The Sweeper - A World Football Podcast

By Sweeper Productions Ltd

Tired of the Premier League and big-league European football? Want to discover the hidden stories of the global game?

The Sweeper Podcast is your passport to the most extraordinary stories from acro... more

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The podcast currently has 142 episodes available.

Best of The Sweeper - A World Football Podcast

The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

Number 1: From the 9th tier and ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’ to the UCL | Valdas Dambrauskas
There are some simply sensational stories to be told about the 108 league phase participants in the three UEFA club competitions this season. For example, it’s not every day that a ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’ contestant uses their winnings to become a football manager in England, starts out in the ninth tier and eventually guides a nine-year-old Azerbaijani club into the UEFA Champions League! So how much did Lithuanian tactician Valdas Dambrauskas win to kickstart his managerial career? How has he taken Sabah to a first league title and the pinnacle of European club football in just one year? And why do the club from Maksimir play in pink? Plus, second-tier Portuguese side Torreense prepare for a Europa League campaign in cyclone-hit Leiria, Inter Club d’Escaldes achieve an historic milestone for Andorra and Greek islanders OFI Crete complete a remarkable rebound from administration. Join us on Patreon at patreon.com/sweeperpod for Thursday’s round-up of all the best domestic cup stories across Europe – including the Slovak tie between two clubs with the same president – plus a preview of the returning Palestinian league. Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 01:10 – Sabah: The quiz show contestant 12:23 – Inter d’Escaldes: The micro-state trailblazers 21:43 – Torreense: The second-tier cup winners 26:40 – Jagiellonia Białystok: The winning Wi-Fi password 29:39 – OFI Crete: The revived islanders 33:45 – Yaya Touré, Viking, Hearts: The best of the rest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
September 01, 202639min
Number 2: What if the English FA Cup included British Overseas Territories?
The English FA Cup is the oldest and most storied domestic football competition in the world. But it is not the most inclusive. The Coupe de France comfortably takes that title. The tournament not only has 7,000+ participants, but also invites teams from French overseas territories, creating special experiences and mammoth away days for those involved. We have often wondered what the FA Cup would look like if England followed France’s lead. So on this episode, we’re simulating that very scenario: Which British Overseas Territories have enough people and footballers to take part? Which teams would be invited to play? Where would the ties be held? And how would the guests fare against mainland opposition? Join us on Patreon for this Monday’s bonus podcast featuring the underdogs and outsiders in this season’s CAF Confederation Cup, the African equivalent of the Europa League. If you enjoyed the recent episode on the CAF Champions League, this one is for you. Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 01:02 – Disclaimers and caveats 01:35 – Overview of British Overseas Territories 03:11 – The ineligible territories 08:12 – The eligible territories & their teams 11:22 – The big theoretical questions 19:45 – Forecasts and predictions Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
September 15, 202627min
Number 3: How does Portugal’s geography & history explain the big three | Benfica, Sporting & Porto
There have been 92 editions of the Portuguese Primeira Liga to date. Only two of them have been won by clubs other than Benfica, Sporting and Porto. A whopping 95% of football fans in Portugal support the big three – a share that even dwarves the share of national support for the big three in Türkiye and the Netherlands. So how have the trio established such a fierce grip on the domestic game and its fans? What role have the country’s history and geography had to play? And what chance, if any, does a club outside the big three have of breaking its stranglehold? Plus, countrymen Torreense claim the first European league phase win for a lower-league team in a decade and our partner Golaço Kits holds a Portuguese club shirt giveaway! You can already listen to Monday’s bumper bonus podcast on Patreon. In it, we take a virtual journey across Central and Eastern Europe to profile four unique clubs, including the village team who lured Real Madrid’s 12th man to Moldova! Links Lee’s ESPN article Paulo Sarreira’s hotel The Golaço Kits website (promo code: SWEEPER10) Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 00:52 – Triumph for Torreense 02:40 – Big three dominance 07:43 – 95% national support 10:58 – Lusophone influence 14:10 – Potential challengers 18:10 - Golaço Kits giveaway Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
September 22, 202624min
Number 4: Why South Korea’s military club Gimcheon Sangmu will be relegated (even if they finish top)
South Korea’s Gimcheon Sangmu are one of the most curious clubs in world football, with players only allowed to stay for 18 months while they complete their military service. They also cannot play in AFC competitions and are 100% certain to be relegated from the K-League this season, even if they were to finish top of the table. So are the players footballers, soldiers or both? Is it actually compulsory to perform the military salute when they score a goal? Why are they doomed to relegation in 2026 whatever happens? And what major change is set to come to the K-League soon? Plus, Andros Townsend is run over by a Thai pitch roller, Uruguay chases its first-ever Copa Sudamericana title, an Icelandic referee goes on a literal wild goose chase and Romania introduces a black card for abusive parents. Join us on Patreon for Monday’s bumper bonus podcast featuring tales from Central and Eastern Europe, plus a special blog interview with FC Vaduz’s director of football Franz Burgmeier all about Liechtenstein’s integration into Swiss football. Links John Duerden's 'How Football Explains Asia' Substack is here. Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 01:00 – Gimcheon Sangmu’s last hurrah 07:55 – Andros Townsend’s Thai accident 10:30 – Uruguay’s first Copa Sudamericana? 14:50 – Romania’s black card initiative 19:45 – Iceland’s literal wild goose chase Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
September 25, 202627min
Number 5: Ugandan king? Why a 9th-tier goalkeeper turned down the throne
There is a lot to love about the English non-leagues, but it will be hard to top the sensational story that emerged about SE Dons goalie George Desmond Kamurasi last week. The 36-year-old, who plies his trade in England’s ninth tier, has been chosen to be the next king of the Tooro people, one of the four traditional kingdoms in Uganda, following the death of his cousin, King Oyo, in late August. There are so many questions to be answered. Who, for example, has chosen him to be the king – and why? Could he miss his cousin’s funeral for football? Does he want to be royalty in Africa? And what might happen if he rejects the offer and stays in the UK? Plus, Dominica’s national team takes the unusual step of appealing on social media for a new goalkeeper, Vanuatu hosts its first professional matches, and Norwegian side Strømmen send their reserves to the Arctic Circle. You can already listen to Monday’s bumper bonus podcast on Patreon. It features tales from the CAF Confederation Cup, such as the Seychelles side drawn to play in Ebola-hit DR Congo and Botswana club Jwaneng Galaxy’s on-pitch sorcery. Chapters: 00:00 – Intro 01:02 – Uganda’s non-league king 07:04 - Dominica’s online goalkeeper hunt 13:30 - Vanuatu’s first professional match 16:41 – The Norwegian cup cop-outs Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
September 17, 202626min