Listen to the stories behind football's biggest names, hosted by Simon Kuper and Mehreen Khan.
"Hosts Simon Kuper and Mehreen Khan know their stuff." – The Guar...
Geoff Hurst: The Last Boy of '66 - Living with Glory's Shadow
What happens when your greatest moment becomes both a blessing and a burden? This is not just the story of Geoff Hurst's World Cup hat-trick but a deeper exploration of a vanishing era of English football and the often-challenging lives of the heroes of '66 after their moment of glory.
In this episode, Simon and Mehreen uncover the complex legacy of England's World Cup-winning team through the eyes of its last surviving member. From modest wages and part-time jobs to the devastating impact of dementia on his teammates, Hurst's story reveals how differently football treated its heroes in the 1960s. They explore how these working-class heroes navigated life after football in an era before mega-contracts and media careers and how many struggled to find their place in the modern world.
Time stamps:
0:00: Introduction and the last survivor
04:15: Football in the 1960s—a different world
08:32: Working-class heroes and modest lifestyles
12:45: The road to the World Cup team
17:23: That day at Wembley
23:41: Life immediately after the victory
28:56: The struggle to adjust to normal life
34:18: Financial hardships of the '66 team
39:27: The dementia crisis—losing teammates one by one
45:33: Bobby Moore's difficult later years
51:19: The forgotten stories of the other players
56:44: Part-time jobs and post-football careers
1:02:38: The burden of being forever '66
1:08:15: Modern football vs. the amateur era
1:13:27: Preserving the memory of a vanishing generation
1:18:52: What modern football can learn from '66
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Thank you for all your support. We really appreciate your comments and encouragement. - Producer Matt
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1:35:43
The Super Agents: How Mino Raiola Changed Football's Transfer Market Forever
How did a pizza waiter from Haarlem become one of football's most influential figures? This is the story of Mino Raiola, the super-agent who transformed the football transfer market, and his successor, Rafaela Pimenta.
In this episode, Simon and Mehreen explore the extraordinary career of Mino Raiola and his business partner, Rafaela Pimenta. From his early days working in his family's pizzeria to becoming the agent for stars like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, and Erling Haaland, this is the tale of how an outsider revolutionised football's transfer market through wit, work ethic, and an uncanny ability to see where the game was heading.
This episode reveals how Raiola's pizzeria mentality of personal service shaped his approach to representing players, his complex relationship with football's establishment, and how he built the most powerful agency in modern football.
Time stamps:
0:00: Introduction and background
03:40: Early life in Haarlem and the family pizzeria
08:22: Entry into football and first deals
15:44: Meeting Zlatan Ibrahimovic
21:33: Partnership with Rafaela Pimenta
27:16: Building the perfect agency
34:55: The Pogba transfer saga
42:18: Managing player careers and investments
48:37: Battles with clubs and FIFA
54:29: Legacy and influence on modern football
59:13: Rafaela Pimenta takes the reins
1:05:42: The future of football agencies
1:11:27: Final thoughts on Raiola's impact
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1:47:02
Football and the trenches: The 1914 Christmas truce
In 1914, 110 years ago exactly, British and German troops came up from the trenches to meet in no man’s land and play football. This remarkable event, known as the Christmas Truce, is the subject of today’s special episode.
Instead of focusing on one hero, human, or villain, this Christmas episode examines the humanity behind war, discussing how football has united people across languages, cultures, and history.
Simon and Mehreen delve deep into the story of World War I and beyond. They track the history of this poignant event, discussing its impact on Adolf Hitler (spoiler: he didn’t want to talk about it), the rise and suppression of women’s football, and discussing the event against wars and conflicts of today.
This poignant, moving episode is ideal listening for football and history lovers alike and signals the start of Heroes & Humans’ Christmas break. Thank you for listening to our episodes in 2024. It's been a true pleasure to see how football has united so many listeners across the globe.
Time stamps:
0:43: Setting the scene, 1914
6:30: Christmas Eve, 1914
11:25: How football united the warring sides
17:47: Was there just one Christmas truce match?
22:50: Were there any more sporting truces?
27:31: A gender revolution and the early rise of women’s football
31:05: Battle of the Somme and the end of the Great War
37:30: The legacy of the First World War, 110 years later
41:42: Reflections on today’s wars and conflicts (e.g., Russia-Ukraine)
Like this episode? Make sure to vote for Heroes & Humans of Football at the Sports Podcast Awards: https://bit.ly/4fkQ8uA
Join the Heroes and Humans Supporters Club!
Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and can’t wait for the next episode? Why not become part of our exclusive community and get even closer to the action?
By joining our official H&H Supporters Club on Patreon, you’ll unlock access to behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, bonus content, and special Q&A sessions with your hosts, Mehreen and Simon. Whether you're looking for deeper insights into football’s biggest personalities or just can’t wait for the next episode, we’ve got something for you.
Don’t miss out! Support us and get more from your favourite podcast.
Join us today at patreon.com/heroesandhumans
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50:12
The Brazilian Ronaldo and the 1998 World Cup Mystery
12 July 1998, Paris. It’s the FIFA World Cup – France vs. Brazil. Brazil has the unstoppable Ronaldo (O Fenômeno – the Phenomenon) on their side, and crowds are expecting a Brazilian win.
