In 2004, a man with the nickname “El Ingeniero” would accept a job in the small town of Villarreal. An ambitious move to appoint the Chilean would be the foundation of Villarreal establishing themselves as a domestic and European force but also sent La Liga on a long term love affair with this man. That man is one Manuel Pellegrini!

In this episode, Nick & Paul are joined by Rahul (@laligalondon) to talk about Pellegrini across his 4 stints as a manager in Spain and what the impact and lasting legacy of one of the most interesting, respected and successful managers in La Liga history will be.

Available now wherever you get your podcasts, over on our Patreon page on on YouTube!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Some things just go together. Salt and Pepper, Roasts and Gravy and of course, Liam and Yeclano Deportivo. We are delighted for this week's El Partido en Directo that Liam once again heads to the Murcia region as Yeclano Deportivo host the Abuelo, Recreativo de Huelva in a top end of the table Segunda Federacion clash - with both sides having aspirations of an immediate return to the Primera RFEF!

Liam also takes us on a Tecera Federacion side quest of a visit to El Palmar as well as brings us some chats with our friends in Yecla.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Back in 2007, Real Racing Club were a solid side treading water in La Liga - Enter Marcelino! The former Recre de Huelva manager came to Cantabria and ripped up the rulebook, turning Racing Santander into a challenger at the top of the La Liga table and would eventually bring European football to El Sardinero for the first time in the clubs history. Nick and Paul dig deep into how he managed to transform this side and the players that would go onto to become legends in Santander!

Available wherever you get your podcasts, on Patreon and on YouTube!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In our first Halloween special, we bring you a collection of spooky Spanish football stories including haunting howlers, terrifying shockers and scary screamers! We also look at the 'Haunting of Getafe' where a routine Barcelona win in Getafe on Halloween turned into a nightmare that would question the integrity and image of the club in the Spanish media!

Available now wherever you get your podcasts, on our Patreon and on YouTube!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There was once a player from El Salvador that Diego Maradona once described as 'a better player than Maradona and Pele'. The man he was referring to never went on to reach the accolades of those two players but his skills and love of the game would make an entire city in Spain fall in love with him. Of course, we are talking about Mágico González and Cadiz Club de Futbol!

We are joined by Mark from the Living Lacita Loca podcast to talk all about their love for Mágico González and subsequently, his love for Cadiz.

Available now wherever you get your podcasts, on our Patreon page and on YouTube!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It was a football weekend in Madrid for Matt and friends with Malaga heading to Butarque to take on Leganés. Matt is joined by the lads from the Spanish Segunda show as Malaga look to build on their emphatic defeat of Depor last weekend, whilst the home side need to start picking up results if they have any aspirations of returning to La Liga at the first time of asking.

Available now wherever you get your podcasts, on our Patreon and YouTube!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Diego Simeone has always been a serial winner but his exploits with Atletico Madrid have not just earned him the respect of his peers - but he has broken the duopoly in Spanish football and introduced a third horse into the race. He often gets brushed playing with a 'certain brand' of football - which is so far from the truth. His longevity is based on his team building and the culture of 'Cholismo' that he introduced. This week, Nick & Paul are joined by Emmanuek Lagovez of the Partido a Partido podcast, to celebrate all things Diego Simeone!

Available now wherever you get your podcasts, on our Patreon and on YouTube!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Another week, another special edition of En Directo - this time from the incredible Unio Esportiva Sant Andreu. A staple of the ever-growing popularity of non-league football in the city of Barcelona, Sant Andreu are an incredible club that are the face of this movement, as well as Catalan traditions. Join Liam Bambridge as he brings us his report of Sant Andreu v Valencia Mestalla in the Segunda Federacion!

Available now wherever you get your podcasts, on Patreon and on YouTube!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's not often you get to meet one of the inspirations for your entire podcast but we had that joy this week as we were joined by the one and only Guillem Balagué!

We go back to where it all started with a Revista de La Liga love-in, talk about the Maradona Nostalgia and all about his brand new book, Rise of the Villains - the Unai Emery Aston Villa Revolution!

Available now wherever you get your podcasts, on our Patreon and on YouTube!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We have another brilliant episode of El Partido en Directo to bring, once again for our man in Spain - Mr Matt Harrison. This week, he is making the trip back to where it all began in Espana to the Abuelo of Spanish football - Huelva. Listen as he takes us back to the historic city on the Atlantic Coast and takes us to the Nuevo Colombino to watch Recreativo de Huelva take on Lorca Deportiva in the Segunda Federacion!

Available now wherever you get your podcasts, on our Patreon and on YouTube!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices