The FourFourTwo Podcast

Glenn Hoddle: player, player/manager, manager, pundit, pop star.

The former playmaker was one of the most talented footballers of his generation – but his style of play always felt unsuited to the English game of the 1980s and, while appreciated for his technical ability, he perhaps was not as lauded or as influential as he could have been.

As a manager, he took a continental approach to Swindon Town, leading them to promotion to the Premier League, and guided Chelsea to an FA Cup final with a cosmopolitan flair they had not previously been associated with. The tactical ideas he implemented as England boss in the late ‘90s can still be seen today – though later career stints at Southampton, Wolves and Spurs may stop us acknowledging it fully.

Is it time to reappraise Hoddle’s career? In the latest issue of FourFourTwo Patrick Barclay sits down with the man himself to provide a retrospective on the player they called the golfer. 

Conor Pope, Patrick Barclay and Chris Flanagan reappraise Hoddle’s forgotten legacy on English football.

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Jurgen Klopp is a Champions League winner, a footballing philosopher, and now FIFA Manager of the Year 2019.

But how did he become one of the greatest managers in the world? And how did he turn Liverpool into one of the great footballing sides?

In the new issue of FourFourTwo we have an in-depth interview with Klopp by comedian John Bishop. The interview is an extract from a new book, A Game of Two Halves, where famous names from across the arts, media and politics interview their footballing heroes to raise money for the UN’s refugee programme.

Conor Pope speaks to Amy Raphael, who put the book together, and FFT colleague Ryan Herman about the interview, and to This Is Anfield's Matt Ladson about how Klopp put together his empire in Liverpool.

NOW TRY:

• Jurgen Klopp exclusive: Steven Gerrard should replace me as Liverpool manager one day: https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/jurgen-klopp-steven-gerrard-next-liverpool-manager-fourfourtwo-magazine
• In the mag: Klopp exclusive, River vs Boca, Bury's demise, Wolves' rise, Taarabt, Hoddle and more https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/mag-klopp-exclusive-river-vs-boca-burys-demise-wolves-rise-taarabt-hoddle-and-more
• Matt Ladson: What it’s like to be a Liverpool supporter right now – watching one of the best Reds sides of all time https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/liverpool-201920-jurgen-klopp-mo-salah-sadio-mane-roberto-firmino-virgil-van-dijk
• Order A Game of Two Halves https://www.amazon.co.uk/Game-Two-Halves-Famous-Football/dp/1911630032

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We’ve revealed FourFourTwo’s ranking of the 101 best players in the Premier League right now. https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/best-players-premier-league-virgil-van-dijk-raheem-sterling-mo-salah-harry-kane

Don’t worry: Conor Pope, Chris Flanagan, Joe Brewin and Hunter Godson don’t have time to discuss every single name on the list. Instead, they pick out their favourites, what themes emerge among the league’s best – and, of course, the battle for top spot.

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They called him ‘Il Fenomeno’.

In August 1997, Ronaldo was 20 years old. He’d just broken the world transfer record for the second time in a year, leaving Barcelona for Serie A with Inter Milan, and was on his way to winning that year’s Ballon d’Or. 

Over the next five years, he’d add a UEFA Cup and World Cup to his trophy collection, establishing himself as one of the greatest ever to play the game.

But was his time at Inter a success? A feature in the current FourFourTwo examines his time in Italy – and in this episode, Conor Pope, Matt Barker and Joe Brewin look deeper into the story, as well as revealing some things you might not have realised about this season’s Champions League.

Now buy the magazine and read Matt Barker’s full inside story of Ronaldo at Inter

THEN READ…

“I'd love to win the Champions League. I hope I can one day.” Ronaldo: one-on-one

Year Zero: The making of Ronaldo (Barcelona, 1996/97)

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In five years as manager, Mauricio Pochettino has taken Tottenham Hotspur from seventh in the Premier League to the final of the Champions League.

From a club that were once synonymous with mediocrity, they have become a staple of Europe’s elite competition.

Poch has become the longest serving manager at the club in over 30 years, and has managed to oversee this transformation without spending big – with finances instead being invested in a state-of-the-art new stadium.

So how has he done it? What drives him? And what happens when he leaves?

In this episode, we discuss all that – as well as Thomas Gravesen, and the weirdest football transfers of all time.

Conor Pope talks to Hunter Godson, author of the FourFourTwo’s latest cover feature on Spurs, and Nathan Clarke, freelance journalist and contributor to the Spurs podcast The Extra Inch.

NOW READ: What's wrong with Tottenham? Hunter Godson on why fans are so frustrated

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Two teams, six miles apart, 279 years of history between them: one saved, and one condemned.

In this episode, Conor Pope discusses Bury’s expulsion from the Football League with Bury fan Tom Pickup, Bolton Wanderers’ reprieve with FourFourTwo staff writer Chris Flanagan, and the wider context of this issue – as well as what other clubs could be at risk – with football finance expert Kieran Maguire.

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On Saturday, 26th April, 1986, Stroitel Pripyat prepared to take on FC Borodyanka in a cup semi-final in northern Ukraine; the first game in their new stadium.

The game did not go ahead.

The stadium would never be used.

Adapted from an article in the latest issue of FourFourTwo magazine, in this podcast Grant Fulton tells the story of the footballers who had the flee the fallout of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, those who bravely helped in the aftermath – and the football club that disappeared with a city.

Read Paul Brown’s full story on FC Stroitel Pripyat by buying the September issue of FourFourTwo now and getting it delivered straight to your door.

Written by Paul Brown

Script editor, producer and narrator - Grant Fulton

Sound design, editing and production - Pete Mauder of Phonotheque

Other voices were provided by Lyle Fulton, Ruslan Hay and Pete Mauder 

Get more stories like this every month in FourFourTwo magazine. Subscribe now and get five issues for £5.

The executive producer is James Brown, and FourFourTwo podcasts are overseen by Steve Morgan and Conor Pope

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FFT editor in chief James Brown is joined by writer and Arsenal blogger Tim Stillman and Bolton’s number one media player Chris Flanagan.

They cover this week’s major talking points from the world of football including the England women’s semi-final against the USA, the continuing saga of VAR and Frank Lampard’s appointment as Chelsea manager.

They examine what Arsenal need to do to achieve success, James shares some of his pre-match superstitions and Kevin Philips gets to the bottom of the infamous ‘Poogate’ controversy.

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FFT editor in chief James Brown is joined by writer Hunter Godson and sports documentary maker and producer Tony Pastor.

James reveals how the release of the fixtures for the new season only reminded him how raw the wounds still are from the last one and Hunter deliberates on what’s next for Rafa Benitez.

Plus we speak to Tony about his career behind the camera and hear how his ground breaking documentary “Keane and Vieira – Best of Enemies” came into existence. He also reveals who are the best and worst pundits he’s worked with and how to fill time when rain stops play.

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FFT Editor In Chief James Brown is joined by features writer Chris Flanagan and one of the most respected football writers and authors in the country, Patrick Barclay.

The topics of conversation include the cartoon sportsmen of childhood, what’s next for Frank Lampard and the latest VAR controversies.

We speak to Paddy about his long and distinguished career as a football writer, the managers he’s written about and what it was like to watch Diego Maradona play at Napoli.

Plus, in a FFT podcast first, James manages to make the first reference to Leeds Utd in under five minutes.

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