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The Fussball Podcast

The Fussball Podcast
Author: Markus Fjørtoft / Jan Aage Fjørtoft
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© Markus Fjørtoft / Jan Aage Fjørtoft
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Welcome to The Fussball Channel! ⚽🇩🇪
Your home for all things German football! From the biggest Bundesliga talking points and breaking news to in-depth analysis and exclusive interviews, Jan Åge Fjørtoft and Markus Fjørtoft take you beyond the pitch.
Join us as we bring you closer to the action with behind-the-scenes stories, expert insights, and a unique perspective on Germany’s football culture.
Subscribe now and be part of the journey!
Your home for all things German football! From the biggest Bundesliga talking points and breaking news to in-depth analysis and exclusive interviews, Jan Åge Fjørtoft and Markus Fjørtoft take you beyond the pitch.
Join us as we bring you closer to the action with behind-the-scenes stories, expert insights, and a unique perspective on Germany’s football culture.
Subscribe now and be part of the journey!
167Â Episodes
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Vincent Kompany’s Bayern look unstoppable — 25 goals in six games, two record-breaking scorers, and a team evolving before our eyes. Luis DĂaz’s blistering form and Harry Kane’s ruthless finishing are powering a side that’s scoring for fun — and they’re still missing Musiala and Davies. Neuer looks world-class again, Pavlović keeps growing, and Kompany’s structure already feels complete. Can they go unbeaten this season? Meanwhile, Leipzig’s next generation, Bakayoko, RĂ´mulo, Diomande, Nusa, are part of a revived RB Leipzig team that has found back to its roots. Eintracht also boast the youngest squad in the league, but they're finding consistency hard to come by. What can they accomplish this season? At the other end, Gladbach’s struggles deepen: no wins, no sporting direction, and no clarity about the future. Markus and Jan Ă…ge Fjørtoft discuss this, while reflecting on the key moments from a weekend where, Stuttgart, Cologne, and Leverkusen all strengthened their early-season form, and Hamburg secured a statement win against Mainz.Â
From Mainz and Schalke to the Vancouver Whitecaps, Axel Schuster has worked across every level of the game. In this exclusive interview with Markus Fjørtoft, he discusses building a winning foundation in MLS on a modest payroll, lessons from working with Klopp, Tuchel & Schalke’s rise and struggles, why football clubs struggle with sustainability — and where real growth opportunities lie, the Bundesliga’s challenge in a Premier League world, and the story behind bringing Thomas Müller to Vancouver.
From blockbuster departures to bold new arrivals, the Bundesliga summer transfer window was full of drama. But who makes Jan’s Top 5 signings of 2025? Will it be Wirtz? DĂaz? Or someone else entirely? His answer might surprise you.
Erik ten Hag’s turbulent Leverkusen spell went from transition to crisis in just weeks. From the public clash with Rolfes over Xhaka to strange training sessions and tactical confusion, SPORT BILD say there was “no way back.” Where do Leverkusen go from here?We also break down Bundesliga’s wild deadline day — Nicolas Jackson to Bayern, Openda to Juve, Hamburg’s Arsenal double swoop, and Boniface's surprise loan move to Werder Bremen.
The Bundesliga is back, and Jan and Markus Fjørtoft bring together some of the biggest names in German football media for our full 2025/26 season preview.Seb Stafford-Bloor, Derek Rae, Christian Falk, Patrick Berger, and Kevin Hatchard join us to break down the season ahead. From the title race to relegation, breakout stars to summer signings, surprises to disappointments — it’s all here.
In the second episode of our The Fussball Coach series, we're joined by a true Bundesliga legend and current LAFC Head Coach, Steve Cherundolo. From San Diego to Hannover, he spent his entire 16-year playing career with one club, earning legendary status at Hannover 96.A former USMNT mainstay, Cherundolo became known for his leadership, intelligence, and loyalty on and off the pitch.After retiring, he started coaching in Germany, then leaped back to the U.S. to take over LAFC — where in just over three years, he’s reached six finals, won an MLS Cup, Supporters’ Shield, and the U.S. Open Cup, and recorded more wins than any other MLS coach since 2022.But now? He’s announced this will be his final season in LA — and he’s heading back to Europe. We sit down with Steve to talk about that decision, the Bundesliga years, what coaching means to him, and where his next chapter might unfold.
