Episodes

  • Peter Crouch: THAT Gerrard final, being schooled by Tony Adams & pre-football life as an Inbetweener

    Peter Crouch: THAT Gerrard final, being schooled by Tony Adams & pre-football life as an Inbetweener
    Jan 8 2026
    Could It Be Magic, the FA Cup podcast sponsored by Carling, is back with another episode as Joe Cole and Ashley Cole welcome former Liverpool, Spurs and England striker Peter Crouch into the studio. They look ahead to the FA Cup 3rd round, which is always one of the most special weekends in the footballing calendar, and this year Joe and Crouchy were the men pulling the balls out of the hat. The headline tie is Tottenham vs Aston Villa and Ashley thinks it could be a good chance for Spurs to prioritise the FA Cup and build on last season's Europa League triumph. There's a potentially tricky tie for Arsenal away at Crouchy's old club Portsmouth, and the three of them reminisce about stepping out of the old Fratton Park tunnel and seeing legendary players like Ronaldinho and Paolo Maldini do the same for AC Milan in 2008. We revisit some classic FA Cup moments from Crouchy, Joe and Ashley's storied careers, starting with one of the most famous finals of all time in 2006 when Peter was on the winning side as Liverpool beat West Ham on penalties after Steven Gerrard twice hauled them back into the game. Crouchy holds this display up as the perfect example of why he rates Gerrard as the best player he ever played with, despite lining up alongside the likes of David Beckham, Luka Modric, Gareth Bale and Rafael van der Vaart during his career. The lads have some fun as Joe and Crouchy delve into their autobiographies and get Ashley to guess who the out of context quotes belong to - cue stories of Inbetweeners-like mishaps, boring their parents with endless keepie-uppies and when champagne celebrations go wrong. Could It Be Magic? is brought to you by Carling, the official beer of the Emirates FA Cup and Adobe Women’s FA Cup. 18+ - please drink responsibly. Be match ready with @CarlingUK, the beer of football #pleasedrinkresponsibly Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    43 mins
  • Toni Duggan: Fake eyelashes in the FA Cup final, selfies with Messi, and scoring in Soccer Aid | Could It Be Magic

    Toni Duggan: Fake eyelashes in the FA Cup final, selfies with Messi, and scoring in Soccer Aid | Could It Be Magic
    Dec 5 2025
    Could It Be Magic, the FA Cup podcast sponsored by Carling, is back with another episode as Joe Cole and Ashley Cole welcome Lionesses legend Toni Duggan into the studio. They revisit Toni's two FA Cup triumphs with Everton and Man City, including the reaction she got from her teammates when she took to the pitch wearing fake eyelashes in 2010, and her memories of being controversially dropped for the 2017 final. They discuss Toni's time in Spain playing for Barcelona and Atletico Madrid, including her striking up an unlikely friendship with Lionel Messi, and some unintentionally hilarious struggles with speaking Spanish. Toni also opens up about the experience of having a baby while still playing for Everton, the support she got from the male players, and her journey back to playing just a few months after giving birth to her daughter. We also hear about Toni's experience playing at Soccer Aid last year where she scored past Edwin van de Sar and became best mates with Jermain Defoe and Tom Grennan, and how the experience has given Toni a taste for potentially stepping out of retirement. Ashley Cole reveals how he discovered his passion for coaching, Joe has tales from the set of Sunday Brunch, and all three of them take part in our version of a traditional pub quiz, which goes right down to the wire. Could It Be Magic is brought to you by Carling, the official beer of the Emirates FA Cup and Adobe Women's FA Cup. 18+ please drink responsibly Be match ready with @CarlingUK, the beer of football #pleasedrinkresponsibly Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    50 mins
  • Sean Dyche: Smashing a Semi-Final Penalty, Loving Set Pieces and Life as a Meme | Could It Be Magic

