Heroes & Humans of Football

How did a pizza waiter from Haarlem become one of football's most influential figures? This is the story of Mino Raiola, the super-agent who transformed the football transfer market, and his successor, Rafaela Pimenta. In this episode, Simon and Mehreen explore the extraordinary career of Mino Raiola and his business partner, Rafaela Pimenta. From his early days working in his family's pizzeria to becoming the agent for stars like Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba, and Erling Haaland, this is the tale of how an outsider revolutionised football's transfer market through wit, work ethic, and an uncanny ability to see where the game was heading. This episode reveals how Raiola's pizzeria mentality of personal service shaped his approach to representing players, his complex relationship with football's establishment, and how he built the most powerful agency in modern football. Time stamps: 0:00: Introduction and background 03:40: Early life in Haarlem and the family pizzeria 08:22: Entry into football and first deals 15:44: Meeting Zlatan Ibrahimovic 21:33: Partnership with Rafaela Pimenta 27:16: Building the perfect agency 34:55: The Pogba transfer saga 42:18: Managing player careers and investments 48:37: Battles with clubs and FIFA 54:29: Legacy and influence on modern football 59:13: Rafaela Pimenta takes the reins 1:05:42: The future of football agencies 1:11:27: Final thoughts on Raiola's impact Follow @heroesandhumans everywhere. Instagram TikTok Facebook X Visit our website for news & updates heroesandhumans.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1914, 110 years ago exactly, British and German troops came up from the trenches to meet in no man’s land and play football. This remarkable event, known as the Christmas Truce, is the subject of today’s special episode. Instead of focusing on one hero, human, or villain, this Christmas episode examines the humanity behind war, discussing how football has united people across languages, cultures, and history.  Simon and Mehreen delve deep into the story of World War I and beyond. They track the history of this poignant event, discussing its impact on Adolf Hitler (spoiler: he didn’t want to talk about it), the rise and suppression of women’s football, and discussing the event against wars and conflicts of today. This poignant, moving episode is ideal listening for football and history lovers alike and signals the start of Heroes & Humans’ Christmas break. Thank you for listening to our episodes in 2024. It's been a true pleasure to see how football has united so many listeners across the globe. Time stamps: 0:43: Setting the scene, 1914 6:30: Christmas Eve, 1914 11:25: How football united the warring sides 17:47: Was there just one Christmas truce match? 22:50: Were there any more sporting truces? 27:31: A gender revolution and the early rise of women’s football 31:05: Battle of the Somme and the end of the Great War 37:30: The legacy of the First World War, 110 years later 41:42: Reflections on today’s wars and conflicts (e.g., Russia-Ukraine) Like this episode? Make sure to vote for Heroes & Humans of Football at the Sports Podcast Awards: https://bit.ly/4fkQ8uA  Join the Heroes and Humans Supporters Club! Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and can’t wait for the next episode? Why not become part of our exclusive community and get even closer to the action? By joining our official H&H Supporters Club on Patreon, you’ll unlock access to behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, bonus content, and special Q&A sessions with your hosts, Mehreen and Simon. Whether you're looking for deeper insights into football’s biggest personalities or just can’t wait for the next episode, we’ve got something for you. Don’t miss out! Support us and get more from your favourite podcast. Join us today at patreon.com/heroesandhumans Follow @heroesandhumans everywhere. Instagram TikTok Facebook X Visit our website for news & updates heroesandhumans.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

12 July 1998, Paris. It’s the FIFA World Cup – France vs. Brazil. Brazil has the unstoppable Ronaldo (O Fenômeno – the Phenomenon) on their side, and crowds are expecting a Brazilian win.  Suddenly before the match, it’s announced Ronaldo isn’t going to play. Then, suddenly, he is. Nations watch, confused, as Brazil’s best player wanders the pitch like a sleepwalker with glazed eyes, and witness Brazil’s defeat of 3-0. So what actually happened? In this podcast episode, Mehreen and Simon tackle the conspiracy theories, mysteries, and intrigue leading up to the memorable FIFA World Cup of 1998. They track Ronaldo’s early life in Brazil, his time at PSV Eindhoven, and the footballer’s incredible rise to dominance, with stats aged 20 better than Pelé. Ronaldo R9, a cult icon, captured the world’s attention in the 1990s by aggressively dominating the pitch. Did he have a panic attack or fit before the game? Was he drugged to ensure a French win? Was he a pawn of Nike, who had an unusual amount of control over the Brazilian team? This is an episode for mystery lovers, true crime lovers, and football fans alike.  Time stamps: 0:36: Setting the scene: The day of the ‘98 World Cup Final 7:15: Ronaldo’s stats and playing career 12:34: Teen years and move to the Netherlands 22:14: Joining and leaving Barça 27:16: World Cup time 34:10: Brazil reaches the final  39:18: Conspiracy theories go wild 46:33: Parliamentary enquiry, and a potential epileptic fit 54:03: More conspiracy theories (there’s a lot) 1:00:05: Is the simplest theory the correct one? 1:00:07: Ronaldo’s career, 1998-2002 1:12:48: Later life and children (and why McDonald’s is so important) 1:16:21: Ronaldo R9’s legacy and influence Like this episode? Make sure to vote for Heroes & Humans of Football at the Sports Podcast Awards https://bit.ly/4fkQ8uA  Join the Heroes and Humans Supporters Club! Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and can’t wait for the next episode? Why not become part of our exclusive community and get even closer to the action? By joining our official H&H Supporters Club on Patreon, you’ll unlock access to behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, bonus content, and special Q&A sessions with your hosts, Mehreen and Simon. Whether you're looking for deeper insights into football’s biggest personalities or just can’t wait for the next episode, we’ve got something for you. Don’t miss out! Support us and get more from your favourite podcast. Join us today at patreon.com/heroesandhumans Follow @heroesandhumans everywhere. Instagram TikTok Facebook X Visit our website for news & updates heroesandhumans.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our first-ever live show, recorded at the Kilkenomics Economics & Comedy Festival in Kilkenny, Ireland.  The sold-out event saw Simon and Mehreen take to the stage, discussing all things football with the prize-winning author Roddy Doyle. Die-hard Chelsea fan Doyle spoke with H&H for over an hour, where they discussed topics such as: Doyle's lifelong connection to Chelsea Football Club, its fan base, and Mehreen's experiences as a British Asian Chelsea fan The role of football in Irish identity and culture—from traditionally supporting English cups to the legacy of the 1990 World Cup The globalisation of football and the universality of football fandoms—the 'dark joy' of critique and how adversity creates deeper connections in the community  The legacy of Roy Keane Join the Heroes and Humans Supporters Club! Are you a fan of Heroes and Humans and can’t wait for the next episode? Why not become part of our exclusive community and get even closer to the action? By joining our official H&H Supporters Club on Patreon, you’ll unlock access to behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, bonus content, and special Q&A sessions with your hosts, Mehreen and Simon. Whether you're looking for deeper insights into football’s biggest personalities or just can’t wait for the next episode, we’ve got something for you. Don’t miss out! Support us and get more from your favourite podcast. Join us today at patreon.com/heroesandhumans Follow @heroesandhumans everywhere. Instagram TikTok Facebook X Visit our website for news & updates heroesandhumans.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices