Two more weeks until the show returns so here is another Q&A from the Patreon vaults. Gary and Martyn deal with cult heroes, Everton in the European Cup, which English player would have benefitted most from a move abroad, whether Martyn can say anything nice about Celtic and much more! If you want weekly exclusive bonus shows, want your episodes without ads and a couple of days earlier or just want to support the podcast, then head over to patreon.com/NessunDormaPodcast where you can subscri...
Aug 15, 2025•1 hr 3 min
The main show is still on holiday so here are some more questions from our excellent Patrons. Mike and Rob join Martyn for this one in February this year and the questions include: How was football consumed between 1988 and 1995? Which of Fergie's Cup Winners' Cup triumphs was the most unlikely? What were the great nearly matches in footballing history? Where did 'crack' Eastern European side come from? And a lot more! If you want weekly exclusive bonus shows, want your episodes without ads and ...
Aug 08, 2025•53 min
With the regular show on a short summer hiatus until later in the month, we will share some of the excellent questions that our Patrons have been asking us since we started there last year. Best uncapped England players of the 80s and 90s, the binning of the Cup Winners' Cup, Fulham's impact on the English game, the most quintessential live tv match of the 80s and a lot more. This episode was first aired on Patreon on 15 Oct 2024. If you want weekly exclusive bonus shows, want your episodes with...
Aug 01, 2025•1 hr 23 min
It is Gary's turn to change one moment in tournament history and run us through the consequences. This time it is the Dutch penalty against Scotland - slightly soft and against the run of play - that is removed from time. Could Ally's Army actually march far? Would Scottish football fans ever be allowed to be optimistic about anything ever again? Have a listen and let us know what you think! If you want weekly exclusive bonus shows, want your episodes without ads and a couple of days earlier or ...
Jul 25, 2025•55 min
England didn't have the best squad of the 1998 World Cup. Not even in the top four. And yet, it isn't always that simple. Martyn lays out his case to Rob that this was an underrated lost opportunity for England and it had nothing to do with the Argentina game. And we also missed out on one of the best World Cup semi-finals of all time. If you want weekly exclusive bonus shows, want your episodes without ads and a couple of days earlier or just want to support the podcast, then head over to patre...
Jul 18, 2025•54 min
The 1990 World Cup is one that we know so well that we can almost say for sure where we were when we watched every game. But what if one moment was changed? What if Nery Pumpido had managed to smother François Omam-Biyik's header in the San Siro? Would we have had a better football tournament as a result? Rob and Martyn enjoy some counterfactual history by changing one goal and seeing what would happen as a result. If you want weekly exclusive bonus shows, want your episodes without ads and a co...
Jul 11, 2025•59 min
As a one-off summer treat we are making our weekly Patreon show open to all. This Week is available every Monday morning and has two Nessun Dorma regulars picking out seven stories from football history that coincide with the coming seven dates in the week. Rob and Martyn have plenty to work with this week and they reflect upon three World Cup Finals, three semi finals and two massive signings. 7 July 8 July 9 July 10 July 11 July 12 July 13 July If you want to hear this every Monday morning, wa...
Jul 07, 2025•1 hr 4 min
And so it is time to bid adieu to Euro '84 as France and Spain meet in the final and so much of Europe craving a home victory for the good of the game. Martyn, Aidan and Jonathan look at a final ruined by nerves, assess the tournament's legacy, where Platini's individual performance sits among the greats and put together their best XI of the Championship. If you want weekly exclusive bonus shows, want your episodes without ads and a couple of days earlier or just want to support the podcast, the...
Jul 04, 2025•1 hr 34 min
After the European football public had caught their breath following the first semi final, most assumed that the finale itself had the potential to be the best of all. Denmark were strong favourites to beat Spain - who were extremely fortunate to still be active in the competition - and set up a beautiful footballing conclusion to an enjoyable tournament. However, many Spanish players believed that luck was with them. Something that can take teams a long way in these things... Rob is with Martyn...
Jun 27, 2025•1 hr 15 min
Aidan Williams and Jonathan O'Brien return to luxuriate in perhaps the greatest European Championship match of all time. With time ticking by, it felt like it was all going wrong again for France, destined forever to come up short at the big events. Within five minutes, the entire narrative was changed. If you want weekly exclusive bonus shows, want your episodes without ads and a couple of days earlier or just want to support the podcast, then head over to patreon.com/NessunDormaPodcast where y...
