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The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast

The Athletic
Premier League
Manchester City
Football Tactics
Bernardo Silva
Aston Villa
Liverpool
Coaching Strategies
Substitutions
Match Tactics
Fullbacks
Chelsea
Evolving Strategies
Plan B
Game Management
Pressing Tactics
UEFA Champions League
Player Profiles
Women's Sports Coverage
PSG
Nottingham Forest

Hosted by Michael Bailey, revered football tactics writer Michael Cox is joined by Mark Carey, Liam Tharme and more of The Athletic's brightest tactics and data department to break down the tactical and technical details behind the biggest footballing stories each week - assessing the latest trends, systems, players, managers and all manner of statistics in order to give you a deeper understanding... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes297Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Sports

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Artwork for The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast

Latest Episodes

The Champions League returned this week with some huge clashes and intriguing results. 

So, at the halfway point of the league phase — how are the favourites shaping up, and who has caught our eye on Europe’s biggest stage?

Host: Michael Bailey

Wi... more

The defending Premier League champions have lost four league matches in a row.

So, where is it going wrong for Arne Slot’s Liverpool — and crucially, how do they fix their issues?

Host: Michael Bailey

With: Michael Cox, Mark Carey and Liam Tharme more

This season there have been zero instances of teams starting with a 4-4-2 in the Premier League. 

In the late 2000s the majority of teams lined up in a 4-4-2 - but since then, that figure has been steadily dropping.

We find out why.

Host: Michael ... more

Iconic former Manchester City midfielder İlkay Gündoğan sat down with The Athletic's Jordan Campbell to discuss playing under Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp, City's treble-winning team and his future plans.

With: Jordan Campbell & İlkay Gündoğan

Ex... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Ilkay Gündoğan
Former Manchester City midfielder and current player for Galatasaray
Galatasaray
Episode: Gundogan interview: Klopp vs Guardiola, Man City's treble & more
Ian Graham
Former Director of Research at Liverpool FC
Liverpool FC
Episode: The secrets behind football's data pioneers
Sarah Rudd
Former Head of Analytics at Arsenal FC and now CEO of SRC Football
SRC Football
Episode: The secrets behind football's data pioneers
Bob Bruyne
Technical Director of the Flemish Football Association, with years of experience in coaching and player development
Belgian FA
Episode: How Belgium marched to world number one
Ruben Jongkind
Former head of talent development at Ajax.
Episode: How Cruyff inspired Ajax's rebirth
Jacob Whitehead
Frequent contributor and writer for The Athletic.
The Athletic
Episode: How Cruyff inspired Ajax's rebirth
Liam Tharme
Tactics expert and contributor to The Athletic.
The Athletic
Episode: How Cruyff inspired Ajax's rebirth
Paul Power
Director of AI at Skillcorner
Skillcorner
Episode: How data and AI is shaping football
Nedim Anouar
Former Manchester City defender and contributor to the discussion on centre-backs
Episode: Building the ideal modern day centre-back

Host

Michael Bailey
Host alongside notable football commentators and analysts who discuss complex tactical elements and statistics in football, enhancing the audience's understanding of the game.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 1.6k ratings
  • Good

    Michael Cox could change his attitude, and not always say that some team is bad or dull, thats not what to do on an informative podcast. Hoever, the teactics and analysis is still pretty good.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    aiden chen harry potter
    United States9 months ago
  • I miss football

    What has this world come to ? People get so obsessed with tactics ! Its just so ridiculous people making content out of stupid data and stats . Really makes me angry

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Don’t change footy
    United Kingdom10 months ago
  • If you want a competitive utopia…

    Great ep lads.

    Just on something that came up in the latest episode: the Scottish championship might be the best league in Europe for competition.

    Everything that is said about the English champ about competition and exciting is also true of the Scottish champ, but for the opposite reason.

