The Players

West Ham captain Gilly Flaherty and New Zealand international Ria Percival join Bex Smith for a look at the art of defending. They look at the unique pressure defenders face, explain the types of players they fear most and discuss the qualities needed to become a top class defender. The pair also talk about playing in major competitions at the age of just 15, and their love of baking!

In the week of the Champions League final, Chelsea manager Emma Hayes joins the podcast, along with current Brazil head coach Pia Sundhage. The pair discuss their respective philosophies and why they got into coaching, including the roles of geese, cooking and international politics. And Emma gives us an insight into how her Chelsea team have come to dominate this season.

Fresh from helping Northern Ireland reach their first major finals, captain Marissa Callaghan and record-appearance holder Julie Nelson join Bex Smith to discuss their achievements. They recall the national team restarting with a budget of £4,000, and meeting Mia Hamm and the USA team at the Algarve Cup in 2004. The pair then recount their dramatic qualification for Euro 2022 and look ahead to next summer's tournament and beyond.

Two of English football's ground-breakers join the podcast this week. Rachel Yankey and Karen Carney have the inside track on being part of Arsenal's quadruple winners, the challenges of punditry and the rise of the Women's Super League. We also hear from Rachel on minibuses, and meeting Thierry Henry in Selfridges.