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Winning at All Costs: A Scandalous History of Italian Soccer
The 2006 World Cup final between Italy and France was a down-and-dirty game, marred by French superstar Zidane's head-butting of Italian defender Materazzi. But viewers were also exposed to the poetry, force, and excellence of the Italian game; as operatic as Verdi and as cunning as Machiavelli, it seemed to open a window into the Italian soul. John Foot's epic history shows what makes Italian soccer so unique. Mixing serious analysis and comic storytelling, Foot describes its humble origins in northern Italy in the 1890s to its present day incarnation where soccer is the national civic religion. A story that is reminiscent of Gangs of New York and A Clockwork Orange, Foot shows how the Italian game — like its political culture — has been overshadowed by big business, violence, conspiracy, and tragedy, how demagogues like Benito Mussolini and Silvio Berlusconi have used the game to further their own political ambitions. But Winning at All Costs also celebrates the sweet moments — the four World Cup victories, the success of Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan, the role soccer played in the resistance to Nazism, and the great managers and players who show that Italian soccer is as irresistible as Italy itself.
624 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
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August 3, 2025
If you consider yourself a fan of The Azzurri, this book is a must. It's like a football fan's holy bible - it starts when there was no Italian football, it oversees the creation, the evolution, the rise of a beautiful game, and, as football is bordering religion in Italy, no wonder I compared this book to a bible.
The extent this book covers is simply amazing. You can name anything related to Italian football, and you will find it described here: referees, scandals club presidents, outstanding matches, clubs, fans and even a few commentators who became household names - simply put, everything. I learned a lot.
The book itself is divided into 15 chapters, every chapter is designated for a big theme, and sub-chapters elaborate further, thus ensuring every theme is presented from all possible points of view. Because of being so detail, the author sometimes repeats himself from time to time, but never it is copy-paste of his earlier musings; even when describing the events he already described two or three times, he still manages to make them seem fresh and essential to the story.
There were a few minor shortcomings, and though non of them are too serious, it would be fair to mention them. First, and most bizarre of them all, is constantly sorting players into handsome and ugly. Well, I might be a poor judge on male sex appeal, but in my humble opinion, neither Luigi Riva, described as being a particularly good example of looking good, neither Salvatore Schillaci, whom the author called "somewhat ugly", do not deserve these words. I've added pictures of them both to judge for yourselves. And in the end, why should a player's physical appearance matter when I am reading a history book? :)
Luigi Riva
Salvatore Schillaci
Second shortcoming is seemingly never criticizing referees, even when they are blatantly incompetent or even consciously unfair (Byron Moreno case). I mean, yeah, refs might make mistakes, but if one was very poor, it's no big deal to write about it.
Finally, some facts I came upon sound a bit dubious. For example, this statement: "Zinedine Zidane was usually a fair player" - wait wait wait, are we speaking about The Zinedine Zidane? French guy of Algerian descent with a bald head, who played in midfield and got sent of twelve or thirteen times in his career, and usually for stamping, spitting, headbutting and other violent behavior? Well now, in that case I dread to think who would be considered "unfair" or "dirty" player then.
Despite those few sliiiiight drawbacks, it is a really well done, comprehensive book on Calcio, and I can only repeat myself - if you're a fan, it's a must.
Oh, and by the way, some people in their reviews described this book as anti-Juve. As a lifelong Juve supporter and a fan I feel entitled to assert that these accusations are BS. It's not anti or pro, it is as neutral as it can be.
FORZA AZZURRI!
September 17, 2016
Written more from the perspective of a fan rather than a journalist, it would've benefitted from a better editor.
It's still a good book and presents very well the uniqueness of Calcio and Italy.
It's still a good book and presents very well the uniqueness of Calcio and Italy.
August 6, 2020
Historia włoskiej piłki okiem Anglika
Odprawa przedmeczowa:
Mówisz Włochy myślisz Calcio. W każdym razie jeśli choć trochę interesujesz się piłką nożną, to takie powinno być twoje pierwsze skojarzenie. Nie pizza, nie makaron nie krzywa wieża, czy sycylijska mafia, a właśnie kopana. Wielki Juventus, znane na całym świecie derby Mediolanu, czy wirtuozi murawy jak Del Piero czy Totti, nieugięci obrońcy pokroju Cannavaro i Maldiniego. Calcio to emocje, kontrowersje, wielkie, nie zawsze czyste pieniądze i fanatyczni kibice. Jako sympatyk piłki i historii okołopiłkowej, miałem wielkie nadzieje i dobre przeczucia, gdy zabierałem się za Calcio. Czy książka Johna Foota spełniła moje oczekiwania? nie do końca: ale przejdźmy do meczu, znaczy się do opinii:
Pierwszy gwizdek:
Książka, jak to u SQN-u, jest bardzo porządnie wydana. Przeszło 700 szytych, śnieżnobiałych stron w twardej oprawie, zakładka w formie tasiemki i liczne zdjęcia, sprawiają, że obcowanie z Calcio jest przyjemne, jak oglądanie kadry Azzurrich w jej najlepszych momentach, jedyne co mnie zirytowało - kwestia czysto subiektywna - to przypisy na końcu książki zamiast pod tekstem, co zmuszało do upierdliwego wertowania książki, przy okazji odwołań, a trzeba zaznaczyć, że samych przypisów jest w niej około 20 stron, mimo to dycha za wrażenia estetyczne.
