The Football History Boys

• Ep 5 - John Charles

  In this episode of How Good Were They?, we dive into the remarkable and often underappreciated career of John Charles — the Welsh icon known as The Gentle Giant. From his goal-scoring brilliance at Leeds United to his legendary status at Juventus, Charles was one of the rare players to excel as both a centre-forward and a centre-half. Voted Juventus’ greatest-ever foreign player and included revered by Pele, Charles is a name that deserves to be remembered — but is often overlooked.We cover his unique playing style, extraordinary discipline (never booked!), and his lasting legacy in both English and Italian football. Plus: three curveballs that make us re-evaluate how his story is told. Was he a victim of football’s pre-TV era? Would he be recognised as an all-time great in today’s game?Hit play to find out: How good was John Charles, really?Keywords:John Charles podcast, Leeds United legend, Juventus history, Welsh football greats, FIFA 100 players, football GOATs, 1950s football, dual-position footballers, underrated footballers, Serie A history, football nostalgiaHashtags:#JohnCharles #FootballPodcast #LeedsUnited #Juventus #WalesFootball #GOATDebate #FIFA100 #FootballLegends #SerieAHistory #HowGoodWereThey

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• Ep 4 - Ferenc Puskas

  🎙️ How Good Were They? – Episode 4: Ferenc PuskásIn this episode, we explore the legendary career of Ferenc Puskás, the Hungarian icon whose name still defines goal-scoring greatness. From his early dominance at Budapest Honvéd to his stunning comeback with Real Madrid, Puskás racked up over 700 career goals and became one of football’s most influential figures.We take you through his rise with Hungary’s Mighty Magyars, his iconic performance in the “Match of the Century” against England, and his remarkable late-career success in Spain — including four goals in a European Cup final. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing: exile from Hungary, a lost World Cup final, and years out of the game raise key curveball questions about how we measure his greatness.Was he a stat-padder? Was his legend inflated by nostalgia? Or was he simply one of the most complete attackers in football history?Packed with historical insight, legendary quotes, fan opinions, and a legacy that lives on in the FIFA Puskás Award, this is the definitive verdict on one of the game’s true icons.✅ Keywords: Ferenc Puskás, Puskas Award, Real Madrid legends, Hungary golden team, greatest footballers, football history podcast, European Cup, Zico, Di Stéfano, classic goals#Puskas #FerencPuskas #RealMadrid #MightyMagyars #FootballLegends #HowGoodWereThey #FootballPodcast #WorldCupHistory #GOATdebate

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• Ep 3 - Brazil 1982

  In this episode, we explore one of football’s most beloved yet bittersweet stories — the legendary Brazil 1982 World Cup squad. Led by Telê Santana and featuring icons like Zico, Sócrates, Falcão, and Éder, this team played some of the most beautiful football the world has ever seen. But despite dazzling fans and scoring sensational goals, they were knocked out in the quarter-finals by Italy in one of the World Cup’s most iconic matches.We break down their fluid tactics, midfield magic, and unmatched flair — but also ask tough questions. Did their lack of defensive structure cost them greatness? Has nostalgia inflated their legacy? And what if they’d played in a different era?Featuring legendary quotes, tactical insights, fan opinions, and our signature curveball section, we ask the ultimate question: Can a team that didn’t win still be truly great?Perfect for fans of football history, World Cup nostalgia, and the eternal debate of style vs substance.✅ Keywords: Brazil 1982, Zico, Sócrates, World Cup history, best football teams, Joga Bonito, greatest teams never to win, Brazil vs Italy 1982, Paolo Rossi, Telê Santana, football podcast, classic World Cup moments.

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• Ep 2 - Marco Van Basten

  🎙️ How Good Were They? – Episode 2: Marco van BastenIn this episode, we dive into the dazzling yet tragically short career of Marco van Basten — the Dutch maestro whose name still echoes in football folklore. From his prolific goal-scoring spells at Ajax and AC Milan to iconic moments like that volley against the USSR in Euro ‘88 and his unforgettable hat-trick against England, we explore what made Van Basten a phenomenon.We break down his playing style, his legendary partnerships with Gullit and Rijkaard, and how he redefined what it meant to be a complete striker. But we also throw in a few curveballs — how his career was derailed by injury, the eternal “what if” surrounding his potential, and the curious lack of a World Cup legacy.You’ll hear quotes from the likes of Maldini, Sacchi, and Thierry Henry, plus opinions from our followers. In the end, we answer the big question: Was Marco van Basten truly great — or just a fleeting genius?Hit play to find out.Follow and subscribe for deep dives into the icons of football’s past. New episodes every week.#MarcoVanBasten #FootballLegends #HowGoodWereThey #Podcast

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• Ep 2 - Marco Van Basten

  🎙️ How Good Were They? – Episode 2: Marco van BastenIn this episode, we dive into the dazzling yet tragically short career of Marco van Basten — the Dutch maestro whose name still echoes in football folklore. From his prolific goal-scoring spells at Ajax and AC Milan to iconic moments like that volley against the USSR in Euro ‘88 and his unforgettable hat-trick against England, we explore what made Van Basten a phenomenon.We break down his playing style, his legendary partnerships with Gullit and Rijkaard, and how he redefined what it meant to be a complete striker. But we also throw in a few curveballs — how his career was derailed by injury, the eternal “what if” surrounding his potential, and the curious lack of a World Cup legacy.You’ll hear quotes from the likes of Maldini, Sacchi, and Thierry Henry, plus opinions from our followers. In the end, we answer the big question: Was Marco van Basten truly great — or just a fleeting genius?Hit play to find out.Follow and subscribe for deep dives into the icons of football’s past. New episodes every week.#MarcoVanBasten #FootballLegends #HowGoodWereThey #Podcast

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