    My team, Morton, finished two points off of 2nd and 6 off first. We didn’t even finish in the playoffs…

    The games might not have an incredible standard, but they’re always exciting, full of scraps and c... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    D.Adams02
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Love of data 🤝🏻 Love of football

    I love hearing you guys talk. Your passion for data, football and communicating your findings really comes through. Naturally I gravitate towards the teams and leagues I am interested in but even when I am willing to stretch to unfamiliar topics, I find myself getting rewarded and come away from episodes with a better knowledge of the game.

    One minor gripe I do have though is that whoever is mixing the audio needs to turn on - or dial up - the compression. This will help with minimising the pe... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Nathan_robbo
    Australia2 years ago
  • When did Michael Cox become insufferable?

    I used to love Michael’s analysis when he was humble 20 something writing about football (I found him in the build up to the 2010 World Cup), now he talks as if reclined on his throne, casually tossing out the final word on any given player or performance.

    3 stars for the show, they rest of the team still gives it a decent go.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Nico_laos
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Feedback often highlights the hosts' engaging personalities, with particular praise for their ability to connect complex topics to the average fan's experience.
Some critiques focus on a perceived overreliance on analytics to the detriment of discussing football's human elements and narratives.
Listeners appreciate the in-depth tactical analyses and insightful commentary on football philosophies and developments.
Numerous reviews call for more diverse football coverage, particularly regarding women's leagues and broader cultural perspectives in football.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#182
United Kingdom/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#17
Colombia/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#55
India/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#87
Israel/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#88
Saudi Arabia/Sports
Apple Podcasts
#94
China/Sports

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Gundogan interview: Klopp vs Guardiola, Man City's treble & more
Q: What do you believe is the strongest part of your game throughout your career?
He considers his simplicity in play as his strongest attribute, focusing on executing basic skills at a high standard.
Gundogan interview: Klopp vs Guardiola, Man City's treble & more
Q: What was your experience like leaving Manchester City and speaking with Pep?
Gündoğan emphasizes the gratitude and appreciation shared in the farewell conversation, highlighting the strong relationship they maintained.
Mavericks, Donnarumma & are Arsenal too cautious?
Q: Is Mikel Arteta too cautious in his approach?
While there are instances of caution in Arteta's strategy, it is important to consider the context of each match, particularly in challenging away games.
Mavericks, Donnarumma & are Arsenal too cautious?
Q: How do you think the Womens Super League has changed tactically over the last five years?
The Women's Super League has become more systemized and competitive, resulting in players being less dominant individually compared to five years ago.
Mavericks, Donnarumma & are Arsenal too cautious?
Q: Do you think we will ever see Maverick players trusted again?
While the conversation has often pointed towards the loss of unpredictable players due to structured tactics, there is a sense that a backlash against complete positional play could open space for creativity.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast

What is The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast provides an analytical view of football tactics and trends, engaging in deep conversations about the strategic elements and technical details that shape recent football events. It offers listeners insights into various teams, players, and managerial styles while emphasizing statistical analysis and tactical philosophies. Noteworthy themes include the analysis of pressing techniques, the evolution of youth academies, and the exploration of significant football projects, all aimed at enhancing the audience's understanding of the game. Unique elements include a focus on both men's and women's football, making it appealing for a broad football audience who are passionate about the nuances of the sport.

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How many listeners does The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast?

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How many subscribers and views does The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast 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 The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast:

1. The Athletic FC Podcast
2. Tifo Football Podcast
3. The Totally Football Show with James Richardson
4. Football Weekly
5. The Game

How many episodes of The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast are there?

The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast launched 6 years ago and published 297 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 The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast?

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What guests have appeared on The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast?

Recent guests on The Athletic FC Tactics Podcast include:

1. Ilkay Gündoğan
2. Ian Graham
3. Sarah Rudd
4. Bob Bruyne
5. Ruben Jongkind
6. Jacob Whitehead
7. Liam Tharme
8. Paul Power

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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