Foot podzielił tekst na 16 rozdziałów, trzymając się mniej więcej chronologii: od pierwszych drużyn, zakładanych przez imigrantów z Europy Północnej, przez zawiązywanie się wielkich klubów i sukcesów Azzurrich na arenie międzynarodowej w latach 30' XX wieku, aż po rok 2010. Foot pisze szczegółowo, jasno, klarownie i w sposób bardzo obrazowy. Potrafi zainteresować czytelnika, jednak szybko następuje:
Pierwszy faul:
bo autor od początku usilnie stara się przekonać czytelnika o wyższości angielskiej piłki nad włoską, już we wstępie rozwodząc się, że nie było czegoś takiego jak Calcio, był tylko football i to właśnie synowie Albionu zaszczepili Włochom miłość do niego i w ogóle, to nauczyli nieokrzesanych południowców jeść widelcem ...
Wznowienie gry:
czytamy dalej. Autor ma bogatą wiedzę, i wiele z poruszanych w kolejnych rozdziałach tematów, jest naprawdę interesujących. Foot szeroko opisuje drużynę Grande Torino z lat 50' praktycznie w całości tragicznie zmarłą w wypadku lotniczym, najważniejszych trenerów, najlepszych piłkarzy kolejnych dekad, a także liczne afery i teorie spiskowe, które od zawsze targały włoską piłką - jest solidnie i naprawdę interesująco do czasu, gdy:
Drugi faul i pierwsza żółta kartka:
Foot ma olbrzymią wiedzę, problem w tym, że czytając Calcio, cały czas miałem wrażenie, że włoska piłka to tylko te afery, skandale, morderstwa na tle kibicowskim, korupcja i przemoc. Powiem więcej: jedyny większy triumf włoskiej piłki klubowej, który opisuje Foot, to zwycięstwo Juventusu z Liverpoolem w finale ligi mistrzów w 1985 roku. Dlaczego akurat ten? Bo to pierwsze zwycięstwo turyńczyków w Lidze mistrzów? Absolutnie nie! Chodziło tylko i wyłącznie o opisanie pamiętnej tragedii na stadionie Heysel, czyli znowu śmierć i przemoc (i Liverpool). Nie chciałem i nie spodziewałem się laurki wymalowanej dla włoskiej piłki, ale naprawdę nie rozumiem, jaki cel przyświecał autorowi, gdy pisząc skupiał się jedynie na tym co złe w ludziach i piłce, jeszcze jako za wzór cnót wszelakich często przedstawiając piłkę angielską...
Trzeci faul i czerwona karta:
"Calcio: historia włoskiego futbolu" jest pozycją na wskroś anglofilską. Wspominałem już, że na początku był football nie calcio, i to Footowi można wybaczyć, bo autor jakoś tej swojej tezy broni, jednak poświęcanie angielskim piłkarzom (większość była słaba i oprócz paszportu niczym się nie wyróżniała) grającym na włoskich boiskach, tyle samo miejsca, co włoskiej drużynie narodowej to już jest absurd. Foot poświęca w książce zdecydowanie zbyt wiele miejsca swoim rodakom, którzy nie odnieśli praktycznie żadnych sukcesów kopiąc piłkę w Italii. Cały rozdział o Paulu Gascoignie, a jedynie kilka stron o Maradonie ...
Końcowy gwizdek i studio pomeczowe:
pomimo licznych wad Calcio czytało mi się dobrze. Foot ma przyzwoity warsztat i wiele ciekawych przemyśleń okołopiłkowych, do tego książka jest pięknie wydana i myślę, że fani kopanej spokojnie mogą po nią sięgnąć, jednak jeśli chcecie przeczytać naprawdę świetną historyczną książkę o footballu, to z czystym sumieniem polecam "Aniołowie o brudnych twarzach" - też SQN, też fajnie wydana, ale pod względem wyważenia i obiektywizmu stoi dwie półki wyżej niż książka Foota.
Calcio kończy się posłowiem dziennikarza Rafała Steca. Posłowia nie przeczytałem, bo nie jestem fanem pseudo-głębokich wynurzeń o piłce - dla konesera.
Odprawa przedmeczowa:
Mówisz Włochy myślisz Calcio. W każdym razie jeśli choć trochę interesujesz się piłką nożną, to takie powinno być twoje pierwsze skojarzenie. Nie pizza, nie makaron nie krzywa wieża, czy sycylijska mafia, a właśnie kopana. Wielki Juventus, znane na całym świecie derby Mediolanu, czy wirtuozi murawy jak Del Piero czy Totti, nieugięci obrońcy pokroju Cannavaro i Maldiniego. Calcio to emocje, kontrowersje, wielkie, nie zawsze czyste pieniądze i fanatyczni kibice. Jako sympatyk piłki i historii okołopiłkowej, miałem wielkie nadzieje i dobre przeczucia, gdy zabierałem się za Calcio. Czy książka Johna Foota spełniła moje oczekiwania? nie do końca: ale przejdźmy do meczu, znaczy się do opinii:
Pierwszy gwizdek:
Książka, jak to u SQN-u, jest bardzo porządnie wydana. Przeszło 700 szytych, śnieżnobiałych stron w twardej oprawie, zakładka w formie tasiemki i liczne zdjęcia, sprawiają, że obcowanie z Calcio jest przyjemne, jak oglądanie kadry Azzurrich w jej najlepszych momentach, jedyne co mnie zirytowało - kwestia czysto subiektywna - to przypisy na końcu książki zamiast pod tekstem, co zmuszało do upierdliwego wertowania książki, przy okazji odwołań, a trzeba zaznaczyć, że samych przypisów jest w niej około 20 stron, mimo to dycha za wrażenia estetyczne.
