OlanTekkers is the failed footballer, but he still knows ball. Or does he?

This week Mourinho is back in El Clásico after 13 years, and of course there was drama. Real Madrid got the job done despite having just 38% possession, and 10 shots to Barcelona’s 18. Mbappe the dictator took his El Clásico tally to eight goals in seven games. We get into Mourinho’s winning return, the tackle he reckons deserved a red, and why ref cam is the one thing modern football has given us that's good.

Then it’s over to the Premier League, where Spurs finally decided to turn up against Chelsea, winning at Stamford Bridge for just the second time in their last 33 visits. Things are considerably worse at Manchester United: they're in 16th, one point above the relegation zone and winless in eight games in all competitions. Thirteen years and 10 managers after Sir Alex Ferguson, Mourinho still has the best points-per-game record of any permanent post-Fergie United boss. Maybe the Special One was right all along?

Plus, the A-League is absolutely humming with 19 goals across six games. Sydney FC dig deep for another win, the Wanderers put five past reigning champions Auckland, we ask whether pre-game tunnel interviews are a step too far, celebrate refs actually booking players for diving, and rewind to that infamous 2012 Brisbane Roar v Perth Glory Grand Final.

The Failed Footballer is an iHeart podcast. Watch, listen and discover more podcasts, playlists and live radio on the FREE iHeart App.

Olan may have failed as a footballer. So do 99.9 of players who try and make it, but how many of them can say they got a podcast out of it? Here you'll get unqualified takes from Olan, and expert commentary from football legends who actually made it. All the goals, all the drama, all the ammo for your group chat from football's biggest leagues around the world.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The A-League is back, and OlanTekkers reckons anyone saying it’s dead clearly wasn’t at the Sydney Derby. The atmosphere was unreal, even if the football didn’t quite live up to it. Olan and Kat Haddad break down the opening round, the Sydney Derby stalemate, the chaos of the F3 Derby and why the derbies matter so much for the league.

Then it’s over to the Premier League and the mess at Manchester United. Is Michael Carrick really the man to turn things around, or are the problems much bigger than the manager? Later, Western Sydney Wanderers midfielder Isabella Chidiac joins Olan to talk about her football journey, playing with boys growing up, earning a full US college scholarship worth $150k a year, balancing elite football with a pre-med degree, and why breaking into professional football as an international player isn’t as simple as being good enough.

She also opens up about returning to Australia, the financial realities of the women’s game, her Matildas dream and the motivation that keeps her chasing it.

In this episode:

00:00 The A-League is back

01:45 Sydney Derby review

04:58 The F3 Derby delivers

09:50 A-League Women kicks off

10:09 What’s gone wrong at Manchester United?

16:43 Should clubs give managers more time?

18:40 Isabella joins the pod

19:16 Starting out playing with the boys

22:10 Why Isabella chose US college football

23:56 The $88k-a-year full scholarship

24:31 Life as a student athlete in America

26:24 How good is US college football?

29:17 Trying to turn pro after college

31:29 Returning to Western Sydney

32:14 The financial reality of the A-League Women

33:18 Chasing a Matildas call-up

34:54 Australia vs America

38:49 Isabella’s advice to young footballers

40:57 Dealing with rejection and staying motivated

41:45 Ronaldo vs Messi

43:30 When should Ronaldo have retired?

44:32 Outro

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

He was let go from an A-League team after playing in a Grand Final, literally told in the airport on the way home he no longer had a place. He then went on to play at three World Cups. His teammate Jackson Irvine says he's the most underrated Socceroo of all time, and he's now one of the most experienced leaders at Melbourne City FC. Aziz Behich has had quite the journey.

He joins OlanTekkers about the setbacks that shaped his career, making it overseas, facing some of football’s biggest names and the mentality that kept him going when things weren’t working out. He also relives his famous chance against Argentina, explains why it still haunts him, gives his honest take on the hype around young Socceroos and Australian football, and shares what he thinks the A-League needs to do to keep growing.

