The Rest Is Football - podcast cover

The Rest Is Football

Goalhanger
Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, and Micah Richards discuss football's biggest stories. From last-minute winners to transfer sagas, fantasy football gems, and the drama behind the scenes. With strong opinions, brilliant chemistry, and decades of Premier League experience, The Rest Is Football serves up three episodes every week packed with insights, dressing-room stories, and proper laughs. Whether it’s VAR controversies, title races, European nights, or England’s hopes in international tournaments, no topic is off the table. It's the essential podcast for football fans. For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com.
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Episodes

Historic Lamine Yamal Hat-Trick & Champions League Showdowns Revealed

Lamine Yamal became the youngest player this century to score a La Liga hat-trick as Barcelona thumped Villarreal 4-1 to move top of the table. We ask if this Barcelona side now have the momentum to push on. The Champions League draw has served up blockbuster ties: Real Madrid face familiar foes Manchester City, Barcelona take on Newcastle United, and Atletico Madrid travel to Tottenham. A potential all-Spanish quarter-final between Barcelona and Atletico awaits. Elsewhere, Julian Alvarez was At...

Mar 03, 202627 minSeason 3Ep. 116

Title Race Tension & The Premier League’s Falling Standards

Arsenal once again turn to their set-piece strength to edge past Chelsea and stay ahead of Manchester City in the title race. But with their forwards misfiring, can the Gunners really power their way to the Premier League title relying so heavily on dead-ball situations? City, meanwhile, grind out a crucial win over promoted Leeds United to keep the pressure on. Could their big winter signings prove decisive down the stretch? And with 14 wins from 18 league games without Erling Haaland, it raise...

Mar 02, 202654 minSeason 3Ep. 115

A First For Newcastle, “VA F***ing R” & A Bonkers Night In The Champions League

Sixteen games. Sixty-two goals. Two breathless weeks of UEFA Champions League playoff drama. Has Europe’s elite competition ever been this entertaining? And with the away-goals rule gone and a new format delivering chaos, comebacks and late drama... Is this proof that the changes are good for football? On the other hand VAR is back under the spotlight too, after another hugely controversial decision involving Lloyd Kelly and Juventus. What needs to be done at the top to stop referees taking over...

Feb 26, 202654 minSeason 3Ep. 114

David Ginola: The Moments That Made Them

Few players embodied flair, freedom, and pure footballing romance quite like David Ginola. In this episode, we dive into his unforgettable Premier League career, a spell defined by outrageous skill, stunning goals, and a maverick spirit that lit up English football in the 1990s. Curling screamers into the top corner, gliding past defenders, and playing with a freedom that won the hearts of fans all over the country, he delivered some of the Premier League’s most beautiful goals. He had style, sw...

Feb 25, 202622 minSeason 3Ep. 113

Shock Defeat For Real Madrid Hands Top Spot To Barcelona

Real Madrid missed the chance to go five points clear as they fell to a shock 2-1 defeat at Osasuna, their first league loss under Alvaro Arbeloa in six games. We look at an encouraging display from Trent Alexander-Arnold off the bench, Vinicius Jr's continued scoring run, and whether the defending champions can respond after surrendering top spot. Barcelona took full advantage, returning to the top with a convincing 3-0 win over Levante. We discuss Frenkie de Jong's first goal in 13 months and ...

Feb 24, 202630 minSeason 3Ep. 112

Gunners Fire Back, City Keep The Pressure On & Spurs on the Brink?

North London is red. Arsenal F.C. stormed the derby, overwhelming Tottenham Hotspur F.C. in a statement performance that reignites the title charge. The gap stretches back to five points, but with Manchester City F.C. still holding a game in hand, the pressure is far from over. City responded in kind, dispatching Newcastle at the Etihad. If Pep’s side keep stacking wins, will the weight of expectation prove too much for the Gunners? And could it all come down to that blockbuster showdown at the ...

Feb 23, 20261 hr 6 minSeason 3Ep. 111

Title Race Blown Wide Open & A Dark Day In Lisbon

Arsenal made unwanted history this weekend, becoming the first side in Premier League history to surrender a two-goal lead against a team starting the day in the relegation zone. Wolves fought back from 2–0 down to claim a crucial point, a result that has thrown the title race wide open. With Manchester City now just five points behind, with a game in hand, the question has to be asked: do Arsenal have the experience and resilience required to go all the way? Elsewhere in Europe, there were deep...