Foot podzielił tekst na 16 rozdziałów, trzymając się mniej więcej chronologii: od pierwszych drużyn, zakładanych przez imigrantów z Europy Północnej, przez zawiązywanie się wielkich klubów i sukcesów Azzurrich na arenie międzynarodowej w latach 30' XX wieku, aż po rok 2010. Foot pisze szczegółowo, jasno, klarownie i w sposób bardzo obrazowy. Potrafi zainteresować czytelnika, jednak szybko następuje:
Pierwszy faul:
bo autor od początku usilnie stara się przekonać czytelnika o wyższości angielskiej piłki nad włoską, już we wstępie rozwodząc się, że nie było czegoś takiego jak Calcio, był tylko football i to właśnie synowie Albionu zaszczepili Włochom miłość do niego i w ogóle, to nauczyli nieokrzesanych południowców jeść widelcem ...
Wznowienie gry:
czytamy dalej. Autor ma bogatą wiedzę, i wiele z poruszanych w kolejnych rozdziałach tematów, jest naprawdę interesujących. Foot szeroko opisuje drużynę Grande Torino z lat 50' praktycznie w całości tragicznie zmarłą w wypadku lotniczym, najważniejszych trenerów, najlepszych piłkarzy kolejnych dekad, a także liczne afery i teorie spiskowe, które od zawsze targały włoską piłką - jest solidnie i naprawdę interesująco do czasu, gdy:
Drugi faul i pierwsza żółta kartka:
Foot ma olbrzymią wiedzę, problem w tym, że czytając Calcio, cały czas miałem wrażenie, że włoska piłka to tylko te afery, skandale, morderstwa na tle kibicowskim, korupcja i przemoc. Powiem więcej: jedyny większy triumf włoskiej piłki klubowej, który opisuje Foot, to zwycięstwo Juventusu z Liverpoolem w finale ligi mistrzów w 1985 roku. Dlaczego akurat ten? Bo to pierwsze zwycięstwo turyńczyków w Lidze mistrzów? Absolutnie nie! Chodziło tylko i wyłącznie o opisanie pamiętnej tragedii na stadionie Heysel, czyli znowu śmierć i przemoc (i Liverpool). Nie chciałem i nie spodziewałem się laurki wymalowanej dla włoskiej piłki, ale naprawdę nie rozumiem, jaki cel przyświecał autorowi, gdy pisząc skupiał się jedynie na tym co złe w ludziach i piłce, jeszcze jako za wzór cnót wszelakich często przedstawiając piłkę angielską...
Trzeci faul i czerwona karta:
"Calcio: historia włoskiego futbolu" jest pozycją na wskroś anglofilską. Wspominałem już, że na początku był football nie calcio, i to Footowi można wybaczyć, bo autor jakoś tej swojej tezy broni, jednak poświęcanie angielskim piłkarzom (większość była słaba i oprócz paszportu niczym się nie wyróżniała) grającym na włoskich boiskach, tyle samo miejsca, co włoskiej drużynie narodowej to już jest absurd. Foot poświęca w książce zdecydowanie zbyt wiele miejsca swoim rodakom, którzy nie odnieśli praktycznie żadnych sukcesów kopiąc piłkę w Italii. Cały rozdział o Paulu Gascoignie, a jedynie kilka stron o Maradonie ...
Końcowy gwizdek i studio pomeczowe:
pomimo licznych wad Calcio czytało mi się dobrze. Foot ma przyzwoity warsztat i wiele ciekawych przemyśleń okołopiłkowych, do tego książka jest pięknie wydana i myślę, że fani kopanej spokojnie mogą po nią sięgnąć, jednak jeśli chcecie przeczytać naprawdę świetną historyczną książkę o footballu, to z czystym sumieniem polecam "Aniołowie o brudnych twarzach" - też SQN, też fajnie wydana, ale pod względem wyważenia i obiektywizmu stoi dwie półki wyżej niż książka Foota.
Calcio kończy się posłowiem dziennikarza Rafała Steca. Posłowia nie przeczytałem, bo nie jestem fanem pseudo-głębokich wynurzeń o piłce - dla konesera.
March 15, 2015
Seems to go over everything without ever going in depth with any of it. It's an enjoyable read, but leaving me hungrier for something more.
But the anti Juve stuff wins me over. 5 stars. Fuck juve.
But the anti Juve stuff wins me over. 5 stars. Fuck juve.
