The Failed Footballer

Absolute baller (and brother of Norwich City's Mo) Al Hassan Toure joins The Failed Footballer to talk about his football journey from Liberia and Guinea to the A-League, the reality of chasing a career overseas, and representing the Socceroos. He opens up about growing up in a football-obsessed family, breaking into Adelaide United's first team at 19, and sharing the international stage with his younger brother Mohamed.

He also reveals the harsh side of playing in Europe, including a stint in Turkey where players went unpaid for six months, the injury struggles that nearly derailed his career, and how Sydney FC helped him rediscover his love for the game. Plus, his thoughts on the future of the Socceroos, playing in the Australia Cup, and how the A-League can improve. 

 

In this episode:

00:00 Intro

00:35 Introducing Al Hassan Toure

00:53 Why A-League pre-seasons are too long

02:27 Winning the Australia Cup twice

04:14 Growing up in Liberia, Guinea and Australia

07:16 Realising he could become a professional footballer

08:39 Breaking into Adelaide United's first team

10:36 Chasing the European dream

11:20 "They stopped paying us for six months"

12:36 Injury setbacks in France

16:48 Life playing in the USA with FC Tulsa

18:33 Returning home and signing for Sydney FC

20:20 Making his Socceroos debut

21:53 Sharing the journey with brother Mohamed Toure

23:35 Watching family at the World Cup

25:25 Future goals and ambitions

27:12 How the A-League can improve

29:13 Sydney FC fans and final thoughts

 

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Olan may have failed as a footballer. So do 99.9 of players who try and make it, but how many of them can say they got a podcast out of it? Here you'll get unqualified takes from Olan, and expert commentary from football legends who actually made it. All the goals, all the drama, all the ammo for your group chat from football's biggest leagues around the world.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kat Haddad is back on The Failed Footballer to break down the biggest talking points in Australian and world football, from the Socceroos' performance against Brazil to the young players who could define the next generation.

Kat and Olantekkers look at whether the gap between Australia and football's traditional powerhouses is starting to close, why the Socceroos' emerging talent is so exciting and what the future could look like for the national team. Then the conversation turns to Manchester City and the debate around their financial charges, possible sanctions and whether past titles should ever be taken away.

Then NPL footballer Teng Kuol joins the show. Playing for Marconi, Kuol gives an insight into the quality and competitiveness of the NPL, the challenge of balancing semi-professional football with life away from the game, and why players outside the professional system have to take responsibility for doing the extra work themselves.

He also talks about playing across multiple positions, settling into Marconi, the pathway from the NPL to the professional game and his thoughts on the Socceroos and Australia's next generation.

If you're wondering how good Australia's next generation could be, what life is really like in the NPL, or what it takes to keep chasing professional football when you're outside the full-time system, this is the conversation for you.

In this episode:

00:00 Kat Haddad Joins the Show

 00:49 Socceroos vs Brazil & Australia's Progress

 02:18 Is the Gap to Football's Biggest Nations Closing?

 04:39 The Socceroos' Next Generation

 07:05 Who Should Australia Build the Team Around?

 09:48 Australia's Emerging Attacking Talent

 11:04 Manchester City's Financial Charges

 12:38 Should Manchester City Be Stripped of Their Titles?

 14:02 Can You Separate Pep Guardiola's Achievements From City's Charges?

 16:22 What Should Manchester City's Punishment Be?

 19:10 Could Manchester City Be Relegated?

 21:16 Kat Haddad Wraps Up

 21:44 Teng Kuol Joins the Show

 22:02 How Competitive Is the NPL?

 22:49 Australia's New National Second Tier

 24:05 Teng Kuol's Best Position & Versatility

 25:33 Club Heritage, Marconi & Fitting Into a New Team

 27:20 Balancing Semi-Pro Football With Work

 28:12 Why NPL Talent Can Slip Through the Cracks

 28:57 The Difference Between Semi-Pro & Professional Football

 30:43 Could Teng Kuol Have Scored That World Cup Chance?

 31:51 Teng Kuol on the Socceroos & Australia's Future

 

Follow the Failed Footballer: www.instagram.com/failedfootballerpod

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Follow Olan on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@olantekkers

 

The Failed Footballer is an iHeart podcast. Watch, listen and discover more podcasts, playlists and live radio on the FREE iHeart App.

 

Olan may have failed as a footballer. So do 99.9 of players who try and make it, but how many of them can say they got a podcast out of it? Here you'll get unqualified takes from Olan, and expert commentary from football legends who actually made it. All the goals, all the drama, all the ammo for your group chat from football's biggest leagues around the world.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jackson Irvine has played for the Socceroos in 3 World Cups. He's played for Celtic, Hull City, Hibs, FC St. Pauli and is now getting at taste of the J-League with Cerezo Osaka. He's a box-to-box midfielder of the type that isn't so common anymore. And he definitely knows what it takes to make it as a footballer and avoid the 'failed' label.

He tells OlanTekkers how he made it, how he got through countless trials with European clubs and how Japanese football compares to the German, Scottish and English style of play.