Feb 19, 202645 minSeason 3Ep. 110

Dennis Bergkamp: The Moments That Made Them

When Dennis Bergkamp arrived at Arsenal in 1995, he didn’t just improve the team, he transformed it. Calm, cerebral and impossibly gifted, Bergkamp became the creative heartbeat of a club on the brink of greatness. From his incredible composure in front of goal to his gravity-defying touch and visionary passing, he redefined what artistry looked like in English football. Gary, Alan & Micah discuss his unforgettable goal against Newcastle, his brilliant hat-trick vs Leicester, and his pivotal...

Feb 18, 202627 minSeason 3Ep. 109

Trent is BACK as Real Madrid hunt down Barca

Trent Alexander-Arnold starred for Real Madrid as he made his return from injury in the 4-1 win over Real Sociedad at the Bernabeu, a win that saw them go top of La Liga at least temporarily. Gary and Alex look at whether he is finally finding his feet in Madrid, the praise he's getting from Alvaro Arbeloa and what that could mean for his chances of making the world cup squad. Atletico Madrid continue to put their fans through it as they followed up a stunning 4-0 win over Barcelona in the Copa ...

Feb 17, 202628 minSeason 3Ep. 108

Mansfield Miracle, Shocking Officiating & Gary and Alan vs Harry Kane

It was a good day for Newcastle as they beat Villa in the 4th Round of the FA Cup, but the headlines were stolen by a staggering display from the officials at Villa Park. With no VAR in operation, the big question is unavoidable: have referees become too reliant on technology? Is VAR the worst thing ever introduced to the game? There was magic in the cup as Mansfield Town stunned Burnley to reach the Fifth Round of the FA Cup for the first time since 1975. The guys question Scott Parker’s decisi...

Feb 16, 202645 minSeason 3Ep. 107

Arsenal Drop Points & Dyche Sacked

The title race takes another twist as Arsenal stumble against Brentford, tightening the gap at the top. Just four points now separate the Gunners and Manchester City with 12 games left to play. Can Arsenal hold their nerve, or will Pep Guardiola’s men pile on the pressure and take control? Elsewhere, Evangelos Marinakis swings the axe again, sacking his third manager of the season in Sean Dyche. Nottingham Forest hover just three points above an in-form West Ham, and the relegation battle is rea...

Feb 13, 202641 minSeason 3Ep. 106

Thomas Frank Sacked

Spurs have sacked Thomas Frank. Tuesday night's defeat to Newcastle leaves them dangerously close to relegation and proved the final straw for the Spurs hierarchy. Gary and Alan assemble to look at where it went wrong for Frank and where Spurs go from here ten days out from the North London Derby against Arsenal. The Rest Is Football is powered by Fuse Energy. To sign up and for terms and conditions, visit fuseenergy.com/football. Join The Players Lounge: The official fantasy football club of Th...

Feb 11, 202619 minSeason 3Ep. 105

Eric Cantona: The Moments That Made Them

Was Manchester United’s signing of Eric Cantona the greatest transfer in Premier League history? What was it about him that earned special treatment from Sir Alex Ferguson? And would a maverick like Cantona survive in today’s game? Gary, Alan and Micah dive into the extraordinary, chaotic and unforgettable career of one of football’s true enigmas. From title-winning brilliance to controversy, bans and that infamous kick, they explore how Cantona changed Manchester United forever. The Rest Is Foo...

Feb 11, 202624 minSeason 3Ep. 104

Rashford Shines As Barca Continue To Lead The Way

Barcelona continue to lead the way at the top of La Liga with a dominant performance in the 3-0 over Mallorca, which featured yet another screamer from Lamine Yamal and an impressive showing from Marcus Rashford. Gary and Alex look at the England forward’s form and his chances of securing a starting berth at the world cup. Real Madrid are just about keeping pace in 2nd place, with a Kylian Mbappe stoppage time goal sealing the points away at troubled Valencia. A game in which the opener was scor...

Feb 10, 202636 minSeason 3Ep. 103

Thriller At Anfield: The Title Race Is Back On

What a game at Anfield as Manchester City come from behind to reignite the Premier League title race. Arsenal still lead the Citizens by six points with 13 games to play, who’s going to win the Premier League? With Manchester United winning four in a row under Michael Carrick and able to focus solely on the league, how far can they climb the table? Could they yet force their way into the race? Gary, Alan and Micah also get stuck into Thomas Tuchel’s growing selection dilemmas. Is Morgan Rogers n...

