Heroes & Humans of Football podcast

Heroes & Humans of Football

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. Follow @heroesandhumans everywhere. Instagram TikTok Facebook X Visit our website for news and updates: heroesandhumans.com

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. Follow @heroesandhumans everywhere. Instagram TikTok Facebook X Visit our website for news and updates: heroesandhumans.com

 

#48

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 j... more

16 Jan 2025

1 HR 35 MINS

1:35:43

16 Jan 2025


#47

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? Thi... more

09 Jan 2025

1 HR 47 MINS

1:47:02

09 Jan 2025


#46

Football and the trenches: The 1914 Christmas truce

In 1914, 110 years ago exactly, British and German troops came up from the trenches to mee... more

19 Dec 2024

50 MINS

50:12

19 Dec 2024


#45

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 unstoppab... more

12 Dec 2024

1 HR 23 MINS

1:23:37

12 Dec 2024


#44

Live with Roddy Doyle: Roy Keane, Chelsea, Ireland & more

Our first-ever live show, recorded at the Kilkenomics Economics & Comedy Festival in Kilke... more

10 Dec 2024

1 HR 02 MINS

1:02:34

10 Dec 2024


#43

Who is Manchester United’s new manager Ruben Amorim?

Manchester United has seen numerous managers come and go since Alex Ferguson retired in 20... more

05 Dec 2024

51 MINS

51:48

05 Dec 2024


#42

Eric Cantona: Art, violence, and the remaking of English football

Eric Cantona is the epitome of Rimbaud and Rambo: an artistic poet and violent, tough man.... more

28 Nov 2024

1 HR 18 MINS

1:18:27

28 Nov 2024


#41

Megan Rapinoe: When soccer gets political

Megan Rapinoe is one of soccer’s most talented players, yet has an influence and legacy th... more

21 Nov 2024

54 MINS

54:56

21 Nov 2024


#40

Cristiano Ronaldo’s battle for longevity

No footballer in history has had a career at the top for as long as Cristiano Ronaldo. Nea... more

14 Nov 2024

56 MINS

56:04

14 Nov 2024


#39

Cristiano Ronaldo: The alcoholic's son who became a workaholic

Vain, disciplined, consistent: Cristiano Ronaldo is a football legend like no other. How d... more

07 Nov 2024

1 HR 01 MINS

1:01:35

07 Nov 2024


#38

Pogba: Brilliant, Betrayed, Banned.

Paul Labile Pogba is, according to host Simon, one of the most gifted players of all time.... more

31 Oct 2024

1 HR 01 MINS

1:01:33

31 Oct 2024


#37

Maradona: Downfall

By his late-20s, superstar footballer Maradona had it all: copious wealth and record-break... more

24 Oct 2024

55 MINS

55:51

24 Oct 2024


#36

Maradona: From the slum to world champion

Only a few people can say they carry the weight of a nation on their shoulders – and footb... more

17 Oct 2024

1 HR 05 MINS

1:05:51

17 Oct 2024


#35

Johan Neeskens: A Silent Legend in Total Football

In this special bonus episode, Simon and Mehreen pay tribute to the legendary Dutch footba... more

15 Oct 2024

37 MINS

37:24

15 Oct 2024


#34

Mauricio Pochettino: A new face for US soccer

Argentine football manager Pochettino has always been the type to fly under the radar – bo... more

10 Oct 2024

1 HR 23 MINS

1:23:07

10 Oct 2024


#33

The reign of Alex Ferguson

Alex Ferguson spent 26 seasons as the coach of Manchester United – winning more trophies a... more

03 Oct 2024

1 HR 29 MINS

1:29:52

03 Oct 2024


#32

The making of Alex Ferguson

Alex Ferguson, the omnipotent, omnipresent orator, is widely regarded as one of the greate... more

26 Sep 2024

1 HR 28 MINS

1:28:36

26 Sep 2024


#31

Sepp Blatter & the FIFA corruption scandal (ft. the man himself)

In 2010, the footballing community was shouting about corruption. FIFA had just awarded th... more

19 Sep 2024

1 HR 10 MINS

1:10:07

19 Sep 2024


#30

N'Golo Kanté: The humble superstar

Defensive midfielder N’Golo Kanté has left a huge legacy on football, yet hardly anything ... more

12 Sep 2024

50 MINS

50:15

12 Sep 2024


#29

The fall of José Mourinho

Charismatic and polarising football coach José Mourinho always has one single goal for his... more

05 Sep 2024

1 HR 00 MINS

1:00:19

05 Sep 2024


#28

The rise of Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho is the arrogant and charismatic cult figure who divides opinions on the pitc... more

29 Aug 2024

1 HR 18 MINS

1:18:49

29 Aug 2024


#27

Sven-Göran Eriksson: A life, a legacy, a tribute

Sven-Göran Eriksson, former England and Lazio manager, has died at the age of 76. In this ... more

26 Aug 2024

1 HR 13 MINS

1:13:49

26 Aug 2024


#26

Erling Haaland: The Gen Z goal monster

Norwegian striker Erling Haaland is making football history with 63 league goals in two se... more

22 Aug 2024

49 MINS

49:04

22 Aug 2024


#25

Erik Ten Hag: The doomed Dutchman of Manchester United?

Ten Hag’s slow rise to coaching success seems to have come to an abrupt stop at Manchester... more

15 Aug 2024

1 HR 07 MINS

1:07:35

15 Aug 2024


#24

From Olympic Football to Financial Fair Play: Your Questions Answered

In this special Q&A episode, hosts Mehreen Khan and Simon Kuper answer questions from list... more

08 Aug 2024

56 MINS

56:43

08 Aug 2024


#23

Reflections on Heroes & Humans debut season

Over the past 20 weeks, Mehreen and Simon have covered the stories of the so-called ‘heroe... more

01 Aug 2024

05 MINS

05:56

01 Aug 2024


#22

England's new manager Thomas Tuchel: the dark wellness fanatic

Tipped as one of the longshots and now England manager, Thomas Tuchel is the polarising Ge... more

25 Jul 2024

1 HR 10 MINS

1:10:08

25 Jul 2024


#21

Emma Hayes: The Londoner who led the US women's team to Olympic gold

Emma Hayes, one of the most influential figures in women's football, is embarking on a new... more

18 Jul 2024

1 HR 03 MINS

1:03:13

18 Jul 2024