How did a pizza waiter from Haarlem become one of football's most influential figures? This is the story of Mino Raiola, the super-agent who transformed the football transfer market, and his successor, Rafaela Pimenta.

In this episode, Simon and Mehreen explore the extraordinary career of Mino Raiola and his business partner, Rafaela Pimenta. From his early days working in his family's pizzeria to becoming the agent for stars like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, and Erling Haaland, this is the tale of how an outsider revolutionised football's transfer market through wit, work ethic, and an uncanny ability to see where the game was heading.

This episode reveals how Raiola's pizzeria mentality of personal service shaped his approach to representing players, his complex relationship with football's establishment, and how he built the most powerful agency in modern football.

Time stamps:

0:00: Introduction and background

03:40: Early life in Haarlem and the family pizzeria

08:22: Entry into football and first deals

15:44: Meeting Zlatan Ibrahimovic

21:33: Partnership with Rafaela Pimenta

27:16: Building the perfect agency

34:55: The Pogba transfer saga

42:18: Managing player careers and investments

48:37: Battles with clubs and FIFA

54:29: Legacy and influence on modern football

59:13: Rafaela Pimenta takes the reins

1:05:42: The future of football agencies

1:11:27: Final thoughts on Raiola's impact

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In 1914, 110 years ago exactly, British and German troops came up from the trenches to meet in no man’s land and play football. This remarkable event, known as the Christmas Truce, is the subject of today’s special episode.

Instead of focusing on one hero, human, or villain, this Christmas episode examines the humanity behind war, discussing how football has united people across languages, cultures, and history. 

Simon and Mehreen delve deep into the story of World War I and beyond. They track the history of this poignant event, discussing its impact on Adolf Hitler (spoiler: he didn’t want to talk about it), the rise and suppression of women’s football, and discussing the event against wars and conflicts of today.

This poignant, moving episode is ideal listening for football and history lovers alike and signals the start of Heroes & Humans’ Christmas break. Thank you for listening to our episodes in 2024. It's been a true pleasure to see how football has united so many listeners across the globe.

Time stamps:

0:43: Setting the scene, 1914

6:30: Christmas Eve, 1914

11:25: How football united the warring sides

17:47: Was there just one Christmas truce match?

22:50: Were there any more sporting truces?

27:31: A gender revolution and the early rise of women’s football

31:05: Battle of the Somme and the end of the Great War

37:30: The legacy of the First World War, 110 years later

41:42: Reflections on today’s wars and conflicts (e.g., Russia-Ukraine)

Like this episode? Make sure to vote for Heroes & Humans of Football at the Sports Podcast Awards: https://bit.ly/4fkQ8uA 

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By joining our official H&H Supporters Club on Patreon, you’ll unlock access to behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, bonus content, and special Q&A sessions with your hosts, Mehreen and Simon. Whether you're looking for deeper insights into football’s biggest personalities or just can’t wait for the next episode, we’ve got something for you.

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12 July 1998, Paris. It’s the FIFA World Cup – France vs. Brazil. Brazil has the unstoppable Ronaldo (O Fenômeno – the Phenomenon) on their side, and crowds are expecting a Brazilian win. 

Suddenly before the match, it’s announced Ronaldo isn’t going to play. Then, suddenly, he is. Nations watch, confused, as Brazil’s best player wanders the pitch like a sleepwalker with glazed eyes, and witness Brazil’s defeat of 3-0. So what actually happened?

In this podcast episode, Mehreen and Simon tackle the conspiracy theories, mysteries, and intrigue leading up to the memorable FIFA World Cup of 1998. They track Ronaldo’s early life in Brazil, his time at PSV Eindhoven, and the footballer’s incredible rise to dominance, with stats aged 20 better than Pelé.

Ronaldo R9, a cult icon, captured the world’s attention in the 1990s by aggressively dominating the pitch. Did he have a panic attack or fit before the game? Was he drugged to ensure a French win? Was he a pawn of Nike, who had an unusual amount of control over the Brazilian team?

This is an episode for mystery lovers, true crime lovers, and football fans alike. 

Time stamps:

0:36: Setting the scene: The day of the ‘98 World Cup Final

7:15: Ronaldo’s stats and playing career

12:34: Teen years and move to the Netherlands

22:14: Joining and leaving Barça

27:16: World Cup time

34:10: Brazil reaches the final 

39:18: Conspiracy theories go wild

46:33: Parliamentary enquiry, and a potential epileptic fit

54:03: More conspiracy theories (there’s a lot)

1:00:05: Is the simplest theory the correct one?

1:00:07: Ronaldo’s career, 1998-2002

1:12:48: Later life and children (and why McDonald’s is so important)

1:16:21: Ronaldo R9’s legacy and influence

Like this episode? Make sure to vote for Heroes & Humans of Football at the Sports Podcast Awards https://bit.ly/4fkQ8uA 

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By joining our official H&H Supporters Club on Patreon, you’ll unlock access to behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, bonus content, and special Q&A sessions with your hosts, Mehreen and Simon. Whether you're looking for deeper insights into football’s biggest personalities or just can’t wait for the next episode, we’ve got something for you.

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Our first-ever live show, recorded at the Kilkenomics Economics & Comedy Festival in Kilkenny, Ireland. 

The sold-out event saw Simon and Mehreen take to the stage, discussing all things football with the prize-winning author Roddy Doyle.

Die-hard Chelsea fan Doyle spoke with H&H for over an hour, where they discussed topics such as:

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Manchester United has seen numerous managers come and go since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. With Erik Ten Hag now put to pasture, who is the new Portuguese millennial manager taking the job?

This episode discusses the life and managerial career (so far) of Ruben Amorim. This is the story of a man who has rapidly catapulted his career through the Portuguese football leagues, and is now saying goodbye to the Iberian sun in favour of rainy Manchester.

Simon and Mehreen discuss Amorim’s managerial training and life in Portugal, the shadow of fellow Portuguese football manager José Mourinho, and his ongoing commitment to the back three. The team is joined by Portuguese expert and football pundit Raquel Vaz Pinto, who provides unique insights into Amorim. 

Known for being an empathetic and genuine manager that treats football coaching like a psychologist, are millennial-players-turned-coaches football’s hottest new property? And how will a man, known for his captivating press conferences in Portuguese, cope in his second language in an English-speaking environment?

Time stamps:

0:36: Introduction and stats 

3:45: Early life and footballing career

7:41: Amorim’s coaching credentials and the influence of José Mourinho

14:17: Early coaching career

17:25: It all goes wrong (then right again)

22:25: Amorim revitalises Sporting Portugal (... not Sporting Lisbon)

27:43: Captivating audiences at press conferences

32:03: A strict and serious side 

36:28: On English clubs’ radars

41:51: Modern management, ft. Millennials and Gen Z

45:57: What if he wasn’t in football?

Make sure to listen to the following episodes after this one:

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Eric Cantona is the epitome of Rimbaud and Rambo: an artistic poet and violent, tough man. So how did this paradoxical player transform Manchester United in the 1990s? And how did this affect English football as a whole?

In this episode, Simon and Mehreen delve deep into the life and times of French footballer Eric Cantona. They track his playing career in France, how he was the missing piece of the puzzle for 90s Manchester United, and his abrupt footballing career-end at the age of 31. 

This is the story of a man who was built like a boxer and thinks of himself as an artist. Famous for his kung-fu kicks, red card troubles, and propensity towards violence, this episode discusses how he also embodied a new type of footballer in the 1990s and a work-hard mentality of football as an art.

Put your collars up for this insane, violent, and often poetic tale of the man of one of Manchester United’s most integral figures.

Time stamps:

0:36: Introduction and stats 

03:44: Early life in Marseille

07:29: A gifted young footballer and early playing career

11:13: Controversy and trouble in French clubs

13:40: Move to England (and a love for Rimbaud or Rambo?)

17:12 Cult hero and collar up at Leeds

22:32: Ferguson chooses Cantona for Manchester United

26:32: Strong start at Manchester United

29:53: Raising the bar at Manchester United

35:27: Simon’s Financial Times front page cover on Cantona

45:51: Community service and controversies

49:16: Karate kicking journalists

52:35: French national football team

57:47: Unexpected retirement, acting career, and politics

1:03:43: What’s Cantona up to now? 

1:11:29: What if Cantona hadn’t played football?

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Megan Rapinoe is one of soccer’s most talented players, yet has an influence and legacy that extends far beyond the pitch. How did one American sportswoman become such a central figure in conversations about homophobia, feminism, and racism? 

This episode tracks Rapinoe’s life, from growing up in a relatively poor working-class background to becoming the GOAT of women’s soccer. Mehreen and Simon examine how witnessing severe drug abuse and her family upbringing shaped her understanding of privilege and injustice.

This episode unpicks the polarising views of Megan, which are often at the centre of wider cultural wars. The episode discusses Rapinoe being the first top soccer player to come out (which was actually not too controversial), to being one of the first sportspeople to take the knee in 2016 (which was).

On one hand, Rapinoe is hated by president Donald Trump (“Woke equals failure”) and was once called the “most annoying sportsperson ever” by Piers Morgan. On the other hand, she is celebrated as a figure with a strong moral compass – standing up for injustices, unfair pay, and archaic power structures.

Is Rapinoe the new model for the next generation of sports stars? Or should politics be kept off the pitch? 

