Today’s story comes from Charlie Nicholas, who relates how Arsenal might have been the wrong choice, but it beat moving to Manchester United under Ron Atkinson – the man with the golden toothpick. Listen to the original full episodes: Classic Big Interview: Charlie Nicholas Part One - The Big Interview with Graham Hunter | Acast Classic Big Interview: Charlie Nicholas Part Two - The Big Interview with Graham Hunter | Acast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here’s another chance to hear my interview with John Collins from season two.During his time in France, John underwent a technical and tactical revolution, but his marginal gains approach to self-improvement started in his teens. How else could a skinny kid from Galashiels get the chance to line up alongside George Best in only his second professional game? Also in part two: Petit, Zidane, rugby, more on sweeper keepers and what that cheeky wink to the camera meant before Scotland played Brazil in the opening game of the 1998 World Cup in Paris.Subscribe to The Big Interview YouTube channel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here’s another chance to hear my interview with John Collins from season two.John’s career was shaped by his move from Celtic to Monaco in 1996, where he played alongside a couple of promising youngsters named Thierry Henry and David Trezeguet. John tells us how the two French internationalists carried the hamper at every away game in the season prior to winning the World Cup. Also in part one, brilliant insights into the development of young footballers.Subscribe to The Big Interview YouTube channel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s story comes from Gordon Strachan, who declares that you don’t need a sports psychologist if you’ve got a man manager like Sir Alex Ferguson in charge.Listen to the classic episode:Classic Big Interview: Gordon Strachan - The Big Interview with Graham Hunter | Acast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s story comes from Gaizka Mendieta, who speaks about his passion for DJing and how he once met his hero Lou Reed, the Johan Cruyff of music.Listen to the original full episode:Gaizka Mendieta: Practice makes perfect - The Big Interview with Graham Hunter | Acast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here’s another chance to hear my interview with Steve Archibald from season two.In part two we hear about how Terry Venables imported Liverpool’s defensive system to win La Liga when Steve was at Barcelona, what it’s like to score in and win a season-opening Classico, the unpredictable mind of Bernd Schuster, and how to avoid one of the most notorious hitmen in European football history.Subscribe to The Big Interview YouTube channel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here’s another chance to hear my interview with Steve Archibald from season two.In part one, Steve talks about his early career at my beloved Aberdeen, his talented Pittodrie team-mates and the legendary manager who would lead them to the 1980 league title, Alex Ferguson.It is truly fascinating to hear Steve take a forensic view of the role of the centre-forward.Subscribe to The Big Interview YouTube channel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s story comes from Geordie magician Chris Waddle, who explains how he regularly baited and befuddled defenders because he was never afraid to unleash his God-given talent.Listen to the original full episode:Chris Waddle: The Entertainer - The Big Interview with Graham Hunter | Acast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s story comes from Walter Smith, who tells us about doorstep recruiting Paul Gascoigne for Rangers and then keeping him on the straight and narrow.Listen to a classic version of the original episode:Classic Big Interview: Walter Smith - The Big Interview with Graham Hunter | Acast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here’s another chance to hear my interview with Steve McManaman from season two.In part two, we hear about the clever, deft chip at the Camp Nou which helped Real Madrid into the Champions League final, a final that bequeathed the elegant midfielder his second winners medal. Steve received a hero’s welcome in the dressing room.Also: war at the Bernabéu between players and hierarchy, the brilliance of Brazilian Ronaldo, how Zidane wasn’t an instant hit, and why Claude Makelele was more important than Luis Figo.Subscribe to The Big Interview YouTube channel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here’s another chance to hear part one of my interview with Steve McManaman from season two.The four years that Steve spent at Real Madrid can be summed up in two Champions League wins, two league titles, and one remark from none other than Johan Cruyff, who described the Merseyside Madridista as el socio del todos – a partner to everyone on the pitch.Subscribe to The Big Interview YouTube channel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s story comes from Gary McAllister, who says that although Eric Cantona turned a few key matches, the French maestro was relatively peripheral to Leeds United’s 1992 league title win.Listen to the original full episodes:Classic Big Interview: Gary McAllister Part One - The Big Interview with Graham Hunter | AcastClassic Big Interview: Gary McAllister Part Two - The Big Interview with Graham Hunter | Acast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s story comes from former Real Madrid president Ramón Calderón, who says how promoting Zinedine Zinedine from the position of reserve team coach to the biggest role in club football management was a risk that paid off.Listen to the original full episodes:Classic Big Interview: Ramon Calderon Part One - The Big Interview with Graham Hunter | AcastClassic Big Interview: Ramon Calderon Part Two - The Big Interview with Graham Hunter | Acast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here’s another chance to hear my interview with Stiliyan Petrov from season two.In part two, Stan explains how Martin O’Neill makes his teams perform beyond the sum of their parts. At Aston Villa, Stan had to work hard to win back the love of the fans, but eventually he became captain.Then there’s Stan’s battle with leukaemia. His description of what he went through, and how it gave him a new perspective on life, is truly inspirational.Subscribe to The Big Interview YouTube channel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here’s another chance to hear my interview with Stiliyan Petrov from season two.In part one, ‘Stan’ chats about everything from national service with the Bulgarian army to playing alongside Henrik Larsson in a magnificent Celtic team. At Celtic, he had to adapt to a new culture and a new language, but he improved his English by working in a burger van. No, I am not making that up…Subscribe to The Big Interview YouTube channel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s story comes from Quinton Fortune, who recalls being mesmerised by Paul Scholes’ passing ability at Manchester United.Listen to the original full episodes:Quinton Fortune: From The Cape Flats to Fortune - The Big Interview with Graham Hunter | AcastQuinton Fortune: Ribbing Ronaldo and being kicked by Keane - The Big Interview with Graham Hunter | Acast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s story comes from Robert Huth, who remembers that when Jose Mourinho arrived at Chelsea, he took training sessions to an unimaginable new level.Listen to the original full episodes:Robert Huth: Inside Jose’s Chelsea Revolution - The Big Interview with Graham Hunter | AcastRobert Huth: Inside Jurgen’s German Revolution - The Big Interview with Graham Hunter | Acast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Here’s another chance to hear my interview with Pablo Zabaleta from season two.Pablo scored the forgotten (beautiful) goal on one of English football’s most memorable days: when Manchester City won the title in injury time in 2012. We cover a lot in this fascinating chat, starting in 2005 at the Under-20 World Cup, which Argentina won. Zabaleta was captain and a kid called Leo Messi had joined up with the squad...Subscribe to The Big Interview YouTube channel Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s story comes from Jocky Bjorklund, who talks about his former Old Firm rival and international teammate Henrik Larsson, who was one of the cleverest and most adaptable footballers he has ever seen.Listen to the original full episodes:Jocky Bjorklund: Larsson, Brolin and Sweden’s Glory Days - The Big Interview with Graham Hunter | AcastJocky Bjorklund: The secrets of Cuper's Valencia - The Big Interview with Graham Hunter | Acast Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jonny Evans’ childhood hero was Roy Keane, and as a youngster he played under him at Sunderland. You can only imagine how the defender felt being given a lift in the legend’s car. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.