Euro Leagues

By BBC Radio 5 LiveSports Soccer

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Typical duration
52 min
per episode

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Euro Leagues episodes

November 06 Celebrating in saunas and Teemu Pukki’s farewell – the final weekend in Finland
John Bennett interviews HJK assistant coach Erkka Lehtola ahead of a fascinating final weekend in the Finnish League.
Lehtola explains their approach for the final weekend, with his HJK and Inter Turku both heading into their final matches on 58 points.
It will be the final weekend before Teemu Pukki retires and he discusses exactly how incredibly popular the former Norwich and Celtic striker is in Finland.
Lehtola played in the Champions League for HJK and discusses playing against Michael Ballack and Ruud van Nistelrooy. He also works as a football commentator and pundit – and discusses how the team may well celebrate in a sauna if they win this weekend.
TIMECODES…
1 min – The excitement ahead of this weekend’s match.
6 mins – Teemu Pukki’s final match – and how popular he is in Finland.
9 mins – How HJK have missed out over the last two years.
11 mins – Champions League prospects and Lehtola’s memories of playing in it.
13 mins – The standard of football in Finland.
15 mins – Lehtola’s work as a commentator.
19 mins – Cristiano Ronaldo’s retirement.
20 mins – Final words of encouragement and possible celebrations.
24 min
November 05 What legacy does Cristiano Ronaldo leave on the international stage?
After over 200 caps, 140 goals, and 23 years, Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from the Portuguese national team. John Bennett is joined by Spanish football expert Guillem Balague, The Athletic’s James Horncastle, and Portuguese journalist Jose Carlos Freitas to react to the news of Ronaldo’s retirement, the reaction in Portugal, whether it comes as a surprise, and the comparisons with Lionel Messi. Could Jorge Jesus have been sacked following the fallout of Ronaldo being benched in the Nations League? And will there be another Ronaldo trying to break into the international team in years to come?
TIME CODES
00:00 Intro
00:20 James at the Milan derby
03:40 Ronaldo retires from Portugal
08:20 Would he have been in the next squad?
10:00 Reaction in Portugal
18:00 Ronaldo’s international career
21:50 The relationship with Portugal
25:30 Could he be a future manager?
27:30 The future of Portugal
30 min
October 29 Was Raya robbed & how did Europe react to Kane's Ballon d'Or win?
How did Athletic Bilbao's Unai Simon beat David Raya for the Yashin Trophy at the Ballon d'Or? Should the World Cup take priority, or was Raya robbed of the award after a spectacular season at Arsenal? And what has the continent made of Harry Kane's Ballon d'Or win? Are the Spanish annoyed that it didn't go to Lamine Yamal, and how has Bayern Munich reacted? Maz Farookhi, Guillem Balague and Julien Laurens discuss it all alongside German football expert Rafa Honigstein.
Then, the team reflect on Real Madrid's El Clasico victory, James Horncastle joins the pod to look ahead to the Milan Derby, and why has Kylian Mbappe had to apologise to China? Finally, we discuss Dirk Kuyt's Liverpool reunion as new interim head coach of Fenerbahce.
Timecodes:
02:00 Kane's Ballon d'Or win
17:30 Was David Raya robbed?
24:00 El Clasico reflections
30:00 Mbappe's apology to China
37:00 Lazio flying high
40:45 Milan derby preview
47:00 Dirk Kuyt's Liverpool reunion
52 min
October 22 Superman at Como & is Conte right for Man United?
This week John Bennett is joined by James Horncastle (fresh back from his trip to Como) and Julien Laurens where the focus is all on that remarkable scoreline from Italy after Como beat Manchester United midweek. They show the Italian side some love and hear from Cesc Fabregas. James also sprinkles some Hollywood stardust on to the match after Superman was spotted in the stands – and John and Jules ask that all important question… does James have as much power as Superman?
The guys take look at some of the out of work managers on the continent who could be interested if Michael Carrick leaves Manchester United, and Antonio Conte certainly gets a mention.
Attention then turns to the injury to Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and what impact that will have on PSG’s season. And delve into Serie A and Ligue 1 where it’s tight at the top.
John, Jules and James (the three J’s) then look ahead, not only to El Clasico but also the top of the table clash in Dutch football taking place this weekend where Marcel van Der Kraan joins the pod ahead to PSV Eindhoven v Feyenoord.
Timecodes:
02:00 – Como focus
05:40 - Cesc Fabregas interview.
10:00 – The names across Europe who have been linked to Man United.
17:00 – The injury to PSG’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
25:00 – Serie A focus.
30:00 – The health of Ligue 1
38:00 - Marcel van Der Kraan on PSV v Feyenoord.
42:00 – El Clasico chat.
50 min
October 19 Mikey Moore and the English lads at Cologne
Mikey Moore is the youngest player to turn out for Spurs in the Premier League, doing so at the age of just 16. He is still only 19 now but after a prior loan at Rangers is now on loan at Bundesliga side Cologne from Spurs after joining them at the back end of the summer transfer window.
