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Mariner Books

The Club: How the English Premier League Became the Wildest, Richest, Most Disruptive Force in Sports

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Format: Paperback


Description

The Club is the inside story of how English soccer’s Premier League became the wildest, richest, most popular sports product on the planet, "a narrative that is part Great Expectations, part Game of Thrones, in equal measure." (Roger Bennett, NBC Sports, Men in Blazers) This is a sports and business tale of how money, ambition, and twenty-five years of drama remade an ancient institution into a twenty-first-century entertainment empire. No one knew it when their experiment began, but without any particular genius or acumen, the motley cast of billionaires and hucksters behind the modern Premier League struck gold. Pretty soon, everyone wanted to try their luck, from Russian oligarchs to Emirati sheikhs, American tycoons, and Asian Tiger titans. Some succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. Some lost everything. Today, players are sold for tens of millions, clubs are valued in the billions, and games are beamed out to nearly two hundred countries, all while the league struggles to preserve its English soul. Deeply researched and drawing on one hundred exclusive interviews, including the key decision makers at every major English team, The Club is the definitive and wildly entertaining narrative of how the Premier League took over the world. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Mariner Books; Reprint edition (September 3, 2019)


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Paperback ‏ : ‎ 384 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0358213053


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 55


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.9 ounces


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.31 x 0.94 x 8 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #14,745 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #5 in Entertainment Industry #13 in Soccer (Books) #21 in Sports History (Books)


#5 in Entertainment Industry:


#13 in Soccer (Books):


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Top Amazon Reviews

    • Great read
I never thought a non-fiction book could be a page turner but this one is it. I blew through it in under one week which is pretty fast for me! As an American who is relatively new to European soccer/football, this book really gave me a lot of insight into the Premier League. Have you ever looked at the list of Prem champions and wondered how and why Blackburn Rovers snuck their way onto that list? This book goes over a lot of interesting stories like that. It’s non-fiction but reads like a novel. I highly recommend it. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on August 26, 2023 by Weston P.
    • A+ book for all sports fans
Very well-written. Learned a ton about the business side of the premier league with some added humor from the writers. Wasn't too technical when getting in depth on certain deals/contracts made within the league. Written much more like a story than a history lecture. Would highly recommend to anybody interested in sports business....definitely a must read if you're a soccer/football fan. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2023 by Brandon Kuring
    • How we got to here
The English Premier League, known universally simply as 'EPL' is both bane and bone to sport, especially in England. As the authors say, 'It had become an occupational hazard for Premier League fans that when they bought a jersey with a player's name on the back the $100 garment they had just splashed out for had a shorter shelf life than the latest iPhone'. How did football get to this? It will be so nostalgic when Jack Butland wears a plain green jersey in tribute to the late Stoke City goalkeeper, Gordon Banks in the match with Aston Villa on 2nd March. The book begins with humble beginnings of English clubs, and even big clubs like Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United, were 'a loosely affiliated collection of working men full of amateur ideals...club directors abhor the idea of operating a team for profit'. Then in the 1970s, billboard advertising came around. Eventually, so did the Glazer family, Hicks & Gillet, and Abramovich. The authors show how Arsenal's example in thrift and the big stadium brought a flurry of change. Hitherto, even the big clubs were camped in out-of-date and cramped stadiums; what more the lesser clubs? In comes big money, and the stories and events that led to the breakaway Premier League is absorbing. The authors tell of the dreams and inspirations of clubs and managers in the new profit-centred football world - how Fulham dreams of becoming 'Manchester United of the South'. England has become a place for 'a billionaire with some cash to park abroad and a taste for the adulation of large crowds'. All this brings problems, not just money problems, of which the authors have a thing or two to say, but more importantly on the pitch. Recall player power that ousted you-know-which one? Now the same is threatening Sarri of Chelsea. The authors quote Arsene Wenger: Modern football has been defined by players searching for more and more freedom. And that coincides with more and more individualism... As soon as a guy's personal interests don't line up with the team's, he gets bored'. The book tells us why the big six find Leicester City's victory in 2016 unacceptable. They need to keep the money pot of 'golden tickets' to themselves. Thus we learn about the motives and reasons for acquiring players, including individual stories of players such as Paul Pogba, and Luis Suarez, and also of the big managers - how the wheel turn them and on them. Welcome to the Club. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 26, 2019 by Hande Z
    • Great read and insights
I really enjoyed this book being a relatively new fan of the English Premier league. I wasn’t aware of all the somewhat recent history that went into forming the league, rivalries, etc. Probably wouldn’t be a great book for a long time fan but for a new fan worth your time to purchase
Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2023 by Christopher J.
    • One of the best written books
This is a fantastic place to start if you're interested in football/the premier league. It reads like fiction, but is very well researched and written. It keeps you interested, laughing and most importantly tells the tale of how we got here in a very clear and gripping manner.
Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2022 by pooja
    • Fascinating soccer business tale
As a major soccer (football) fan, I found much to like about The Club. The story of how England's Premier League came about and became the dominating force in world soccer is a tale of ambition, greed, egos, and innovation. These authors know the territory and uncover aspects of the Premier League story I did not know. Recommended reading for those interested in the business side of soccer. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2022 by Robert S. (Bob) Delaney
    • if you are into...
...football, business, empires or all the above, you'll enjoy it. An easy reading, full of anecdotes and memories, that will give you a different time perspective on the Premier League
Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2021 by abcerra
    • Fantastic
As an American who only started following the Premier League a few years ago, this was a fascinating book. It was so incredibly well structured and well researched. I finished the book with a wealth of knowledge about the league and additional context behind stories, managers, and players whom I've heard of before, but didn't know the history of. Would highly recommend this book! Even for people who don't follow the league closely, or at all! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2022 by Julia Wharton

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