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This is the first part of my interview with Slaven Bilic, recorded at West Ham's pre-season camp in Germany.This interview will leave Hammers fans loving their manager even more than they already do - and will also, I'm sure, have everyone else feeling exactly the same way.In the first part of this podcast, we hear about Bilic of Croatia, the centre-back of the team so many of us adored in Euro 96 and a side which nearly won it all at the World Cup two years later.From Boban and Suker, to Boksic and Prosinecki, Slaven talks about all of those wonderful Croatian footballers, and in incredible, colourful detail too.Slaven is one of the most passionate and insightful guests we've had on The Big Interview. I think you'll agree.Enjoy!

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In this exclusive clip from The Big Interview with Slaven Bilic, the former Croatia defender describes goal-scoring great Davor Suker.

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Here's a short but important announcement telling you about big changes for the new season of The Big Interview. If you like the sound of Rafael van der Vaart, clasico specials and a weekly edition of The Big Inside View, this could be for you.

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We're back with our second episode of The Big Inside View, where you'll find breaking news as I learn it, plus my insight into the big football stories across Europe. This one was recorded on July 26, on location in Germany, where we were about to record a Big Interview with Slaven Bilic. Listen up for a deep dive into Alvaro Morata's switch from Real Madrid, my take on the Mbappe transfer tug-of-war, Neymar's future, Coutinho to Barca and Andy Robertson signing for Liverpool. You'll also hear some Spurs chat and my reflections on the flourishing Real Madrid youth system. Plus Silk, Wonder Woman and an honourable mention for Henry Winter!Enjoy!Graham

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Here's something new - a first listen to a show we'll be producing regularly during the coming season. Here's where you'll find breaking news as I learn it, plus my insight into the big football stories across Europe. As the season unfolds, I'll give you the inside stuff on the games I've been at, the interviews I've done and the off-the-record calls I've made. Plus, you'll learn what my week involved both inside and away from the game we all love. This is a test run. We want and need your feedback. Please let us know what you think.

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He enjoyed a glittering and remarkably successful reign as manager of FC Barcelona, but Pep Guardiola had to come through some dark times in order to get there.In this extract - which is taken taken from my book, Barca: The Making of the Greatest Team in the World - I tell that story, and reveal how it influenced the man who would become head coach of arguably the best club side of all time.There was the injury which robbed Guardiola of 14 months of his playing career at the Camp Nou and false accusations of nandrolone use while in Italy, after he walked away from his beloved Barca feeling undervalued by those who ran the club at the time.I explain how Guardiola went on to play in Qatar and Mexico, but turned down a move to English side Wigan Athletic and a chance to experience first-hand a style of football which he had always respected.His return to the Camp Nou as coach of Barca B, and his success in that post paved the way for Guardiola to take over the first team and lead them to a period of unprecedented success.My books on FC Barcelona and Spain are both available in full as audiobooks from Audible. You can get one of them for free if you sign up for a 30-day trial membership at audible.co.uk.

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Are you sitting comfortably? You are about to listen to an extract taken from my book on Spain and the inside story of La Roja’s historic treble.This is Chapter Six: English Lessons. During the extract, I describe how some of Spain’s better footballers - Cesc Fabregas, Gerard Pique, Alvaro Arbeloa, players easily recognised today - began to extend their horizons beyond the boundaries of their country, and how this helped improve the fortunes of their national side.Playing abroad had traditionally been a foreign concept for Spanish footballers. But I explain that, for many of the country’s young stars, playing in other European leagues brought opportunities they weren’t getting back home.British football, in particular, helped La Roja to dominate at the three major tournaments between 2008 and 2012, with Joan Capdevila acknowledging that the Spaniards who played in England learned to become hardy competitors, as well as skilful footballers.My book on Spain is available in full as an audiobook from the good people at Audible. You can get it absolutely free if you sign up for a 30-day trial membership at audible.co.uk. We will bring you the Making of Pep, an extract from Barca: The Making of the Greatest Team in the World, in a couple of weeks.Enjoy!

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Welcome back for the second part of the La Liga event I recorded live with Mr Sid Lowe at the Sugar Club in Dublin earlier this year.On the night, we opened up the floor to questions tweeted to us from members of the audience, with Sid and I talking about unforgettable characters from the Spanish game like Laurie Cunningham and the madcap Joaquin.We discuss Lionel Messi - how could we not? - and how he is now playing his best football ever, while we also talk about Cristiano Ronaldo and his obsession with becoming known as the greatest of all time.We also take questions about Diego Simeone and why it has still to fall into place for Pep Guardiola at Manchester City.This was organised by Con Artist promotions, who have put on some truly fantastic live football talks across Ireland and the UK. The next event is being held tonight at Union Chapel, London, where James Richardson, James Horncastle and Paolo Bandini will mark the 25th anniversary celebration of Gazzetta Football Italia.Information...

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Okay, so you are about to listen to a La Liga event which I recorded live with Sid Lowe at the Sugar Club in Dublin earlier this year.Together, we share our appreciation of rondos and the role they play in the technical development of footballers in Spain, something which teams in England continue to be ignorant of.We also chat about Luis Enrique and, in particular, his relationship with the Spanish media during his time as manager of FC Barcelona, and I give my opinion on the direction that Barca are going in.Sid and I also discuss another character who has since left the Spanish game, Monchi, and explain why he was so incredibly important to the success of Sevilla during his long reign as sporting director.This event was a lot of fun, and I want to say a big thank you to Con Artist promotions for staging the gig. Con Artist puts on some fantastic live football talks across Ireland and the UK - with past events like The Blizzard, Football Weekly Live and many more.In fact, there’s an event at...

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Here it is: your Benni bonus, as promised. And you can believe me when I say that this one is a very, very special treat.He takes us back to his childhood in Hanover Park, a suburb of Cape Town dominated by crime. That is where it all began for Benni… and where it could all have ended, with Benni recalling the rampant gang culture and violence he grew up around.Make no mistake, this was was a dangerous place to live - and he tells the story of how his best friend, 11-year-old Reginald, was shot and killed while they played football together in the street.Benni reveals that, at first, he thought a good education - and not football - was his best chance of escape, but his sporting talent soon took over and he became a star in a newly-created Gangster League, playing “shoe-shine piano” football. Don’t worry, you’ll discover what that means.From his origin story, he ends this spectacular Big Interview by looking to the future, offering a glimpse of what Benni McCarthy the football manager will be like....

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