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Artwork for Football Friends

Football Friends with Ben & Stef

Football Friends
a-League
Adelaide United
Western United
Sydney FC
Football
Melbourne Victory
Brisbane Roar
Newcastle Jets
Central Coast Mariners
Australian Football
Perth Glory
Socceroos
Melbourne City
Sydney Derby
Wellington Phoenix
a-League Men
Macarthur FC
Soccer
World Cup
Western Sydney Wanderers

Welcome to Football Friends with Ben & Stef! Join Sydney FC's Ben Garuccio, and former Adelaide United captain, Stefan Mauk, as they chat about their personal stories, keep you across the biggest news coming out of Australian football, and give you an insight into the world of Australian Football like you've never seen before. Episodes uploaded weekly, ready for your Wednesday morning commute. Sea... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes98Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
SoccerSports

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Artwork for Football Friends

Latest Episodes

Could smaller stadiums and a $100K-per-match model help solve one of the A-League's biggest problems?On this week's Football Friends, Ben Garuccio and Stefan Mauk tackle the economics of Australian football, questioning whether smaller clubs with low... more

The A-League is BACK, and Ben Garuccio and Stefan Mauk are making some bold predictions for the 2026/27 season!Could one of last season's biggest underperformers become genuine title contenders? Who are the favourites for the championship? And which ... more

The boys speak to Melbourne Victory's Harrison Sawyer and South Melbourne's Sebastian Pasquali as part of their Australia Cup final preview podcast.

They also discuss this week's key talking points, including Adam Taggart's shock exit from Vietnam, ... more

Ben and Stef are back for a blockbuster episode of football friends - as Avondale FC star Blake Carpenter to discuss his side’s NPL Victoria Grand Final win, discuss the divide between the A-League and NPL and to bury the hatchet with Stef after his ... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Harry Sawyer
Melbourne Victory striker, former South Melbourne player
Melbourne Victory
Episode: Australia Cup final preview incl SAWYER and PASQUALI
Seb Pasquali
South Melbourne midfielder/attacking player
South Melbourne
Episode: Australia Cup final preview incl SAWYER and PASQUALI
Blake Carpenter
Former NPL standout, recent Grand Final winner
NPL player (Avondale)
Episode: What four clubs would you admit into the A-League?
Kodai Sano
Professional footballer, PSV
PSV
Episode: Why Japan Produces MORE Top Players Than Australia | Kodai Sano Special Interview
Mo Toure
Professional footballer
Norwich City (at time of episode)
Episode: MO TOURE joins Football Friends for a special chat
Adam Taggart
Professional footballer, forward for Hanoi FC
Hanoi FC
Episode: Taggart joins Ben & Stef as Football Friends returns for season IV
Slick Rick
Episode: Mata's A-League legacy | Semi Finals Preview | Stef's flash hair style!
Richie Alagich
Former Adelaide United player
Adelaide United
Episode: I Told The Coach Not To Select My Son | Richie Alagich: Born Into It
Richie Aligich
Coach/mentor figure featured in Born Into It segment
Episode: Steven Gerrard Slip In The Vietnam League!

Hosts

Ben Garuccio
Host of Football Friends with Ben & Stef; former professional footballer; Sydney FC
Stefan Mauk
Co-host of Football Friends with Ben & Stef; former professional footballer; Adelaide United captain (former)

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 100 ratings
  • Great podcast!

    I really enjoy listening to this podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    AUFC!
    Australia2 years ago
  • Refreshing take on Australian football. Loving the depth of knowledge and unique perspective from good current players in the A-League. One episode in and can't wait for the next. Good job boys!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    jaseoneBNE
    3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Loved the banter and behind-the-scenes perspectives on Australian football.
Great podcast! I really enjoy listening to this show.
Hosts bring real industry insights and honest takes on the game's governance.
Very relatable and informative for anyone following football in Australia.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#172
Australia/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#36
South Korea/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#119
China/Sports/Soccer
Apple Podcasts
#158
South Korea/Sports

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Australia Cup final preview incl SAWYER and PASQUALI
Q: What would it mean for South Melbourne to win the cup and potentially push toward the A-League?
Pasquali discusses ambition, the club's push to enter higher levels, and the broader implications for visibility and development when an NPL side reaches the final.
Australia Cup final preview incl SAWYER and PASQUALI
Q: Did you think that this could be possible that you'd be playing in an Australia Cup final and against Victory as well?
Seb Pasquali explains that the South Melbourne run has been a surprise but ultimately the cup final represents a culmination of their growth and a chance to test themselves against a big A-League club.
Taggart joins Ben & Stef as Football Friends returns for season IV
Q: What attracted you to Hanoi and to Harry Kuehl as manager?
He was drawn by the chance to work with a legendary manager, the vibe of the conversations, and the clear, structured coaching approach.
Taggart joins Ben & Stef as Football Friends returns for season IV
Q: Talk to us, tell us kind of how this all came about.
Adam explains that it started with a recent contract extension at Perth, followed by conversations and an opportunity to move to Hanoi FC that looked to be in the best interest of all parties.
Mata's A-League legacy | Semi Finals Preview | Stef's flash hair style!
Q: How do you both view the two-legged format affecting the semi-final strategy?
They acknowledge the format allows not losing first and aiming to build a lead in the second leg, while stressing the need to balance aggression with caution to avoid unnecessary goals against and to leverage home advantage in the second leg.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Football Friends

What is Football Friends about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two former professional footballers host a weekly chat about Australian football, sharing personal stories, behind-the-scenes insights, and hot takes on leagues, players, and governance. Episodes blend on-field analysis with candid banter, guest-less conversations, transfer chatter, and a focus on how the Australian game fits into Asia-Pacific dynamics. The format leans into relatable, friends-on-a-call storytelling, with occasional first‑hand anecdotes from their playing days and current seasons. The show stands out for its informal tone, strong industry perspective, and willingness to critique administration and structure while celebrating football culture in Australia.

Where can I find podcast stats for Football Friends?

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How many listeners does Football Friends get?

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What are the audience demographics for Football Friends?

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How many subscribers and views does Football Friends have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Football Friends has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Football Friends?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Football Friends:

1. Official A-Leagues Podcasts
2. Round Ball Australia
3. Suited And Booted TV
4. Football360 Today
5. Green and Gold FC

How many episodes of Football Friends are there?

Football Friends launched 3 years ago and published 98 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Football Friends?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Football Friends?

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What guests have appeared on Football Friends?

Recent guests on Football Friends include:

1. Harry Sawyer
2. Seb Pasquali
3. Blake Carpenter
4. Kodai Sano
5. Mo Toure
6. Adam Taggart
7. Slick Rick
8. Richie Alagich

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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