Playmaker

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Chloe Beresford and Andrew Butler continue to reflect on the 2021/2022 season. In this final episode of the Playmaker they discuss club ownership, diversity in football and the overall state of English football. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Chloe Beresford and Andrew Butler reflect on the 2021/2022 season. In part one they discuss the return of fans to stadiums after Covid restrictions, preparations for the Qatar World Cup and the state of the women's game. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

17-year-old Jake Daniels has become the first male footballer in the UK to come out as gay in 32 years. So how has the journey to get here taken so long? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Seven years ago, neither of Milan’s clubs made the top four in Italian football. Now, they’re vying for the Serie A title. How have the good times returned to the city? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yasir Sufi is the award-winning integration and development manager at Blackburn Rovers. His work is making a huge difference to a town where racial disparities have been a problem for decades. How has he done it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Diego Maradona’s infamous ‘Hand of God’ shirt has sold for over £7million – and in the process has made former England midfielder Steve Hodge incredibly rich. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Angel City FC sold out its first ever match in the US National Women’s Soccer League. But it aims to be more than just a success on the pitch, thanks to its star-studded backers like tennis veteran Billie-Jean King. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Athletic Bilbao forward Iñaki Williams has set the standard for playing time in Spain, having played more consecutive matches than any other player in history. What’s his secret? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jorginho was Chelsea’s star penalty taker. But recently he hasn’t been able to convert. What happened to the penalty king? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Football is awash with stories that describe one player’s improbable rise through the ranks to sporting fame. But none quite come close to Moustapha Cisse’s rise. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bury FC have been bought out of administration three years after their league expulsion. But the hard work in starting again has more hurdles than you might think. The Playmaker from Tortoise - one story every day to make sense of the beautiful game. Tortoise is a news start-up devoted to slow journalism. We take news slowly. We tell stories that really matter, and take time to see the full picture. If you want more slow and considered journalism, you can become a member of Tortoise and get access to more of our stories, contribute to our journalism and join us at events in our newsroom, in person and online. Just go to tortoisemedia.com/friend and use the code Chloe50 for membership for just £50 per year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Reports suggest that Paul Pogba will leave Manchester United this summer. He’s often been an unpopular figure at Old Trafford, but has he really been as much of a failure as people say? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Newcastle looked doomed to almost certain relegation when Eddie Howe took over in November. But in the end they achieved safety with games to spare. How has he done it? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The worlds of football, cryptocurrencies and their associated industries have collided more this season than ever before. What can we expect in the future from these fledgling businesses? Listen to The Backstory here: torto.se/3xVAYcX Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This season has seen the emergence of NFTs and other crypto products in the world of football. So where do clubs and the wider game go next in these markets? The Playmaker from Tortoise – one story every day to make sense of the beautiful game. Tortoise is a news start-up devoted to slow journalism. We take news slowly. We tell stories that really matter, and take time to see the full picture. If you want more slow and considered journalism, you can become a member of Tortoise and get access to more of our stories, contribute to our journalism and join us at events in our newsroom, in person and online. Just go to tortoisemedia.com/friend and use the code Chloe50 for membership for just £50 per year. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Manchester City and Liverpool have been dominating the Premier League for the last few years. Is this fixture becoming England’s El Clasico? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Unpopular owner Abdullah Lemsagam has seen his club Oldham relegated out of the football league for the first time in their history. Can they find their way back? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Erik Ten Hag will be the Manchester United manager from next season. But if the team needs “open heart surgery,” will he be given the space he needs to complete the job? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Karren Brady has paved the way for women in leadership roles in football. But 30 years after she took over at Birmingham City, why are there still only a small percentage of women in roles like hers? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.