In this episode:

0:00 From NPL Vic with Green Gully to the A-League

1:53 The wing-back position

3:40 Breaking into professional football

4:18 Being told he wasn’t wanted at the airport

5:32 The trial that changed his career

6:17 Advice for young players on trial

8:01 Moving to Turkey

9:13 The toughest players Aziz has faced

10:25 How the fullback position has evolved

12:53 Aziz’s Socceroos journey

14:17 Struggling for game time overseas

15:05 His mentality when he’s not playing

16:31 Three World Cups with the Socceroos

17:35 The Denmark game in Qatar

18:06 That famous moment against Argentina

18:54 The importance of the Paraguay game

19:28 Pressure on the current Socceroos generation

21:17 The most underrated Socceroos

23:46 Are left backs underappreciated?

24:49 Switching off from football

26:50 How can the A-League improve?

• Follow the Failed Footballer: https://www.instagram.com/failedfootballerpod
• Follow Olan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olantekkers
• Follow Olan on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@olantekkers

The Failed Footballer is an iHeart podcast. Watch, listen and discover more podcasts, playlists and live radio on the FREE iHeart App.

Olan may have failed as a footballer. So do 99.9 of players who try and make it, but how many of them can say they got a podcast out of it? Here you'll get unqualified takes from Olan, and expert commentary from football legends who actually made it. All the goals, all the drama, all the ammo for your group chat from football's biggest leagues around the world.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Absolute baller (and brother of Norwich City's Mo) Al Hassan Toure joins The Failed Footballer to talk about his football journey from Liberia and Guinea to the A-League, the reality of chasing a career overseas, and representing the Socceroos. He opens up about growing up in a football-obsessed family, breaking into Adelaide United's first team at 19, and sharing the international stage with his younger brother Mohamed.

He also reveals the harsh side of playing in Europe, including a stint in Turkey where players went unpaid for six months, the injury struggles that nearly derailed his career, and how Sydney FC helped him rediscover his love for the game. Plus, his thoughts on the future of the Socceroos, playing in the Australia Cup, and how the A-League can improve.

In this episode:

00:00 Intro

00:35 Introducing Al Hassan Toure

00:53 Why A-League pre-seasons are too long

02:27 Winning the Australia Cup twice

04:14 Growing up in Liberia, Guinea and Australia

07:16 Realising he could become a professional footballer

08:39 Breaking into Adelaide United's first team

10:36 Chasing the European dream

11:20 "They stopped paying us for six months"

12:36 Injury setbacks in France

16:48 Life playing in the USA with FC Tulsa

18:33 Returning home and signing for Sydney FC

20:20 Making his Socceroos debut

21:53 Sharing the journey with brother Mohamed Toure

23:35 Watching family at the World Cup

25:25 Future goals and ambitions

27:12 How the A-League can improve

29:13 Sydney FC fans and final thoughts

Watch, listen and discover more podcasts, playlists and live radio on the FREE iHeart App.

Olan may have failed as a footballer. So do 99.9 of players who try and make it, but how many of them can say they got a podcast out of it? Here you'll get unqualified takes from Olan, and expert commentary from football legends who actually made it. All the goals, all the drama, all the ammo for your group chat from football's biggest leagues around the world.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kat Haddad is back on The Failed Footballer to break down the biggest talking points in Australian and world football, from the Socceroos' performance against Brazil to the young players who could define the next generation.

Kat and Olantekkers look at whether the gap between Australia and football's traditional powerhouses is starting to close, why the Socceroos' emerging talent is so exciting and what the future could look like for the national team. Then the conversation turns to Manchester City and the debate around their financial charges, possible sanctions and whether past titles should ever be taken away.

Then NPL footballer Teng Kuol joins the show. Playing for Marconi, Kuol gives an insight into the quality and competitiveness of the NPL, the challenge of balancing semi-professional football with life away from the game, and why players outside the professional system have to take responsibility for doing the extra work themselves.

