White Angels: Beckham, the Real Madrid and the New Football

by John Carlin

A look at soccer superstar David Beckham, the Real Madrid team he joined in 2003, and at how this combination has forever changed the face of the world's most popular sport.

Genres: Sports, Soccer, Nonfiction, Football

340 pages, Hardcover

First published September 20, 2004

Reviews

[D · Rating 1 out of 5]

Lots of gems here. A ridiculous book.

"There were lots of things to be depressed about in the modern world, but amidst all the horrors and fears... Real Madrid was doing its bit to goad evolution along."

David Beckham smiles at a fan and according to the author she "collapsed to her knees and wailed and screamed and writhed... she was distraught beyond any possibility of consolation. Never, on stage or in real life, had grief more abject been portrayed."

"In three critical games of the season they [Real Madrid] get beaten by Zaragoza, Monaco and Osasuna, three teams that few people outside their home countries knew to be teams, the identity of whose players was not known to anyone beyond their home towns - not until they beat Real Madrid, at any rate, at which point they became for the first time in their history fleetingly famous."

If you want see Michel Salgado compared to Garrincha, read this book. You'll regret it.

[Benjamin · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was not journalism. It was public relations.

[Yue · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 3 star rating is mostly because of my nostalgic feelings. It was great to reminiscence the good old times of football and read about those players I miss so much, not only the Galácticos but also Salgado, Guti and heck, even Michael Ballack and Thierry Henry.

But to be honest, it got on my nerves the fanatism the author had on Beckham. Sure Beckham was one of the Galácticos, but let's be honest.. he was the nr 4 in the ranking. He was no match against Figo, Zidane and Ronnie. And the author describes as if he was the savior.. the one that knit the team. If there was one chapter where he was talking about one player, let's say, Zidane, he had to include Beckham as well, in everything.

For him, Beckham was the best, the most humbled, the most hard-working, the most admired by fans, the most respectful, bla bla. No doubt, this author had the hots for Becks.

Not that I don't like Becks. I do, but my favorites were always Figo and Zizou, and even Michel Salgado and Guti, but with the way this author had to drive everything back to Becks was so annoying.

I didn't care the chapters about Florentino Perez either.. that ass. He may be the creator of the Galácticos but I don't care an iota about him.

I am not sure if it was my copy but there were so many errors in spelling. Bernebéu?? Hombhre bala??

Counts of times the author names the Galácticos:
- Beckham: 871
- Figo: 176
- Zidane: 278
- Ronnie: 271

Ridiculous.

[Joelcio Menegaz · Rating 2 out of 5]

More fictional than real. I already knew it'd had almost not of football itself, but I expect at least a lot of chaging room stories. The author, in fact, somehow "know" one's feelings and raised this failed team to the gods' pantheon.

[Gisselle · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a bit of a memoir chronicling David Beckham's move to Real Madrid. The writer clearly has a lot of love for the team, but it doesn't get in the way of giving an honest account of their season (if they played poorly he doesn't mince words about it). Given the huge personalities he encounters, like Figo, Zidane, Brazilian Ronaldo and Beckham, not to mention club president Florentino Perez, Carlin does a good job not being bowled over by these men he clearly admires. That said, the editing job done was absolutely shoddy, and I counted several typographical/grammar mistakes. However, the passion the writer has is pretty contagious, and I finished the book having at least respect for Perez's vision, even if I don't consider myself a Madridista. If you followed the saga of their 2003-2004 season, it would likely seem boring and not too enlightening, but for newer football fans or people new to Spanish football, it definitely shines a light on the seemingly peculiar culture of Real Madrid.

[Ivan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book when it was published, but now mostly irrelevant. Beckham has moved on and Real Madrid is a very different team, although anyone who has an interest in the phenomenon of celebrity in sports might want to give this a look.

[Sabah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carlin's writing is surprisingly beautiful & lyrical. He thoroughly analyzes the failure of the once great hopeful Real Madrid soccer team with its susperstar ‘Galacticos’ at the time of Beckham's early years as well as what makes him so popular worldwide.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great look at the Real Madrid philosophy in the early 2000's of buying the best talent and putting it on the field. This book focuses on the purchase of Beckham and the season after that purchase. Great read.

[Eva · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read it because of Real Madrid. The author is unfortunately little objective, therefore the book doesn't covert a "true" account.

[Leni · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author tended to be a bit too prosaic in his wording, but otherwise it was good.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tremendously well written and entertaining.