In this episode, we break down the complex striker carousel unfolding between Liverpool, Newcastle, and Eintracht Frankfurt — with Hugo Ekitike at the center.We explore the chain reaction that could begin with Isak, examine the valuation of Ekitike at €100M, and explain why Eintracht are in no rush to sell. We also dig into Bayern’s latest transfer offers — from Luis DĂaz to Nick Woltemade — and ask whether there’s any clear strategy behind their approach under Vincent Kompany.
In this insightful and powerful conversation which kicks off our new The Fussball Coach series, Uwe Rösler joins Jan Åge Fjørtoft to reflect on a remarkable journey through football and life. From his childhood in East Germany’s rigid football system to becoming a Manchester City fan-favorite, overcoming cancer, and building a coaching career across Europe — this episode covers resilience, leadership, and change. The pair share stories from their time at Lillestrøm, discuss football philosophy, and reflect on what it takes to build something impactful in the game.
Markus Fjørtoft and Jan Åge Fjørtoft unpack a dramatic week for Bayern Munich at the Club World Cup. From Jamal Musiala’s serious ankle injury and the reactions of Manuel Neuer and Vincent Kompany, to a deeper look at how Kompany has defined his role as Bayern Head Coach in the middle of chaos. We follow up on Bayern’s transfer strategy, the players they’ve missed out on, and the way media narratives are shaping negotiations, through Jan's "conspiracy theory". We also dissect Dortmund’s 3–2 defeat to Real Madrid, and to what degree we can deem it a success, and reflect on Eintracht Frankfurt’s smart signing of Jonny Burkardt.
We take you deep inside the drama unfolding at Bayern Munich. As the club prepares to launch its opening bid for Nick Woltemade, tensions are rising on all fronts.We break down the internal valuation, the personal terms already agreed, and the looming negotiations with Stuttgart. But it’s not just about money, it's also about influence. Uli Hoeneß and Lothar Matthäus are once again at odds, trading blows over public interference in Bayern’s transfer dealings.Meanwhile, Max Eberl faces the challenge of building for the future under financial pressure, with the Club World Cup offering a welcome revenue boost, and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens slipping away to Chelsea.From exclusive insider quotes to the strategic tension behind the scenes, this episode unpacks the full story around Bayern’s next big move.
Bayern Munich handled the heat in Miami with a composed 2–1 win over Boca Juniors, thanks to another commanding performance from Harry Kane and a decisive winner from Michael Olise. But as qualification is secured, the attention shifts to Bayern’s evolving summer plans, with a winger shortlist that now includes Rafael LeĂŁo, Luis DĂaz, Jamie Gittens, and Nico Williams. We break down the status of each target, Bayern’s internal thinking, and the competition they face in the market.Elsewhere, Florian Wirtz officially completed a blockbuster move to Liverpool, with Dortmund CEO Watzke stating that he had preferred if Wirtz went to Bayern intstead. Dortmund begin contract talks with Niko Kovac, and Germany’s U21s continue their impressive Euros campaign, led by standout performances from Nick Woltemade and Rocco Reitz.
We dive into Borussia Dortmund’s 0-0 draw with Fluminense and what it reveals about the club’s current identity. With Gregor Kobel's heroics , Julian Brandt wearing the armband, Anton, Groß, Meier assuming leadership roles, and the arrival of Jobe Bellingham, what version of Dortmund will we see?Plus, we celebrate the best American players to ever grace the Bundesliga, from Kasey Keller to Pulisic, and uncover some underrated legends while we're at it.
Jan Åge Fjørtoft and Markus Fjørtoft return after a short break to tackle one of the most polarizing questions in football : Does the Club World Cup really matter, and what does it mean for Bayern Munich? We explore why the tournament could be more significant than it seems and whether Bayern are truly equipped to win it. We also dive into Bayern’s current transfer outlook, including the impact of missing out on key targets like Florian Wirtz and what moves—such as Nico Williams, Rafael Leão, and Barcola—could define the "Max Eberl" era. Finally, we turn to Thomas Müller: should he retire after the Club World Cup? We weigh the pros and cons, and what role Müller could play in the game.