He also talks about playing across multiple positions, settling into Marconi, the pathway from the NPL to the professional game and his thoughts on the Socceroos and Australia's next generation.

If you're wondering how good Australia's next generation could be, what life is really like in the NPL, or what it takes to keep chasing professional football when you're outside the full-time system, this is the conversation for you.

In this episode:

00:00 Kat Haddad Joins the Show

00:49 Socceroos vs Brazil & Australia's Progress

02:18 Is the Gap to Football's Biggest Nations Closing?

04:39 The Socceroos' Next Generation

07:05 Who Should Australia Build the Team Around?

09:48 Australia's Emerging Attacking Talent

11:04 Manchester City's Financial Charges

12:38 Should Manchester City Be Stripped of Their Titles?

14:02 Can You Separate Pep Guardiola's Achievements From City's Charges?

16:22 What Should Manchester City's Punishment Be?

19:10 Could Manchester City Be Relegated?

21:16 Kat Haddad Wraps Up

21:44 Teng Kuol Joins the Show

22:02 How Competitive Is the NPL?

22:49 Australia's New National Second Tier

24:05 Teng Kuol's Best Position & Versatility

25:33 Club Heritage, Marconi & Fitting Into a New Team

27:20 Balancing Semi-Pro Football With Work

28:12 Why NPL Talent Can Slip Through the Cracks

28:57 The Difference Between Semi-Pro & Professional Football

30:43 Could Teng Kuol Have Scored That World Cup Chance?

31:51 Teng Kuol on the Socceroos & Australia's Future

Follow the Failed Footballer: www.instagram.com/failedfootballerpod

Follow Olan on Instagram: www.instagram.com/olantekkers

Follow Olan on TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@olantekkers

The Failed Footballer is an iHeart podcast. Watch, listen and discover more podcasts, playlists and live radio on the FREE iHeart App.

Olan may have failed as a footballer. So do 99.9 of players who try and make it, but how many of them can say they got a podcast out of it? Here you'll get unqualified takes from Olan, and expert commentary from football legends who actually made it. All the goals, all the drama, all the ammo for your group chat from football's biggest leagues around the world.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jackson Irvine has played for the Socceroos in 3 World Cups. He's played for Celtic, Hull City, Hibs, FC St. Pauli and is now getting at taste of the J-League with Cerezo Osaka. He's a box-to-box midfielder of the type that isn't so common anymore. And he definitely knows what it takes to make it as a footballer and avoid the 'failed' label.

He tells OlanTekkers how he made it, how he got through countless trials with European clubs and how Japanese football compares to the German, Scottish and English style of play.

Plus, his life outside football and what he gets up to: DJing, fashion and learning Japanese. If you're wondering how the A-League compares to European leagues, or what you need to do to get to the top of football anywhere in the world, this is the conversation for you.

In this episode:

00:00 Jackson Irvine on Life in Japan & the J.League

01:10 Culture Shock: Germany vs Japan

02:14 Learning Japanese & Language Barriers

03:59 J.League vs Bundesliga: Which League Is Better?

05:39 Why Japanese Players Are So Technical

07:03 Jackson Irvine's Journey from Victoria to Celtic

10:05 Does Australian Football Let Talents Slip Through the Cracks?

12:03 How Jackson Irvine Earned a Celtic Contract at 16

15:00 What Is Australia's Football Identity?

16:58 Why This Socceroos Generation Is Different

20:02 Jackson Irvine Reflects on the FIFA World Cup

23:51 Do Australians Only Care About the Socceroos During World Cups?

26:41 The Most Underrated Socceroo Ever? 28:46 Football, Fashion & Jackson Irvine's Style

29:52 Jackson Irvine's Music Career & Radio Show

31:01 Why Footballers Need Passions Outside the Game

32:39 Brazil, the Socceroos & What's Next for Jackson Irvine

Follow the Failed Footballer: https://www.instagram.com/failedfootballerpod

Follow Olan on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olantekkers

Follow Olan on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@olantekkers

The Failed Footballer is an iHeart podcast. Watch, listen and discover more podcasts, playlists and live radio on the FREE iHeart App.