July 25, 2018
Having grown up watching ‘Football Italia’ in the 90’s, I’ve always had a keen interest in Serie A.
This book takes an in-depth look at Italian football, it was such a fascinating read.
This book takes an in-depth look at Italian football, it was such a fascinating read.
July 24, 2014
Relatively early in John Foot's summary of Italian football history, he describes a group of Genoa fans at a train station, en route to an away game in a different part of the country in 1923: "They have scrawled graffiti on a train: Foot-ball, acute mania." Even in 1923, Italians were psychologically gripped by a sport that had barely been played in their country for three decades; today, one in every two professes a love of the sport. And so it is left to Foot to relay this deep-rooted mania to the Anglophone world, with the twofold advantage of being a long-time watcher of calcio up close, while being an Englishman living in Italy, a relative outsider to both Italian politics culture.
Carefully, every aspect of the growth of Italian football's origins is charted from its humble beginnings in Genoa until the season following La Nazionale's victory in the 2006 World Cup, describing its most famous players, clubs, scandals, matches, teams, tactics and allegiances. Foot presents all of this information section-by-section, rather than in strict chronological order, which helps to keep each chapter fresh - although it can be slightly frustrating at times - and prevents him from having to randomly jump to and from each of the above, then having to explain or contextualise each as the years pass. Throughout the book, he also takes time to consider the subtler details that mark calcio apart from football in Italy's European neighbours: ultras, oriundi, Italians' relationship with the referee, or the concept of 'thefts', to name but a few; it's evident that Foot knows his audience, treading the fine line between careful explanation and overly dumbing-down skilfully. Indeed, his writing on cities and clubs, La Nazionale and, in particular, calciopoli, while somewhat familiar to many followers of European football, are wonderfully crafted and leave the reader both informed and entertained.
Perhaps one of the biggest achievements of the book is how comprehensively he describes the history of calcio, while managing to convey its intimate relationship with Italian history and culture. Unlike in many countries, Italian football is hegemonic, both culturally and politically. The North/South divide, nationalism and fascism, the intense rivalries between Italian states and cities, the industrialisation of Italy, the financial crises of the 2000s and even the rise of Berlusconi are all covered with just the right amount of detail, allowing the reader a snapshot into Italian history, while remaining a book firmly rooted in illustrating how the country's most popular sport came to be so. The extent of Foot's research is also immense, and he doesn't incorrectly assume that his readers know more than they do, which may possibly have been the case with an Italian writer.
That said, the side-effect of such a vast amount of research is that the book is sometimes pulled down by the weight of its own information, and at times it can be a chore to read. While I'm sure there's passages that I found laborious that other readers might enjoy (and vice versa), it is something of a long read. As well as this, though this is obviously not the author's fault, the updated book was published in 2007; six seasons have passed since, which is a long time in football, a period that has included Inter's unprecedented treble and their subsequent fall into mid-table obscurity, the resurgence of Juventus and Napoli as powers of Italian football and the drop of the Serie A's UEFA co-efficient. Moreover, Foot is at times a little too overt in his opinions, often expressing his disillusionment at the state of calcio and a scepticism as to whether it can return to its former glories. However, all of that should not take away from what is essential reading for anyone looking to learn about Italy's proud football tradition, and it is a book that is guaranteed to make its readers come away feeling enlightened about both calcio and the country in which it is played.
Carefully, every aspect of the growth of Italian football's origins is charted from its humble beginnings in Genoa until the season following La Nazionale's victory in the 2006 World Cup, describing its most famous players, clubs, scandals, matches, teams, tactics and allegiances. Foot presents all of this information section-by-section, rather than in strict chronological order, which helps to keep each chapter fresh - although it can be slightly frustrating at times - and prevents him from having to randomly jump to and from each of the above, then having to explain or contextualise each as the years pass. Throughout the book, he also takes time to consider the subtler details that mark calcio apart from football in Italy's European neighbours: ultras, oriundi, Italians' relationship with the referee, or the concept of 'thefts', to name but a few; it's evident that Foot knows his audience, treading the fine line between careful explanation and overly dumbing-down skilfully. Indeed, his writing on cities and clubs, La Nazionale and, in particular, calciopoli, while somewhat familiar to many followers of European football, are wonderfully crafted and leave the reader both informed and entertained.
Perhaps one of the biggest achievements of the book is how comprehensively he describes the history of calcio, while managing to convey its intimate relationship with Italian history and culture. Unlike in many countries, Italian football is hegemonic, both culturally and politically. The North/South divide, nationalism and fascism, the intense rivalries between Italian states and cities, the industrialisation of Italy, the financial crises of the 2000s and even the rise of Berlusconi are all covered with just the right amount of detail, allowing the reader a snapshot into Italian history, while remaining a book firmly rooted in illustrating how the country's most popular sport came to be so. The extent of Foot's research is also immense, and he doesn't incorrectly assume that his readers know more than they do, which may possibly have been the case with an Italian writer.
