Six men who changed the world of football.

In this episode of Footy Past Stories, we select the greatest African legends – players who transcended the sport and became icons of entire nations.

From Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Egypt and Liberia came stories that go far beyond goals and trophies. Stories of courage, character, and astonishing journeys from poverty all the way to the top of world football.

In this episode, you’ll hear:
• how Didier Drogba helped stop a civil war
• why Samuel Eto’o became a symbol of the fight against racism
• how George Weah became Africa’s only Ballon d’Or winner
• why Roger Milla stunned the World Cup at the age of 42
• how Yaya Touré transformed the role of the midfielder
• why Mohamed Salah is one of the greatest icons of the Arab world

This is the story of a continent that poured emotion into football — and gave the world players who will never be forgotten.

Listen to the premium episode about George Weah now on Patreon!

🎧 Footy Past Stories – the podcast where football history comes alive. New free episodes every week, plus premium content.

Listen to the premium episode on Patreon!

An event that changed football’s rules forever — and destroyed the life of the man who set the revolution in motion.

Jean-Marc Bosman was an average player, yet today his name is known across the entire football world. He spent five years in court fighting his own club and UEFA, risking his career and his future — and in theend, he won. Exactly thirty years ago, a verdict was delivered that opened the door to freedom for players, billions in business for clubs, and transfer fees that skyrocketed into the stratosphere.

But while football earned billions, Bosman lost everything.
His money, his family, his career.

“The Bosman ruling helped everyone but me,” he later said.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• why players were under the full control of their clubs even after their contracts expired

• how one man managed to shake a system that once seemed unbreakable

• how the birth of the Bosman rule led to record transfers, from Davids to Neymar

• why this story began as an act of courage — and ended as a personal tragedy

🎧 Footy Past Stories — a podcast where football history comes alive. New free episodes every week and premium content on Patreon.

Listen to the premium episode on Patreon!

They were among the most talented footballers of their generation.

On the pitch they shone and thrilled fans around the world – but off it, they vanished into bars, clubs, and endless parties. They wasted a talent most players could only dream of.

The third episode of Footy Past Stories brings the tales of five football legends united by one thing – incredible talent and self-destruction.

Diego Maradona. Paul Gascoigne. George Best. Garrincha. Ronaldinho. Five football geniuses who lost their most important match – the one against themselves.

You’ll hear how they battled cocaine, drank even on match days, became symbols of fame and loneliness, faded away in illness and poverty, and lost the glory they once owned.

🎧 Footy Past Stories – the podcast where football history comes alive. New free episodes every week, plus premium ones with extended stories, archive recordings, and authentic voices. Available in four languages – Czech, English, German, and Spanish – for everyone who loves football history and the stories of its legends.