Despite a loss to Liverpool on Wednesday night, RB Leipzig is having a successful season. They're second in the Bundesliga and hot on the heels of Bayern Munich. However, Leipzig just the tip of the Red Bull multi-club model. 

If you look around Europe other multi-club models are thriving. Both Manchester City and Troyes of City Football Group are leading their respective leagues. Barnsley is the hottest team in the Championship and would qualify for the playoffs if the season ended today. 

Today we ask, is the Red Bull model the future of football?

Guest:

David Gass (@empiregass) is a freelance broadcaster who is a regular contributor to Extra Time Radio and A Football Podcast. He also regularly commentates on MLS, college soccer, and elsewhere.

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www.FootballTodayPodcast.com

Music:

The music for this episode was provided under the Creative Commons license by Blue Dot Sessions.

‘Great Great Lengths’ by Blue Dot Sessions

‘Peacetime’ by Blue Dot Sessions

 

 

On the pitch, Inter Milan are first in the league and flying high.    After 11 years of waiting, Inter are on the verge of winning Serie A and yet, things are far from rosy at the club…   In recent months Inter have been unable to pay player wages and reports in Italy suggest their owners are looking to sell part or all of the club.   Today we ask, why is Suning Group trying to sell Inter Milan?   Guests:   James Corbett (@james_corbett) is a financial reporter for OffthePitch.com   Simon Chadwick (@Prof_Chadwick) is a Professor & Director of Eurasian Sport at Emlyon business school   Support Us:

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Music:

The music for this episode was provided under the Creative Commons license by Blue Dot Sessions.

‘Gra Hovedvei’ by Blue Dot Sessions

‘Walking Shoes’ by Blue Dot Sessions

‘Highride’ by Blue Dot Sessions

‘Sunday Night Lights’ by Blue Dot Sessions

‘Trod Along’ by Blue Dot Sessions

‘Stucco Grey’ by Blue Dot Sessions

‘Wahre’ by Blue Dot Sessions

‘Peacetime’ by Blue Dot Sessions

 

On the evening of February the 20th, Aktuelles SportStudio - the German version of Match of the Day - was just kicking off.

That weekend, Karl Heinz Rummenigge, the CEO of Bayern Munich, was a special guest on the programme.

Having covered a number of different topics, the conversation turned elsewhere…

When questioned about Bayern’s links with Qatar, Rummenigge prevaricated, talking about how Qatar was a "very young country with a different culture and different religion." At this point, the host interrupted: "Human rights abuses are not culture."

In this episode, we ask: What impact will Bayern’s sponsorship by Qatar Airways have on German football?

Guests:

Matt Ford (@matt_4d) is a freelance football journalist who covers German football and fan culture whose work can be found at DW Sports.

Alex Fischer (@alex_muc86) is a fan of Bayern Munich and a member of Club Nr 12 (@clubnr12), an independent association of  Bayern fans.

Support Us:

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www.FootballTodayPodcast.com

Music:

The music for this episode was provided under the Creative Commons license by Blue Dot Sessions.

Individual Tracks:

Cicle DR Valga - Cicle Kadde

Careless Morning - Glacier Quartet - Araby

Doghouse - Warmbody

Jenner - Cafe Nostro

Our Lament - Moon Juice

Dany PKL - Limoncello

Drone Pine - The Pine Barrens

Masonry - Union Hall

Peacetime - TinyTiny Trio

So long in fact the last time they won it in 2002, Ronaldo was is their youth team, Lady Marmalade was the number 1 song worldwide and Star Wars Episode II was in theaters.   But that might about to change in. Sporting are first in the league and after a draw against Porto on Saturday the club are 10 points ahead of their Portuguese rivals. Today we ask, can Sporting Lisbon end their title drought?   Guest: Tom Kundert (@PortuGoal1) is the creator of Portugoal.net and is World Soccer Magazine's Portugal correspondent.    Support Us:

https://www.patreon.com/FootballToday

Follow Us:

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www.FootballTodayPodcast.com

Music:

The music for this episode was provided under the Creative Commons license by Blue Dot Sessions.

‘Andelo’ by Blue Dot Sessions

‘Georgia Overdrive’ by Blue Dot Sessions

‘Astrisx’ by Blue Dot Sessions

‘Symphony 40 in G Minor’ by Blue Dot Sessions

‘We Build With Rubber Bands’ by Blue Dot Sessions

‘Peacetime’ by Blue Dot Sessions

 

Before 1958 Brazil had never won a World Cup. Within 12 years, Pele would lead the Seleção to three titles, cementing themselves as the most popular team in the world.

This is the backdrop for Netflix's newly released documentary about football superstar, Pelé. In today's episode, we analyze Pelé's impact on the Brazilian national team and how he was used for political purposes.  

Guest:

David Gass (@empiregass) is a freelance broadcaster who is a regular contributor to Extra Time Radio and A Football Podcast. He also regularly commentates on MLS, college soccer, and elsewhere.

Support Us:

https://www.patreon.com/FootballToday

Follow Us:

@FT_Podcast_

www.FootballTodayPodcast.com

Music:

The music for this episode was provided under the Creative Commons license by Blue Dot Sessions.