Jun 20, 2025•1 hr 12 min
"The German monster has survived too long" opined Le Soir on 21 June 1984. And that was one of the more sober conclusions. After the way France's World Cup had ended, schadenfreude was not in short supply when the reigning European Champions went home before the real action started. It was also one of the two games that was shown live in the UK. Jonathan O'Brien joins Martyn to make sense of Group 2 with a surprise Iberian challenge and a disappointingly restrictive Romania. If you want weekly e...
Jun 13, 2025•55 min
If the host nation were nervy in that opening night in Paris, they quickly shrugged it off throughout the rest of Group 1. Platini's seven goals in three games, the young promise of Scifo and Stojković, the shackles around the Romanians and the disgrace that derailed Belgium give Martyn and Aidan Williams lots to talk about in a group that produced 23 goals. If you want weekly exclusive bonus shows, want your episodes without ads and a couple of days earlier or just want to support the podcast, ...
Jun 06, 2025•1 hr 32 min
Martyn, Rob and Aidan are back to finish off this memorable qualifying story. Italy were seemingly on a post-World Cup gap year, Northern Ireland managed to beat West Germany home and away and still finish second - a tale of glorious failure that would become more familiar for some home nations - and the Netherlands were booking their hotel after setting Spain the task of winning their final game by 11 clear goals... If you want weekly exclusive bonus shows, want your episodes without ads and a ...
May 30, 2025•1 hr 12 min
It is tournament time again in the Nessun Dorma marathon and this time we revisit one that was, in the words of one writer, 'the greatest tournament you never saw'. That writer was Aidan Williams and he joins Rob and Martyn in the first of two parts that tell the remarkable story of qualification for Euro '84, a tale that is almost as dramatic as the Finals themselves. If you want weekly exclusive bonus shows, want your episodes without ads and a couple of days earlier or just want to support th...
May 23, 2025•53 min
Never before or since, has one league been as strong throughout European football. Author and friend of the show, Dominic Hougham joins Martyn to talk about his upcoming new book charting the years between 1988/89 and 1998/99 when Serie A bestrode the continent like a colossus. Owners were as famous as the galaxy of star managers and players as mega clubs and those more provincial managed to get their hands on European prizes and this book takes us through how it happened and, mainly through Cha...
May 16, 2025•1 hr 16 min
With season 1983/84 all done and dusted, it is time to take a sporting break as the excellent writer David Goldblatt joins Martyn to discuss that summer's Olympic Games. The epitome of an increasingly commercialised sporting world, these Games made money like never before. David takes us through just how they did, why it will never happen again, the difficulty that the USA had in taking Carl Lewis to their heart and no tears for Zola Budd. If you want weekly exclusive bonus shows, want your epis...
May 09, 2025•50 min
Mac and Gary are suited and booted and ready to return to Wembley as they revisit the day that their respective sides went head-to-head in the FA Cup Final. Questionable pre-match entertainment, the coming of age of young and exciting side and a controversial decider. What a way to round off the season! If you want weekly exclusive bonus shows, want your episodes without ads and a couple of days earlier or just want to support the podcast, then head over to patreon.com/NessunDormaPodcast where y...
May 02, 2025•1 hr 28 min
Gary carries his title into an action-packed Olympic year with plenty for him, Mike and Mac to choose from. Two Olympic games, one international tournament, some legends enhancing their reputations while others were just emerging alongside some controversy on the track and a rocket man over the stands. But who will be able to convince Martyn that they have best captured the sporting year of 1984? If you want weekly exclusive bonus shows, want your episodes without ads and a couple of days earlie...
Apr 28, 2025•1 hr 14 min
With Europe firmly in the grip of English dominance, it was the turn of one of the country's best cup teams to step up. Gareth Dace, historian of Tottenham Hotspur in the 1980s and 1990s, joins Martyn this week to take us through the UEFA Cup winning run of 1983/84. Battle-hardened by narrow exits to Barcelona and Bayern Munich in recent seasons, it was a squad ready to go all the way. If you want weekly exclusive bonus shows, want your episodes without ads and a couple of days earlier or just w...
Apr 25, 2025•1 hr 15 min
It was another season of domestic dominance for Liverpool but after two consecutive disappointments beyond the Iron Curtain, it was time to regain their European crown. Tony Evans returns to discuss the Souness farewell tour, mental strength, Joe Fagan, Roma fans and much more. If you want weekly exclusive bonus shows, want your episodes without ads and a couple of days earlier or just want to support the podcast, then head over to patreon.com/NessunDormaPodcast where you can subscribe for only ...