Plus, his life outside football and what he gets up to: DJing, fashion and learning Japanese. If you're wondering how the A-League compares to European leagues, or what you need to do to get to the top of football anywhere in the world, this is the conversation for you.

 

In this episode:

00:00 Jackson Irvine on Life in Japan & the J.League

01:10 Culture Shock: Germany vs Japan

02:14 Learning Japanese & Language Barriers

03:59 J.League vs Bundesliga: Which League Is Better?

05:39 Why Japanese Players Are So Technical

07:03 Jackson Irvine's Journey from Victoria to Celtic

10:05 Does Australian Football Let Talents Slip Through the Cracks?

12:03 How Jackson Irvine Earned a Celtic Contract at 16

15:00 What Is Australia's Football Identity?

16:58 Why This Socceroos Generation Is Different

20:02 Jackson Irvine Reflects on the FIFA World Cup

23:51 Do Australians Only Care About the Socceroos During World Cups?

26:41 The Most Underrated Socceroo Ever? 28:46 Football, Fashion & Jackson Irvine's Style

29:52 Jackson Irvine's Music Career & Radio Show

31:01 Why Footballers Need Passions Outside the Game

32:39 Brazil, the Socceroos & What's Next for Jackson Irvine

 

Follow the Failed Footballer: https://www.instagram.com/failedfootballerpod

Follow Olan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olantekkers 

Follow Olan on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@olantekkers

The Failed Footballer is an iHeart podcast. Watch, listen and discover more podcasts, playlists and live radio on the FREE iHeart App.

Olan may have failed as a footballer. So do 99.9 of players who try and make it, but how many of them can say they got a podcast out of it? Here you'll get unqualified takes from Olan, and expert commentary from football legends who actually made it. All the goals, all the drama, all the ammo for your group chat from football's biggest leagues around the world.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• There was VAR Chaos in the Manchester derby - should Haaland's goal have stood? Should Bruno Fernandes have been sent off too?
• Lucas Harrington's Premier League breakout season continues as Hull hold Chelsea to a 2-2 draw. How are they doing so well?
• Mohamed Touré's scoring run continues: how's he doing it?
• The Men's and Women's NPL Grand Finals delivered on the drama and the goals
• And it's the big NPL vs A-League debate: where should young players be aiming to get to?

The Manchester Derby delivered on the drama once again. OlanTekkers and Kat Haddad debate whether Michael Carrick can finally solve Manchester United's post-Ferguson problems, and vent about another VAR controversy after officials admitted a mistake in City's win.

They also check in on two Socceroos flying overseas, with Lucas Harrington helping Hull continue their dream Premier League start and Mohamed Touré's incredible scoring run continuing.

Back home, the NSW NPL Grand Finals delivered drama, stunning goals and massive crowds, sparking a bigger conversation about the role of NPL football in Australia. Are young players better off chasing the A-League pathway or building careers through the NPL? What are the financial realities facing Australian footballers? And are clubs doing enough to benefit from the success of players they develop before they're sold overseas?

 

Host: OlanTekkers

Host: Kat Haddad

 

In this episode: 

00:00 Manchester Derby Chaos & Michael Carrick's United

03:07 Red Card Controversy Sparks Debate

04:32 VAR Admits Haaland Goal Error

06:11 Hull's Dream Premier League Start

08:51 Mohamed Touré Can't Stop Scoring

11:31 NPL Women's Grand Final Goes to 120 Minutes

14:57 One of the Best NPL Goals You'll Ever See?

16:10 Why Sydney United's Fans Are Different

17:31 NPL vs A-League: Which Means More?

18:20 Is the NPL Australia's Version of the MLS?

19:55 Why Some Players Choose NPL Over A-League

22:06 The NPL Stories We Need More Of

23:50 Are Australian Clubs Missing Out on Transfer Money?

24:25 The MLS Pathway for Young Aussies

25:23 Nestor Irankunda's Transfer Fee Explained

26:12 Did Brisbane Roar Miss Out on Millions?

27:32 How Australian Football Can Benefit from Future Transfers

28:04 Should Young Players Choose the A-League or NPL?

• Follow the Failed Footballer on Instagram: @failedfootballerpod
• Follow Olan on Instagram: @olantekkers
• Follow Olan on TikTok: @olantekkers

The Failed Footballer is an iHeart podcast. Watch, listen and discover more podcasts, playlists and live radio on the FREE iHeart App. Olan may have failed as a footballer. So do 99.9 of players who try and make it, but how many of them can say they got a podcast out of it? Here you'll get unqualified takes from Olan, and expert commentary from football legends who actually made it. All the goals, all the drama, all the ammo for your group chat from football's biggest leagues around the world.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's it like getting to the highest levels of football but then falling back down the pyramid? Alou Kuol went from winning trophies with the Central Coast Mariners and signing for Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart, to the Mariners again, and finally to the NPL. He opens up about the highs of making it in Europe, the setbacks that followed, and what keeps him chasing the top level.

Plus, advice for young players who are trialing at top clubs, life in Germany and how the top-flight in Europe compares to the A-League.