Time stamps:

0:36: Introduction 

4:43: A child of Trump’s America 

9:45: A growing childhood interest in soccer

11:42: Recognising privilege and witnessing fentanyl addiction 

17:17: College scholarship and move to Oregon

20:25: Discovering her sexuality

25:59: A poorly-paid pro, viral moments, and coming out

29:45: Intersectionality, homophobia, and equal pay

33:23: Racism and taking the knee in 2016 

38:39: Trump vs. Rapinoe (with a father that votes for him)

44:27: Class action lawsuit for equal pay

47:10: Rapinoe’s legacy 

Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and can’t wait for the next episode? Why not become part of our exclusive community and get even closer to the action?

By joining our official H&H Supporters Club on Patreon, you’ll unlock access to behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, bonus content, and special Q&A sessions with your hosts, Mehreen and Simon. Whether you're looking for deeper insights into football’s biggest personalities or just can’t wait for the next episode, we’ve got something for you.

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No footballer in history has had a career at the top for as long as Cristiano Ronaldo. Nearing his 40th birthday, when will it be time for Ronaldo to finally retire? And will he bow out gracefully—or cry?

This is the second and final episode on Cristiano Ronaldo. Simon and Mehreen track Ronaldo’s life from 2009 onwards, detailing his transition to family man, his atmospheric rise on social media, and his footballing career after Manchester United.

This episode covers Ronaldo’s rivalry with Messi, his fear of decline and irrelevancy, and his dedication to football at every stage—whether it’s the Euros or in the Saudi league. Is it because of Ronaldo that football has reached a fetishisation of high performance?

This is the finale of the highest-paid athlete on earth who rose from nothing—a person who embodies hustle culture but whose self importance is so grandiose one can’t help but mock it.

Time stamps:

0:36: Ronaldo joins Real Madrid

5:05: Rivalry with Messi

9:11: Perfect life, perfect child, perfect wife?

17:01: Global icon and social media superstar

22:41: Euro 2016

29:13: Manchester United and Juventus

34:28: Humiliation and personal tragedy

37:55: Joining the Saudi pro league

41:36: Decline in the Portuguese national team

44:11: GOAT status or pipped to the post?

49:17: The Muslim conspiracy and ongoing legacy

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Vain, disciplined, consistent: Cristiano Ronaldo is a football legend like no other. How did this hyper-athletic, prone-to-cry Portuguese player become such a dominant force—not only in football but on the world stage?

This episode is the first of two on the legendary football player and covers Ronaldo’s early life. The episode chronicles Ronaldo’s childhood, growing up as an unwanted child in relative poverty in Madeira, and his move to the Portuguese mainland, where he became determined to work harder, better, and faster than everyone else.

Simon and Mehreen paint a picture of Ronaldo’s ascent to international fame and superstardom, giving insight into his relationship with Alex Ferguson and Ronaldo’s tendency to always be an individual rather than a team player.

This is the first part of a story of the man who takes himself so seriously he has become a meme—and how his egocentric, strict discipline and routine helped to propel him to the top.

*Trigger warning: Mentions of sexual assault allegations, marked in the timestamps*

Time stamps:

0:36: Introduction and stats

4:01: Growing up in poverty in Madeira

9:22: Arrival to the mainland and showing fierce discipline

15:13: Youth career and rising competition for fame

20:40: Arrival at Manchester United 

26:36: UEFA 2004 and a teenager’s determination for greatness

30:20: Controversies and acclaim at Manchester United 

39:00: Ronaldo’s first Ballon D’Or (but not the last)

46:22: Alex Ferguson’s infantilisation of Ronaldo at Manchester United

50:25: Sexual assault allegations in Las Vegas *TW: contains mentions of alleged sexual violence that some listeners may find upsetting*

56:12: Wrap up and look towards part two

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Paul Labile Pogba is, according to host Simon, one of the most gifted players of all time. How did an international, record-breaking superstar become embroiled in a mess of conspiracy, extortion and doping bans? And will we see a comeback for Pogba in 2025?

This episode covers Pogba’s life and career, from growing up in France and flying under the radar at Manchester United to a rise to dominance at Juventus and becoming the ‘Churchillian leader’ of the French National Team. 

An incredibly gifted player whose play style can dominate all parts of the pitch, Simon and Mehreen also cover the dark downfall of Pogba’s late 20s. In Shakespearean fashion, Pogba's brother betrayed him (including a bizarre West African witch doctor story), only for him to fail a doping test after his comeback.

Will one of football’s most interesting main characters be able to take the centre stage ever again? Returning to football aged 32, will Pogba see a redemption, or is it all over for this tragic hero? And what hairstyle will we see next?

Time stamps:

0:36: Introduction and stats

3:31: Growing up and finding religion

9:02: Underestimated at Manchester United (and fights with Ferguson)

14:22: Success at Juventus

20:20: Dreams of total dominance

25:58: A leader is born

31:20: Racism and the ‘Karen’ of football

36:39: Complacency at Manchester United

39:09: Betrayal by his brother

46:28: The witch doctor conspiracy

40:28: Doping ban 

52:08: Pogba’s legacy and future

Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and can’t wait for the next episode? Why not become part of our exclusive community and get even closer to the action?

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