    Sean Dyche: Smashing a Semi-Final Penalty, Loving Set Pieces and Life as a Meme | Could It Be Magic
    Oct 30 2025
    Could It Be Magic, the FA Cup podcast sponsored by Carling, returns as Joe Cole and Ashley Cole welcome Sean Dyche into the studio just days before he was appointed Nottingham Forest manager. They revisit Chesterfield’s famous FA Cup semi-final run in 1997: the brilliant team talk by John Duncan before the game, the surprise pre-match call from Roy Keane, and the penalty he buried straight down the middle despite never having taken one before. They also discuss the return of long throws and set pieces to elite football and how Brian Clough's tactics at Nottingham Forest wouldn't look out of place in the modern game. Sean shares plenty of tales from his colorful playing and managerial career, including the time Arsène Wenger was served some dodgy red wine at Burnley and how Sean once turned up to a London nightclub in a tuk-tuk, only to meet Chris Eubank in his giant truck. Dyche lets us in to his world away from football and reveals what it's like to find yourself becoming a social media meme and being asked to FaceTime people's nans. He chats about his stint shadowing the Oxford boat crew while doing his pro licence, including the moment he met the Winklevoss twins without realising who they were until he watched The Social Network. Rachel O'Sullivan from Girls on the Ball gives her thoughts on some of the big stories from the women's game, including whether Chelsea can repeat their treble success, why Arsenal are struggling to find their rhythm and she names the dark horse she thinks could have a great run in the Adobe Women's FA Cup. Could It Be Magic is brought to you by Carling, the official beer of the Emirates FA Cup and Adobe Women's FA Cup. 18+ please drink responsibly Be match ready with @CarlingUK, the beer of football #pleasedrinkresponsibly Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    57 mins
  • Jermain Defoe: Missing an FA Cup Final, fixing West Ham and texting Xhaka

    Jermain Defoe: Missing an FA Cup Final, fixing West Ham and texting Xhaka
    Oct 9 2025
    Could It Be Magic, the FA Cup podcast sponsored by Carling, returns for a new season as Joe Cole and Ashley Cole welcome their old mate Jermain Defoe. Jermain opens up about his career across West Ham, Tottenham, Portsmouth and Sunderland, and the heartache of missing out on the 2008 FA Cup Final after being cup-tied. Ashley remembers the day Thierry Henry was left behind by Arsène Wenger after turning up late for a match, while Joe relives how the Chelsea team bus once left without him at Highbury. Joe also shares the moment Ian Wright came looking for him when the great man signed for the Hammers. The chat turns to the current situation at West Ham, with all three offering their thoughts on what’s needed to push the club forward. Jermain also reveals his thoughts on Tottenham under Thomas Frank and the text that helped convince Granit Xhaka to join Sunderland. Finally, we discover which of them is the best at a particular pub sport and there's a new FA Cup quiz that puts their knowledge of the world’s most famous domestic cup competition to the test. Could It Be Magic? is brought to you by Carling, the official beer of the Emirates FA Cup and Adobe Women’s FA Cup. 18+ - please drink responsibly. Be match ready with @CarlingUK, the beer of football #PleaseDrinkResponsibly Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    49 mins
  • FA Cup Finals 2025 Preview | Crystal Palace v Man City and Man Utd v Chelsea

    FA Cup Finals 2025 Preview | Crystal Palace v Man City and Man Utd v Chelsea
    May 14 2025
    We're going to Wembley! Joe Cole and Ashley Cole take Could It Be Magic to the home of English football to discuss this season's Emirates Men's and Adobe Women's FA Cup Finals. Two-time winner Izzy Christiansen joins the lads, along with Eagles fan Dan Cook from HLTCO and Manchester City supporter and The Club presenter Buvey, to drill down into where the men's match will be won and lost: can City's defence handle Palace's front three or will there be a fairytale ending for Kevin de Bruyne? Izzy also breaks down the women's final between Manchester United and Chelsea, reveals the methods that make Sonia Bompastor so successful and sets out why United will feel they can retain the trophy. Plus Joe, Ashley and Izzy recall some of their favourite moments from their FA Cup Finals both on and off the pitch: which Chelsea boss showed off some spectacular dance moves and why do you have to be extra careful of the floors when you win at Wembley? Brought to you by Carling, the official beer of the Emirates Men's FA Cup and Adobe Women’s FA Cup. 18+ | Please drink responsibly. Be match ready with Carling, the beer of football #PleaseDrinkResponsibly Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    39 mins
  • Emile Heskey: 5-1 in Munich, Michael Owen’s Final & FA Cup Semi-Finals