Feb 09, 202656 minSeason 3Ep. 102

Man City Without Haaland & The “Boring Arsenal” Debate

With Manchester thumping Newcastle at the Etihad and Omar Marmoush getting on the scoresheet again, does Pep have a selection headache on his hands? Especially with Haaland still searching for his first-ever goal at Liverpool. Elsewhere, after a drab semi-final at the Emirates, are Arsenal in danger of becoming boring to watch this season? And more importantly, would their fans even care if it ends with multiple trophies? Gary and Micah also dive into Liam Rosenior’s tactical approach, questioni...

Feb 05, 202634 minSeason 3Ep. 101

Gianfranco Zola: The Moments That Made Them

Where does Gianfranco Zola rank among Chelsea’s greatest-ever Premier League players? How much of his extraordinary technical ability was shaped by learning alongside the great Diego Maradona at Napoli? Gary, Alan and Micah look back on the career of the “Little Master” Gianfranco Zola — from being one of the finest foreign imports to grace the Premier League in the 1990s, to laying the foundations for Chelsea’s rise into a dominant force under Roman Abramovich and José Mourinho in the 2000s. Th...

Feb 04, 202620 minSeason 3Ep. 100

Stagnant Real Madrid Bailed Out By Mbappe Again

Real Madrid kept up their pursuit of league leaders Barcelona but only just, needing a 100th minute penalty from Kylian Mbappe to spare their blushes at home to Rayo Vallecano, in a match which saw Vinicius Jr booed despite scoring a worldie and Jude Bellingham leaving the pitch in tears clutching his hamstring. Gary and Alex look at why the atmosphere continues to be so fractious at the Bernabeu. Barcelona kept themselves ahead of the rest with a 3-1 away at Elche in a game in which they spurne...

Feb 03, 202633 minSeason 3Ep. 99

Ekitike Shines, Carrick Keeps Winning & Man City Drop Points Again

After standout performances from Hugo Ekitike and Florian Wirtz, are Liverpool’s new signings finally starting to click under Arne Slot? Michael Carrick joins Sir Matt Busby and Ole Gunnar Solskjær as the only United managers to win four of their first five league games — could he force the board’s hand and earn the permanent head coach role by season’s end? The Guys also break down another frustrating result for Manchester City away at Spurs. Despite looking in control at half-time, City once a...

Feb 02, 20261 hr 3 minSeason 3Ep. 98

English Clubs Dominate Europe

Five of the six English clubs have finished in the top eight of the Champions League league phase, automatically qualifying for the knockout rounds. With many of those same teams struggling domestically this season, why have they been so strong in Europe? Is the physical intensity of the Premier League giving them an edge on the continental stage? Gary, Alan and Micah also react to a chaotic final day of the league phase, as European heavyweights including Real Madrid and PSG fail to secure auto...

Jan 29, 202649 minSeason 3Ep. 97

Sergio Aguero: The Moments That Made Them

Was Sergio Aguero’s dramatic winner against QPR the most iconic moment in Premier League history? Where does he rank on the all-time list of Premier League number 9s? And how much of his success can actually be credited to Big Meeks? Gary, Alan & Micah discuss the glittering career of Manchester City’s all time leading goal scorer. The Rest Is Football is powered by Fuse Energy. To sign up and for terms and conditions, visit fuseenergy.com/football. Join The Players Lounge: The official fant...

Jan 28, 202628 minSeason 3Ep. 96

TRENT AND JULIAN ALVAREZ BACK TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE?

It’s neck and neck at the top of La Liga as Real Madrid kept up the pressure on leaders Barcelona with a 2-0 win away at third placed Villarreal while Barca put last week’s slip up behind them with a 3-0 win over Real Oviedo at the Camp Nou. Gary and Alex look at another two goals for the rampant Kylian Mbappe, including a panenka penalty he awkwardly dedicated to teammate Brahim Diaz, and there’s an absolute stunner from Lamine Yamal to enjoy too. It’s transfer season and rumours have begun to ...