That said, the side-effect of such a vast amount of research is that the book is sometimes pulled down by the weight of its own information, and at times it can be a chore to read. While I'm sure there's passages that I found laborious that other readers might enjoy (and vice versa), it is something of a long read. As well as this, though this is obviously not the author's fault, the updated book was published in 2007; six seasons have passed since, which is a long time in football, a period that has included Inter's unprecedented treble and their subsequent fall into mid-table obscurity, the resurgence of Juventus and Napoli as powers of Italian football and the drop of the Serie A's UEFA co-efficient. Moreover, Foot is at times a little too overt in his opinions, often expressing his disillusionment at the state of calcio and a scepticism as to whether it can return to its former glories. However, all of that should not take away from what is essential reading for anyone looking to learn about Italy's proud football tradition, and it is a book that is guaranteed to make its readers come away feeling enlightened about both calcio and the country in which it is played.
January 29, 2019
Fantastic football book, Italian football is rich in history, plenty of drama, plenty of emotion, plenty of brilliant players, and this book brings together them all, rich in depth, the footballing divide that frequently exists in Italian football, I really enjoyed this book, touches upon many things which are new to me, if you love football, you will love this book, cannot think of any negatives, there will be parts of Italian football history that it will have missed, but for me if brings together most of the important factors in the Italian game, really enjoyed it, cannot say that enought times, all the favorite teams are here, plenty of great players, Italy is one of the great footballing nations, and this book in my opinion does it credit. Well written, very well written. My advice to the author is write more books like this about footballing history of other countries. Great. Well worth reading if you are interested in Italian teams.
August 22, 2017
I am still deep into my current obsession with the beautiful game and I decided to jump off into some leagues I knew nothing about.
This is a well written, very informative and complete history of football in Italy. I consumed it and enjoyed every page. Now I definitely know why I am drawn to the sport. It has by far the most passionate, most diverse, just outright wild and awesome fanbase.
If you have any love of soccer, football, whatever you call it in your neck of the woods, this history is for you. Deepen your base and expand your mind, you won't be disappointed.
This is a well written, very informative and complete history of football in Italy. I consumed it and enjoyed every page. Now I definitely know why I am drawn to the sport. It has by far the most passionate, most diverse, just outright wild and awesome fanbase.
If you have any love of soccer, football, whatever you call it in your neck of the woods, this history is for you. Deepen your base and expand your mind, you won't be disappointed.
September 20, 2008
Bullshit Interista. Great research!
January 6, 2023
A long haul but well worth it. If you’re interested in Italian football then this is the book for you. No stone left unturned
August 23, 2016
Calcio was a long read. Some books can be that. When you're hanging on every word - sometimes due to the incredulity of the content, sometimes out of familiarity and nostalgia, and sometimes because you can almost see images playing out in your head like reels you never got to watch until certain eras were past.
Wonderfully detailed, witty and serious in equal measures, Calcio was resplendent with descriptions of players (some of whom are legends), fans, stadiums, commentators, referees, and scandals. If I have to nitpick, I'd take exception to certain factual inaccuracies and some exaggerations (Riva's body certainly wasn't fully horizontal when he scored *any* goal), though I can overlook them easily given the voluminous nature of information packed into this book.
The sense of reminiscence was strong through the latter half of the book as events from my late adolescence and early teens were pictured. Especially enriching was the political context provided at frequent turns to help understand the significance of some moments and actions, many of which I was previously unaware of.
Calcio is a book which when read, adjusts your inner lens that views sport to be more focused, clear, and discerning. In other words, it is part of every football fan's essential reading list. Or at least, it ought to be.
Wonderfully detailed, witty and serious in equal measures, Calcio was resplendent with descriptions of players (some of whom are legends), fans, stadiums, commentators, referees, and scandals. If I have to nitpick, I'd take exception to certain factual inaccuracies and some exaggerations (Riva's body certainly wasn't fully horizontal when he scored *any* goal), though I can overlook them easily given the voluminous nature of information packed into this book.
The sense of reminiscence was strong through the latter half of the book as events from my late adolescence and early teens were pictured. Especially enriching was the political context provided at frequent turns to help understand the significance of some moments and actions, many of which I was previously unaware of.
Calcio is a book which when read, adjusts your inner lens that views sport to be more focused, clear, and discerning. In other words, it is part of every football fan's essential reading list. Or at least, it ought to be.
August 15, 2012
Exactly what the subtitle says it is. Thought it was pretty decent, it's both a topic and a country that I'm interested in, so enjoyed it. However, it's more a study in Italian football culture, shown through some of the key events. I think that my reading would have benefitted from it being structured differently. I understand that by ordering it thematically he is trying to showcase that the world of calcio is a mirror to that of Italy itself, but my mind doesn't work like that. I find it way easier to pick up themes in a chronological tale than to remember which names and places were when. I still have little to no idea as to what things happened when (with the odd exception, like Superga).
Still, pretty decent, even if I did learn more about how to be racist in Italian than I expected
7.5/10
Still, pretty decent, even if I did learn more about how to be racist in Italian than I expected
7.5/10
March 14, 2018
Simply the best football book I've ever read. A great mix of history, politics, success and failure. It covered the trials and tribulations of players, some well known and lesser known names, alongside the constant ups and downs of the clubs. Very interesting and quite witty in parts.
May 18, 2011
An ok history of Italian football, I would have liked a bit more depth on the formation of the leagues etc rather than focusing on the main and well known players and teams
November 17, 2017
Un bel libro, voluminoso ma veloce da leggere.
