The A-League is back, and OlanTekkers reckons anyone saying it’s dead clearly wasn’t at the Sydney Derby. The atmosphere was unreal, even if the football didn’t quite live up to it. Olan and Kat Haddad break down the opening round, the Sydney Derby stalemate, the chaos of the F3 Derby and why the derbies matter so much for the league.

Then it’s over to the Premier League and the mess at Manchester United. Is Michael Carrick really the man to turn things around, or are the problems much bigger than the manager? Later, Western Sydney Wanderers midfielder Isabella Chidiac joins Olan to talk about her football journey, playing with boys growing up, earning a full US college scholarship worth $150k a year, balancing elite football with a pre-med degree, and why breaking into professional football as an international player isn’t as simple as being good enough.

She also opens up about returning to Australia, the financial realities of the women’s game, her Matildas dream and the motivation that keeps her chasing it.

In this episode: 

00:00 The A-League is back

01:45 Sydney Derby review

04:58 The F3 Derby delivers

09:50 A-League Women kicks off

10:09 What’s gone wrong at Manchester United?

16:43 Should clubs give managers more time?

18:40 Isabella joins the pod

19:16 Starting out playing with the boys

22:10 Why Isabella chose US college football

23:56 The $88k-a-year full scholarship

24:31 Life as a student athlete in America

26:24 How good is US college football?

29:17 Trying to turn pro after college

31:29 Returning to Western Sydney

32:14 The financial reality of the A-League Women

33:18 Chasing a Matildas call-up

34:54 Australia vs America

38:49 Isabella’s advice to young footballers

40:57 Dealing with rejection and staying motivated

41:45 Ronaldo vs Messi

43:30 When should Ronaldo have retired? 

44:32 Outro

The A-League is back, and OlanTekkers reckons anyone saying it&rsquo;s dead clearly wasn&rsquo;t at the Sydney Derby. The atmosphere was unreal, even if the football didn&rsquo;t quite live up to it. Olan and Kat Haddad break down the opening round, the Sydney Derby stalemate, the chaos of the F3 Derby and why the derbies matter so much for the league.
Then it&rsquo;s over to the Premier League and the mess at Manchester United. Is Michael Carrick really the man to turn things around, or are the problems much bigger than the manager? Later, Western Sydney Wanderers midfielder Isabella Chidiac joins Olan to talk about her football journey, playing with boys growing up, earning a full US college scholarship worth $150k a year, balancing elite football with a pre-med degree, and why breaking into professional football as an international player isn&rsquo;t as simple as being good enough.
She also opens up about returning to Australia, the financial realities of the women&rsquo;s game, her Matildas dream and the motivation that keeps her chasing it.
In this episode:&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4DPrqZ1YLE" aria-label="0 seconds">00:00</a> The A-League is back
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4DPrqZ1YLE&amp;t=105s" aria-label="1 minute, 45 seconds">01:45</a> Sydney Derby review
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4DPrqZ1YLE&amp;t=298s" aria-label="4 minutes, 58 seconds">04:58</a> The F3 Derby delivers
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4DPrqZ1YLE&amp;t=590s" aria-label="9 minutes, 50 seconds">09:50</a> A-League Women kicks off
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4DPrqZ1YLE&amp;t=609s" aria-label="10 minutes, 9 seconds">10:09</a> What&rsquo;s gone wrong at Manchester United?
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4DPrqZ1YLE&amp;t=1003s" aria-label="16 minutes, 43 seconds">16:43</a> Should clubs give managers more time?
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4DPrqZ1YLE&amp;t=1120s" aria-label="18 minutes, 40 seconds">18:40</a> Isabella joins the pod
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4DPrqZ1YLE&amp;t=1156s" aria-label="19 minutes, 16 seconds">19:16</a> Starting out playing with the boys
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4DPrqZ1YLE&amp;t=1330s" aria-label="22 minutes, 10 seconds">22:10</a> Why Isabella chose US college football
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4DPrqZ1YLE&amp;t=1436s" aria-label="23 minutes, 56 seconds">23:56</a> The $88k-a-year full scholarship
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4DPrqZ1YLE&amp;t=1471s" aria-label="24 minutes, 31 seconds">24:31</a> Life as a student athlete in America
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4DPrqZ1YLE&amp;t=1584s" aria-label="26 minutes, 24 seconds">26:24</a> How good is US college football?
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4DPrqZ1YLE&amp;t=1757s" aria-label="29 minutes, 17 seconds">29:17</a> Trying to turn pro after college
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4DPrqZ1YLE&amp;t=1889s&amp;pp=0gcJCWMAwfN6Pr3D" aria-label="31 minutes, 29 seconds">31:29</a> Returning to Western Sydney
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4DPrqZ1YLE&amp;t=1934s" aria-label="32 minutes, 14 seconds">32:14</a> The financial reality of the A-League Women
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4DPrqZ1YLE&amp;t=1998s" aria-label="33 minutes, 18 seconds">33:18</a> Chasing a Matildas call-up
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4DPrqZ1YLE&amp;t=2094s" aria-label="34 minutes, 54 seconds">34:54</a> Australia vs America
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4DPrqZ1YLE&amp;t=2329s" aria-label="38 minutes, 49 seconds">38:49</a> Isabella&rsquo;s advice to young footballers
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4DPrqZ1YLE&amp;t=2457s" aria-label="40 minutes, 57 seconds">40:57</a> Dealing with rejection and staying motivated
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4DPrqZ1YLE&amp;t=2505s" aria-label="41 minutes, 45 seconds">41:45</a> Ronaldo vs Messi
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4DPrqZ1YLE&amp;t=2610s" aria-label="43 minutes, 30 seconds">43:30</a>&nbsp;When should Ronaldo have retired?&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4DPrqZ1YLE&amp;t=2672s&amp;pp=0gcJCWMAwfN6Pr3D" aria-label="44 minutes, 32 seconds">44:32</a> Outro

