Heroes & Humans of Football

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 [https://www.patreon.com/heroesandhumans?utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan] FOLLOW @HEROESANDHUMANS EVERYWHERE. * Instagram [https://instagram.com/heroesandhumans] * TikTok [https://tiktok.com/heroesandhumans] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/heroesandhumans] * X [https://twitter.com/heroesandhumans] Visit our website for news & updates heroesandhumans.com [http://heroesandhumans.com/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Manchester United has seen numerous managers come and go since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. With Erik Ten Hag now put to pasture, who is the new Portuguese millennial manager taking the job? This episode discusses the life and managerial career (so far) of Ruben Amorim. This is the story of a man who has rapidly catapulted his career through the Portuguese football leagues, and is now saying goodbye to the Iberian sun in favour of rainy Manchester. Simon and Mehreen discuss Amorim’s managerial training and life in Portugal, the shadow of fellow Portuguese football manager José Mourinho, and his ongoing commitment to the back three. The team is joined by Portuguese expert and football pundit Raquel Vaz Pinto, who provides unique insights into Amorim.  Known for being an empathetic and genuine manager that treats football coaching like a psychologist, are millennial-players-turned-coaches football’s hottest new property? And how will a man, known for his captivating press conferences in Portuguese, cope in his second language in an English-speaking environment? Time stamps: 0:36: Introduction and stats  3:45: Early life and footballing career 7:41: Amorim’s coaching credentials and the influence of José Mourinho 14:17: Early coaching career 17:25: It all goes wrong (then right again) 22:25: Amorim revitalises Sporting Portugal (... not Sporting Lisbon) 27:43: Captivating audiences at press conferences 32:03: A strict and serious side  36:28: On English clubs’ radars 41:51: Modern management, ft. Millennials and Gen Z 45:57: What if he wasn’t in football? Make sure to listen to the following episodes after this one: * The rise and fall of José Mourinho [https://www.heroesandhumans.com/episode/the-rise-of-jose-mourinho] * The making and reign of Alex Ferguson  [https://www.heroesandhumans.com/episode/the-making-of-alex-ferguson] * Erik Ten Hag: The doomed Dutchman of Manchester United [https://www.heroesandhumans.com/episode/erik-ten-hag] * 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 [https://www.patreon.com/heroesandhumans?utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan] FOLLOW @HEROESANDHUMANS EVERYWHERE. * Instagram [https://instagram.com/heroesandhumans] * TikTok [https://tiktok.com/heroesandhumans] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/heroesandhumans] * X [https://twitter.com/heroesandhumans] Visit our website for news & updates heroesandhumans.com [http://heroesandhumans.com/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Eric Cantona is the epitome of Rimbaud and Rambo: an artistic poet and violent, tough man. So how did this paradoxical player transform Manchester United in the 1990s? And how did this affect English football as a whole? In this episode, Simon and Mehreen delve deep into the life and times of French footballer Eric Cantona. They track his playing career in France, how he was the missing piece of the puzzle for 90s Manchester United, and his abrupt footballing career-end at the age of 31.  This is the story of a man who was built like a boxer and thinks of himself as an artist. Famous for his kung-fu kicks, red card troubles, and propensity towards violence, this episode discusses how he also embodied a new type of footballer in the 1990s and a work-hard mentality of football as an art. Put your collars up for this insane, violent, and often poetic tale of the man of one of Manchester United’s most integral figures. Time stamps: 0:36: Introduction and stats  03:44: Early life in Marseille 07:29: A gifted young footballer and early playing career 11:13: Controversy and trouble in French clubs 13:40: Move to England (and a love for Rimbaud or Rambo?) 17:12 Cult hero and collar up at Leeds 22:32: Ferguson chooses Cantona for Manchester United 26:32: Strong start at Manchester United 29:53: Raising the bar at Manchester United 35:27: Simon’s Financial Times front page cover on Cantona 45:51: Community service and controversies 49:16: Karate kicking journalists 52:35: French national football team 57:47: Unexpected retirement, acting career, and politics 1:03:43: What’s Cantona up to now?  1:11:29: What if Cantona hadn’t played football? 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 [https://www.patreon.com/heroesandhumans?utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan] FOLLOW @HEROESANDHUMANS EVERYWHERE. * Instagram [https://instagram.com/heroesandhumans] * TikTok [https://tiktok.com/heroesandhumans] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/heroesandhumans] * X [https://twitter.com/heroesandhumans] Visit our website for news & updates heroesandhumans.com [http://heroesandhumans.com/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