In this revealing interview, Moore discusses his new life in Germany - explaining why having two other English lads in Reigan Heskey and Jahmai Simpson-Pusey alongside him has really helped, German lessons, his hopes for the season and the prospect of playing against Harry Kane.
And after the interview Euro Leagues regulars Julien Laurens and Rafa Hongistein join the pod to discuss Moore’s loan move and why young English players like the Bundesliga.
TIMECODES
0 mins - Mikey Moore on his new life in Germany and playing alongside two English players at the club.
2 mins - The challenge of learning German.
4 mins - Sight-seeing in Cologne.
5 mins - Tony Woodcock
6 mins - What Moore is learning and what attracted him to the league.
7 mins - The difference between the Premier League and the Bundesliga.
9 mins - Keeping in touch with Tottenham.
10 mins - The prospect of playing against Harry Kane.
12 mins - Moore’s long-term ambitions in the game.
16 mins – Julien Laurens and Rafa Honigstein join the pod to discuss why the Bundesliga is a good league for young English players - and Moore’s prospects of success this season.
25 min
October 15 Barca the team to stop PSG? Paper planes & Martinez’ apology
Are Barcelona and Paris Saint Germain the teams to beat in the Champions League? Julien Laurens and Raphael Honigstein are with John Bennett to reflect on their big wins against Galatasaray and Manchester City this week.
They debate how Manchester United have handled Lisandro Martinez’ criticism of their technical director Jason Wilcox, after he apologised to the club’s hierarchy for his outburst.
Elizabeth Conway joins the pod after paper airplanes and bouncy balls being thrown onto the pitch stopped Rayo Vallecano’s match against Athletic Club.
And was Bayern Munich’s draw with Viking the Champions League game of the week? They discuss Michael Olise’s red card and reports that Harry Kane is set to extend his stay at Bayern Munich until 2029.
Timecodes:
00:52 - Lisandro Martinez’ apology
06:50 - How good were PSG?
10:06 - Could Barcelona be PSG’s biggest Champions League challengers this season?
19:20 - Paper plane protest at Rayo Vallecano
24:15 - Bayern's draw with Viking
29:27 - Kane set to extend his stay in Munich
34 min
October 09 The ambitious young coach on top in Sweden
You may not have heard of Andreas Engelmark – yet! – but the 42-year-old is closing in on his first league title – and what a story it would be.
He is in charge at Sirius, who play in the university town of Uppsala and have never won the top-flight but are eight points clear with eight games left.
He speaks to John Bennett about his ambitions to coach in England, the Swedish national team players he has coached, including a very young Viktor Gyokeres, managing a team alongside Olof Mellberg, the club’s brilliant recruitment policy and how he has transformed Sirius into a side closing in on the title.
TIMECODES
0 mins – Why it is such a great time to be involved with Sirius.
3 mins – The club’s recruitment policy and the example of Scot Robbie Ure, who they bought from the reserves at Anderlecht and sold for a big profit.
6 mins – Engelmark’s varied coaching journey.
8 mins – The players from the current Swedish squad that he coached – and who he met for a coffee during the recent international break, including Arsenal’s Viktor Gyokeres.
10 mins – What he learnt from two years as a head coach with former Sweden international Olof Mellberg.
12 mins – How he survived a tricky start at Sirius.
17 mins – His hopes for the end of the season and their approach to the final matches.
19 mins – Engelmark’s ambitions for the future and why he would love to manage in England.
24 min
October 07 Messi's goodbye, Ronaldo's fallout & Zidane makes his mark?
John Bennett is joined by Julien Laurens and Guillem Ballague in a contrasting week for footballing greats: Messi and Ronaldo.
The panel discuss Messi's international goodbye and Cristiano Ronaldo's lengthy statement following his fallout with Jorge Jesus- but is his behaviour a surprise to anyone?
In France, how well has Zinedine Zidane's start gone down? How will he impose his management? As for Spain, how have they evolved post World Cup?
Plus, is Pep Guardiola already planning a return to the Etihad?
TIMECODES:
0'45 Mbappe out cycling?
3'41 Lionel Messi's goodbye
9'27 Cristiano Ronaldo's statement
22'05 Zinedine Zidane's first matches in charge of France
31'05 How have Spain pushed on from their World Cup win?
33'26 Virgil Van Dijk reaches 100 caps
36'36 Pep Guardiola returns to the Etihad?
42 min
October 01 Is Pep's legacy ruined & is Ronaldo retiring?
John Bennett is joined by Guillem Balague and James Horncastle to discuss how clubs and fans across Europe have reacted to the Manchester City news.
Does it have an impact on Pep Guardiola’s legacy?
There's been drama in Portugal as Cristiano Ronaldo leaves the national team camp early after a fall out with his manager. Could this be the end of his international career?
And Dutch football writer Finley Crebolder drops by to talk Xavi bringing ‘Total Football’ back to the Netherlands?

