The Sports Agents

At just 11 years old, James McClean was making petrol bombs on the streets of Derry. Years later, he would be playing in the Premier League.
Growing up in the shadow of the Troubles, McClean's journey from the streets of Creggan to 103 caps for the Republic of Ireland and captaining Wrexham during their Hollywood rise has been anything but conventional.
In this special episode of The Sports Agents, McClean joins Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman to reflect on a remarkable life in football — from his Premier League career to the poppy controversy, the years of abuse from opposition supporters and his refusal to compromise on his beliefs.
Drawing on his autobiography The Walls, he opens up about his childhood, the pressures of professional football, his struggles with anger, the importance of family and the experiences that have shaped the man behind the headlines.
An honest and sometimes uncomfortable conversation about football, identity, loyalty and the price of standing by your convictions.
James McClean's autobiography The Walls, published by Sandycove is out now.

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Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides
Senior Producer: David Finch
Video Producer: Sam Trudgill
Digital Content Producer: Jasmine Wissart
Tom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast network
Vicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for Global
You can listen to this episode on Alexa -just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".
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A bitter power struggle has engulfed world football. Is FIFA President Gianni Infantino on his way out or cementing his grip on power?
UEFA wants Infantino out. Legal battles, backroom manoeuvering and billions of dollars are at the heart of an extraordinary fight for control of football.
But Infantino is fighting back. Former enemies are switching sides, powerful alliances are forming and the FIFA presidency hangs in the balance.
Is UEFA plotting a hostile takeover of FIFA — and who really holds the power in world football?
Gabby Logan, Mark Chapman and Nedum Onuoha are joined by The Athletic's Adam Crafton to uncover what's happening behind the scenes — and what it means for every football fan.
Plus, Manchester United: With Michael Carrick under pressure, would sacking another manager solve anything — or does the real problem lie with those running the club?

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Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides
Senior Producer: David Finch
Video Producer: Sam Trudgill
Digital Content Producer: Jasmine Wissart
Tom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast network
Vicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for Global
You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".
👕 The Sports Agents have merch! You can buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-sports-agents

For more than two decades, Christian Horner was at the heart of Formula 1 — building Red Bull Racing into one of the most dominant teams in the sport, managing world champions and navigating the ruthless politics of the F1 paddock.
But behind the victories, rivalries and extraordinary success lies a story far more complicated than the trophies suggest.
The former Red Bull Racing team principal joins Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman for an in-depth interview on The Sports Agents ahead of the release of his autobiography Drive.
Horner reflects on his remarkable rise through Formula 1, his relationships with the sport’s biggest personalities, the battles fought behind closed doors and the extraordinary events that brought his time at Red Bull to an abrupt and controversial end.
From the pressures of leading an F1 powerhouse to the personal cost of life at the very top, this is a rare insight into the power, politics and personalities that shape Formula 1 — from a man who spent 20 years at the centre of it all.
Drive by Christian Horner is out now and available to buy here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1911754785
Christian will be sharing stories from the book at the Cambridge Theatre in London on Monday 26th October. Tickets are available from the venue here: https://lwtheatres.co.uk/whats-on/christian-horner/

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Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides
Senior Producer: David Finch
Video Producer: Sam Trudgill
Digital Content Producer: Jasmine Wissart
Tom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast network
Vicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for Global
You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".
👕 The Sports Agents have merch! You can buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-sports-agents

A goal from the halfway line. Five past Crystal Palace. Brighton are taking on the Premier League’s richest clubs — after selling key players yet again.
We discuss Diego Gómez’s extraordinary strike, the ambition to shoot from that far out and how Fabian Hürzeler’s side are gatecrashing the top five. Can Brighton turn another flying start into Champions League qualification?
Then, football’s financial knife edge: two-thirds of English clubs could face insolvency within 30 days if owner funding stopped. With 94% of clubs across the top five divisions making a loss, how secure is the game behind the record transfer fees?
Sports business expert and founder of The Long Play, Jordan Macauley, joins us to unpack the Independent Football Regulator’s stark report and its connections to the Manchester City case. We explore the pressure on broadcasters, whether TV revenues can keep growing — and what happens to clubs if wealthy owners decide football is no longer worth the investment.

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Gabby Logan & Mark Chapman, two of the UK’s top sports broadcasters, host a twice-weekly podcast exploring the biggest stories from the world of sport... From the Premier League to the Olympics, rugby's future, boxing's identity crisis, the latest Formula 1 soap opera, the NFL and beyond... you name it, The Sports Agents have got it covered - and will bring you behind the scenes at some of the greatest sporting events from around the world too. Drawing on their wealth of experience and insight, with exclusive interviews and expert analysis, Gabby & Mark tackle the big questions and explain not just what’s happening, but why.

Manchester United’s Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid has left plenty to unpack — not least Lisandro Martinez’s explosive post-match comments. Mark Chapman and Nedum Onuoha react to the biggest talking points from another dramatic week in Europe.
Then, we turn to something far less visible but increasingly common inside football: Snus and nicotine pouch use.
Why has nicotine become so normal in dressing rooms? Why are players using it, and what happens when a habit that starts socially becomes something much harder to control?
We hear from a former Premier League footballer speaking candidly about his own addiction to snus, explore how these behaviours spread through teams and academies, and ask whether snus is really the story — or simply one symptom of a much wider issue.
From nicotine and gambling to nitrous oxide and the search for a release from the intensity of elite sport, this is a conversation about what happens away from the pitch — the dressing room culture which fuels addiction amongst footballers.

📩 Got a question for The Sports Agents? https://forms.gle/9SBbW1SYWqXLKnRT7
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TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@thesportsagents
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Executive Producer: Adonis Pratsides
Senior Producer: David Finch
Video Producer: Sam Trudgill
Social Media Editor: Jasmine Wissart
Tom Hughes is Editor for The News Agents podcast network
Vicky Etchells is the Commissioning Editor for Global
You can listen to this episode on Alexa - just say "Alexa, ask Global Player to play The Sports Agents".
👕 The Sports Agents have merch! You can buy yours now: https://store.global.com/collections/the-sports-agents