Jan 27, 202639 minSeason 3Ep. 95

Squeaky Arse-nal Time, Carrick In Dreamland & Villa in The Title Race

Are Mikel Arteta’s tactics becoming too defensive? With no wins in their last three games and a worrying lack of goals from the forward line, are Arsenal in danger of throwing away their Premier League advantage? Michael Carrick has made a dream start, claiming statement wins over Manchester City and Arsenal. Can he guide Manchester United into the Champions League places — and does he deserve the permanent head coach role? Gary, Alan and Micah also break down Unai Emery’s brilliant tactics and ...

Jan 26, 20261 hrSeason 3Ep. 94

Pep Needs To Sort It Out

How on earth did Man City lose to Bodo/Glimt and what does Pep need to do to get his team going again? Arsenal are top of the Champions League and looking imperious, is this the year they win it all? Newcastle looked impressive at home to PSV but how will they fare in Paris next week as they look to clinch a top 8 spot against PSG? Have Liverpool quietly turned a corner in recent weeks? Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss the continued overall dominance of the Premier League clubs in Europe as all...

Jan 22, 202644 minSeason 3Ep. 91

Steven Gerrard: The Moments That Made Them

Was Steven Gerrard the greatest player never to win the Premier League? Did loyalty to Liverpool ultimately limit his legacy, or define it? And when it comes to England’s golden generation, who truly stands above the rest: Gerrard, Lampard or Scholes? Gary, Micah and Alan discuss the remarkable career of Liverpool royalty Steven Gerrard. They revisit the highest of highs, lifting the Champions League in Istanbul, and the most painful of lows: the infamous slip that shattered title dreams. New ep...

Jan 21, 202628 minSeason 3Ep. 92

Vinicius, Bellingham and Valverde booed at the Bernabeu & Barca suffer defeat

Real Madrid returned to winning ways at the weekend when they beat Levante 2-0 but the Bernabeu crowd singled out Vinicius Jr, Jude Bellingham and Fede Valverde for boos and whistles as they continued to express their displeasure at Xabi Alonso’s sacking. Gary And Alex react to the scenes in Madrid and the challenges facing new manager Alvaro Arbeloa. Barcelona’s nine-game winning streak came to an end with defeat at Real Sociedad in an incident-packed game featuring disallowed goals, overturned...

Jan 20, 202631 minSeason 3Ep. 91

Man Utd Dominate Man City, Frank’s Struggles Continue At Spurs & Glasner Feeling Abandoned At Palace

Was that the best Man United performance we’ve seen in years? Can Thomas Frank get Spurs out of this rut, or is he on borrowed time? What next for Crystal Palace after Oliver Glasner announces he’s leaving at the end of end of the season and captain Marc Guéhi leaves for Man City? Gary, Alan and Micah also discuss Liverpool’s 12-game unbeaten run and debate whether it’s one of the most misleading unbeaten runs in Premier League history, as rumblings of discontent grow on Merseyside. The Rest Is ...

Jan 19, 202654 minSeason 3Ep. 90

Mid-Season Report: All 20 Clubs

Will Arsenal finally go all the way and win the Premier League? Have West Ham, Burnley and Wolves got any chance of staying up? Which club has been the biggest surprise of the season so far? Gary, Alan & Micah look back at their pre-season predictions, assess just how right, or wrong, they’ve been, and predict where all 20 Premier League clubs will finish when the season comes to an end. The Rest Is Football is powered by Fuse Energy. To sign up and for terms and conditions, visit fuseenergy...

Jan 16, 202649 minSeason 3Ep. 89

David Beckham: The Moments That Made Them

Was David Beckham underrated during his playing career? What was it that allowed him to transcend football and become a global icon? And why did his relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson ultimately break down? Gary, Alan and Micah dive into David Beckham’s remarkable Premier League journey with Manchester United, from baby-faced youngster to global superstar, analysing his impact on the pitch, his influence off it, and the legacy he left on the game. New episodes in this series will be released ev...

Jan 14, 202627 minSeason 3Ep. 88

Xabi Alonso Sacked After Barcelona Win Super Cup

Real Madrid have made a shock managerial change, sacking Xabi Alonso and confirming Álvaro Arbeloa as his successor. Gary and Alex react to the decision and what it means for Madrid’s future. The fallout continues after Barcelona emerged victorious in one of the great Clásicos, defeating Real Madrid to lift the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia. Vinícius Jr’s sensational solo effort for Los Blancos proved in vain, as Raphinha stole the headlines with a superb brace for Barça. The pair also heap ...

Jan 13, 202639 minSeason 3Ep. 87
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