Storia del calcio italiano, scritta da un inglese. Il che già lascerebbe perplessi. Serve andare a leggere un inglese per conoscere la storia di quella che è stata la vera religione nazionale? No, ovviamente, ma il libro è godibile, chiaramente scritto a uso e consumo del lettore straniero che farebbe fatica a capire questo strano e contorto paese.
Mi fa sorridere il bisogno di spiegare le "regole sociali" qui vigenti, soprattutto in ambito calcistico. A quanto pare oltre le Alpi non sanno cosa sia il fallo tattico, pratica da noi non solo usatissima ma d'obbligo in casi estremi (e, per dirla tutta, assolutamente lecita, intelligente e assolutamente antisportiva). Tra questo e molti altri cliché, il lettore italiano rimane un pò perplesso. Tuttavia non è il solito libro stereotipato, nel complesso l'inquadramento della società italica è abbastanza realistico e accurato. Gli anglosassoni, dall'alto del loro predellino carico di glorie imperiali ottocentesche, sanno fare molto peggio.
In Italia, dice Foot ai lettori albionici, le passioni di quel curioso popolo sono sempre state due: la politica e il calcio, entrambe discusse ossessivamente ovunque (ma soprattutto al bar).Delle due, l'unica presa seriamente è stato il Dio pallone, l'unica vera religione di stato in questo paese. Perché il cattolicesimo e i suoi riti sono stati, nella maggior parte dei casi, puro conformismo e ipocrisia, maschere da indossare per stare senza problemi al proprio posto nella società.
Il calcio no. Il calcio è fede cieca, irrazionale come quella religiosa ma spontanea, vera e nel suo complesso, assoluta. Mai avreste visto, nell'epoca di cui tratta questo libro, un interista diventare juventino. Un laziale romanista. E questa fede aveva i suoi riti, domenicali come quelli cattolici (e infrasettimanali quando c'erano le coppe), appuntamenti fissi e sostanzialmente imperdibili, vere e proprie messe cantate con la propria liturgia, sempre uguale in saecula saeculorum.
Tutto questo, portato ai massimi livelli di fanatismo mistico, era rappresentato da quella sorta di giubileo a cadenza quadriennale rappresentato dal Mondiale: lì tutto raggiungeva l'apice, l'isterismo domenicale diventava isteria collettiva. Gli italiani, divisi su tutto da sempre e per sempre, diventavano uniti solo per la Nazionale di calcio. E solo in quel caso un'istituzione nazionale poteva essere persino amata. Se vinceva. Altrimenti diventava come lo Stato e come tale considerata.
Siamo il paese in cui, senza esagerare, "Caporetto" e "Corea" sono sinonimi. Quel simpatico reazionario di Churchill aveva indubbiamente ragione quando disse che gli italiani perdono le guerre come fossero partite di calcio, e le partite di calcio come fossero guerre.
Il calcio è stato il collante e il simbolo più importante, senza alcun dubbio, dell'Italia del Novecento. Foot ce lo racconta con buon stile (e qualche amenità).
Aggiungo che quel mondo è sparito, da anni ormai, fagocitato da interessi economici spropositati, che hanno reso il calcio uno spettacolo come tanti, puro entertainment. Il declino era cominciato già negli anni Ottanta, ma non ce ne siamo accorti per tutti gli anni Novanta. Solo a partire dall'inizio dei Duemila è diventato tutto evidente, e negli ultimi anni talmente lapalissiano da diventare, per molti, stomachevole. Quello che gli squallidi attuali proprietari del giocattolo non hanno capito è che se al calcio togli i suoi riti, le sue liturgie (prima fra tutte la messa cantata che erano le partite alle ore 15:00 delle domeniche pomeriggio) e la sua identarietà (con la città di appartenenza per prima, e attraverso giocatori simbolo poi) esso diventa né più né meno uno spettacolo come tanti.
Anni fa ricordo una mia reazione scomposta e sbalordita di fronte a un amico che diceva per quale assurdo motivo noi altri ci tenessimo cosi tanto a quello che in fondo era uno sport come tanti. Che cos'ha in fondo di più bello il calcio del basket, del tennis o del curling?, diceva.
Io e altri rispondemmo scandalizzati, ma in realtà non c'era una sola delle nostre risposte che avesse un senso. Il calcio era migliore, infinitamente migliore, di qualunque altro sport esistente solo perché per noi era ragione di fede, rito mistico. Pasolini ha descritto perfettamente tutto questo. Ma di per sé, il calcio è solo uno sport come tanti, né più bello né più brutto del badminton, per dirne uno.
Finito il rito, l'incantesimo si è rotto. Non a caso gli stadi sono vuoti, non a caso gli ascolti in TV sono in picchiata da anni, non a caso il numero di tifosi o appassionati è in calo vertiginoso, non a caso della Nazionale non frega più niente a nessuno.
Incredibilmente, il calcio in Italia sta finendo anno dopo anno nella pattumiera della storia. Solo dieci anni fa sarebbe stato letteralmente impensabile.
Sic transit gloria mundi.
