The Miracle of Wolfsburg. In 2008/09, a factory club with no Bundesliga pedigree tore up the script and produced one of the most astonishing title runs of the 2000s. Led by the iron-fisted Felix Magath, powered by the iconic trio of Grafite, Edin Džeko and Zvjezdan Misimović, and fuelled by a fearless, fast-breaking style of football, VfL Wolfsburg shocked Germany — and Bayern Munich — to lift their first-ever Meisterschale.

In this episode, we break down how a side once flirting with relegation transformed into a goal-scoring machine. From Grafite’s legendary back-heel versus Bayern, to the 5–1 demolition jobs that defined their run, to the personalities and off-pitch dynamics that made this team unforgettable — this is the inside story of a title nobody saw coming.

Expect tactical context, player deep-dives, match-by-match turning points, and the legacy of one of the Bundesliga’s greatest one-season wonders.

If you love 2000s football, big shocks, and iconic strikers, this one’s for you.

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Youth, belief, and eight straight wins: Stuttgart’s miracle year.

From crisis to champions — VfB Stuttgart’s 2006-07 season is one of the Bundesliga’s great comeback stories. A rookie coach, a team of academy kids, and a title fight that went to the wire. Relive the drama, the noise, and the moment Khedira’s header crowned the unlikeliest champions of the decade.

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In 2004, the impossible happened: Werder Bremen won it all. Under Thomas Schaaf, a squad built from bargains and belief ripped up the script, outscoring everyone and lifting both the league and cup. From Aílton’s golden-boot rampage to Johan Micoud’s artistry and a relentless team spirit, this was the season that made Germany fall in love with Bremen’s football. In this episode, we revisit the swagger, the soundtrack, and the shockwaves of their 2003-04 double — a time when the Weserstadion was the most exciting place in Europe.

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In 2002, Borussia Dortmund pulled off one of the great Bundesliga comebacks — a title run powered by Tomas Rosický’s flair, Jan Koller’s goals, and Matthias Sammer’s iron will. In this episode, we dive into how BVB rose from financial trouble to dethrone Bayern Munich, conquer Germany, and come within a whisker of a European trophy. From the roar of the Yellow Wall to the heartbreak of Rotterdam, relive the season that defined a generation of Dortmund fans and set the tone for the club’s modern identity.

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Who was the greatest 'number 2' of the 2000s and who will join them on the pyramid?

First though, we pay our respects to some right-sided fullbacks that the streets will never forget.

Then, in the piece de resistance, we each present our pyramids and make our cases for the three tiers. Which 6 legends will be immortalized in 2000s footballing history? Will a smiling Brazilian steal the show with his charm and speed or will a sturdy Frenchman have something to say about it? Will respect be attributed to a Mancunian Captain? What about the Galacticos' very own Pitbull? Tune in to find out and send us your own pyramids?

All of this and much, much more on this episode of Football In The 2000s!

If you haven't already, tune in to our other episodes on any app you get your podcasts!

Make sure to follow us on our Instagram (@footballinthe2000s) and tell us of more topics you would like to hear. Finally, please give us a rating & review and share this podcast with anyone you think may enjoy it! Thanks!

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In the early 2000s, Ajax were reborn — louder, faster, and wilder than the pristine Total Football sides that came before them. Between 2001 and 2003, a fearless new generation stormed through Amsterdam: Zlatan Ibrahimović, Rafael van der Vaart, Cristian Chivu, Steven Pienaar, and Andy van der Meyde — a group so unpredictable they became known as the “Rock ’n Roll Ajax.”

In this episode, we dive into that chaotic, thrilling era. From Co Adriaanse’s dismissal to Ronald Koeman’s youth revolution, from Zlatan’s €9 million move from Malmö to his breakout Champions League night against Lyon, we revisit how Ajax rediscovered swagger and nearly shocked Europe on their 2002–03 run to the Champions League quarter-finals.

This is the story of a club caught between tradition and rebellion — a team that brought the ArenA back to life, inspired a new generation of Dutch stars, and gave the football world its first glimpse of Zlatan’s genius.

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Before he was “Ibra,” Zlatan was just a kid from Rosengård with a stolen bike, a taekwondo kick, and a chip on his shoulder. We trace his journey from Malmö’s concrete courtyards to a record-breaking move to Ajax — with temper flare-ups, near-quits, and the famous “I don’t do auditions” moment along the way.

Tune in for stories of dockyard near-misses, taekwondo flips, and the making of one of football’s most polarizing figures on this episode of Football in the 2000s: Young Zlatan.

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Sooner or later it had to be covered. We heard our listeners, licked some salt from our wounds and decided to go all in on the 2004-2005 Uefa Champions League final! On the 25th of May in 2005, a star-studded Milan side headed to Istanbul to take on underdogs Liverpool. The stage was set for one of the most David vs Goliath finals in decades. What we got was arguably the greatest final of all time.

Before discussing the match in depth, though, we touch upon how competitive that season's Champions League was (3:20) and some highlights from the knockout stages (12:30). Then, it is on to the final (25:30), analyzed from every angle and emotion before rounding things up by discussing the overall legacy of the match and its participants (54:30).

All of this and much, much more on this episode of Football In The 2000s!

If you haven't already, tune in to our other episodes on any app you get your podcasts!

Make sure to follow us on our Instagram (@footballinthe2000s) and tell us of more topics you would like to hear. Finally, please give us a rating & review and share this podcast with anyone you think may enjoy it! Thanks!

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Before Fabrizio and David, we spent 2000s summers perusing the papers for transfer gossip and following drawn out sagas, most of which never actually materialized. On this episode of Football In The 2000s, we dive into three of the most high-profile 'almost-transfers' that fell through at the last minute and discuss the domino effects that could have resulted.

What if Kaká had agreed personal terms with City and been their first massive transfer? Would he have brought glory to Moss side earlier? Would it have worked better than at Madrid?

Then, in the second half, we ruminate on how the Premier League and European football in general could have looked differently by analyzing two big moves that fell through in the summer of 2004 (28:30). Did Wenger almost have a Portuguese starlet join his Invincibles? And could Ronaldinho have coped with the rain in Manchester?

Make sure to follow us on our Instagram (@footballinthe2000s) and tell us of more topics you would like to hear. Finally, please give us a rating & review and share this podcast with anyone you think may enjoy it! Thanks!

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What began as a standard investigation about a negligent doping program turned into one of the biggest sporting investigations in history during the summer of 2006. As the weeks went by, a steady trickle of leaked wiretaps made its way out via the press. Those implicated were a who's who of Italian football and at the center of the ring was none other than the Godfather of the game himself: Luciano Moggi.

On this episode, we relive some of the most shocking revelations from the Calciopoli wiretaps before diving into the sanctions that saw Juventus relegated to Serie B for the first time in their history (28:00). Did the involvement of other clubs point to systemic corruption in the Italian game? Was justice applied evenly? And how should we evaluate certain conspiracy theories about who was behind the leaks?

We wrap things up with a brief discussion on whether Calciopoli destroyed Italian football on its own or whether it was the final straw that broke the camel's back. Will Italian football ever fully recover from the damage done by the scandal?

Tune in for much more including tales of referees locked in locker rooms and anecdotes about boardroom plotting on this episode of Football In The 2000s!

Make sure to follow us on our Instagram (@footballinthe2000s) and tell us of more topics you would like to hear. Finally, please give us a rating & review and share this podcast with anyone you think may enjoy it! Thanks!

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