Football Legends

Welcome to a time-travel podcast diving into football’s greatest almost moments — the transfers that came within touching distance of reality, Richie McCormack's Sliding Doors. Sliding Doors goes beyond rumours and gossip to uncover deals that were genuinely on the table Each episode explores how one decision could have reshaped clubs, careers, and the entire football landscape From whispered negotiations to official bids, this is the anatomy of football’s biggest “what ifs” Think Michael Laudrup to Liverpool, Robert Lewandowski to Blackburn… and yes, Ronaldo to Rangers This episode takes us back to 1964, newly promoted Hannover 96 came astonishingly close to signing Pelé — the greatest player the game has ever seen — for the infant Bundesliga. As club legend Friedel Schicks moved toward retirement, a replacement was quietly discussed that sounded almost unbelievable: Pelé was supposed to succeed him at the heart of Hannover’s team. The man pushing the idea wasn’t a scout or an agent, but board member Hans-David Ziegra — an ice-cream machine salesman with strong Brazilian connections and a past far darker than most in German football. Ziegra’s history included Nazi Party membership, intelligence work across Europe, post-war CIA scrutiny, and decades-long ties to Brazil, all of which helped fuel the extraordinary attempt to lure Pelé to Germany. Hannover could afford the move — Bundesliga wages soon eclipsed what Pelé earned at Santos — but Pelé’s status as a national treasure made any transfer politically and culturally explosive. With Brazil under military rule in 1964, Pelé chose to stay, later admitting talks with Hannover had taken place but that leaving Santos at such a volatile moment was never realistic. Pelé never played in the Bundesliga, and German football went another way — but this forgotten near-miss invites one tantalising question: how differently might football history look if the greatest player of all time had arrived in Germany at the dawn of the Bundesliga? Become a member and sign up at offtheball.com/join

Sammy Lee joins us this week, fresh out of a huge win for Liverpool legends against Chelsea legends in a charity game. Starting out his playing career at Liverpool as a ‘tubby teenager’ blaming himself for Bill Shankly resigning. Despite carrying this dark cloud Sammy went on to win a legendary 14 trophies with Liverpool. As a man who is a very proud scouser Sammy Lee dive’s into why Liverpool is such a unique club where everyone is a ‘family’. After his playing career Sammy Lee established himself as a legend in the assistant manager scene, being most well known as Big Sam’s assistant, they were as inseparable as Howe and Tindall. Lee dives into Big Sam’s signings, how Carragher made him a better coach, fights with Ivan Campo & how jury duty stopped him from getting a job. This show is sponsored by Talksport Bet Get £40 in FREE BETS at talksportbet.com/utc when you bet £10 18+ gambleaware.org T&Cs apply 🌏Get an exclusive NordVPN deal here → https://nordvpn.com/cosh This is risk-free with Nord’s 30-day money-back guarantee! Bespoke kits for your club with O'Neills Sportswear UK👇 👕Your custom design 🚚Delivered in 4-6 weeks ✅Low minimum order quantity 🤝Kit out your team now, from this link: https://bit.ly/3z46QiI £35 off Carver Mat frames at AuraFrames.co.uk with promo code COSH. Frames sell out fast. Undr The Cosh listeners save £350 on a full professional podcast recording session: 4-hour session – £249 + VAT (normally £599) Offer page: http://thefactorylondon.com/cosh 🎧 Full episode available to listen & download now: 🟢 Spotify - https://tinyurl.com/yc4dnec3 🍏 Apple Podcasts - https://tinyurl.com/yue6snp3 Get two extra episodes a month with the Undr The Cosh Patreon club⬇️ https://tinyurl.com/2p8pts4a Subscribe: https://tinyurl.com/mt5h8td3 | Merch: https://tinyurl.com/ytv7rmke Watch the newest videos: https://tinyurl.com/2nr7amwa Follow Under The Cosh Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/3vzcartn Facebook: https://tinyurl.com/yckpr37k Twitter: https://tinyurl.com/286aahys Watch more videos! Undr The Cosh Podcast | Under The Cosh: https://tinyurl.com/5b3e2k29 Podcast Best Bits | Under The Cosh: https://tinyurl.com/ysbf2m4h On The Road | Under The Cosh: https://tinyurl.com/ua8t9vfu Most Popular: https://tinyurl.com/3z76x3ck #UnderTheCosh #Podcast #FootballPodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Désiré Doué and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia reminded us on Wednesday what a proper winger should really play like, but why do we seem to be seeing less of them? Marcus, Jim & Andy discuss that on this week's Mailbag. Plus, who makes our Mount Rushmore of football s***house legends? Join us for our answers to your questions! We’re going on tour! Get your tickets now: https://footballramblelive.com. Find us on Bluesky, X, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube, and email us here: [email protected]. Sign up to the Football Ramble Patreon for ad-free shows for just $5 per month: https://www.patreon.com/footballramble. ***Please take the time to rate us on your podcast app. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!*** The Football Ramble, the original and best football podcast. Brand new podcasts every single weekday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Overlap has teamed up with Gillette Labs to bring you a special series, "Wrighty and Carra’s Football Fathers," as we lead up to Father’s Day on June 16th. In this episode, join Gillette Ambassador Ian Wright and Jamie Carragher as they sit down with Manchester United and Denmark legend, Peter Schmeichel. Together, they delve into the highs and lows their children have experienced in the world of football. From the joy of watching their kids lift trophies to the challenges and pressures that come with being a football dad, this candid conversation offers a unique glimpse into the personal lives of these sporting icons. Tune in to hear heartwarming stories, insightful reflections, and behind-the-scenes anecdotes that highlight the unique bond between football fathers and their children. Whether you're a football fan or a proud parent, this episode is a must-watch! Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more great content from The Overlap and stay tuned for our upcoming episodes as we celebrate Father’s Day with some of the biggest names in football. Give your dad the Best a Man Can Get this Father’s Day with 50% off Gillette Labs Champion Gold Razor. https://www.gillette.co.uk/gillettelabs/exfoliating-razor-champion-gold-edition/15065636.html Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To be in great physical shape and to feel the love of the fans is a life every football player dreams of. Being a soccer star has many advantages, it ....