Apr 18, 2025•1 hr 36 min•Season 11Ep. 4
We move from the pitch to the boardroom this week as football finance expert Kieran Maguire joins Martyn to reflect upon Tottenham Hotspur's decision to become the first football club to float on the stock exchange in 1983. How much of an impact did it have on the wider game, the influence of Irving Scholar and the catalyst to further commercialisation are all on the agenda. If you want weekly exclusive bonus shows, want your episodes without ads and a couple of days earlier or just want to supp...
Apr 11, 2025•40 min•Season 11Ep. 3
Rob and Martyn bring you a bumper episode this week as they relive the events of one of British football's most remarkable days. On the morning of Wednesday 25 April 1984 there was a chance that all six of Europe's finalists that season would be British. Intrigue, corruption, class and heartbreak all feature as we run down the day and night as it unfolded in Rome, Bucharest, Brussels, Turin, Aberdeen and north London. Was this as good as it got for the British club game? If you want some exclusi...
Apr 04, 2025•1 hr 59 min•Season 11Ep. 2
Gary and Mac join Martyn to kick off our 1983/84 series with a roundtable discussion on the First Division season. Three in a row for Liverpool, a surprise runner-up, the one that got away from Big Ron, three Scottish strikers having varying impacts at their new clubs, how Venables became El Tel and much more! If you want some exclusive bonus shows, want your episodes without ads and a couple of days earlier or just want to support the podcast, then head over to patreon.com/NessunDormaPodcast wh...
Mar 28, 2025•1 hr 23 min•Season 11Ep. 1
As we have a break in between seasons, Martyn sits down with the football writer Chris Evans to chat about his current book, a biography of one of English football's most revered sons. They discuss the extent to which Lineker evolved as a player, how difficult it was to hold onto that England role, how forgotten so much of his playing career is and his next career move onto our screens. Gary Lineker: A Portrait of a Football Icon is available now here. If you want to support the podcast or want ...
Mar 14, 2025•1 hr 8 min
It is Draft time again as our valiant trio fight it out in the sporting year of 1983. From Seve Ballesteros and Carl Lewis to Marjolein Eijsvogel and Keith Deller, we've got you covered. But who won it for you? If you want to support the podcast or want your episodes without ads and a couple of days earlier then head over to patreon.com/NessunDormaPodcast where you can subscribe for only $3.99 a month. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Mar 10, 2025•53 min•Season 10Ep. 8
We finish our six part look at 1982/83 with a look back at the career of one of English football's greatest managers as Bob Paisley left Anfield with the League Championship trophy in his hand. Tony Evans joins Martyn to examine just how he and the famous Boot Room worked, how football management has changed in the last 40 years and where Paisley's legacy is now, both within the Liverpool support and the wider footballing world. If you want to support the podcast or want your episodes without ad...
Mar 07, 2025•55 min•Season 10Ep. 7
With the European Cup approaching its 50th anniversary, there were still some members of the footballing aristocracy who were aching to join the ranks of champions. Juventus were Italy's team but still lagged behind the Milanese giants when it came to continental dominance. In their way in 1983 was an ambitious German club with a sharp general manager, a wily old coach and a superbly balanced side who wanted it for themselves. Rob and Martyn tell the story of their triumph, Juve's neuroses and a...
Feb 28, 2025•1 hr 17 min•Season 10Ep. 6
All the focus this week is on the unlikely footballing counties of Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire as Mac Millings takes us back to the season when his footballing horizons were opened up. Newly promoted the season before, both Watford and Luton Town had memorable seasons in the top flight with Watford shooting themselves to second place to the annoyance of the literati and Luton staying up on the final day, David Pleat's dance and all. If you want to support the podcast or want your episodes wit...
Feb 21, 2025•1 hr 18 min•Season 10Ep. 5
Forget local derbies. Forget even the 'Derby of England'. Arguably the most compelling story of rivalry, bitterness and drama in the modern era of English football has been that between Manchester United and Arsenal. It would reach its peak in the Wenger era but Rob Smyth takes us back to the season of five games that sparked it all off... If you want to support the podcast or want your episodes without ads and a couple of days earlier then head over to patreon.com/NessunDormaPodcast where you c...
Feb 14, 2025•49 min•Season 10Ep. 4
Mike, Gary and Mac are back to provide a little sporting palate cleanser in the middle of our footballing feast. What was the biggest surprise in the world of sport in 1982? What was the most defining minute of action? Who were the standout individuals and which was the best team? Martyn is on hand to award points for argument as the boys compete to find the strongest sporting picture of 1982 under the pressure of the draft. ***If you want to support the podcast or want your episodes without ads...
Feb 10, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Season 10Ep. 3