TIMECODES:

02:10 Man City
06:30 Spain & German reaction
12:40 Pep Guardiola legacy?
22:50 Ronaldo
29:50 Commercial impact
31:30 Netherlands chat with Finley Crebolder
41:30 Roberto Mancini
54 min
September 24 Can Klopp unlock Wirtz? Salah's Trabzon triple & José wants justice!
John Bennett is joined by Julien Laurens & Archie Rhind-Tutt on this week's Euro Leagues! The team discuss Liam Rosenior's "don't make a scene" comment after beating Strasbourg, Jose's antics after the Madrid derby, and can 'The New One', Jurgen Klopp, get a tune out of Florian Wirtz as Germany manager in his 44-man squad? We discuss Mo Salah's hattrick for Trabzonspor, and how Freiburg have started the Bundesliga season unbeaten. Then, we hear from PSG's Ballon d'Or contender Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in a sit-down interview with Jules. Why do the guys make him their favourite to win it, and what do they make of Michael Olise's 'moody' post-match interviews?
Timecodes:
01:00 Liam Rosenior's "don't make a scene" comment
05:00 The Madrid derby & Jose's post-match antics
15:00 Jurgen Klopp's 44-man Germany squad
24:15 Salah's Trabzon hattrick v Galatasaray
29:15 Freiburg's unbeaten Bundesliga start
36:00 Kvaratskhelia interview
43:00 Can he win the Ballon d'Or?
47:00 Zidane's taking control of the French squad
50:30 Olise's 'moody' post-match interviews
55 min

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Euro Leagues takes you inside the stories, rivalries, personalities and drama shaping the game across the continent - and goes deeper than anyone else.

From La Liga, the Bundesliga, Serie A…