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Barça

The rise and fall of the club that built modern football

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Barça

By: Simon Kuper
Narrated by: Colin Mace
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About this listen

Winner of the Football Book of the Year.

From the bestselling co-author of Soccernomics comes the story of how FC Barcelona became the most successful football club in the world - and how that envied position now hangs in the balance.

Barça is not just the world's most popular sports club, it is simply one of the most influential organisations on the planet. With almost 250 million followers on social media and 4 million visitors to its Camp Nou stadium each year, there's little wonder its motto is 'More than a club'. But it was not always so. In the past three decades, Barcelona has transformed from regional team to global powerhouse, becoming a model of sporting excellence and a consistent winner of silverware.

Simon Kuper unravels exactly how these transformations took place. He outlines the organisational structure behind the club's business decisions, and details the work of its coaches, medics, data analysts and nutritionists who have revolutionised the sporting world. And, of course, he studies the towering influence of the club's two greatest legends, Johan Cruyff and Lionel Messi.

Like many leading global businesses, FC Barcelona closely guards its secrets, granting few outsiders a view behind the scenes. But, after decades of writing about the sport and the club, Kuper was given unprecedented access to the inner sanctum and to the people who strive daily to keep Barcelona at the top.

Erudite, personal, and capturing all the latest successes and upheavals, his portrait of this incredible institution goes beyond football to understand Barça as a unique social, cultural, and political phenomenon.

I began my research thinking I was going to be explaining Barca's rise to greatness, and I have, but I've also ended up charting the decline and fall.

©2021 Simon Kuper (P)2021 Octopus Publishing Group
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Critic reviews

"This is a masterfully written history of the world's greatest football club. Més que un book!." (Gary Lineker)

What listeners say about Barça

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Barça

Excellent book, even for those who are not football fans. Really enjoyed every chapter.
Narration was superb.

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brilliant book

anyone who loves football and the Barca way should read or listen to this book

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A wonderful journey through football and Barca

A honest and insightful history of Cruyff’s influence on FC Barcelona and football overall. The narration is particularly excellent (especially when compared to most football audiobooks).

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Brilliant

Fascinating tale brilliantly told! One of the best books I have read / listened to about football.

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Sublime

An excellent account of how we came to witness the most beautiful football we will ever see.

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Good book, poor quality audio

An interesting and unique insight into the rise and fall of Barcelona, with a particular focus on Cruyff and Messi.

However it seems that the recording of the audiobook was carried out before the text was completed, because there are a large number of inserts which were obviously recorded at a different time and place to the original production. This is disconcerting and irritating

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Excellent book

The best football book, whether you like football or not this is worth a read.

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A Compact History Of A Sadly Now Disjointed Club

Really enjoyed the book narration by Collin is always great a must listen for any football fan

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Fantastic

I love football books but was slightly concerned this might be a cash-in or fan-boy book. Its not! Its a fantastic and well written book rich with lots of fascinating insights into Barca, football and football history.

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A sneak peek behind the door of BIG football ...

With little knowledge of football, the people who play it, run it, manage it and finance it I was eager to find out more, And I wasn't disappointed. Simon Kuper's book is a masterclass in what goes on behind the scenes at the world's biggest club and he takes the reader on a fascinating journey that is insightful and informative. You'll love it.

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