The Failed Footballer

Kat Haddad is back on The Failed Footballer to break down the biggest talking points in Australian and world football, from the Socceroos' performance against Brazil to the young players who could define the next generation.

Kat and Olantekkers look at whether the gap between Australia and football's traditional powerhouses is starting to close, why the Socceroos' emerging talent is so exciting and what the future could look like f...

Jackson Irvine has played for the Socceroos in 3 World Cups. He's played for Celtic, Hull City, Hibs, FC St. Pauli and is now getting at taste of the J-League with Cerezo Osaka. He's a box-to-box midfielder of the type that isn't so common anymore. And he definitely knows what it takes to make it as a footballer and avoid the 'failed' label.

He tells OlanTekkers how he made it, how he got through countless trials with European club...

• There was VAR Chaos in the Manchester derby - should Haaland's goal have stood? Should Bruno Fernandes have been sent off too?
• Lucas Harrington's Premier League breakout season continues as Hull hold Chelsea to a 2-2 draw. How are they doing so well?
• Mohamed Touré's scoring run continues: how's he doing it?
• The Men's and Women's NPL Grand Finals delivered on the drama and the goals
• And it's the big NPL vs A-League de...

What's it like getting to the highest levels of football but then falling back down the pyramid? Alou Kuol went from winning trophies with the Central Coast Mariners and signing for Bundesliga side VfB Stuttgart, to the Mariners again, and finally to the NPL. He opens up about the highs of making it in Europe, the setbacks that followed, and what keeps him chasing the top level.

Plus, advice for young players who are trialing at to...

OlanTekkers wraps up the performances of our Aussie footballers playing abroad. Mo Toure is on fire 3 games into the EFL Championship season - scoring a brace for Norwich City. Lucas Herrington got 30 minutes in the Premier League for Hull City against Coventry, and Patrick Beach pulled off a worldie of save in Ligue 1 for Troyes. The future looks bright for Aussie football - the 2030 World Cup is going to be interesting.

Plus, an ...

Nestory Irankunda talks his career-changing move to Portugese giants Sporting CP, how he bounced back from a difficult period in his career, and why the A-League deserves more respect.

Plus, future Aussie stars to watch, how Turkiye fired up the Socceroos with their World Cup antics and what can be done to nurture more home-grown talent.

One of Australia's most exciting football prospects ever gives OlanTekkers a glimpse into life ...

OlanTekkers goes down to the Central Coast Mariners training ground to see how they do it at elite level. How do you go from youth academy, to NPL, to A-League? What does it take to make the jump?

First-team players and academy graduates Harrison Steele and Lucas Mauragis share their journey, give advice for young players coming through the system and tell us what you need to make it at the highest level in Australia.

Plus, the new...

What’s it like spending three weeks fighting for your dream, only to be let go in a two and a half minute meeting? How do you handle the emotional heartbreak of missing out on the 2026 World Cup squad after giving everything for your country? And what is the reality of player-manager relationships at the highest level?

This week, Socceroos striker Mitch Duke joins OlanTekkers for a raw, unfiltered conversation about national ...

Spain had 20 shots. Argentina didn't have a shot until the 117th minute. Just what exactly happened? 

Guest host and football tragic Nick Stav and iHeart sports reporter John Bric unpack all the stats and baffling tactical decisions from the 2026 World Cup Final. Why did Argentina coach Scaloni play so negatively? Why did Trump refuse to get off the stage? And is Rodri really the most deserving Player of the Tournament?

Plus, ...

England were minutes away from a World Cup final, then Tuchel pressed the self-destruct button. Messi did Messi things and Argentina turned it around. How did it happen?

Olan is in the UK trying to get over the loss, so Kat Haddad jumps into the host chair to unpack England's heartbreaking semi-final loss to Argentina, and the fallout from one of the biggest games of the tournament. The dust has settled and we've heard more opinion...

What really happened before Patrick Beach was subbed off for Maty Ryan in the World Cup Round of 32 against Egypt? What does it take to spend more than a decade as Australia's No.1 goalkeeper? And how do you go from Blacktown City to the Premier League?

This week, Socceroos captain and player in FOUR World Cups Maty Ryan joins OlanTekkers for an honest conversation about the moments that shaped his career.

We go right back to Maty'...

How do you get yourself sent off for diving in the 70th minute at 1-1 with the current WC champions? Why was a stadium camera involved in a controversial goal? And are Spain good enough to stop France?

These questions answered and more, as A-League sideline reporter and Channel 10 presenter Kat Haddad join OlanTekkers to break down all the biggest talking points from the World Cup quarter-finals. We discuss England's controversial ...

Argentina's path to the semi-final: Algeria, Austria, Jordan, Cabo Verde, Egypt, Switzerland. We're not one for conspiracies but there's too many coincidences to ignore. OlanTekkers unpacks the calls that weren't given, but should have been, and the the ones that were - but shouldn't. Penalties not given, goals disallowed, red cards not given - it's been a shocking display of refereeing all tournament.

Plus, can Australian football...

FIFA corruption, the game of the tournament so far and Ronaldo finally bows out of the World Cup without his much-desired win.

OlanTekkers is joined by Sydney FC goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares to talk all the big World Cup stories, the shocking round of 16 results and how you go from NPL to the A-League.

This week Donald Trump called Gianni Infantino asking to have USA forward Folarin Balogun's red card overturned. In a blatan...

The boys fought hard. Souttar and Herrington, despite missing pens, can hold their heads high.

So the Aussies crash out on penalties and Egypt go through. At least it's new territory for us - out in the round of 32 instead of the round of 16. Their stock is rising and a big summer move looks likely. 

We're not done with the World Cup though at the Failed Footballer! New episodes will still be dropping twice a week as we bring ...

OlanTekkers and Nick Stav look ahead to the round of 16 with Australia, Egypt, Argentina and Cabo Verde still to play. Will the Socceroos make history and beat Egypt? Will Mo Salah play? If he does, who's going to stop him? Who starts for the Socceroos and who plays where?

Plus, our Aussie stars like Bos, Irunkunda and Herrington are attracting serious interest from top clubs like Barcelona and Premier League-bound Hull City. Who's...

Shades of the disgrace of Gijón (yeah we had to Google it too) when Austria played Algeria on the weekend. Both teams knew a draw would send them through, but Riyad Mahrez obviously forgot. It looked like he'd scored the winner in the 93rd minute and Austria were going out - but then they equalised.

Scenes, but was it all too convenient? With Ned Hall, ABC sports football commentator, we break down the big conspiracy and predict ho...

A 0-0 against Paraguay, and The Socceroos are through. 

Australia are officially into the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup, which on paper, is huge. But after watching that game...I’ve got questions. 

Yes, we got the job done. Yes, Popovic made tactical adjustments after the USA game. And defensively, you can’t argue - the Socceroos looked a lot more solid, a lot more controlled and a lot harder to break ...

Win or draw, and the Socceroos finish 2nd in the group. They'll then face Belgium, who'll likely finish 2nd in Group G. Lose, and Australia will come up against Germany in the first knockout round. Who would you rather play?

To preview the game, analyse who should start for the Socceroos and plot out their most likely route to the final, OlanTekkers is joined by Nick Stav, football presenter, NPL player and tragic Arsenal fan. ...