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We Play On: Shakhtar Donetsk’s Fight for Ukraine, Football and Freedom
'A gripping account' Sunday Times
'We want to show to the world that we are alive. That we are strong. Not just us - the whole of Ukraine. We are continuing to play. We are continuing to win.' Darijo Srna
Shakhtar Donetsk have not played in their home stadium since 2014. Their matchdays now typically have no crowds, air raid sirens interrupt games and thoughts of and fears for family, friends and hometowns frontline troops loom large in the players' minds ahead of every game. These are extraordinary times - but Shakhtar is an extraordinary club.
Displaced when fighting first began in the Donbas region, and then again when Russia mounted a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, this book honours a club - players, coaching staff, management - who choose to play on. In a time of chaos and conflict, they have become emblems of hope and unity. They are winning on the pitch, and winning hearts and minds across the world.
Following the club's meteoric rise from domestic team to domineering European contenders, Andy Brassell expertly weaves a story of Shakhtar through the ages - their origin story after Ukrainian independence, their evolution and their reinvention. The war forced an exodus of star players and staff and the club has had to find itself once again. With direct testimony and exclusive interviews from those at Shakhtar, this book delivers unparalleled insight to the club's journey - one that is all too often hidden from view. The result is an ode to Shakhtar Donetsk, shining a light on the beauty and force of their football and their fight to play on.
'We want to show to the world that we are alive. That we are strong. Not just us - the whole of Ukraine. We are continuing to play. We are continuing to win.' Darijo Srna
Shakhtar Donetsk have not played in their home stadium since 2014. Their matchdays now typically have no crowds, air raid sirens interrupt games and thoughts of and fears for family, friends and hometowns frontline troops loom large in the players' minds ahead of every game. These are extraordinary times - but Shakhtar is an extraordinary club.
Displaced when fighting first began in the Donbas region, and then again when Russia mounted a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, this book honours a club - players, coaching staff, management - who choose to play on. In a time of chaos and conflict, they have become emblems of hope and unity. They are winning on the pitch, and winning hearts and minds across the world.
Following the club's meteoric rise from domestic team to domineering European contenders, Andy Brassell expertly weaves a story of Shakhtar through the ages - their origin story after Ukrainian independence, their evolution and their reinvention. The war forced an exodus of star players and staff and the club has had to find itself once again. With direct testimony and exclusive interviews from those at Shakhtar, this book delivers unparalleled insight to the club's journey - one that is all too often hidden from view. The result is an ode to Shakhtar Donetsk, shining a light on the beauty and force of their football and their fight to play on.
304 pages, Hardcover
Published February 13, 2024
7 people are currently reading
90 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 7, 2025
Хороша книжка, дуже тепла. Шкода тільки, що кожні два речення тут облизування одного пєтуха.
З улюбленого:
“Sometimes, as well, the provocation is too much. Vzbirna ran a story about Shakhtar’s Danylo Sikan hitting one Russian tourist who was a little too confrontational in the hotel; a story that the club didn’t deny. Sometimes, the places which should feel the most like home just aren’t anymore.”
З улюбленого:
“Sometimes, as well, the provocation is too much. Vzbirna ran a story about Shakhtar’s Danylo Sikan hitting one Russian tourist who was a little too confrontational in the hotel; a story that the club didn’t deny. Sometimes, the places which should feel the most like home just aren’t anymore.”
October 22, 2023
I was hoping for a book like A Season with Verona: Travels Around Italy in Search of Illusion, National Character . . . and Goals! or The Miracle of Castel di Sangro: A Tale of Passion and Folly in the Heart of Italy which was a look from an outsider's point of view about a foreign football team. Shakhtar looked like a promising candidate due to the war in Ukraine.
However, I found this book quite disappointing. There was a lot of introduction - probably half the book - before the war ever started. The reader was assumed to be familiar with it and it jumped around between years and seasons a lot. Also, it was all interviews with former players and managers. The author might have been to the odd game, but it was not a first-hand account.
This pattern carries on after the war. The war started for the Donbas in 2014 of course, so Shakthar have been without a home for all that time. It's an interesting story but again it's all told through the eyes of interviews, often taken long after the event.
If you are into European football and enjoy watching every game in the Champions League then you might enjoy this book, but I felt it was an opportunity wasted. The topic is crying out for somebody who went to games throughout this period and can write a linear book for the general reader.
However, I found this book quite disappointing. There was a lot of introduction - probably half the book - before the war ever started. The reader was assumed to be familiar with it and it jumped around between years and seasons a lot. Also, it was all interviews with former players and managers. The author might have been to the odd game, but it was not a first-hand account.
This pattern carries on after the war. The war started for the Donbas in 2014 of course, so Shakthar have been without a home for all that time. It's an interesting story but again it's all told through the eyes of interviews, often taken long after the event.
If you are into European football and enjoy watching every game in the Champions League then you might enjoy this book, but I felt it was an opportunity wasted. The topic is crying out for somebody who went to games throughout this period and can write a linear book for the general reader.
March 3, 2025
I expected this to be brilliant and it is an interesting story but the structure was off.
The book jumped between periods a lot and wasn't always clear which period it related to or whether events followed on from 2014 or 2022. Some really interesting parts but there was a lot of content that wasn't necessary, especially interviews with former managers and players (but maybe a lack of interviews with Ukrainian fans).
This would've been an excellent documentary, especially with clips of European/Ukrainian games but understand that mightnt have been possible here.
The book jumped between periods a lot and wasn't always clear which period it related to or whether events followed on from 2014 or 2022. Some really interesting parts but there was a lot of content that wasn't necessary, especially interviews with former managers and players (but maybe a lack of interviews with Ukrainian fans).
This would've been an excellent documentary, especially with clips of European/Ukrainian games but understand that mightnt have been possible here.
December 17, 2023
Probably one of my favorite books this year. Combines my love of Ukraine, football, geopolitics, etc. Also gives insight into how Ukraine as a nation had to change as a result of the war.
My only complaint is that I think it skips over some of the corruption that may have taken place from the oligarchs involved.
My only complaint is that I think it skips over some of the corruption that may have taken place from the oligarchs involved.
December 18, 2023
This is a fascinating story of how a team that no longer has a home continues to find ways to succeed. It reads more like a series of longform articles, and it at times assumes the reader knows more details than we do as it jumps between many times periods over 20 years, but it is still interesting and deserves a wide audience.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews