Season 4, Episode 51 - Sam Kelly

Our guest in this special bonus episode in conjunction with Event No. 24 of the Around the World in 80 Sporting Events project (South American soccer matches), is Sam Kelly, host of the first and, he believes, still only English-language Argentinian soccer (er, futbol) podcast, Hand of Pod.

We chat with Sam, a native of southwest England, about his early affinity for Manchester United in the English Premier League and how and when he discovered the international game, Argentina in particular.

Sam, who's now lived in Argentina for 15 years, is also a brilliant resource for what differentiates the game in his current homeland from other parts of the world. In a word, he says, "Passion." A fella named Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona might have something to do with it as well as

He also provides us with a rundown of the Argentine Football Association's so-called "big five" clubs: Boca Juniors, River Plate, Racing, Independiente, and San Lorenzo.

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