He may have failed as a footballer, but luckily you don't need to have made it to have an opinion. OlanTekkers knows football, and with some icons of the game past and present - who've actually made it - he gives you bold takes on the Premier League, A-League, La Liga, Serie A, Champions League and beyond.

How do you actually make it as a pro footballer? The Failed Footballer gives you everything you need to know from football's top leagues around the world: news, goals, player stories and more. 

This is your front‑row seat to all the action from football around the world - the goals, results and most shocking stories. You’ll also get insight from emerging talent, analysis of tactics, coaching decisions, and hear what it really takes to avoid the dreaded 'failed footballer' tag.

He may have failed as a footballer, but luckily you don't need to have made it to have an opinion. OlanTekkers knows football, and with some icons of the game past and present - who've actually made it - he gives you bold takes on the Premier League, A-League, La Liga, Serie A, Champions League and beyond.
How do you actually make it as a pro footballer? The Failed Footballer gives you everything you need to know from football's top leagues around the world: news, goals, player stories and more.&nbsp;
This is your front‑row seat to all the action from football around the world - the goals, results and most shocking stories. You&rsquo;ll also get insight from emerging talent, analysis of tactics, coaching decisions, and hear what it really takes to avoid the dreaded 'failed footballer' tag.

The Failed Footballer

He failed as a footballer, but luckily you don't need to have made it to have an opinion. OlanTekkers knows football, and with some expert guests he takes you through the biggest stories, the best goals and all the results from this year's World Cup.

This is your front‑row seat to all the action from Canada, Mexico and the US, as we follow Australia (and England) through the group stage and beyond. 

The Failed Footballer covers all the essentials football fans are searching for, including World Cup analysis, football match recaps, tactical breakdowns, and reactions to the biggest results. There’s a strong focus on the Socceroos, tracking Australia’s journey on the world stage, alongside key coverage of England and other international heavyweights. You’ll also get insight into emerging talent, football tactics, coaching decisions, and the storylines driving global conversation, making it a go-to football podcast for both hardcore fans and casual viewers.

New episodes drop twice a week, keeping you up to date with every major development across the World Cup and the wider football world, perfect for staying across results, analysis and talking points as they happen.

Each episode features a rotating lineup of former and current players, football legends, pundits and iconic voices from the game. These expert guests bring firsthand experience, unique insights and strong opinions, adding depth and credibility to every conversation.

If you enjoy football podcasts like The Rest Is Football, Football Weekly, Suited and Booted, or anything that blends match analysis with personality and strong takes, you’ll feel right at home here. OlanTekkers delivers the same mix of insight, humour and fan-driven energy, with his own unmistakable voice.

This show is not affiliated with FIFA or Football Australia

He failed as a footballer, but luckily you don't need to have made it to have an opinion. OlanTekkers knows football, and with some expert guests he takes you through the biggest stories, the best goals and all the results from this year's World Cup.
This is your front‑row seat to all the action from Canada, Mexico and the US, as we follow Australia (and England) through the group stage and beyond.&nbsp;
<hr><hr>
The Failed Footballer covers all the essentials football fans are searching for, including World Cup analysis, football match recaps, tactical breakdowns, and reactions to the biggest results. There&rsquo;s a strong focus on the Socceroos, tracking Australia&rsquo;s journey on the world stage, alongside key coverage of England and other international heavyweights. You&rsquo;ll also get insight into emerging talent, football tactics, coaching decisions, and the storylines driving global conversation, making it a go-to football podcast for both hardcore fans and casual viewers.
New episodes drop twice a week, keeping you up to date with every major development across the World Cup and the wider football world, perfect for staying across results, analysis and talking points as they happen.
Each episode features a rotating lineup of former and current players, football legends, pundits and iconic voices from the game. These expert guests bring firsthand experience, unique insights and strong opinions, adding depth and credibility to every conversation.
If you enjoy football podcasts like The Rest Is Football, Football Weekly, Suited and Booted, or anything that blends match analysis with personality and strong takes, you&rsquo;ll feel right at home here. OlanTekkers delivers the same mix of insight, humour and fan-driven energy, with his own unmistakable voice.
This show is not affiliated with FIFA or Football Australia

What it's like playing on a $150k a year scholarship in the US | with A-League Women new signing Isabella Chidiac

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/fa326977-3de5-4283-9b8b-af3500c58607/clips/6b2ecba3-1c01-4bd1-a24a-b4e800782ded/transcript