The Athletic FC Podcast

Episode: Is Harry Kane Better Than Ever?
Host: Ayo Akinwolere
Guests: Charlie Eccleshare, Seb Stafford-Bloor, Rob Green
Date: October 15, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode explores whether Harry Kane is playing the best football of his career, his evolution as a player, and the persistent debates about his role and reputation for both England and Bayern Munich. The panel—comprised of English and German football experts, as well as former England goalkeeper Rob Green—delivers sharp insights on Kane’s legacy, the criticism he faces, and the broader implications for England’s World Cup hopes.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. England’s World Cup Hopes and Kane’s Importance

• Kane as Essential:
  • Charlie Eccleshare emphasizes Kane’s irreplaceable centrality ("He’s clearly still the guy around who the rest of the team looks to for inspiration," [02:12]).
  • Importance of keeping Kane fit for success, hoping Bayern wraps up the Bundesliga early, allowing him rest ([02:12]).
• Kane & Criticism Tradition:
  • Seb Stafford-Bloor argues that England strikers have always been under scrutiny (citing Rooney, Owen, Shearer).
    • “This is just a habit that exists around England centre forwards.” ([03:18])
  • Critics often look for a scapegoat when England fall short.
• Burden for Trophies:
  • Kane’s “best player never to win anything” status fed criticism, especially before his move to Bayern and breaking his trophy drought there ([05:44]).

2. Is England Over-Reliant on Kane?

• Seb suggests the focus on Kane is somewhat outdated:
  • “It’s a legacy of 20, 30 years ago where England didn’t have the talent...now they do, and yet Kane remains the focal point.” ([05:59])
  • Points out that other underperforming English players escape similar scrutiny.

3. Kane’s Persona—Is He Underappreciated Because He’s 'Normal'?

• Kane’s “normal dad-like” aura is dissected:
  • Charlie Eccleshare admires his authenticity and professionalism, but acknowledges this makes him less marketable and perhaps undervalued ([07:28]).
  • “He’s the most un-superstar superstar...how you present yourself does really matter in this context.” ([08:07])
  • Anecdote about Kane carrying a hat-trick match ball in a simple bag after a Bayern match underscores Kane’s unflashy, down-to-earth personality ([11:18]).
• Social media and fashionability play a role in how Kane is perceived compared to more flamboyant stars ([13:00]).

4. Does Winning Trophies Change Kane’s Perception?

• The panel argues Kane’s Bundesliga win hasn’t silenced detractors, especially due to Premier League–biased perspectives:
  • Seb: “People don’t really respect what you achieve in Germany... assume it’s a welcome gift at Bayern.” ([11:37])
  • Social media “brand” of Kane-bashing persists ([12:23]).
• His Spurs background and lack of media cheerleaders may have compounded criticism ([13:00]).

5. Evolution as a Player: What Makes Kane Prolific?

• Rob Green recalls Kane’s unremarkable youth, but says “something clicked” with relentless hard work:
  • “He looked like he was struggling then...all of a sudden, everything just flew.” ([18:07])
  • Lauds Kane’s professionalism, consistency, and mental resilience ([19:54]).
• Positional Intelligence:
  • Kane is criticized for dropping deep, but Green argues this adds another dimension:
    • “If it brings a different dimension, yeah, brilliant... let the other players make those runs because they’re quicker.” ([21:12])
• For Bayern, Kane’s deeper role has enabled faster wingers to flourish and brought a variety of attacking options ([22:42]).

6. Tactical Versatility & Intelligence

• Panel agrees Kane is both a classic number nine and playmaker—a “Shearer and Sheringham in one body,” as Seb puts it ([24:52]).
  • Bayern has learned to utilize this, especially in the absence of playmakers ([22:42]).
• Charlie: “He’s been able to have this evolution without his productivity going down. If anything, it’s got better.” ([26:20])
  • Helped teammates (e.g., Son at Spurs) reach new heights.

7. Underappreciated Genius & Footballing Intelligence

• Kane’s intelligence and assists often go under the radar:
  • “Some of the stuff he does reminds me of Dennis Bergkamp. His spatial awareness is insane.” —Charlie ([44:13])
  • England might only realize Kane’s true value after retirement, similar to Michael Carrick ([42:06]).