Olan may have failed as a footballer. So do 99.9 of players who try and make it, but how many of them can say they got a podcast out of it? Here you'll get unqualified takes from Olan, and expert commentary from football legends who actually made it. All the goals, all the drama, all the ammo for your group chat from football's biggest leagues around the world.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

• There was VAR Chaos in the Manchester derby - should Haaland's goal have stood? Should Bruno Fernandes have been sent off too?
• Lucas Harrington's Premier League breakout season continues as Hull hold Chelsea to a 2-2 draw. How are they doing so well?
• Mohamed Touré's scoring run continues: how's he doing it?
• The Men's and Women's NPL Grand Finals delivered on the drama and the goals
• And it's the big NPL vs A-League debate: where should young players be aiming to get to?

The Manchester Derby delivered on the drama once again. OlanTekkers and Kat Haddad debate whether Michael Carrick can finally solve Manchester United's post-Ferguson problems, and vent about another VAR controversy after officials admitted a mistake in City's win.

They also check in on two Socceroos flying overseas, with Lucas Harrington helping Hull continue their dream Premier League start and Mohamed Touré's incredible scoring run continuing.

Back home, the NSW NPL Grand Finals delivered drama, stunning goals and massive crowds, sparking a bigger conversation about the role of NPL football in Australia. Are young players better off chasing the A-League pathway or building careers through the NPL? What are the financial realities facing Australian footballers? And are clubs doing enough to benefit from the success of players they develop before they're sold overseas?

Host: OlanTekkers

Host: Kat Haddad

In this episode:

00:00 Manchester Derby Chaos & Michael Carrick's United

03:07 Red Card Controversy Sparks Debate

04:32 VAR Admits Haaland Goal Error

06:11 Hull's Dream Premier League Start

08:51 Mohamed Touré Can't Stop Scoring

11:31 NPL Women's Grand Final Goes to 120 Minutes

14:57 One of the Best NPL Goals You'll Ever See?

16:10 Why Sydney United's Fans Are Different

17:31 NPL vs A-League: Which Means More?

18:20 Is the NPL Australia's Version of the MLS?

19:55 Why Some Players Choose NPL Over A-League

22:06 The NPL Stories We Need More Of

23:50 Are Australian Clubs Missing Out on Transfer Money?

24:25 The MLS Pathway for Young Aussies

25:23 Nestor Irankunda's Transfer Fee Explained

26:12 Did Brisbane Roar Miss Out on Millions?

27:32 How Australian Football Can Benefit from Future Transfers

28:04 Should Young Players Choose the A-League or NPL?

• Follow the Failed Footballer on Instagram: @failedfootballerpod
• Follow Olan on Instagram: @olantekkers
• Follow Olan on TikTok: @olantekkers

The Failed Footballer is an iHeart podcast. Watch, listen and discover more podcasts, playlists and live radio on the FREE iHeart App. Olan may have failed as a footballer. So do 99.9 of players who try and make it, but how many of them can say they got a podcast out of it? Here you'll get unqualified takes from Olan, and expert commentary from football legends who actually made it. All the goals, all the drama, all the ammo for your group chat from football's biggest leagues around the world.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's it like getting to the highest levels of football but then falling back down the pyramid? Alou Kuol went from winning trophies with the Central Coast Mariners and signing for Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart, to the Mariners again, and finally to the NPL. He opens up about the highs of making it in Europe, the setbacks that followed, and what keeps him chasing the top level.

Plus, advice for young players who are trialing at top clubs, life in Germany and how the top-flight in Europe compares to the A-League.

OlanTekkers also breaks down Australia's shock failure to qualify for the U20 2027 Asian Cup, the Aussie stars lighting up Europe, and whether the next generation can take Aussie football forward.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.