From Kickabouts to Billions: The Fascinating History of Soccer With Brian Bunk

In this episode, Brooks sits down with Brian Bunk, Senior Lecturer at the University of Massachusetts and author of The Shortest History of Soccer: From Ancient Kicking Games to the World's Most Popular Sport. Brian takes us on a fascinating journey through the history of the world's most popular sport — from its ancient roots to the multi-billion dollar global industry it has become today. Along the way, he dives into the rise of pay-to-play culture, the darker side of the beautiful game, and how soccer has transformed into one of the most powerful businesses on the planet. In this conversation, Brian opens up about:📖 What inspired him to write the book⚽ The moment he truly fell in love with soccer🔍 The research process behind compiling a complete history of the sport📚 Pick up Brian's book at bookshop.orgIf you loved this episode, drop us a review and rating — it genuinely helps us grow! ⚽🙏Join 80,000+ soccer fans who read our twice-weekly Substack newsletter. Real soccer content, straight to your inbox.Come hang with us on social! 👇 🎥 YouTube 📸 Instagram 📘 Facebook 📧 Substack 🌐 Website 🐦 X