Product Description

The birthplace of Tolstoy, Lenin and Lev Yashin, notorious for corruption and political intrigues, modern Russia remains an enigma, seeking to throw off its past and realize its true potential. As the country reinvents itself in the post-Soviet era, isolated by language and culture, politics and geography, an absorbing insight into this most extraordinary of nations can be found in the dramatic story of the decline and rise of Russia's football. In "Football Dynamo", Marc Bennetts embarks on a quest to find the football managers, oligarchs, players, pundits and fans that define the Russian Premier league, the fastest-growing and most extreme football league in the world. Unwittingly uncovering shocking revelations about racism and hooliganism, but also the true beauty of the game and the nation, Bennetts skilfully decodes the chaos of modern Russia as reflected in its football.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #260090 in Books
• Published on: 2008-05-15
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 288 pages

Daily Telegraph
"One of the best books about football in a foreign land you will ever come across"

Independent
"Bennetts has produced an engrossing, authoritative account of the game in his adopted country as it makes a growing mark in Europe"

The Herald
"An authoritative and adventurous examination of Russian football"

Customer Reviews

Otlichno! (Excellent)
Includes excellent accounts of Terek Grozny's (from Chechnya) victory in the Russian FA Cup to England's defeat in Moscow last year to Guus Hiddink's transformation of Russian national football, the book, via politics, literature, and a host of fascinating interviews with oligarchs, hooligans and players and more, really does "decode Russia through football."
Recommended for anyone interested in Russia (even if you are not a big football fan)

has the lot...
Not only does the book cover the basics of Russia's new found status as a world force, it explains the political and social contexts of Russian football. The author uses his 10+ years of knowledge in the country to give a run down of all the leading clubs, memorable events and corruption. There are basic histories concerning all the major clubs in Moscow etc and the accusations thrown about of match fixing, corruption, racism and hooliganism. Along with "Behind the iron curtain..." this book is essential reading for those wanting to know more about Russian football.

Fantastic, detailed, clever
Great detailed book about not only Russian football but Russia, it's political and social history, and what it's actually like to live in the country of oligarchs,vodka and so much more (Bennetts has lived there for several years). A great read for anyone interested in football, travel, culture, politics or history! Deserves a place alongside Phil Ball's brilliant 'Morbo' and Simon Kuper's 'Football Against the Enemy' (Kuper actually writes the foreword in 'Football Dynamo') as a great football book of our time.