Barça
The rise and fall of the club that built modern football
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Octopus Publishing Group
Published:23rd Jun '22
Should be back in stock very soon
In Barça, Simon Kuper explores the evolution of FC Barcelona, revealing its transformation into a global sports powerhouse while examining its cultural significance.
In Barça, Simon Kuper provides an in-depth exploration of FC Barcelona, a club that has transcended the realm of sports to become a global phenomenon. With its motto 'More than a club', Barça represents not just athletic prowess, but a unique social, cultural, and political entity. Kuper delves into the club's evolution over the past three decades, highlighting its transformation from a regional team into a worldwide powerhouse. He examines the intricate organizational structure that has guided its business decisions, revealing the behind-the-scenes efforts of coaches, medics, data analysts, and nutritionists who have redefined the standards of sporting excellence.
The narrative is enriched by Kuper's unprecedented access to the inner workings of the club, allowing him to share insights into the lives of those dedicated to maintaining Barcelona's elite status. The towering influences of legends like Johan Cruyff and Lionel Messi are carefully analyzed, showcasing their pivotal roles in shaping the club's identity and success. Kuper's writing is both erudite and personal, capturing the latest triumphs and challenges faced by FC Barcelona.
Ultimately, Barça goes beyond the game of football, offering readers a comprehensive understanding of the club's impact on global culture and society. Kuper's journey reveals not only the ascent of this iconic institution but also the complexities and struggles that accompany its legacy. In doing so, he presents a nuanced portrait of a club that continues to inspire millions around the world.
'Ultimately this superb book is about far more than football - it's about Spain, about Catalan culture, about the psychology of management, about developing youngsters, and crucially about the three remarkable men who have shaped the modern game - Cruyff, Messi and Guardiola.' * Daily Mail *
'This is a masterfully written history of the world's greatest football club. Més que un book!' -- GARY LINEKER
'Simon Kuper's Barça has it all: riveting storytelling, superb analysis, non-partisan investigation and, perhaps best of all, it's shot through with Simon's wonderfully dry humour. Simply unmissable.' -- AMY RAPHAEL, author of 'A Game of Two Halves'
The chapters devoted to Cruyff, who played for the club and then transformed it as a manager, are essential reading for anyone interested in innovation or high performance. The book is both a debunking and a restoration. -- Ed Smith * The New Statesman *
One of the best sports books I have read. About so much more: politics, Spain, elites in business... brilliant on Cruyff and Ajax, Messi... quite outstanding. -- ROGER ALTON
Simon expertly charts the path from Cruyff to present-day Barça, showing how Messi, in his own way, represents an update on the Cruyffian style. His approach to a wealth of information about the club, along with his knowledge and passion for football, make for a really great book. -- JORDI PUNTÍ, author of 'Messi: Lessons in Style'
What is the point of football, Simon Kuper asks? It makes our lives a little happier than they would be without it. And the point of this book? It makes our lives even happier. Kuper has written a great story, a history and an autobiography, a work of philosophy and gossip. It is the best book about sport, any sport, that I have read in a long time. An outright joy. An instant classic. -- BILL BUFORD, author of 'Among Thugs'
Simon's writing has been an indispensable part of football's landscape for the better part of the last three decades. His access to Barça has enabled him to tell a story that no one else can about the biggest club in the world, and its biggest star. This book both chronicles and analyses an era in football history that we're lucky to have witnessed, and that may never be matched.' -- BILLY BEANE, the inspiration behind 'Moneyball'
'Rich value here: five books for the price of one. Much more than a mightily well-researched chronicle of the rise and decline of FC Barcelona, Simon Kuper's Barça offers a masterclass on football, a brilliantly perceptive, anecdote-rich anatomy of the game's greatest team, greatest player, greatest coach and most influential figure.' -- John Carlin
'The best football book of 2021.' -- Matt Dickinson * The Times *
ISBN: 9781780725543
Dimensions: 198mm x 128mm x 40mm
Weight: 313g
384 pages