Product Description

Within the trophy room at the Bernabeu, the spoils of a century's achievements provide indisputable evidence of football's conquistadores rubbing the world's noses in the dirt. They include twenty-nine league titles, nine European Cups, seventeen Spanish Cups, two UEFA Cups and three World Club Championship titles. The story of Real Madrid is, however, much more than the mere sum of its achievements. The club has always attracted the biggest names in the game - the type of player more recently referred to by Los Merengues as 'galactico'. And for every Figo, Zidane, Ronaldo or Beckham, there is a legend from the past. White Storm charts the history of the club from its foundations to the golden period of Di Stefano and Puskas, through the 'hippy years' to the modern embodiment of Madridismo - Raul. It ends with an analysis of the Beckham impact, the disintegration of the Florentino Perez regime and a look at what the future might hold for the world's most famous club.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #36263 in Books
• Published on: 2003-09-18
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Review
Praise for White Storm: 'A well-written and researched history . . . few other "outsiders" can claim to have such in-depth knowledge of the Spanish game' - FourFourTwo ' . . . offers a useful insight into the Madridista mindset' - The Times ' . . . a quality production befitting a quality club' - All Sport & Leisure Monthly.

About the Author
Phil Ball is the author of the celebrated Morbo: The Story of Spanish Football. He has lived and worked in Spain since 1991.

Customer Reviews

Went down a storm
A book written by a self confessed fan but he attempts to write it from a neutral perspective. Phil Ball not only charts the history of this mighty club but also the history of 20th century Spain and the club's position within society. Ball also gives a lot of space to other clubs in the history of Spanish football as a comparison to why Real Madrid are considered the best club. A fantastic book for football fans with great stories about great games and great players. Also of interest to readers who are not such great lovers of the club or game.

A CLASSIC
This is definitely one of the best football books i have read, and there are a few! Ball provides a superb outline of all the cultural, social and political background of Madrid but combines this with wonderful descriptions of famous games (such as the 7-3 European Cup Final win over Frankfurt) and players (most notably Alfredo Di Stefano and Raul.) The balance is perfect and every story leaves you wanting to know even more about the worlds greatest club, love them or hate them, it is a most wonderfull insight into their hundred years.

A Rarity
This is a rarity indeed - a good football book. The author explores the founding of the club and takes us through its early unsuccessful years, through its rise to success in Spain then Europe, and ultimately to become the most famous club in the world.

The author addresses the links with Franco, the so-called favouritism shown by referees, and the club's relationship with Barcelona. As expected the pro Franco, dodgy referees, and the goody goody Barcelona image is questioned, and a more balanced opinion results.

As well as the politics surrounding the club the author highlights the various brilliant players who have played for the club including Di Stefano, Puskas, Gento, Kopa, Amancio, Butragueno, Sanchez, Hierro, Roberto Carlos, Figo, Zidane, Laudrup, Beckham and so it goes on and on.

This an excellent book about a fabulous club, and to think that Catalans started it all.