By Far The Greatest Team Football Podcast
By Far The Greatest Team is a football history podcast dedicated to answering one timeless question:
Who is the greatest football team of all time?
From iconic dynasties and legendary tournament winners to cult heroes, forgotten giants, and teams that burned brightly for just a moment, By Far The Greatest Team dives deep into the stories that shaped football’s past — and debates where those teams truly belong in the game’s hierarchy.
Hosted by lifelong football obsessives, each episode blends deep historical research, tactical insight, and story-driven discussion to explore:
- Legendary club and international sides
- Iconic seasons, tournaments, and golden eras
- Tactical revolutions and defining moments
- Cultural impact, myth-making, and legacy
- Underdog stories that rewrote football history
At the heart of the podcast is a unique Greatness Ranking System, where teams are judged across multiple levels — from All-Time Greats and True Greats, to Cult Classics, Edge-of-Greatness teams, and those remembered through nostalgia, context, or controversy. Greatness isn’t just about trophies — it’s about impact, identity, and influence.
Whether it’s Brazil’s brilliance, a one-season wonder, a cup-run miracle, or a team that changed how football was played, every episode asks the same question — how great were they… really?
If you love football history, tactical debate, long-forgotten stories, and arguing about rankings in pubs, living rooms, or online forums — this is the podcast for you.
Whether you’re searching for a football history podcast, soccer history deep dives, greatest football teams of all time, classic football teams, or tactical and cultural analysis of football, By Far The Greatest Team delivers long-form storytelling, informed debate, and timeless football nostalgia. Covering club football and international tournaments, iconic managers and players, golden eras, forgotten greats, and controversial rankings, this podcast is essential listening for fans of the Premier League, World Cups, European football, and the global history of the beautiful game.
🎙️ Football’s greatest teams. Ranked.
One episode at a time.
By Far The Greatest Team Football Podcast
Manchester United 1981-1986
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Manchester United 1981–1986: Flair, Frustration & the Big Ron Era
Were Manchester United under Ron Atkinson a team of unfulfilled potential — or flamboyant trailblazers who set the stage for everything that followed?
In this episode, Graham Dunn and Jamie Rooney are joined by lifelong United super-fan Richard Evans to dive into one of Old Trafford’s most compelling transitional eras: Manchester United from 1981 to 1986.
Arriving after years of drift, Ron Atkinson injected charisma, swagger, and a bold attacking identity back into the club. His United were easy on the eye and fearless in intent, with a midfield powered by Bryan Robson, elegance from Ray Wilkins, and cutting edge from Frank Stapleton and teenage sensation Norman Whiteside.
We revisit the era’s unforgettable highlights — from the dramatic 1983 FA Cup triumph to electric European nights against Barcelona and Juventus — moments when United felt capable of beating anyone. Yet the conversation also tackles the frustrations: league inconsistency, injuries to key figures, and defensive flaws that repeatedly derailed genuine title pushes.
With the help of our guest panel, we debate a defining question:
Was Big Ron’s United an underachieving nearly-team, or the bridge between mediocrity and the coming Ferguson revolution?
Takeaways
- Ron Atkinson brought a flamboyant, confident style back to Manchester United.
- Bryan Robson was the heartbeat of Atkinson’s side.
- The atmosphere at Villa Park during this era’s big games was unforgettable.
- United’s European run produced thrilling clashes with Barcelona and Juventus.
- Mark Hughes emerged as a major figure late in the Atkinson years.
- Injuries to key players consistently undermined title challenges.
If you enjoy these podcasts, please don't forget to subscribe and give us a rating and also tell everyone about them!