OlanTekkers also breaks down Australia's shock failure to qualify for the U20 2027 Asian Cup, the Aussie stars lighting up Europe, and whether the next generation can take Aussie football forward. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OlanTekkers wraps up the performances of our Aussie footballers playing abroad. Mo Toure is on fire 3 games into the EFL Championship season - scoring a brace for Norwich City. Lucas Herrington got 30 minutes in the Premier League for Hull City against Coventry, and Patrick Beach pulled off a worldie of save in Ligue 1 for Troyes. The future looks bright for Aussie football - the 2030 World Cup is going to be interesting.

Plus, an interview with 20 year-old Macarthur Bulls midfielder Oliver Randazzo. Hear how he made it to the top of Aussie football, and what it takes to stay there.

The Failed Footballer is an iHeart podcast.

Watch, listen and discover more podcasts, playlists and live radio on the FREE iHeart App.

Olan may have failed as a footballer. So do 99.9 of players who try and make it, but how many of them can say they got a podcast out of it? Here you'll get unqualified takes from Olan, and expert commentary from football legends who actually made it.

All the goals, all the drama, all the ammo for your group chat from football's biggest leagues around the world.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nestory Irankunda talks his career-changing move to Portugese giants Sporting CP, how he bounced back from a difficult period in his career, and why the A-League deserves more respect.

Plus, future Aussie stars to watch, how Turkiye fired up the Socceroos with their World Cup antics and what can be done to nurture more home-grown talent.

One of Australia's most exciting football prospects ever gives OlanTekkers a glimpse into life as a footballer at the very top. The failed footballer interviews the successful one. Enjoy

• Follow the Failed Footballer: https://www.instagram.com/failedfootballerpod/
• Follow Olan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olantekkers/
• Follow Olan on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@olantekkers?lang=en

The Failed Footballer is an iHeart podcast. Watch, listen and discover more podcasts, playlists and live radio on the FREE iHeart App. Olan may have failed as a footballer.

So do 99.9 of players who try and make it, but how many of them can say they got a podcast out of it? Here you'll get unqualified takes from Olan, and expert commentary from football legends who actually made it. 

All the goals, all the drama, all the ammo for your group chat from football's biggest leagues around the world.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OlanTekkers goes down to the Central Coast Mariners training ground to see how they do it at elite level. How do you go from youth academy, to NPL, to A-League? What does it take to make the jump?

First-team players and academy graduates Harrison Steele and Lucas Mauragis share their journey, give advice for young players coming through the system and tell us what you need to make it at the highest level in Australia.

Plus, the new European season is underway, and Spurs and United are being their usual selves in the Premier League. Spurs lost 3-0 to Brentford while United lost 2-0 to newly promote Hull City. It was Australia's third youngest player to debut in the EPL that had everyone excited though; could Lucas Herrington become one of the all-time great Aussie footballers? How to avoid being a failed footballer, and a spotlight on an exciting young Aussie talent overseas - that's what you can expect from the Failed Football podcast. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What’s it like spending three weeks fighting for your dream, only to be let go in a two and a half minute meeting? How do you handle the emotional heartbreak of missing out on the 2026 World Cup squad after giving everything for your country? And what is the reality of player-manager relationships at the highest level?

This week, Socceroos striker Mitch Duke joins OlanTekkers for a raw, unfiltered conversation about national team selections, manager dynamics, and the toughest moments of his career. We get the exclusive inside story on his relationship with Australia manager Tony Popovic, the brutal reality of squad cut-offs, and what went down during that brief exit meeting in Florida before the 2026 World Cup. Mitch opens up about the frustration of spending weeks in camp away from his kids, only to be delivered the disappointing news in minutes.

Beyond the Popovic selection drama, Mitch reflects on his iconic 2022 World Cup header against Tunisia, his rise from the A-League to becoming a fan favourite in Japan's J-League, and how he built the mentality to navigate elite football's biggest highs and brutal lows. What went through his head during that brief conversation with Popovic? How does a player process being left out after giving everything in qualification? And how do you pick yourself up and stay proud after such a devastating setback?

Plus, Mitch shares his advice for young strikers coming through the ranks, discusses life with his family in Japan, and reflects on his lasting legacy in green and gold.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spain had 20 shots. Argentina didn't have a shot until the 117th minute. Just what exactly happened? 

Guest host and football tragic Nick Stav and iHeart sports reporter John Bric unpack all the stats and baffling tactical decisions from the 2026 World Cup Final. Why did Argentina coach Scaloni play so negatively? Why did Trump refuse to get off the stage? And is Rodri really the most deserving Player of the Tournament?

Plus, who's on for the Balon D'Or now Messi, Mbappe and Kane each left without a World Cup win? What sort of goalscoring records is Mbappe going to win as he looks ahead to 2030? And how does this tournament rank compared to previous World Cups?

The World Cup is done but The Failed Footballer is not. OlanTekkers will be back with a weekly podcast covering the biggest stories from the Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1, A-League, NPL and Champions League as the 26/27 season gets underway on August 22. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.