Latest news with #IanLadyman
Daily Mail
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Mark Clattenburg names 'nasty' Real Madrid star as his favourite defender of all time
Podcast All episodes Veteran Premier League referee Mark Clattenburg named a crafty Real Madrid legend as his favourite defender of all time on the latest episode of Whistleblowers. Whistleblowers is football's most original new podcast, hosted by Mark Clattenburg alongside Mail Sport Football Editor Ian Ladyman and broadcaster Gordon Smart. Debating which centre back was the greatest of all time, Clattenburg championed 'nasty' Portuguese defender Pepe. Over his 229 appearances for Real Madrid, Pepe won 15 major trophies but developed a notorious reputation with officials for his feisty tackling and behaviour. 'The best centre half I ever saw, even though he could be quite nasty, was Pepe,' the former official revealed. 'I watched him at Euro 2024, the last international tournament he played in, and he was incredible for his age at 41. 'What I liked about him was that he was an incredible pro – he achieved an awful lot. It was like the ball was glued to him, every ball that went in, he was at the other end of. Football's most original new podcast: Whistleblowers Hosted by Gordon Smart, with ex-referee Mark Clattenburg and Mail journalist Ian Ladyman, this isn't another safe roundtable of punditry. It's football told differently - with insight, authority, and plenty of laughs. Listen wherever you get your podcasts now. 'As a referee, I had run-ins with him. In the Champions League final in particular – but he was just an incredible centre half.' Pepe returned from a thigh injury to deliver a man-of-the-match performance in Portugal's Euro 2016 final victory over France, a match Clattenburg refereed. Clattenburg also officiated the defender during Real Madrid's 2016 Champions League final victory over Atlético Madrid. He controversially awarded a dubious penalty against Pepe for a tackle on former Liverpool forward Fernando Torres – which Atlético scored to level the match. When asked who he would pair with Pepe for the ultimate defensive partnership, Clattenburg suggested Vincent Kompany, arguing that the Belgian's ball-playing ability would complement the Portuguese defender's tenacity. 'I would want a shot stopper and a ball player', Clattenburg explained. 'I like Vincent Kompany alongside Pepe. Kompany had a great attitude, very different to Pepe.' While Clattenburg favoured more recent defenders, co-host Ian Ladyman delved further back in football history for his best defender, naming Liverpool stalwart Alan Hansen. Hansen won eight league titles, three European Cups, two FA Cups, and four League Cups during his decade-plus spell at Liverpool, establishing himself as one of the most decorated centre-backs in English football history. Ladyman explained: 'You can't look past Alan Hansen. Literally, you couldn't get past him. 'What a footballer: wonderful reader of the game. He was brave, athletic, probably could have played in about seven positions. 'A great passer of the ball, a leader. He would always look pristine after a game because he would never have to go to ground – he was that good.' Alongside Hansen, Ladyman named a controversial Liverpool-Manchester United defensive pairing, choosing Nemanja Vidić for his physicality. Ladyman argued: 'If you have a stylish distributor of the ball, you need someone next to him who can scare the life out of people. 'I would go with Vidic – he could head the ball; he was a monster in the tackle.' To hear more debates like this one, including which single player had the greatest impact on football, search for the latest episode of Whistleblowers now – available wherever you get your podcasts.
Daily Mail
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE 'Sam Allardyce wanted to kick my door down': IAN LADYMAN tells Mark Clattenburg about extraordinary run-in with former Premier League manager on new Mail podcast
Podcast All episodes Mail Football Editor Ian Ladyman told ex-elite referee Mark Clattenburg about a particularly exceptional exchange he had with former Premier League manager Sam Allardyce on the latest episode of the Whistleblowers podcast. Ladyman revealed he had a tense phone call with 'Big' Sam Allardyce during the former Bolton, Newcastle and West Ham boss's early days at Notts County in the late nineties. Allardyce won the Third Division with Notts County in 1998, which led to him being offered the chance to manage relative giants Bolton in the Championship a year later. 'Sam is friend of mine. When I first met him, I was working for a local newspaper', Ladyman said. 'He was the manager of Notts County, and it was my job to cover the club. They had taken a player on trial who had just come back to football after failing a drugs test. Whistleblowers, brought to you by the Mail and Wickes TradePro - is football's most original new podcast - lifting the lid on the parts of the game no one else talks about 'Twenty years ago, that was very rare. So, I rang Sam and told him I was going to write a story. 'Sam said I could write the story - but told me not to mention the drugs ban. I am like, Sam, that is the only reason the story is interesting. 'The fact your signing Joe Bloggs doesn't matter – we have got to mention the drugs ban. He said, you do that – and I will kick your f***ing door down. 'I had only just arrived in Nottingham and was living in a hotel – so I replied, you're not going to be able to do that Sam. 'He said: I will come to that hotel and kick every door down until I find yours.' Whistleblowers is a brand-new football podcast, brought to you by The Mail in association with Wickes TradePro. From what really goes on in the referee's room, to how clubs spin crises and who's pulling the strings behind the scenes - Whistleblowers brings the inside stories only those at the heart of the game can tell. Co-host Mark Clattenburg shared his affection for Sam Allardyce and what it was like referring his 'big character' in the dugout. Listen here Co-host Mark Clattenburg shared his affection for Sam Allardyce and what it was like referring his 'big character' in the dugout. 'I used to love Big Sam as a coach', the official said. 'I miss his character. At Bolton, he used to abuse me and the fourth official all the time and I used to ask him why and he would say – just to get the crowd going. 'I remember one time – we had a big bar bill at St George's Park. West Ham had been playing Aston Villa. It was worth a large sum of money. 'I went to Big Sam and Neil McDonald and said, my God – that bar bill was huge last night. 'They said the club would be launching an investigation and somebody would be sacked. I asked why – they told me they wanted to find out who'd had the coffee.' For more anecdotes from inside the world of football, search for Whistleblowers now, wherever you get your podcasts.
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Ruben Amorim's negativity is adding to the 'drama' that surrounds Man United and he must learn to 'keep his mouth shut' next season - IAN LADYMAN says on Mail podcast
Ruben Amorim 's frankness about Manchester United 's poor performances risks hurting the club and he 'must learn to keep his mouth shut' next season, Mail Football Editor Ian Ladyman said on the season finale of the 'It's All Kicking Off!' podcast. Speaking to reporter Nathan Salt after United's 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford, Ladyman reflected on Amorim's parting speech to the fans where the Portuguese apologised for presiding over a 'cataclysmic' season. Not only did United record their worst-ever league finish, but they also lost to an ailing Tottenham side in the Europa League final last week. However, some shoots of optimism are appearing ahead of next season, with Wolves star Matheus Cunha looking likely to join the Red Devils. Ladyman said Amorim must be mindful not to carry over the negativity from 202425 into next season. 'I do wonder whether Amorim says far too much', Ladyman said. Ruben Amorim's frankness about Manchester United's poor performances risks hurting the club, Ian Ladyman said on the season finale of the Mail's 'It's All Kicking Off!' podcast Not only did United record their worst-ever league finish, but they also lost to an ailing Tottenham side in the Europa League final last week 'He went out on the pitch at Old Trafford with the microphone on the season's final day to apologise for his team's performances. 'I could see Rasmus Hojlund standing behind him, looking bemused. Matthias De Ligt was caught by the cameras laughing a little bit. He looked uncomfortable. 'Amorim's good for a killer soundbite: they are great for us in the media. Great for our social feeds, great for the back pages – and now here's another, with Amorim saying sorry on the final day of the season. 'I wonder whether he should just keep his mouth shut – it's adding to the drama and there's enough of that already.' Co-host Nathan Salt, who was there at Old Trafford for Amorim's apology, disagreed with Ladyman, arguing that the manager's honesty is good for a club whose representatives are 'happy to bury their heads in the sand.' 'It's very difficult for me to say somebody's being too honest', Salt responded. 'If you compare United with Tottenham, Ange Postecoglou said they had an outstanding season after winning the Europa League. To give Amorim credit, he said the Europa League would not salvage what has been a dreadful year. 'I think the people at Manchester United need to hear the brutal reality of how far they have fallen. Someone needs to be able to point that out.' Salt admitted however that he fails to see the manager's grounds for optimism ahead of next season. In his speech, Amorim declared that 'the good days are coming' to the rapturous applause of United supporters. Salt told the podcast: 'The bit that surprised me, more so than the apology, was Amorim saying the good days are coming. What has he seen to suggest that is the case? 'He is going to have a limited transfer budget. He's got a lot of players that aren't good enough. 'He's trying to establish a culture and yet – Onana was taken out of the firing line yesterday, Garnacho was dropped from the squad entirely, big question marks over whether he'll be sold. There are also question marks over Hojlund and various others. 'Amorim's not going to have a great ability to transform a squad that finished 15th – so saying that the good times are coming, I thought was pretty bold.'
Daily Mail
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE IAN LADYMAN names Wolves star in his team of the season – and it's not Matheus Cunha
On the latest episode of the Mail's 'It's All Kicking Off!' podcast, Ian Ladyman named a surprise Wolves player in his team of the season, and it wasn't mercurial forward Matheus Cunha. Wolves have been inconsistent this term. Under Gary O'Neil, the side looked likely candidates for relegation but underwent a midseason revival after his January dismissal. New manager Vítor Pereira managed to pull the Midlands side from the brink, with Wolves now sitting in a comfortable 13th, above the likes of Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. This turnaround in form was spearheaded by creative dynamo Cunha and a firming up of a previously leaky defence. The Mail's Football Editor credited Algerian left-back Rayan Ait-Nouri for the side's defensive transformation, going on to name the 23-year-old in his team of the season. Ladyman told co-host Chris Sutton: 'Ait-Nouri is a terrific player and has played a superb part in Wolves' revival under Vítor Pereira. 'He's played 34 times in the Premier League this season. Apparently, Wolves are thinking about a new contract because there's interest from elsewhere – he's had a very, very impressive season.' The Wolves left-back has recorded a healthy tackle success rate of 63 per cent and contributed going forward, scoring four goals and assisting seven. He has been linked with a summer move to title winners Liverpool, with Wolves reportedly placing a £50million price tag on their star defender's head. Ladyman explained that although Wolves have struggled at times, when it comes to naming a team of the season, a player in a less consistent side should be given greater plaudits as the odds of success are stacked against them. 'You have got to consider who players are playing for and compare that to how well they have played,' the Mail columnist said. 'Otherwise, you'd just choose a full Liverpool back four. You must look at Wolves' season as a whole and say, he has been a terrific left back.' Liverpool's Virgil Van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Nottingham Forest's Nikola Milenkovic made up the rest of Ladyman's back four of the year. Sutton also had Virgil Van Dijk in his defence of the season, with Forest's Ola Aina and Murillo, as well as Arsenal's Miles Lewis-Skelly filling out the rest of the defence. The former player turned pundit said young Lewis-Skelly had been 'head and shoulders' above any other left back this term. 'Do you not think Vítor Pereira would pick Lewis-Skelly above Ait-Nouri?', Sutton asked his co-host. 'Wolves conceded over 60 goals this season, and Ait-Nouri was a part of that – and you've named him in your team of the season?'