Megan Rapinoe is one of soccer’s most talented players, yet has an influence and legacy that extends far beyond the pitch. How did one American sportswoman become such a central figure in conversations about homophobia, feminism, and racism?  This episode tracks Rapinoe’s life, from growing up in a relatively poor working-class background to becoming the GOAT of women’s soccer. Mehreen and Simon examine how witnessing severe drug abuse and her family upbringing shaped her understanding of privilege and injustice. This episode unpicks the polarising views of Megan, which are often at the centre of wider cultural wars. The episode discusses Rapinoe being the first top soccer player to come out (which was actually not too controversial), to being one of the first sportspeople to take the knee in 2016 (which was). On one hand, Rapinoe is hated by president Donald Trump (“Woke equals failure”) and was once called the “most annoying sportsperson ever” by Piers Morgan. On the other hand, she is celebrated as a figure with a strong moral compass – standing up for injustices, unfair pay, and archaic power structures. Is Rapinoe the new model for the next generation of sports stars? Or should politics be kept off the pitch?  Time stamps: 0:36: Introduction  4:43: A child of Trump’s America  9:45: A growing childhood interest in soccer 11:42: Recognising privilege and witnessing fentanyl addiction  17:17: College scholarship and move to Oregon 20:25: Discovering her sexuality 25:59: A poorly-paid pro, viral moments, and coming out 29:45: Intersectionality, homophobia, and equal pay 33:23: Racism and taking the knee in 2016  38:39: Trump vs. Rapinoe (with a father that votes for him) 44:27: Class action lawsuit for equal pay 47:10: Rapinoe’s legacy  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 https://www.patreon.com/heroesandhumans?utm_campaign=creatorshare_fanpatreon.com/heroesandhumans [https://www.patreon.com/heroesandhumans?utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan] FOLLOW @HEROESANDHUMANS EVERYWHERE. * Instagram [https://instagram.com/heroesandhumans] * TikTok [https://tiktok.com/heroesandhumans] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/heroesandhumans] * X [https://twitter.com/heroesandhumans] Visit our website for news & updates http://heroesandhumans.com/heroesandhumans.com [http://heroesandhumans.com/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

No footballer in history has had a career at the top for as long as Cristiano Ronaldo. Nearing his 40th birthday, when will it be time for Ronaldo to finally retire? And will he bow out gracefully—or cry? This is the second and final episode on Cristiano Ronaldo. Simon and Mehreen track Ronaldo’s life from 2009 onwards, detailing his transition to family man, his atmospheric rise on social media, and his footballing career after Manchester United. This episode covers Ronaldo’s rivalry with Messi, his fear of decline and irrelevancy, and his dedication to football at every stage—whether it’s the Euros or in the Saudi league. Is it because of Ronaldo that football has reached a fetishisation of high performance? This is the finale of the highest-paid athlete on earth who rose from nothing—a person who embodies hustle culture but whose self importance is so grandiose one can’t help but mock it. Time stamps: 0:36: Ronaldo joins Real Madrid 5:05: Rivalry with Messi 9:11: Perfect life, perfect child, perfect wife? 17:01: Global icon and social media superstar 22:41: Euro 2016 29:13: Manchester United and Juventus 34:28: Humiliation and personal tragedy 37:55: Joining the Saudi pro league 41:36: Decline in the Portuguese national team 44:11: GOAT status or pipped to the post? 49:17: The Muslim conspiracy and ongoing legacy 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 [https://www.patreon.com/heroesandhumans?utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan] FOLLOW @HEROESANDHUMANS EVERYWHERE. * Instagram [https://instagram.com/heroesandhumans] * TikTok [https://tiktok.com/heroesandhumans] * Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/heroesandhumans] * X [https://twitter.com/heroesandhumans] Visit our website for news & updates heroesandhumans.com [http://heroesandhumans.com/] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]