RTÉ Soccer Podcast

Ahead of the Republic of Ireland's UEFA Nations League opener in Pristina, former Kosovo manager Albert Bunjaki speaks to Raf Diallo. The current head of academy at Swedish club IF Karlstad Fotboll served as head coach of his birth nation between 2009 and 2017 and shares an insight into his role in helping to build the national team from the ground up before they became official members of FIFA and UEFA ten years ago and in their first World Cup qualifying campaign. TIMESTAMPS 01:00 Bunjaki discusses his early experiences growing up in Pristina and the role football played at a time when Kosovo was part of Yugoslavia. 03:00 Bunjaki explains the circumstances which led him to leave Kosovo for Sweden in 1991 and his years in exile while facing a 20-year sentence imposed in absentia for not accepting conscription into the Yugoslav army. 06:00 Working his way up the Swedish football coaching ladder and the road towards being appointed Kosovo manager. 11:00 The importance of late former Kosovo FA president and Yugoslavia international footballer Fadil Vokrri and putting the building blocks in place for a national team that was still seeking international recognition. 16:00 How Bunjaki began scouting players abroad who would be eligible to represent Kosovo in the future, the dilemma faced by the likes of Swiss greats Granit Xhaka and Xherdan Shaqiri, and the important support he received from mentor and close friend, Tord Grip, who previously served as a long-time assistant to the late Sven Goran Eriksson. 28:00 How Bunjaki prepared for and put together a team for a milestone 2014 friendly against Haiti in Mitrovica after FIFA gave the green light for Kosovo to start playing its members in non-competitive games. 36:00 Kosovo admission into FIFA and UEFA in 2016 and the challenge in being ready for the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign, including earning a draw against Finland away in their first game despite not knowing if key players could feature just hours before kick-off. 44:00 Bunjaki reflects on how Kosovo have built on his early work to almost qualify for the 2026 World Cup, beating Sweden - the country he has called home since 1991 - twice during the campaign. 46:00 The rapid growth of Kosovan football at club level and what the Republic of Ireland can expect against the national team on Thursday, 24 September and what Irish fans can look forward to in Pristina. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Keith Treacy and Paul Corry join Raf Diallo to discuss the Irish abroad including James Abankwah, Trent Kone-Doherty and Troy Parrott, as well as Séamus Coleman's Stick To Football comments, and review a consquential weekend in the League of Ireland, while Rachel Graham reflects on Saturday's Women's LOI and Ireland players shining in WSL2. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alan Cawley, Rachel Graham and Keith Treacy join Raf Diallo to react to all the latest from the world of Irish soccer including Troy Parrott's winner against Real Madrid, Irish transfers, the weekend's action in the FAI Cup and Men's and Women's Premier Division, as well as discussing Katie Taylor the footballer. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alan Cawley and David McMillan join Raf Diallo to talk Troy Parrott, Jake O'Brien, Gavin Bazunu and the other Irish abroad, react to Shamrock Rovers' European exit, the latest LOI action, and preview the FAI Cup quarter-finals, while Rachel Graham delves into the women's title race and the Irish on the move. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alan Cawley and Keith Treacy join Raf Diallo to discuss Troy Parrott's move to Real Betis, great opening Premier League weekends for Brentford and John Egan, Shamrock Rovers' away leg at KuPS and Friday's Premier Division results, while Rachel Graham reacts to the Women's FAI Cup semi-finals and talks Emily Murphy's next step at Brighton. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Keith Treacy and Alan Cawley join Raf Diallo to react to the Sports Direct Men's FAI Cup third round weekend, discuss Shamrock Rovers' European travails as they look to bounce back against KuPS, Troy Parrott potentially joining Real Betis and the waning presence of Irish players in the Premier League, while Rachel Graham chats league action and the Women's Cup semis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Corry and Keith Treacy join Alan Cawley to look at the latest in League of Ireland soccer. Shamrock Rovers continue to pull away but what gear are they in? St Pat's are their biggest chasers but is there a time when the Inchicore club will actually surpass the Hoops? Might Bohemians play a weakened team in Europe or can they turn things around in Denmark? What about the bottom of the table, who is going to get dragged into the relegation conversation with a Sligo side in big trouble? Rachel Graham joins to look back on all the latest action in the Women's Premier Division. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Raf on his post-World Cup holidays, Alan Cawley steps into the host's seat as he's joined by Keith Treacy and Paul Corry to dissect the week that was in the League Of Ireland before Shelbourne ace Rachel Graham stops by to give us the inside line on the women's game. All the latest soccer news from Raf Diallo and the RTÉ Sport team - covering the League of Ireland and Ireland's international football sides. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Keith Treacy, Paul Corry and Rachel Graham join Raf Diallo as the League of Ireland clubs get set for their European second legs, the relegation battle takes centre stage as Sligo Rovers introduce their new manager and a number of Republic of Ireland women's internationals are on the move. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shelbourne's Rachel Graham joins Raf Diallo to react to winning the All-Island Cup final against Galway United, as well as discussing Athlone Town extending their lead in the league ahead of their Champions League qualifier and Maria Reynolds joining Sheffield United. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Keith Treacy and Alan Cawley join Raf Diallo to dissect Spain's World Cup final win over Argentina, pick their Team of the Tournament, best player and young player, before reviewing the Club Orange Men's FAI Cup action and looking ahead to the LOI clubs' European games. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ray Houghton and Paul Corry join Raf Diallo on the RTÉ Soccer Podcast to preview Sunday's World Cup final between Spain and Argentina and reflect on the shortcomings of France and England after their semi-final defeats. TIMESTAMPS 01:00 France v Spain review. 07:35 Argentina v England review. 16:00 Spain v Argentina World Cup final preview, predictions and the impact of the half-time show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rachel Graham joins Raf Diallo to discuss reports of Denise O'Sullivan being on the verge of a return to the NWSL, react to the weekend's league action and look ahead to the All-Island Cup final that will pit her Shelbourne side against Galway United. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Keith Treacy previews the World Cup semi-finals as France, Spain, Argentina and England vie for a place in Sunday's showpiece, before reacting to Shelbourne's appointment of John Russell and the weekend's action as well as previewing the FAI Cup second round and Euro qualifiers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shay Given and Alan Cawley join Raf Diallo to preview the three remaining World Cup quarter-finals including England and Norway, while also reflecting on favourites France's progressing past Morocco and the penalty prep that went into the 2002 tournament. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ray Houghton in Dallas and Alan Cawley join Raf Diallo to dissect the latest World Cup action, look-ahead to the fixtures to come and react to the Folarin Balogun situation, while Alan also reviews the weekend's League of Ireland and previews the Euro qualifiers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shelbourne's Rachel Graham joins Raf Diallo to discuss the latest news in the women's game including Áine O'Gorman's appointment at Bray Wanderers and Shamrock Rovers leaving Roadstone, while she reacts to the weekend's cup storylines and looks ahead to her own side's battle with Athlone Town. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Keith Treacy and Alan Cawley join Raf Diallo on the RTÉ Soccer Podcast to discuss the latest from the World Cup and the upcoming last-32 ties, before delving into the League of Ireland, including Shelbourne's hunt for a new manager. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ray Houghton, Kenny Cunningham and Alan Cawley join Raf Diallo to chat through the latest from the World Cup group stages and start projecting ahead to the impending knockout stages. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stephen Kelly and Keith Treacy join Raf Diallo to chat through the lates action from the 2026 World Cup and the games to come, while Keith also reviews last Friday's League of Ireland action and reacts to the draw European draw for the four LOI clubs. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.