Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #46822 in Books
• Published on: 2007-08-20
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 592 pages

Review
'"Calcio: A History of Italian Football" reveals more about the national character than any dry study of politics or economics ever could. This is a hefty work but there is so much going on that the pace never slackens. Foot is a meticulous and knowledgeable guide to his complex subject and leaves the reader wanting to investigate further.' Andrew Baker, Daily Telegraph 'John Foot is head over heels in love with calcio, and his detailed, thematically structured account of its past and present is overwhelming evidence of that.' Independent, Sport Section Book of the Week 'An excellent chapter on British failures in Serie A but it's the many scandals that one keeps coming back to.' Observer Sport Monthly 'Foot's exemplary history shows how football and Italian society are inextricably intertwined, and is full of fascinating vignettes.' Sunday Times 'Highly readable! "Calcio" has set an impressive benchmark for football histories in general.' Sean O'Connor, Soccerpile.com 'Like a match-winning penalty taken in extra time, this is a book not to be missed.' Oldie 'Foot mixes serious analysis and comic storytelling to bring to life tales of paranoia and intrigue!' Scotland on Sunday '"Calcio" is an impressive addition: a comprehensive history of Italy's national obsession!' Sunday Business Post 'The jacket's claim that Calcio should be read "by anyone interested in football" is far too modest -- it should be read by anyone interested in either football or Italy.' Guardian

Andrew Baker, Daily Telegraph
'...the pace never slackens...a meticulous and knowledgeable guide...leaves the reader wanting to investigate further.'

Observer Sport Monthly
'...an excellent chapter on British failures in Serie A but it’s the many scandals that one keeps coming back to.'

Customer Reviews

Superb insight into Italian football.
To many people, Italian football is a mystery. On one hand, Italy has produced some of world football's best players and is home to the world's biggest clubs. The football is often beautiful and there is never a lack of passion. On the other it embraces the worst parts of the game with games often soiled with blatant cheating and racist fans.

Calcio does a very good job in attempting to shed light on the Italian mindset and the culture and society that spawned its approach to the beautiful game.

The author John Foot clearly has alot of love for the Italian game but that doesnt cloud his judgement of the dark side of the game. He is rightly outraged by the unchecked racism that has blighted the game since the 1990s. In fact the book really ecsells in the chapters on fan culture. He also delves into the scandals and murders that have occured within the game.

From the origins of Calcio through to the personalties who have shaped the game, such as Benito Mussolini and on to Silvio Berlusconi, Foot has created a detailed and enjoyaable account of Italian football. All the major players who have played the game including; Gianni Rivera, Giacinto Facchetti, Gigi Riva, Marco Van Bastin etc, are all examined.

This book is a superb journey into a football crazy nation highlighting some of the best and worst of Italian mentality. It is only a pity that this wasn't published until later so as to include the recent match fixing scandal, the largest in Italian history, and Italys triumph in the World Cup.

Fascinating
This massive work gives a sweeping survey of the history of Italian football. Brilliantly written, Calcio is full of great anecdotes and thought-provoking, intelligent analysis without going into unnecessary detail. Calcio touches on every aspect of football in Italy and particuarly shines in the tragic rise and fall of Torino and the Superga tragedy. A story which is important in the story of not onyl Italian football but also in world football but yet maybe not widley known in the UK.

Key players are also covered in Calcio with splashes of humour as well as an assessment of their place and impact in Italian football. The real value of Calcio is that it gives you an accessible introduction of the history of Italian football and that it encourages you to read more on particular aspects of this subject.

A great read!!

Stupendo!
A great read for anyone interested in football, Italy or Italian football. The author takes us through the history, the scandals, the players, the teams and the mysteries which have surrounded the game in Italy. Funny, sad and powerful at the same time, it reads like a thriller whilst having a strong historical base in documents and research. Great Stuff! I learnt a lot despite being a fan of the game. Hilarious section on the English and Scottish players failures in Italy. Terrifying section on the fans.