.The Dons, of course, feature heavily in this interview and Alex talks about the success he enjoyed at the club, including how they got the better of Bayern... Hosted on A

Johan Cruyff is the single most important man in the history of professional football; as a player, coach, director of football, thinker, philosopher, nobody come else comes close.His influence spans generations and is responsible for the era-defining football which I have been watching at the Camp Nou over the past decade.We have dedicated our latest clip show to the memory of this football icon, with David Moyes and Charlie Nicholas both featuring in a little section we call ‘the mystery of Cruyff’s shirt’.That detective story is set in the 1982 European Cup and a tie between Celtic and Ajax, after which David and Charlie each think they have the great Cruyff’s jersey. But who really got their hands on the prized shirt?And there is Jody Morris, who we spoke to on the day that Cruyff passed away. It was an emotional 24 hours, Jody giving an eloquent account of how the Dutchman had influenced his football philosophy.Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode.

Peter Crouch is a footballer I genuinely love to see out on the pitch. He plays with a technical ability and a sense of fun which is always a joy to watch.But don’t just take my word for it. A young Pep Guardiola - before he became the Pep Guardiola - also saw something special in Peter and wrote a sort of love letter to the striker in 2006; referencing his skill, his awareness and his desire to play for the team.Peter really does have so much more than a good touch for a big man. In this Big Interview we discover a childhood spent learning the game under the Coerver Method, perfecting skills named after the players who made them famous.His appetite for practice and repetition has also allowed him to score some truly remarkable goals during his career - and Peter recalls some of his best strikes.He also reveals an admiration for Italian football, an ambition to play abroad and, of course, Peter explains the ‘Stoke effect’ - what it is and why it unnerves teams like Arsenal so much.Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See

You’ll all have your opinions on how our guests would rank in terms of footballing ability in their prime. I happen to think that we have talked to some who are hall of famers in any company but, occasionally, a name will come up which causes them to draw breath.This collection is dedicated to the moments when we got to talk about one of the all-time greats, sometimes with someone who had a unique angle from which to examine those special talents.Graeme Souness and Peter Beardsley talk about Lionel Messi, as does Gary Neville - a man whose job it is to find new ways to describe what it is that this genius does.Paul Clement worked closely with Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid and provides an insight into the work ethic of the Portuguese, while Harry Redknapp recalls how Gareth Bale was transformed into an international superstar.Darren Fletcher then talks about Wayne Rooney, while Kevin Bridges and Charlie Nicholas discuss two Celtic greats, Henrik Larsson and Danny McGrain, respectively. Joe Jordan... Hosted

Chris Sutton had the pick of every top team in England in 1994, but it was upwardly mobile Blackburn Rovers that took him from Norwich for a British record transfer fee of £5 million.What happened next would become one of the most epic tales in Premier League history. Paired with Alan Shearer in the famous SAS partnership, Chris helped Blackburn win the 1994/95 league title ahead of Manchester United.Here, Chris breaks down the twists and turns of that dramatic campaign; Shearer’s ruthlessness in front of goal; and Kenny Dalglish’s unshakeable confidence when the squad looked as though they might throw it all away.Chris also discusses the character in that Blackburn side - a team which included Tim Sherwood, Graeme Le Saux and Tim Flowers - which dragged them over the line eventually.Enjoy! 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

If things had turned out a little differently for Chris Sutton, he would have ended up pushing pens and paperclips at Norfolk County Council instead of terrorising defenders in Scotland and England for over a decade.Chris uses the word “character” a lot and, in this Big Interview, we explore how his was forged - from an initial rejection from Norwich City to his dad’s boot camp approach to physical fitness.We also discuss his experiences as a promising young cricketer and his particularly uncompromising youth team coach at Norwich.There are stories about Sri Lankan cricketer Ravi Pushpakumara and Andy Theodosiou’s brutal tackles. Chris also explains how to mark Alan Shearer as a centre-half and why he would not want Efan Ekoku in his five-a-side team.This is a side to Chris Sutton that not many people have heard before.Enjoy! 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 rev

This compilation show is about how teams bond - a key element of almost every winning side that I’ve reported on and one which, I think, sometimes gets overlooked.We do not start on the pitch but in the studio, as Charlie Nicholas tells us that Sky Sports’ Soccer Saturday show depends on camaraderie as much as any dressing room he was a part of.We also go sheep herding with Eddie Howe and play video games with Havoc, better known as Michael Carrick.Gordon Strachan explains that the team that wins together does not necessarily have to drink together, while Michael O’Neill describes how he created the team spirit in his Northern Ireland squad.And there is Peter Beardsley, who takes us to the race course as he relives an unconventional warm up routine ahead of an FA Cup match.Enjoy! 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

Mark Noble grew up with a football field for a back garden. Or at least he did once his dad had a secret gate installed behind the house, so that Mark could take a ball and sneak on to the grounds of a school.It was not too long before he was stepping out at Upton Park. Or should that be the Boleyn Ground? Either way, in Part Two of his Big Interview, Mark talks about that famous old stadium and the final game there, against Manchester United under the lights.Mark has kept a photograph from that night - a picture of the West Ham fans looking on as he shields the ball to help see out the game.He remains connected to his support, his community, and Mark talks eloquently about the social housing projects being undertaken by the Legacy Foundation, which he founded alongside two other London boys: Bobby Zamora and Rio Ferdinand.Mark is a good footballer and a good man. And this is a great Big Interview.Enjoy! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. This is a public episode. If you would like t

Mark Noble is West Ham through and through, a true Hammer forged in Canning Town. But in this Big Interview you will discover that his views resonate far beyond the boundaries of London.He shows composure when put on the spot about his prowess as a penalty-taker - which is hardly surprising given that he once scored two in an epic shootout against the Netherlands in the semi-finals of the European Under-21 Championships.That was in 2007 and since then Mark has established himself as a Premier League footballer and captain of the club he has supported since he was a kid.Mark talks about what that role really means to him and the tactics he employs to ensure that his team-mates are at their best at training and on the pitch.When it comes to inspiring footballers, Mark hits the nail on the head. A typical Hammer, really.Enjoy! 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 revis

OUR latest clip show follows on from a previous episode, when The Big Interview zeroed in on those very special footballers: the mavericks.Harry Redknapp has known more than his share of those players during his career and he talks about the likes of The Ghost John White, George Best and Paolo Di Canio.Harry also coached two true mavericks at Portsmouth: Paul Merson and King Kanu. Listen out for the story about how the Nigerian was taken home from the airport - it’s one of the funniest anecdotes I’ve ever heard while recording these podcasts.Of course, we Scots know a thing or two about idiosyncratic footballers as well, and in this podcast you will hear about two of the best. Listen as Joe Jordan reminisces about the genius of Jimmy Johnstone, while Graeme Souness talks about Alan Gilzean, the king of White Hart Lane.And just a reminder: we are recording The Big Interview live with Alex McLeish on March 9, in Glasgow's Royal Concert Hall. Tickets are selling fast, so don't hesitate. Buy here Hosted on Acast.