The Champions League is back — and Germany’s four representatives are all in the spotlight.Harry Kane scored twice as Bayern beat Chelsea on Matchday 1, and now they head to Pafos looking to keep the momentum going. And why "boring" Bayern is a credit to Kompany...Dortmund’s 4-4 chaos in Turin showed both their firepower and their fragility. Niko Kovač has them winning domestically, but can they find the balance in Europe when Athletic Bilbao come to town?Leverkusen rescued a late draw at Copenhagen thanks to Grimaldo. Now PSV visit the BayArena in what feels like Kasper Hjulmand’s first real test on the continental stage.And then there’s Eintracht Frankfurt. Burkardt, Uzun, and a new-look attack swept Galatasaray aside, but Simeone’s Atlético in Madrid will be a very different challenge. With Atleti’s defence already looking shaky this season, could Frankfurt be primed for another statement?We also touch on Freiburg and Stuttgart’s Europa League assignments, plus Mainz’s return to Europe in the Conference League.
Jan was in Munich as Harry Kane reached 100 goals for Bayern in record time, speaking with him on his historic day. But with speculation about his future, why should Kane ever leave?We also break down Dortmund’s revival under Niko Kovač, Frankfurt’s 6-4 chaos at Gladbach and the emergence of Can Uzun as a potential €100m star, plus the big question around Augsburg — is Wagner in trouble, or is this simply the growing pains of a club trying to push forward?All that plus highlights from Stuttgart, Leipzig, Leverkusen, Heidenheim, Union, Hamburg and Hoffenheim.
What a Bundesliga weekend! From Ollie Burke’s historic hat-trick for Union Berlin to Harry Kane’s unstoppable record chase at Bayern, Markus and Jan Åge Fjørtoft break it all down. We cover Eintracht’s setback after their Champions League high, hat-trick hero Ollie Burke’s incredible journey, Harry Kane’s historic record chase at Bayern, the Bundesliga table taking shape with Leipzig, Dortmund & Hamburg win, and is it back to reality for Augsburg's Sandro Wagner?
Jan Åge was pitchside for ESPN at Leverkusen vs Eintracht Frankfurt, alongside Dietmar Hamann and Archie Rhind-Tutt.He shares his thoughts on Grimaldo’s free-kick brilliance to Frankfurt’s injury worries, plus his own marathon weekend of Bundesliga and Premier League coverage. Plus, what Kasper Hjulmand said on unity & body language, Dino Toppmöller on Frankfurt’s slow play, and Nathan Tella’s reflections on Leverkusen’s start. What did you make of Hjulmand’s early impact at Leverkusen? 👇Meanwhile Bayern are firing on all cylinders, and are preparing for their first Champions League game of the season against Chelsea.
Big money bids. Transfer battles. And a Bundesliga giant left thin before the season even kicks off.⚡ Šeško’s Move to Manchester UnitedWe break down the transfer tug-of-war between Newcastle and Man United, and how RB Leipzig maximised their position.💼 RB Leipzig’s Business ModelBack to their roots — scouting, developing, and selling high. How their strategy shapes the Bundesliga.🚨 Bayern Munich’s RebuildComan leaves, Musiala injured, squad depth in question. Is Bayern vulnerable going into the season?🔄 Isaak, Donnarumma & Other MovesFrom Newcastle’s striker dilemma to Man United’s goalkeeper chase.
It’s awards season on The Fussball Channel. Bundesligacommentator Derek Rae joins Markus Fjørtoft and Jan Åge Fjørtoft to hand out their end-of-season honours from the 2024/25 campaign,  including Player of the Season, Best Signing, Most Improved Player, Young Player of the Season, and Manager of the Year. From Bayern Munich reclaiming the title to Mainz’s qualification for Europe, and standout performances from the likes of Michael Olise, Harry Kane, OmarMarmoush, and Hugo Ekitiké, we discuss the players and storylines that shaped the Bundesliga 24/25 season.
An unforgettable finish to the Bundesliga season! 💥Champions League returns. European dreams realized. And a playoff spot still up for grabs. Jan and Markus Fjørtoft conclude the last round of the Bundesliga 24/25 season. Eintracht Frankfurt secure Champions League qualification through their league position for the first time in 32 years, finishing strong despite losing Marmoush mid-season.Borussia Dortmund rally from 11th place under Niko Kovač, going unbeaten in their final eight games to seal a top-4 finish. Mainz clinch a Europa Conference League spot in one of the most impressive turnarounds of the season, led by Bo Henriksen’s intensity-driven approach. Freiburg, now under Julian Schuster, qualify for Europe despite a minus-four goal differential — a season of resilience and tactical grit. Bayern Munich lift the trophy at Marienplatz, with Harry Kane winning his second consecutive Torjägerkanone. Köln win the 2. Bundesliga and return to the top flight. Meanwhile, Heidenheim and Elversberg face off in the promotion/relegation playoff — a huge opportunity for both sides.