It Was What It Was : The Football History Podcast

• From Arteta to Alonso: The Rise of Basque Coaches

  Welcome back to It Was What It Was. Mikel Arteta’s transformation of Arsenal, Unai Emery’s tactical mastery, Xabi Alonso’s meteoric rise at Bayer Leverkusen, and Andoni Iraola’s fearless pressing at AFC Bournemouth all highlight a remarkable trend: A new wave of coaches shaping the modern game, many of them from the Basque Country.But why does this small region produce so many elite managers? Is it the coaching philosophy, the deep footballing culture, or something ingrained in the Basque identity?This is the story of how a new generation of Basque coaches are redefining football.If you’re enjoying the series, please subscribe and consider leaving a five-star review to help others find the show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  --------  

  54:04
• Guardiola: Dominance, Decline and a Post-Pep World?

  Welcome back to It Was What It Was. This week - we discuss the rise of Basque coaching. But we begin not in Bilbao or San Sebastián, but with a Catalan: Pep Guardiola.After revolutionising football with Barcelona, dominating in Germany with Bayern, and redefining the Premier League with Manchester City, Guardiola has become the defining coach of his era. But after a turbulent season at City, questions are emerging: Is this the beginning of the end for his football? Have opponents finally caught up with his ideas? Or does he have another reinvention left?This is the story of how Guardiola reshaped the modern game—and what comes next. Part two, on the Basque coaching revolution, will be released on Friday.If you’re enjoying the series, please subscribe and consider leaving a five-star review to help others find the show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  --------  

  52:04
• The Making of a Football Superpower - Part Three: A New Dawn

  Welcome back to It Was What It Was. This is the story of a new dawn - where one national team took full control of their destiny, cementing a legacy that continues to shape football today.Following their World Cup triumph (in our last part), the U.S. Women's side entered a new era of independence and power - and with it came major shifts. Coach Tony DiCicco became a casualty of the team’s growing influence, making way for fresh leadership and a transformed vision. But tensions were surfacing behind the scenes, with a showdown between star player Brandi Chastain and new coach April Heinrichs...If you’re enjoying the series, please subscribe and consider leaving a five-star review to help others find the show. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  --------  

  47:49
• The Making of a Football Superpower - Part Two: The Arrival

  Welcome back to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast..Approaching the end of the millennium, the U.S. women’s national team had already won a World Cup and Olympic gold, but they were still fighting for mainstream recognition. That all changed when they took centre stage at the 1999 Women’s World Cup.With 90,000 fans packing the Rose Bowl and millions watching around the world, the final against China became a defining moment - not just for the U.S. team, but for women’s football as a whole. Brandi Chastain’s iconic penalty, the sold-out stadiums, and the sheer spectacle of the tournament proved that women’s football wasn’t just growing - it had arrived. This is the story of how the 1999 World Cup reshaped the sport forever.If you’re enjoying the series, please subscribe and leave a five-star review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  --------  

  51:18
• The Making of a Football Superpower - Part One: The Birth of U.S. Women's Soccer

  Welcome back to It Was What It Was, the football history podcast..Despite not playing their first professional match until 1985, the U.S. Women won the inaugural World Cup in 1991. But even as champions, they faced inequality—most notably at the 1996 Olympics, where they were only promised pay if they won gold, while the men earned bonuses for any medal. Tennis icon Billie Jean King stepped in to fight for change.This is the story of how the U.S. women’s team fought for more than just trophies.Part two, covering the iconic 1999 Women’s World Cup, is released on Tuesday. And if you missed our intro episode with USA legend Carli Lloyd earlier this week, go back and check it out. If you’re enjoying the series, please subscribe and leave a five-star review. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  --------  

  57:24

Altri podcast di Sport

Podcast di tendenza in Sport

Su It Was What It Was : The Football History Podcast

It Was What It Was : The Football History Podcast: Podcast correlati