... a deep study ... Readers should not be dissuaded from the book because they think it is only for soccer fans. Kuper is an accomplished writer who places the sport in a world context, and the insights presented here have application far beyond soccer. Whether you enjoy sports or are interested in how winning organizations achieve their success, you will find a treasure trove of fascinating material ... a wonderful book about sports and team building. Even if you think that soccer is a boring game, you will enjoy this exhaustive and detailed sports classic.
... gripping ... packed with managerial tips and tricks, from training routines (a chain-smoker, Cruyff favoured ball skills over the gym) to strategy ... But the book’s appeal goes further. At its heart, this is an intimately told story about how to create a winning organisational culture—and how, by avoiding Barça’s mistakes, not to lose it. Offered unprecedented access, Kuper’s interviews range from board members to scouts. Little escapes his keen eye ... Business readers looking for insights will be sadly disappointed ... There’s also little for gossip-hungry fans ... Instead, it offers a grounded and often witty peek behind the scenes. “
... an insider’s view of FC Barcelona, introducing readers to a 'Who’s Who in the House of Barça' and pulling back the curtain to reveal what fuels the powerhouse organization ... Kuper vividly captures the unique cultural phenomenon that is FC Barcelona. A must for soccer fans.
Kuper’s unique access to the inner workings of the organization and his accompanying descriptions of the Catalonia region’s history and culture combine to create an all-inclusive, highly significant history of FC Barcelona. Kuper’s eye for a good story, thorough and unique research, and fan-friendly writing style will make this book an essential read for serious soccer fans and historians ... FC Barcelona is a way of life for untold millions around the world, and Kuper covers over a century of the beloved team’s history with an insider’s view and a fan’s insights. Followers of 'the Beautiful Game' will enjoy this deep dive into one of the world’s most famous and successful franchises.
... a narrative as swiftly moving as a tournament ... though this book is likely to appeal primarily to soccer fans, readers need not follow the sport to enjoy it. The opening cast of characters and 'Barcelona Lexicon' are particularly helpful ... A smart, engaging look at soccer as both game and business.
Kuper translates his decades of coverage of the world’s highest-grossing sports club into a fascinating record of its legacy ... Though some information verges on too granular—such as Kuper’s painstaking parsing of the team’s nutritional regimen—the end result brilliantly captures the business of sports. This is likely to be the definitive account of the business side of the famous club.