Suddenly before the match, it’s announced Ronaldo isn’t going to play. Then, suddenly, he is. Nations watch, confused, as Brazil’s best player wanders the pitch like a sleepwalker with glazed eyes, and witness Brazil’s defeat of 3-0. So what actually happened?
In this podcast episode, Mehreen and Simon tackle the conspiracy theories, mysteries, and intrigue leading up to the memorable FIFA World Cup of 1998. They track Ronaldo’s early life in Brazil, his time at PSV Eindhoven, and the footballer’s incredible rise to dominance, with stats aged 20 better than Pelé.
Ronaldo R9, a cult icon, captured the world’s attention in the 1990s by aggressively dominating the pitch. Did he have a panic attack or fit before the game? Was he drugged to ensure a French win? Was he a pawn of Nike, who had an unusual amount of control over the Brazilian team?
This is an episode for mystery lovers, true crime lovers, and football fans alike.
Time stamps:
0:36: Setting the scene: The day of the ‘98 World Cup Final
7:15: Ronaldo’s stats and playing career
12:34: Teen years and move to the Netherlands
22:14: Joining and leaving Barça
27:16: World Cup time
34:10: Brazil reaches the final
39:18: Conspiracy theories go wild
46:33: Parliamentary enquiry, and a potential epileptic fit
54:03: More conspiracy theories (there’s a lot)
1:00:05: Is the simplest theory the correct one?
1:00:07: Ronaldo’s career, 1998-2002
1:12:48: Later life and children (and why McDonald’s is so important)
1:16:21: Ronaldo R9’s legacy and influence
Like this episode? Make sure to vote for Heroes & Humans of Football at the Sports Podcast Awards https://bit.ly/4fkQ8uA
Join the Heroes and Humans Supporters Club!
Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and can’t wait for the next episode? Why not become part of our exclusive community and get even closer to the action?
By joining our official H&H Supporters Club on Patreon, you’ll unlock access to behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, bonus content, and special Q&A sessions with your hosts, Mehreen and Simon. Whether you're looking for deeper insights into football’s biggest personalities or just can’t wait for the next episode, we’ve got something for you.
Don’t miss out! Support us and get more from your favourite podcast.
Join us today at patreon.com/heroesandhumans
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1:23:37
Live with Roddy Doyle: Roy Keane, Chelsea, Ireland & more
Our first-ever live show, recorded at the Kilkenomics Economics & Comedy Festival in Kilkenny, Ireland.
The sold-out event saw Simon and Mehreen take to the stage, discussing all things football with the prize-winning author Roddy Doyle.
Die-hard Chelsea fan Doyle spoke with H&H for over an hour, where they discussed topics such as:
Doyle's lifelong connection to Chelsea Football Club, its fan base, and Mehreen's experiences as a British Asian Chelsea fan
The role of football in Irish identity and culture—from traditionally supporting English cups to the legacy of the 1990 World Cup
The globalisation of football and the universality of football fandoms—the 'dark joy' of critique and how adversity creates deeper connections in the community
The legacy of Roy Keane
Join the Heroes and Humans Supporters Club!
Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and can’t wait for the next episode? Why not become part of our exclusive community and get even closer to the action?
By joining our official H&H Supporters Club on Patreon, you’ll unlock access to behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, bonus content, and special Q&A sessions with your hosts, Mehreen and Simon. Whether you're looking for deeper insights into football’s biggest personalities or just can’t wait for the next episode, we’ve got something for you.
Don’t miss out! Support us and get more from your favourite podcast.
Join us today at patreon.com/heroesandhumans
Follow @heroesandhumans everywhere.
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Listen to the stories behind football's biggest names, hosted by Simon Kuper and Mehreen Khan.
"Hosts Simon Kuper and Mehreen Khan know their stuff." – The Guardian
"The most interesting football podcast of the moment." – NRC, a leading Dutch daily
Heroes & Humans moves beyond the traditional boundaries of sports commentary to explore the lives of football's most interesting figures. Whether episodes are about Messi, Abramovich, Cruyff, Şükür or Haaland, this is the go-to podcast for football audio-biographies. Released once weekly on Thursdays.
Simon Kuper, acclaimed by Time Magazine as "one of the world's leading writers on soccer," and an awarded Financial Times columnist, brings a three-decade career of interviewing and understanding the personalities that define the world’s greatest sport. Having attended the last nine World Cups and boasting Europe's largest football library, Simon's insights are rooted in a profound depth of knowledge and passion for football.
Mehreen Khan, whose day job is as the Economics Editor at The Times, believes football is a "brilliant shortcut in how to understand societies, economies, and politics". She is a football obsessive and die-hard Chelsea fan. With her ability to intertwine socio-political narratives with pop culture savvy, Mehreen stands out in the football podcasting landscape. Her presence as one of the few female voices adds a valuable dimension, broadening the conversation for listeners.
Mehreen was previously the FT’s Brussels correspondent, before moving to The Times in 2022. She started her career in sports journalism at the Daily Telegraph in 2014, and wrote a football blog that touched on themes including Russia’s breakaway Muslim separatism, German multiculturalism, and the earth-shattering magnificence of Andrea Pirlo.
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