    Emile Heskey: 5-1 in Munich, Michael Owen’s Final & FA Cup Semi-Finals
    Apr 23 2025
    Premier League legend and former England striker Emile Heskey joins Joe and Ash in the studio to talk all things FA Cup, Liverpool, England — and more. He talks about Aston Villa’s FA Cup hopes, the impact of Unai Emery, and reflects on his own Cup memories — from Leicester’s late-90s success under Martin O’Neill to battles with some legendary centre backs, including Sol Campbell. Heskey, who broke through with hometown club Leicester before becoming a key part of Liverpool’s iconic 2001 treble-winning side, opens up about his move to Anfield, dealing with a record transfer fee, and forming a lethal partnership with Michael Owen — one that would also shine on the international stage. The trio also look back at one of England’s greatest nights: the 5-1 demolition of Germany in Munich. Emile shares how special that night was, how it changed his career, and Ashley explains why playing with Heskey made life easier. All this and more in the latest episode of Football’s Greatest: Could It Be Magic? Brought to you by Carling, the official beer of the Emirates FA Cup and Adobe Women’s FA Cup. 18+ | Please drink responsibly. Be match ready with Carling, the beer of football #PleaseDrinkResponsibly Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    47 mins
  • Shaun Wright-Phillips: Stopping Ronaldo, Mystic Mourinho and a brawl with Gattuso.

    Shaun Wright-Phillips: Stopping Ronaldo, Mystic Mourinho and a brawl with Gattuso.
    Mar 26 2025
    Joe and Ash are back in the studio with a former teammate who lit up the Premier League with his explosive, direct style. Former Chelsea, Manchester City, and QPR winger Shaun Wright-Phillips joins the lads for the latest episode of Football’s Greatest: Could It Be Magic? Shaun reveals how Mourinho’s tactical genius played out in real time with his plan to stop Ronaldo in the 2007 FA Cup final, Shaun’s first-ever cup final appearance. He opens up about the early influences that shaped his unique playing style - the very style that caught José Mourinho’s eye and led to his move to Chelsea. He also reflects on his journey to becoming a pro, overcoming rejection, and what it was like growing up with Arsenal icon Ian Wright as a father. Meanwhile, Joe shares an unforgettable story about how Shaun’s arrival at Chelsea, adding even more competition in attack, led to a clash with AC Milan enforcer Gennaro Gattuso. Beyond Shaun’s career, the guys dive into this year’s FA Cup quarter-finals and discuss why the competition is wide open for teams looking to make history. All this and more in the latest episode of Football’s Greatest: Could It Be Magic? Brought to you by Carling, the official beer of the Emirates FA Cup and Adobe Women’s FA Cup. 18+ - Please drink responsibly. Be match ready with Carling, the beer of football #PleaseDrinkResponsibly Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    56 mins
  • Drogba’s big studs, Micah’s grunt, and having Gareth Southgate as your Godfather | Could It Be Magic Ep4

    Drogba’s big studs, Micah’s grunt, and having Gareth Southgate as your Godfather | Could It Be Magic Ep4
    Mar 5 2025
    Joe Cole and Ashley Cole and former England defender Joleon Lescott discuss team-mates and opponents from their careers: what was the weird noise Micah Richards used to make when he was running? Who was the biggest target for heavy tackles at Manchester City? And why were Didier Drogba's studs a problem? They look ahead to the FA Cup 5th round with Preston goalkeeper Freddie Woodman, who also reveals what it was like having Gareth Southgate as his godfather. Joleon gives his thoughts on some of the best English youngsters he’s worked with, including Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, Burnley keeper James Trafford and Ipswich forward Liam Delap, and the guys debate if Plymouth can produce another shock against Man City after their win over Liverpool last time. Football’s Greatest: Could It Be Magic? is brought to you by Carling, the official beer of the Emirates FA Cup and Adobe Women’s FA Cup. 18+ - please drink responsibly. Be match ready with Carling, the beer of football #PleaseDrinkResponsibly You can also watch Joe and Ashley go head-to-head in the ultimate Carling football showdown as their football skills are put to the test:• COLE vs COLE! Joe Cole & Ashley Cole ... Email: ⁠footballsgreatest@foldingpocket.co.uk ⁠ Follow Football's Greatest and join in the debate: YouTube: ⁠ / @footballsgreatestpod Instagram: ⁠www.instagram.com/footballsgreatestpod⁠ X/Twitter: ⁠www.twitter.com/ftblsgreatest⁠ TikTok: ⁠www.tiktok.com/@footballsgreatestpod⁠ Facebook: ⁠www.facebook.com/footballsgreatestpod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    51 mins