How It All Played Out

From General Franco to Johan Cruyff, and from a pig's head to the Messi v Ronaldo rivalry - Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague joins Mark Pougatch and Paul Hayward to explain how El Clasico became the biggest club match in the world.

And it's not all about fascism versus socialism, underdog versus serial winner...You might think you know the story but believe us, there's a lot of myths to be busted.

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Get in touch on socials: @playedoutpod

Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

Producer: Sophie Penney

Head of Podcasts: Factual: Al Riddell

Director of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells

Cricket’s oldest and greatest rivalry resumes next month when the first Ashes Test starts in Perth. 

But a month out the phoney war has already started - the sledging is underway. It’s two former players who are at the forefront this time - Australian opener David Warner and a man who got him out for fun during the last Ashes, Stuart Broad.

So, Mark Pougatch and Paul Hayward are asking, what’s the history to this sledging? What purpose does it really serve? And does it ever work?

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We'd love to hear from you! Email us: [email protected]

Get in touch on socials: @playedoutpod

Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

Producer: Sophie Penney

Head of Podcasts: Factual: Al Riddell

Director of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells

In the 1980s English football was at an all time low. Attendances down, stadia crumbling, hooliganism all too prevalent, and then three horrific disasters - Bradford, Heysel and Hillsborough.

Then almost out of nowhere Bobby Robson and his band of characters came within the width of the post of reaching the World Cup Final. England might have lost the semi-final against West Germany but they won the hearts of a nation who fell in love with football again.

So how did Italia 90 change English football?

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We'd love to hear from you! Email us: [email protected]

Find us on socials: @playedoutpod

Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides & Adem Waterman

Producer: Sophie Penney

Head of Podcasts: Factual: Al Riddell

Director of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells

After Jude Bellingham’s shock omission from the latest England squad, surely Thomas Tuchel couldn't leave him behind for the World Cup? Well, it has happened before...

Mark Pougatch and Paul Hayward tell the story of when Glenn Hoddle didn't take England's star player Paul Gascoigne to the 1998 World Cup - still one of the most controversial moments in English football history.

Remember to follow or subscribe, and give us a 5 star review too!

We'd love to hear from you! Email us: [email protected] And find us on socials: @playedoutpod

Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides & Adem Waterman

Producer: Sophie Penney

Head of Podcasts: Factual: Al Riddell

Director of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells

"This race was an incredible exhibition of sprinting brilliance and power, but only because it came from a drugs bottle."

In the scorching heat of Seoul during the 1988 Olympic Games, the world watched as two titans of track and field prepared to battle for gold in the men’s 100m final. Carl Lewis, the outspoken American, faced off against Ben Johnson, the quiet Canadian powerhouse and world record holder. What followed wasn’t just the fastest race ever run at the time - it was the most controversial in Olympic history.

We revisit this episode of How It All Played Out, where hosts Mark Pougatch and Paul Hayward unpack the dramatic story behind the dirtiest race in history, which changed the face of athletics forever.

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We'd love to hear from you! Email us: [email protected]

Get in touch on socials @playedoutpod

Executive Producer: Adem Waterman & Adonis Pratsides

Producer: Sophie Penney

Head of Podcasts: Factual: Al Riddell

Director of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells

At 17 years old boxer Barry McGuigan won Commonwealth Gold for Northern Ireland but just two years later he fought at the 1980 Moscow Olympics for the Republic.

So how did the Featherweight World Champion straddle the border and unite Ireland at the height of The Troubles, where bombs, bullets and killings were all too common?

Remember to follow or subscribe, and give us a 5 star review too!

We'd love to hear from you! Email us: [email protected]

And find us on socials: @playedoutpod

Executive Producer: Adem Waterman & Adonis Pratsides

Producer: Sophie Penney

Head of Podcasts, Content and Production: Al Riddell

Director of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells

Russell Martin is looking for a new job after becoming the shortest serving manager in Rangers' 153 year history. As we record on Monday morning, Ange Postecoglou is clinging on at Nottingham Forest after the defeat at Newcastle - it’s no wins in 7 for Forest since the Australian took over 27 days ago. 

If Postecoglou leaves soon he would become the shortest serving Premier League manager. But who currently has that unwanted title? What happened there? And which manager only lasted the length of a pressed conference? Mark Pougatch and Paul Hayward open the history books.

Remember to follow or subscribe, and give us a 5 star review too!

We'd love to hear from you! Email us: [email protected] And find us on socials: @playedoutpod

Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

Producer: Sophie Penney

Head of Podcasts: Factual: Al Riddell

Director of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells

Join us to uncover a mystery that's still yet to be solved. 

We're revisiting this episode of How It All Played Out, where Mark Pougatch and Paul Hayward travelled to the home of Head Groom Jim Fitzgerald on a stormy night in County Kildare in the Republic of Ireland to investigate one of the most shocking stories from the 1980s: the kidnapping of prize racehorse Shergar. 

This story involves the IRA, a ransom of £2 million and masked kidnappers with submachine guns, so travel back in time with us to explore a bizarre sporting story like no other.

Remember to follow or subscribe and give us a 5 star review too!

We'd love to hear from you! Email us: [email protected]

Get in touch on socials @playedoutpod

Executive Producer: Adem Waterman and Adonis Pratsides 

Producer: Sophie Penney 

Head of Podcasts: Factual: Al Riddell

Director of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells

1965-1975: A time when Sport Was A Lot More Fun

In this episode of How It All Played Out, Paul Hayward takes Mark Pougatch on a personal journey through his favourite sporting decade - an era of flair, freedom, and unforgettable drama. From the dancing feet of Pelé to Johan Cruyff's total football, and Sir Gareth Edwards’ legendary try for the Barbarians against the All Blacks in 1973.

This is a celebration of sporting magic, unpredictability, artistry, and moments so jaw-dropping they may never come again.

Remember to follow or subscribe, and give us a 5 star review too!

We'd love to hear from you! Email us: [email protected]

Executive Producers: Adem Waterman & Adonis Pratsides

Producer: Sophie Penney

Head of Podcasts: Factual: Al Riddell

Director of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells

The ‘Battering at Bethpage’, the ‘Legend of Long Island’... this weekend was a Ryder Cup for the history books. Europe held off a late comeback from the Americans to win 15-13 in New York - the first away win since the Miracle of Medina 2012. 

Have other captains got it as wrong as Keegan Bradley before? Does history show that rowdy crowds have worked for the Americans in the past? And what is it about team golf that links world number one Scottie Scheffler and Tiger Woods? Mark is joined by the Daily Mail's Ian Ladyman to discuss all that and more.

Remember to follow or subscribe, and give us a 5 star review too!

We'd love to hear from you! Email us: [email protected] And find us on socials: @playedoutpod

Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides

Producer: Sophie Penney

Head of Podcasts: Factual: Al Riddell

Director of Podcasts: Vicky Etchells