Sporting Giants

Jan 29 2025 19 ep. 33 mins 77
Sporting Giants Podcast artwork

Delve deep into the lives and careers of some of the biggest names in sport and hear from those who know them best.

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Episode 6: Always Look Forward

Jan 29 2025 33 mins  
How did Ferguson rise to the challenge of Manchester City to bow out of United on a high?Key players Michael Carrick, Wayne Rooney and Rio Ferdinand recall Ferguson’s final season as a Robin Van Persie-inspired United re-capture the league title from City.Kelly Cates and Jonathan Northcroft assess where Fergie ranks among the pantheon of great football managers and whether his me

Episode 5: Risk and Reward

Jan 22 2025 38 mins  
Ferguson sees off the challenge of Jose Mourinho and inspires United to another Champions League success in Moscow.Kelly Cates and Jonathan Northcroft hear from Rio Ferdinand, Carlos Quieroz and Wayne Rooney on how Ferguson drew on the spirit of Sir Matt Busby to overcome Chelsea on penalties in 2008.With Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo to the fore, Ferguson has taken United back to t

Episode 4: 'I'm in Charge'

Jan 15 2025 44 mins  
From the infamous 'hairdryer' to managerial mind games, hear stories of why Ferguson was the ultimate boss.Kelly Cates and Jonathan Northcroft explore how Fergie controlled his players, rival managers, referees and the media in the relentless pursuit of success.With Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal emerging as a rival to be reckoned with, Ferguson had to draw on all his experience to keep

Episode 3: Trust in Youth

Jan 08 2025 41 mins  
How Sir Alex Ferguson turned a talented crop of young players into an unstoppable force in England and, ultimately, Europe.Kelly Cates and Jonathan Northcroft trace how Ferguson’s faith in youth was integral to his success in Scotland and England.After establishing themselves as the dominant force in English football, we hear how Ferguson overcame early setbacks in Europe to land

Episode 2: Dare to Rebuild

Jan 01 2025 48 mins  
Inside the Manchester United dressing-room as Alex Ferguson recovers from the brink of the sack to bring trophies back to the club.Kelly Cates and Jonathan Northcroft explain how Ferguson ruthlessly cleared out United heroes like Paul McGrath and Norman Whiteside to build a team in his image.We hear from key players like Steve Bruce, Dennis Irwin and Gary Pallister as Ferguson ends

Episode 1: 'Them and Us'

Dec 25 2024 52 mins  
How did Sir Alex Ferguson’s working-class Glasgow upbringing shape the man and manager he would become?Kelly Cates and Jonathan Northcroft retrace Ferguson’s steps from the Govan shipyards to European glory with Aberdeen.We hear about Fergie’s admiration for trade union activist Jimmy Reid, his fledgling football days at Drumchapel Amateurs and how, after rejection at Glasgow

Coming Soon: Sir Alex Ferguson

Dec 06 2024 1 mins  
Coming soon: The definitive Sir Alex Ferguson story, from his working class roots in Glasgow to the top of European football, told by the people who know him best.First-hand accounts from a host of former players and adversaries including Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand, Gordon Strachan and Sir Kenny Dalglish reveal what it was like to play for Sir Alex's all-conquering Manchester Unit

Episode 6: ‘The world at his feet’

Jun 17 2024 25 mins  
With Euro 2024 and a move to Real Madrid on the horizon, the future looks bright for Mbappe.Steve and Julien are joined by Spanish football expert Sid Lowe to discuss the challenge facing Mbappe at the serial Champions League winners.Can he go on to match the achievements of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo? Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Arsene Wenger give their views.

Episode 5: ‘The world we live in’

Jun 10 2024 39 mins  
France icon Lilian Thuram reflects on racism, football and French identity after Mbappe suffers racial abuse at Euro 2020 following his penalty miss.Lacking support from the French Football Federation, Mbappe threatens to quit the national team, forcing change before he stars at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.We hear from France team-mates Hugo Lloris and Ibrahima Konate as Mbappe eme

Episode 4: ‘Kylian Saint-Germain’

Jun 03 2024 30 mins  
After winning the World Cup, Mbappe returns home to Paris a national hero and gains increasing power at Paris Saint-Germain. Club insiders detail how Mbappe became an increasing influence on and off the field as PSG’s Qatari owners set their sights on the Champions League.We hear from experts on why the Mbappe-Messi-Neymar strike force never delivered Europe’s ultimate prize.