53 Minutes

Global•53-minutes.captivate.fm

Josh Widdicombe and Dara Ó Briain explore the exceptional circumstances that allowed a below average footballer to find his way onto football’s most elite stage, the Premier League. Ali Dia - It's a name synonymous with footballing failure. Whether he’s guilty of a con, a hustle, or simply of being the recipient of a lucky break, Dara and Josh unearth the reality behind the myth that has surrounded his name for the past quarter-century.

Last refreshed: June 28th, 2025 at 9:00 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

1. Who Killed Vine? - Vine: Six Seconds That Changed The World

Launched in 2013 after an early buyout by Twitter, Vine quickly grew into one of the fastest growing platforms on the internet. The app created an entirely new category of online content: short, user-generated videos. It became the home of online creativity, birthed beloved memes and viral trends, and introduced a whole new generation of celebrity: the influencer. So, how did an app that was ten steps ahead die only three years after launch? Credits: Benedict Townsend - Host & Creator Mary G...

Apr 22, 2025•6 min

6. Souness Speaks!

Graeme Souness hasn’t spoken much about bringing Ali Dia to Southampton and putting him on the pitch. In this final episode, he gives an exclusive interview about what really went down when Ali Dia came to town, while Josh and Dara have discovered the latest about Ali himself. If you've enjoyed 53 minutes, please do leave a rating and a review. Don't forget, you can listen to hundreds of other amazing podcasts on Global Player, for free. Download it from the App Store, or head to globalplayer.co...

Apr 22, 2024•35 min•Ep. 6

5. Who IS Ali Dia?

Ali Dia disappeared from the public eye almost as quickly as he appeared in it, and for over a quarter of a century he’s been a footballing recluse. Josh and Dara hear from some of the people who know the most about the man behind the myth. If you're enjoying the series, please do leave a rating and a review. Don't forget, you can listen on Global Player. Download it from the App Store, or head to globalplayer.com

Apr 15, 2024•27 min•Ep. 5

4. The Morning After

Against all odds, Ali Dia has now become a Premier League footballer, if only for a fleeting moment. Questions are being asked about who he is and where he’s come from, and this is where the myth of Ali as 'a hoaxer or a prankster' implodes. If you're enjoying this series, please do leave a rating and a review. Don't forget, you can listen on Global Player. Download it from the App Store, or head to globalplayer.com

Apr 08, 2024•36 min•Ep. 4

3. Matchday

It’s one thing to blag your way into a football club for a trial. It’s something else entirely to find yourself stepping onto the pitch during an actual Premier League match. So what exactly happened in the run-up to Ali Dia making his infamous appearance for Southampton against Leeds in November 1996? Josh and Dara investigate the run-up to matchday. If you like what you hear, please do leave a rating and a review. Don't forget, you can listen on Global Player. Download it from the App Store, o...

Apr 01, 2024•38 min•Ep. 3

2. Secret Agents

The mid-90s were a wild time in football. Regulations were loose, players could still be seen in your local boozer and clubs themselves were easier to access. Josh and Dara explore how these were the perfect conditions for someone purporting to be footballing legend George Weah to phone Southampton and offer them their “cousin” – Ali Dia. If you like what you hear, please do leave a rating and a review. Don't forget, you can listen on Global Player. Download it from the App Store, or head to glo...

Mar 25, 2024•33 min•Ep. 2

1. Hustler, Hoaxer or Hero?

Ali Dia is the Premier League’s most mysterious and misunderstood footballer. But what’s the truth about his infamous appearance for Southampton in November 1996? More than 25 years on, does he deserve his reputation as “the worst Premier League player of all time”? Josh Widdicombe and Dara Ó Briain unpick the truth from the myth. If you like what you hear, please do leave a rating and a review. Don't forget, you can listen on Global Player. Download it from the App Store, or head to globalplaye...

Mar 18, 2024•30 min•Ep. 1

53 Minutes: Kicking Off 19th March

Ali Dia - it's a name synonymous with footballing failure. How did a below average footballer find his way onto the sport's most elite stage, the Premier League? Josh Widdicombe and Dara Ó Briain preview their new 6-part podcast series, in which they unearth the weird and wonderful truth behind the biggest mystery in football history. The series kicks off on Tuesday 19th March.

Mar 11, 2024•3 min

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