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Harper Perennial

Calcio: A History of Italian Football

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Description

The first history of Italian football to be written in English, 'Calcio' is a mix of serious analysis and comic storytelling, with vivid descriptions of games, goals, dives, missed penalties, riots and scandals in the richest and toughest league in the world. 'Calcio' tells the story of Italian football from its origins in the 1890's to the present day. It takes us through a history of great players and teams, of style, passion and success, but also of violence, cynicism, catenaccio tactics and corruption. We meet the personalities that have shaped this history -- from the Italian heroes to the foreigners that failed, the model professionals to the mavericks. 'Calcio' evokes the triumphs (the 1982 World Cup victory) and the tragedies (Meroni, the 'Italian George Best', killed by his number one fan), set against a backdrop of paranoia and intrigue, in a country where the referee is seen as corrupt until proven otherwise. Calcio is no longer a game. It is sometimes difficult to define it as a sport. It is certainly big business and a fanatical civic religion. There is no moral code here. Winners are always right, losers always wrong. This history of Italian football reveals all about the richest and toughest league in the world. Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Harper Perennial


Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 1, 2007


Edition ‏ : ‎ New Ed


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Print length ‏ : ‎ 592 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0007175752


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 58


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 9 x 6 x 1.25 inches


Customer Reviews: 4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars (317)


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Top Amazon Reviews

    • The Italian Job
This is JOHN FOOT"S second volume on the history and the Culture of Italian Football. He stats at the beginning with the Game's British Roots. He details the story of James Richardson Spensley, player, coach and referee from the game's earliest days. He goes into detail of the Catholic Church's opposition to the game in the days before professionalism and the national league. Considering how future popes where open fans of the game, I found this enlightening. Italian football has been populated with larger than life figure such as Vittorio Pozzo (the only man to coach 2 World Cup winners along with a gold medal winning Olympic team), the Agnelli family (owners of FIAT and Juventus), the Mazolla's (father and son) and the Morattis (also father and son who owned the Internazionale club of Milan). They're all here along with others. I enjoyed the story of Gigi Meroni, an Italian version of the George Best tale (an extravagantly talented player who's career was cut short in tragic circumstances). Italian football has been littered with scandal. Scandals involving gambling, corrupting referees, and boosting player performances through club administered doping programs. Sadly, I felt that FOOT treated this area with a shrug of a shoulder, as if "you weren't cheating you weren't trying." There is also not enough about the rampant violence that regularly takes place at stadiums around the country. I was disappointed not to read more about all of this. If I can recommend it, I would also advise the reader to buy FORZA ITALIA by PADDY AGNEW. Taken with CALCIO these two books given a wonderful full insight to life in Italy and Football's place in that life. Think of it like ordering Antipasta with your main dish. Brazil has won the World Cup 5 times, the most of any country in the world. But Italy has won it 4 times, loosing twice to Brazil in the finals (1970 and 1994). Many experts suggest the final of the upcoming 2014 tournament will be Brazil and Italy. If they're right get both of these books right away so you will be ready for the upcoming World Cup. Good stuff. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2013 by Charlie Bartel
    • Fantastic insight and history
Fantastic history of Italian football - or Calcio - Professor Foot does an amazing job digging into the history of the sport from its rise of a proto-English game, to the fascist undertones, to its ties to the very culture of Italy. Highly recommended for any fans of the sport, Italian culture, or history in general. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2016 by Steve E
    • Fun
As an Italian, I love this book. It offers a great view on the "calcio" phenomenon, both old and new. It's not perfect: some translations are wrong, some concepts not fully understood (calling Bologna a "provinciale" is not correct, since Bologna is a region's "chef-lieu"), some names are written incorrectly. Still, it is a very fun to read and gives a great "outside perspective" on Italian football! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on October 1, 2012 by Daniele Purrone
    • Four Stars
I now feel I have a better understanding of Italy!
Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2015 by juelanne dalzell
    • serious look at Serie A
An amazing tome on Italian soccer and the first in English that actually explains well why Italians play such defensive-minded soccer. The one point I thought he completely missed was his discussion of foreign players. There was not only an overemphasis on British players but barely nary a mention of modern foreign stars other than Maradona. I would have liked to have heard about Michel Platini, Boniek, Preben Elkjaer's fantastic season at verona when they won the scudetto, Michael Laudrup and even more on the Dutch threesome at Milan. The corruption in the Italian game explains a lot of how Italian soccer is viewed both by Italians and those outside Italy. The most fascinating read is on the stars pre-TV explosion and to learn who the true heroes were in Italian soccer esp. the whole love him/hate him stuff on Gianni Rivera. This ranks up there with Morbo (on Spanish soccer), Tor (on German soccer) and Futebol (on Brazilian soccer) as a must-have in any soccer fan's library. Do not be dissuaded by its length, this book flows well and the author is a first-rate writer. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2011 by Brian Maitland
    • One Star
Great book as described ! Every calcio ( soccer fan) must have it !!!
Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2015 by Eileen Capaccio

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