‘Great Great Lengths’ by Blue Dot Sessions

‘Peacetime’ by Blue Dot Sessions

 

On July 11th Norwich City lost 4-0 to West Ham confirming the Canaries' relegation from the Premier League. But if you listened to Norwich's head coach Daniel Farke after the loss it was clear this outcome was inevitable and he didn't seem overly concerned.    That's because both Farke and the club were prepared for the relegation. Just as they were also prepared to sell Ben Godfrey and Jamal Lewis in the summer.    It is this forward-thinking that has Norwich atop the Championship table. Today we take a look at Norwich City and ask, what’s the purpose of a football club?   Guest:   Murad Ahmed (@muradahmed) is the sports editor of the Financial Times.   Support Us:

https://www.patreon.com/FootballToday

Follow Us:

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www.FootballTodayPodcast.com

Music:

The music for this episode was provided under the Creative Commons license by Blue Dot Sessions.

‘Ranch Hand’ by Blue Dot Sessions

‘Palms Down’ by Blue Dot Sessions

‘Tessalit’ by Blue Dot Sessions

‘Lakeside Path’ by Blue Dot Sessions

‘Peacetime’ by Blue Dot Sessions

 

It’s been a tough year for the football industry…

Of course, it’s one thing to lose money through a lack of gate receipts. It’s another thing to lose money through lack of television revenue… But that is precisely what is happening around Europe.

We’ve seen broadcast rights deals drop in Germany and in France, and it’s now Italy’s turn to face the music.

In this episode, we ask: what’s going on with Serie A’s broadcast rights deal?

Guest:

David Hellier (@hellierd) covers football finance at Bloomberg.

Support Us:

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Music:

The music for this episode was provided under the Creative Commons license by Blue Dot Sessions.

Individual Tracks:

Plate Statis - Algea Fields

Rate Sheet - Union Hall

Median Point - Glass Obelisk

Cab Ride - Pacha Faro

Peacetime - TinyTiny Trio

On Friday more than a billion people around the world celebrated the Lunar New Year and according to the Chinese calendar we are now in the year of the ox.

In European football, we're currently 5 months into the year of the underdog. So far European giants like Juventus, Liverpool, PSG and Real Madrid have all struggled in their domestic leagues.    But no club has disappointed their fans more than Borussia Dortmund. Following a 2-2 draw against Hoffenheim on Saturday Dortmund sit in 6th place in the Bundesliga. With just 13 games to go the club is 6 points back of fourth-place and are in danger of failing to qualify for the Champions League.    Today we detail Dortmunds disappointing season and break down who will qualify for the final Champions League positions in Germany.

Guest:

Chris Williams (@chris78williams) is a Bundesliga journalist and DFL world feed co-commentator

Support Us:

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www.FootballTodayPodcast.com

Music:

The music for this episode was provided under the Creative Commons license by Blue Dot Sessions.

‘Idle Ways’ by Blue Dot Sessions

‘The Consulate’ by Blue Dot Sessions

‘Step In Step Out’ by Blue Dot Sessions

‘Cloudline’ by Blue Dot Sessions

‘Greyleaf Willow’ by Blue Dot Sessions

‘Peacetime’ by Blue Dot Sessions

Clips Used: BT Sport, ESPN

 

When Daniel Levy and ENIC took over Tottenham was a mid-table team worth approximately £80 million. Now, 20 years later, Tottenham regularly qualifies for the Champions League and boasts the highest revenue of any club in London. 

Daniel Levy has transformed the club on and off the pitch. Yet now Tottenham are struggling. The club sit in 8th place and have lost three of their last four games. But beyond the poor results on the pitch, could there be more structurally wrong with Daniel Levy and the club? 

Guest:

David Gass (@empiregass) is a freelance broadcaster who is a regular contributor to Extra Time Radio and A Football Podcast. He also regularly commentates on MLS, college soccer, and elsewhere.

Support Us:

https://www.patreon.com/FootballToday

Follow Us:

@FT_Podcast_

www.FootballTodayPodcast.com

Music:

The music for this episode was provided under the Creative Commons license by Blue Dot Sessions.

‘Great Great Lengths’ by Blue Dot Sessions

‘Peacetime’ by Blue Dot Sessions

 

Atletico Madrid and Luis Suarez are on the hottest team and player in Spain. Atletico has won their last 7 games and Suarez has scored 9 goals in his last 8 games. Los Colchoneros now lead the league by 7 points and have games in hand. 

Today we ask: how are Suarez and Atletico dominating La Liga?

Guest:

Andy West (@andywest01) is a sports writer and commentator. He regularly contributes to LaLigaTV, BBCSport, Sport360, and the EuroLeague. He is also the author of 'Lionel Messi and the Art of Living’.

Support Us:

https://www.patreon.com/FootballToday

Follow Us:

@FT_Podcast_

www.FootballTodayPodcast.com

Music:

The music for this episode was provided under the Creative Commons license by Blue Dot Sessions.

‘Careless Morning’ by Blue Dot Sessions

‘Hard Boil’ by Blue Dot Sessions

‘Are We Loose Yet’ by Blue Dot Sessions

‘Lobo Lobo’ by Blue Dot Sessions

‘A Certain Lightness’ by Blue Dot Sessions

‘Peacetime’ by Blue Dot Sessions

Clips Used: Canal+, ESPN