Storia del calcio italiano, scritta da un inglese. Il che già lascerebbe perplessi. Serve andare a leggere un inglese per conoscere la storia di quella che è stata la vera religione nazionale? No, ovviamente, ma il libro è godibile, chiaramente scritto a uso e consumo del lettore straniero che farebbe fatica a capire questo strano e contorto paese.
Mi fa sorridere il bisogno di spiegare le "regole sociali" qui vigenti, soprattutto in ambito calcistico. A quanto pare oltre le Alpi non sanno cosa sia il fallo tattico, pratica da noi non solo usatissima ma d'obbligo in casi estremi (e, per dirla tutta, assolutamente lecita, intelligente e assolutamente antisportiva). Tra questo e molti altri cliché, il lettore italiano rimane un pò perplesso. Tuttavia non è il solito libro stereotipato, nel complesso l'inquadramento della società italica è abbastanza realistico e accurato. Gli anglosassoni, dall'alto del loro predellino carico di glorie imperiali ottocentesche, sanno fare molto peggio.
In Italia, dice Foot ai lettori albionici, le passioni di quel curioso popolo sono sempre state due: la politica e il calcio, entrambe discusse ossessivamente ovunque (ma soprattutto al bar).Delle due, l'unica presa seriamente è stato il Dio pallone, l'unica vera religione di stato in questo paese. Perché il cattolicesimo e i suoi riti sono stati, nella maggior parte dei casi, puro conformismo e ipocrisia, maschere da indossare per stare senza problemi al proprio posto nella società.
Il calcio no. Il calcio è fede cieca, irrazionale come quella religiosa ma spontanea, vera e nel suo complesso, assoluta. Mai avreste visto, nell'epoca di cui tratta questo libro, un interista diventare juventino. Un laziale romanista. E questa fede aveva i suoi riti, domenicali come quelli cattolici (e infrasettimanali quando c'erano le coppe), appuntamenti fissi e sostanzialmente imperdibili, vere e proprie messe cantate con la propria liturgia, sempre uguale in saecula saeculorum.
Tutto questo, portato ai massimi livelli di fanatismo mistico, era rappresentato da quella sorta di giubileo a cadenza quadriennale rappresentato dal Mondiale: lì tutto raggiungeva l'apice, l'isterismo domenicale diventava isteria collettiva. Gli italiani, divisi su tutto da sempre e per sempre, diventavano uniti solo per la Nazionale di calcio. E solo in quel caso un'istituzione nazionale poteva essere persino amata. Se vinceva. Altrimenti diventava come lo Stato e come tale considerata.
Siamo il paese in cui, senza esagerare, "Caporetto" e "Corea" sono sinonimi. Quel simpatico reazionario di Churchill aveva indubbiamente ragione quando disse che gli italiani perdono le guerre come fossero partite di calcio, e le partite di calcio come fossero guerre.
Il calcio è stato il collante e il simbolo più importante, senza alcun dubbio, dell'Italia del Novecento. Foot ce lo racconta con buon stile (e qualche amenità).
Aggiungo che quel mondo è sparito, da anni ormai, fagocitato da interessi economici spropositati, che hanno reso il calcio uno spettacolo come tanti, puro entertainment. Il declino era cominciato già negli anni Ottanta, ma non ce ne siamo accorti per tutti gli anni Novanta. Solo a partire dall'inizio dei Duemila è diventato tutto evidente, e negli ultimi anni talmente lapalissiano da diventare, per molti, stomachevole. Quello che gli squallidi attuali proprietari del giocattolo non hanno capito è che se al calcio togli i suoi riti, le sue liturgie (prima fra tutte la messa cantata che erano le partite alle ore 15:00 delle domeniche pomeriggio) e la sua identarietà (con la città di appartenenza per prima, e attraverso giocatori simbolo poi) esso diventa né più né meno uno spettacolo come tanti.
Anni fa ricordo una mia reazione scomposta e sbalordita di fronte a un amico che diceva per quale assurdo motivo noi altri ci tenessimo cosi tanto a quello che in fondo era uno sport come tanti. Che cos'ha in fondo di più bello il calcio del basket, del tennis o del curling?, diceva.
Io e altri rispondemmo scandalizzati, ma in realtà non c'era una sola delle nostre risposte che avesse un senso. Il calcio era migliore, infinitamente migliore, di qualunque altro sport esistente solo perché per noi era ragione di fede, rito mistico. Pasolini ha descritto perfettamente tutto questo. Ma di per sé, il calcio è solo uno sport come tanti, né più bello né più brutto del badminton, per dirne uno.
Finito il rito, l'incantesimo si è rotto. Non a caso gli stadi sono vuoti, non a caso gli ascolti in TV sono in picchiata da anni, non a caso il numero di tifosi o appassionati è in calo vertiginoso, non a caso della Nazionale non frega più niente a nessuno.
Incredibilmente, il calcio in Italia sta finendo anno dopo anno nella pattumiera della storia. Solo dieci anni fa sarebbe stato letteralmente impensabile.
Sic transit gloria mundi.
April 22, 2022
Dat La Gazzetta dello Sport de meest gelezen krant van Italië is, hoeft niet te verbazen. Voetbal is in Italië, meer dan elders, een afspiegeling van de samenleving. In geen enkel ander land is de verwevenheid van calcio met de politieke, economische en sociale structuren zo groot.
