You don’t need to be half French to worship Zizou the magnificent, but it probably helps

Welcome to a new episode of the My Sporting Hero podcast, part of Nutmeg FC. The home of brilliant football stories – made in Scotland.

So far this month, Nutmeg FC subscribers have enjoyed....

* Former Dundee United, Aberdeen and Hibs star Mixu Paatelainen telling us why his dad Matti is his sporting hero.

* Iain Macintosh giving us the skinny on Duncan Ferguson’s sensational autobiography, with nine things we didn’t know about the Everton legend.

* Adam Clery analysing how Scotland’s Lewis Ferguson became the tactical lynchpin to Bologna’s brilliant season.

Great content still to come includes....

* The Slow Match Report from Daniel Gray reporting on the Premiership playoff final.

* Stephen McGowan’s three-part investigation into plastic pitches in Scottish football.

Only paid subscribers to Nutmeg FC get every piece we produce straight to their inbox – including the full version of today’s episode.

This time on My Sporting Hero, our guest is Christophe Berra.

Christophe was a central-defensive stalwart for Hearts during two spells at Tynecastle, which bookended eight years south of the border at Wolverhampton Wanderers and Ipswich Town. He sat on the bench for Hearts’ 2006 Scottish Cup triumph over Gretna but received a winner’s medal, and won the second tier with the Jambos in Scotland and with Wolves in England, going on to grace three Premier League seasons with the Molineux club. He also won the Scottish Challenge Cup with Raith Rovers in 2022.

Christophe has such a cool name because his dad Christian is French. However, while he retains a soft spot for Les Bleus, Edinburgh-born Christophe’s allegiances are firmly with Scotland, and he proudly donned the dark blue of his nation 41 times.

Christophe retired from playing three years ago and is currently based in Alabama, as interim head coach of professional outfit Huntsville City.

Christophe’s sporting hero is former midfielder Zinedine Zidane – France’s World Cup-winning Monsieur Magnifique.

Nutmeg FC | Substack

Welcome to a new episode of the My Sporting Hero podcast, part of Nutmeg FC. The home of brilliant football stories – made in Scotland.

Top content still to come this month for Nutmeg FC subscribers includes:

* Exclusive columns from the brilliant Nick Harris and our tactics guru Adam Clery.

* The Slow Match Report from Daniel Gray on the second leg of the Premiership playoff final.

* A three-part investigation by our latest signing Stephen McGowan.

Only paid subscribers to Nutmeg FC get every piece we produce straight to their inbox – including the full version of today’s episode.

This time on My Sporting Hero, our guest is Mixu Paatelainen.

Hailing from an auspicious Finnish sporting family, Mixu became a beloved, no-nonsense striker in his home from home Scotland, most notably at Dundee United, Aberdeen and Hibernian. He won Scottish Cup runners-up medals with all three clubs and helped Hibs win the First Division in 1999. His spell at Bolton Wanderers led to his cult hero status being sealed with a mention in Peter Kay’s classic comedy Phoenix Nights.

Mixu’s managerial career has taken him far and wide, and his charges have included Cowdenbeath, Hibs, Kilmarnock, Dundee United and the Finnish national team.

Mixu’s sporting hero is his father and fellow former Finland hero Matti.

Nutmeg FC | Substack

Welcome to a new episode of the My Sporting Hero podcast, part of Nutmeg FC. The home of brilliant football stories – made in Scotland.

So far this month, Nutmeg FC subscribers have enjoyed....

* Brian Lee’s article on the fascinating connection between fans of Morton and Serie B outfit Reggiana

* Daniel Gray’s latest Slow Match Report on Rangers’ heroic draw with Athletic Bilbao in the Europa League quarter-final

And still to come....

* The exclusive column from our tactics guy Adam Clery comparing Lewis Ferguson with Liam Henderson

Only paid subscribers to Nutmeg FC get every piece we produce straight to their inbox.

This time on My Sporting Hero, our guest is Michael O’Neill.

Portadown-born Michael played as a midfielder for several British clubs, including ones in Scotland where he is best remembered for spells at Dundee United and Hibernian. As a young man he set top-flight Newcastle ablaze with a stunning opening season. He moved to Tannadice and eventually fell out with notoriously thrawn United managerial legend Jim McLean. He also played over 30 times for Northern Ireland.

Michael started out in management at Brechin City, made Shamrock Rovers Irish champions and led them into Europe, before taking the reins at Northern Ireland. He achieved the nation’s first-ever qualification for the European Championship and progression to the second round of the finals in France in 2016. He also rescued Stoke City from relegation danger when he first joined the Potters.

Michael is currently enjoying his second spell as Northern Ireland manager.

His sporting hero is ‘Superbrat’ and all-round tennis genius/guru John McEnroe.

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