8. Longevity and Peak Performance

• Kane’s durability and reinvention suggest he can continue at the top level longer than most strikers ([45:24]).
  • “I’ve never seen a player who’s been able just to add stuff [to his game] without taking anything away.” —Seb ([45:24])
• The real test will be how teams and managers handle his eventual physical decline ([46:47]).

9. Kane’s Place Among England Greats

• While it’s hard to compare eras, both Charlie and Seb place him among England’s best of the modern era:
  • “In my lifetime, as a pure footballer, there’s no one above him.” —Seb ([48:47])
  • Kane’s tournament record, goal tally, and consistency stand out.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On England’s Kane Reliance:

  • “If you’re not winning things, everything gets viewed through that prism...if you do, you become the hero. But until you do, there are always going to be question marks.”
    — Charlie Eccleshare ([04:53])

• On Kane's Normalcy:

  • “He’s the most un-superstar superstar...he’s so unbelievably driven and professional, which I think most people can’t really relate to.”
    — Charlie Eccleshare ([08:07])

• On Criticism Despite Success:

  • “The people who want to denigrate him will still do it... conversation is very Premier League centric... there’s attention to be gained, retweets and likes to be farmed from that.”
    — Seb Stafford-Bloor ([12:23])

• On his Evolution:

  • “Kane’s kind of both [Shearer and Sheringham] in the same body... as he’s got older, that penny started to drop in Germany about 18 months ago.”
    — Seb Stafford-Bloor ([24:52])

• On Facing Kane as a Goalkeeper:

  • “If he gets to a certain position, you know, you’ve not really got a chance...he is the best I’ve seen just finding the corner consistently.”
    — Rob Green ([31:19])

• On Underappreciation:

  • “He is a genius on the pitch, but it’s often overlooked because, well, he’ll score a goal in the game... part of that comes down to the fact that he is quite a reserved guy.”
    — Charlie Eccleshare ([44:13])

• On Longevity:

  • “There’s no sense in Germany that he’s slowing down...he’ll play as long as he wants to, I’m sure.”
    — Seb Stafford-Bloor ([46:47])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:25] – Start of football discussion & introduction of guests
• [02:12] – The importance of Kane’s fitness for England
• [03:18] – Historical scrutiny of England strikers
• [05:44] – Burden of trophies and the “best player to never win anything” tag
• [07:28] – Conversation about Kane’s persona
• [11:18] – Anecdote of Kane carrying his match ball in a simple bag
• [13:00] – Impact of social media and Spurs association on Kane’s image
• [18:07] – Rob Green on Kane’s early career and evolution
• [21:12] – Kane’s tactical role and criticism for dropping deep
• [22:42] – How Bayern and Germany have embraced Kane’s deeper role
• [26:20] – Evolution of Kane’s productivity and playmaking
• [31:19] – Rob Green on facing Kane as a goalkeeper
• [37:23] – Start of closing thoughts and Kane’s place in marketing and football culture
• [44:13] – Kane’s intelligence and overlooked genius
• [45:24] – Longevity and adaptation to remain elite
• [47:59] – Kane’s place in England’s all-time football hierarchy

Conclusion

This episode peels back the layers of Harry Kane’s extraordinary and often underappreciated career. From his understated, authentic persona to his tactical evolution and relentless productivity, the panel agrees that Kane is perhaps more valuable—and better—than ever. Yet, Kane’s lack of flash and his slow-burn ascent mean he’s sometimes taken for granted, even as his statistical achievements and consistency set him apart from both his contemporaries and England’s storied history.

Hosts and Guests:

• Ayo Akinwolere: Presenter
• Charlie Eccleshare: Spurs expert
• Seb Stafford-Bloor: German football journalist
• Rob Green: Former England goalkeeper

Essential Quote:

"He is a genius on the pitch, but it's often overlooked because, well, he'll score a goal in the game... part of that comes down to the fact that he is quite a reserved guy."
— Charlie Eccleshare ([44:13])

For those who haven’t listened, this episode offers an incisive, human look at one of football’s most fascinating superstars on and off the pitch, right as another major tournament looms.