Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #397304 in Books
• Published on: 2005-03-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 240 pages

Synopsis
FOR MANY MANCHESTER CITY FANS, Gio Kinkladze - 'Kinky' - was the greatest player to ever wear the famous sky blue jersey. The Georgian midfielder arrived in 1995 under the tutelage of Alan Ball for #2 million, arguably the best money the club ever spent, and within a few games had the City fans eating out of the palm of his hand with a series of breathtaking displays. Despite his wonderful skills, he couldn't single-handedly stop the Blues from being relegated at the end of his first season, by which time he was perhaps the most coveted player in Europe and had the pick of some of the biggest clubs in world football. Yet, instead of jumping ship, he opted to sign a new deal and set about trying to help his beloved Blues back into the Premiership whilst subjecting himself to two, sometimes three markers all with the simple mandate: stop Kinkladze by any means possible. Often hacked and bullied by seasoned opponents, he came back for more and played under a succession of managers in a poor team.

It seemed almost cruel that fan power convinced him to remain with the club for one more season when he should have been displaying his mesmeric talents in La Liga or Serie A, and by the end of his third season with City, his career had stalled as the club were relegated again, this time to Division Two. Kinky's days at Maine Road were numbered from the minute Joe Royle arrived as manager, with the new boss determined to offload a player he felt the club and fans had an unhealthy obsession with. The funds of his [pound]5.5 million sale to Ajax helped keep the Blues afloat and able to rebuild and return stronger, while Kinky's largely disastrous time in Holland further hindered his progress. He returned to England with struggling Derby County and, after wooing the Rams faithful, took a chance on finding a new club in 2003. Trials at Portsmouth, Bolton and Leeds resulted in nothing and he was forced to look to the club he began with, Dynamo Tblisi, to do what he does best, play football. Kinky: The Perfect 10? traces the highs and lows of this most gifted player, from his days in Georgia, Germany and Argentina, to his time at Manchester City, Ajax, Derby and beyond.

It is a celebration of a career that should have been much more with views from those who know him best. Uplifting and, at times, sad, the story of Gio Kinkladze will reveal the answer to the question often asked by the fans who adored him at the clubs he played for- was he really the perfect 10 - or not?