The Big Interview With Graham Hunter

Here's an exclusive extract from the latest episode of the Big Inside View, in which I look back at Real Madrid's thumping victory over FC Barcelona in the first leg of the Super Cup.I talk about the resurgence of Isco at the Bernabeu and explain which rival player Cristiano Ronaldo was sending a message to when he took off his shirt - an incident which earned the Madrid forward a red card.But this is only a taster. To listen to the full episode, sign up to become a Big Interview socio at https://www.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

Here's everything you need to know about joining our members' club - and a taster of the first of our exclusive members' only episodes. We've got big plans for this season - and we need you on board to make them happen. 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 this clip from The Big Interview with Slaven Bilic, the former Croatia defender describes his former captain: the wonderful footballer, Zvonimir Boban.Become a Socio to listen to this podcast ad free here: https://www.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

This is the first part of my interview with Slaven Bilic, recorded at West Ham's pre-season camp in Germany.This interview will leave Hammers fans loving their manager even more than they already do - and will also, I'm sure, have everyone else feeling exactly the same way.In the first part of this podcast, we hear about Bilic of Croatia, the centre-back of the team so many of us adored in Euro 96 and a side which nearly won it all at the World Cup two years later.From Boban and Suker, to Boksic and Prosinecki, Slaven talks about all of those wonderful Croatian footballers, and in incredible, colourful detail too.Slaven is one of the most passionate and insightful guests we've had on The Big Interview. I think you'll agree.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

In this exclusive clip from The Big Interview with Slaven Bilic, the former Croatia defender describes goal-scoring great Davor Suker. 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 a short but important announcement telling you about big changes for the new season of The Big Interview. If you like the sound of Rafael van der Vaart, clasico specials and a weekly edition of The Big Inside View, this could be for you. 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

We're back with our second episode of The Big Inside View, where you'll find breaking news as I learn it, plus my insight into the big football stories across Europe. This one was recorded on July 26, on location in Germany, where we were about to record a Big Interview with Slaven Bilic. Listen up for a deep dive into Alvaro Morata's switch from Real Madrid, my take on the Mbappe transfer tug-of-war, Neymar's future, Coutinho to Barca and Andy Robertson signing for Liverpool. You'll also hear some Spurs chat and my reflections on the flourishing Real Madrid youth system. Plus Silk, Wonder Woman and an honourable mention for Henry Winter!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

Here's something new - a first listen to a show we'll be producing regularly during the coming season. Here's where you'll find breaking news as I learn it, plus my insight into the big football stories across Europe. As the season unfolds, I'll give you the inside stuff on the games I've been at, the interviews I've done and the off-the-record calls I've made. Plus, you'll learn what my week involved both inside and away from the game we all love. This is a test run. We want and need your feedback. Please let us know what you think. 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

He enjoyed a glittering and remarkably successful reign as manager of FC Barcelona, but Pep Guardiola had to come through some dark times in order to get there.In this extract - which is taken taken from my book, Barca: The Making of the Greatest Team in the World - I tell that story, and reveal how it influenced the man who would become head coach of arguably the best club side of all time.There was the injury which robbed Guardiola of 14 months of his playing career at the Camp Nou and false accusations of nandrolone use while in Italy, after he walked away from his beloved Barca feeling undervalued by those who ran the club at the time.I explain how Guardiola went on to play in Qatar and Mexico, but turned down a move to English side Wigan Athletic and a chance to experience first-hand a style of football which he had always respected.His return to the Camp Nou as coach of Barca B, and his success in that post paved the way for Guardiola to take over the first team and lead them to a period of unprecedente

Are you sitting comfortably? You are about to listen to an extract taken from my book on Spain and the inside story of La Roja’s historic treble.This is Chapter Six: English Lessons. During the extract, I describe how some of Spain’s better footballers - Cesc Fabregas, Gerard Pique, Alvaro Arbeloa, players easily recognised today - began to extend their horizons beyond the boundaries of their country, and how this helped improve the fortunes of their national side.Playing abroad had traditionally been a foreign concept for Spanish footballers. But I explain that, for many of the country’s young stars, playing in other European leagues brought opportunities they weren’t getting back home.British football, in particular, helped La Roja to dominate at the three major tournaments between 2008 and 2012, with Joan Capdevila acknowledging that the Spaniards who played in England learned to become hardy competitors, as well as skilful footballers.My book on Spain is available in full as an audiobook from the good peo

Welcome back for the second part of the La Liga event I recorded live with Mr Sid Lowe at the Sugar Club in Dublin earlier this year.On the night, we opened up the floor to questions tweeted to us from members of the audience, with Sid and I talking about unforgettable characters from the Spanish game like Laurie Cunningham and the madcap Joaquin.We discuss Lionel Messi - how could we not? - and how he is now playing his best football ever, while we also talk about Cristiano Ronaldo and his obsession with becoming known as the greatest of all time.We also take questions about Diego Simeone and why it has still to fall into place for Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.This was organised by Con Artist promotions, who have put on some truly fantastic live football talks across Ireland and the UK. The next event is being held tonight at Union Chapel, London, where James Richardson, James Horncastle and Paolo Bandini will mark the 25th anniversary celebration of Gazzetta Football Italia.Information... Hosted on Acas

Okay, so you are about to listen to a La Liga event which I recorded live with Sid Lowe at the Sugar Club in Dublin earlier this year.Together, we share our appreciation of rondos and the role they play in the technical development of footballers in Spain, something which teams in England continue to be ignorant of.We also chat about Luis Enrique and, in particular, his relationship with the Spanish media during his time as manager of FC Barcelona, and I give my opinion on the direction that Barca are going in.Sid and I also discuss another character who has since left the Spanish game, Monchi, and explain why he was so incredibly important to the success of Sevilla during his long reign as sporting director.This event was a lot of fun, and I want to say a big thank you to Con Artist promotions for staging the gig. Con Artist puts on some fantastic live football talks across Ireland and the UK - with past events like The Blizzard, Football Weekly Live and many more.In fact, there’s an event at... Hosted on Ac

Here it is: your Benni bonus, as promised. And you can believe me when I say that this one is a very, very special treat.He takes us back to his childhood in Hanover Park, a suburb of Cape Town dominated by crime. That is where it all began for Benni… and where it could all have ended, with Benni recalling the rampant gang culture and violence he grew up around.Make no mistake, this was was a dangerous place to live - and he tells the story of how his best friend, 11-year-old Reginald, was shot and killed while they played football together in the street.Benni reveals that, at first, he thought a good education - and not football - was his best chance of escape, but his sporting talent soon took over and he became a star in a newly-created Gangster League, playing “shoe-shine piano” football. Don’t worry, you’ll discover what that means.From his origin story, he ends this spectacular Big Interview by looking to the future, offering a glimpse of what Benni McCarthy the football manager will be like.... Hosted

Welcome back for Part Two of this fabulous Big Interview with Benni McCarthy: fascinating story teller, wonderful footballer, Champions League winner.When we left Benni at the end of Part One, he was telling the story of how he got his hands on the cup with the big ears in 2004, with his Porto side progressing from a group which contained Marseille, Partizan Belgrade and Real Madrid. Who’s next? Manchester United in the last 16.Benni had always dreamed of playing for United and he left his mark against them in 2004, scoring twice in a stunning first leg victory. He describes both of those goals in glorious detail, as well as explaining why it was him - and not Deco - who took the injury time free-kick which put the tie to bed at Old Trafford.From there, Benni retraces his steps to the final, where Porto cruised to victory against Monaco. In fact, he will reveal that the competition was fiercer on the bench, where Benni was among the substitutes all fighting to get on and play a part in the... Hosted on Acast.

ONE year ago, we put out a special Big Interview ahead of the Champions League final. You may remember Paul Clement breaking down in fascinating detail the final he was part of as assistant to then Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti in 2014. If you haven’t heard it, it’s still available and I think you’d enjoy it.Anyway, we thought we would make this a Big Interview tradition. So here, ahead of the 2017 final, we have another story of Champions League glory, from a winner in 2004.Jose Mourinho’s Champions League win with Porto established him as the most coveted manager in football. It was a colossal victory, achieved against mighty odds and with a team Mourinho built on a scale that could hardly have been further from the giants they would face on the way.That team’s top goalscorer, and our guide through this story, is a case in point. Benedict McCarthy will start by explaining how Mourinho rustled him away from Celta Vigo using training ground espionage. After that, things get really juicy.Benni’s... Hosted

It is time once again for another Big Interview clip show and this latest one is a little bit special - it’s all about cup finals.The magic of the FA Cup is brought to you by Alan Pardew and Gary McAllister, while Gaizka Mendieta talks about the Spanish equivalent.Gary also provides his memories of playing in the UEFA Cup - some of which are a little racy - alongside Kevin Bridges and Terry Butcher.Finally, the Champions League brought despair and regret for Darren Fletcher and Joe Jordan and they share those feelings in this podcast. We also hear from two men for whom that competition brought pride and glory - Graeme Souness and Paul Clement.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

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