Zo heeft het noord-zuidvraagstuk, dat het schiereiland sinds het Risorgimento verdeelt, ook een grote sociale en sportieve impact. Een spandoek waarop 'Benvenuti in Italia' prijkt wanneer Napoli uit het Mezzogiorno op bezoek gaat bij Juventus in het Noorden is misschien nog amusant, het geweld en de agressie die de ultrà daaraan koppelen is dat in geen geval.
In de grootsteden creëerden machtige industriëlen in de vorige eeuw platformen voor brood en spelen die tot ver buiten de eigen regio reikten: Agnelli en FIAT in Turijn, Berlusconi in Milaan, scheepsbouwer Achille Lauro in Napels… ‘The story of Achille Lauro, and the deep connections he created between football and power in Italy, shows that it would be foolish to ignore the influence of the nation’s most popular sport when trying to understand the vicissitudes of her complicated political system’ (p. 398). In Milaan rekte de populistische Berlusconi dit idee tot in het extreme op. De media- en investeringsmagnaat stond zelfs aan de wieg van Forza Italia!, de politieke partij die is genoemd naar een kreet uit het voetbal en hem uiteindelijk naar het premierschap zou leiden. Voetbal als politieke hefboom dus.
Ook het geval van Trieste is een schoolvoorbeeld van de symbiose tussen voetbal en politiek, voornamelijk door de bijzondere ligging van de stad in het uiterste noordoosten van Italië. Het door de nazi’s bezette Trieste werd bevrijd door Tito’s leger waardoor Trieste tijdens de Koude Oorlog net als Berlijn en Wenen werd opgedeeld in twee sectoren. Een tijdlang kwamen de twee voetbalclubs van de stad uit in twee verschillende competities: Amatori in de Joegoslavische, Triestina in de Serie A. Trieste was dan ook van zeer grote propagandistische waarde, in die mate zelfs dat nationaal geld werd geïnvesteerd om Triestina op het hoogste niveau te houden.
Italië is ook een land van schandalen. De tangentopoli-smeergeldaffaire die politiek Italië in de jaren 90 op zijn grondvesten deed daveren, vond in 2006 in het voetbal zijn gelijke in calciopoli. Als een octopus spreidde Juventus-manager Luciano Moggi zijn tentakels uit over de voetbalwereld met als einddoel totale controle over referees, sportbonden, transfers en financiën. Pervers was dat niet iedereen hier afkeurend tegenover stond. Corruptie was als het ware een way of life geworden. ‘After all, Moggi was a winner and, as declared in the most terrifying and cynical banner displayed by Juventus fans after the scandal broke: “The end justifies the means”’ (p. 290). Italianen kennen duidelijk hun pappenheimers.
Veel aandacht gaat in dit boek uiteraard naar de bakermat Genoa en de grote teams die de geschiedenis van het calcio hebben getekend: il grande Torino, Juventus, Milan, Inter, Lazio en Roma. Het belang van de ‘kleine(re)’ clubs mag echter niet worden onderschat. Stuk voor stuk hebben zij, hun spelers, managers en presidenti een voetafdruk nagelaten in de geschiedenis van het Italiaanse calcio: het provinciale linkse Perugia van de eigengereide Gaucci, het Napoli van Maradona, catenaccio, melina, Superga…
Calcio is gelukkig geen chronologische opsomming van feiten en cijfers, maar leest als een cultuurgeschiedenis van Italië met Foot als gids en calcio als leidraad.
Zo heeft het noord-zuidvraagstuk, dat het schiereiland sinds het Risorgimento verdeelt, ook een grote sociale en sportieve impact. Een spandoek waarop 'Benvenuti in Italia' prijkt wanneer Napoli uit het Mezzogiorno op bezoek gaat bij Juventus in het Noorden is misschien nog amusant, het geweld en de agressie die de ultrà daaraan koppelen is dat in geen geval.
In de grootsteden creëerden machtige industriëlen in de vorige eeuw platformen voor brood en spelen die tot ver buiten de eigen regio reikten: Agnelli en FIAT in Turijn, Berlusconi in Milaan, scheepsbouwer Achille Lauro in Napels… ‘The story of Achille Lauro, and the deep connections he created between football and power in Italy, shows that it would be foolish to ignore the influence of the nation’s most popular sport when trying to understand the vicissitudes of her complicated political system’ (p. 398). In Milaan rekte de populistische Berlusconi dit idee tot in het extreme op. De media- en investeringsmagnaat stond zelfs aan de wieg van Forza Italia!, de politieke partij die is genoemd naar een kreet uit het voetbal en hem uiteindelijk naar het premierschap zou leiden. Voetbal als politieke hefboom dus.
Ook het geval van Trieste is een schoolvoorbeeld van de symbiose tussen voetbal en politiek, voornamelijk door de bijzondere ligging van de stad in het uiterste noordoosten van Italië. Het door de nazi’s bezette Trieste werd bevrijd door Tito’s leger waardoor Trieste tijdens de Koude Oorlog net als Berlijn en Wenen werd opgedeeld in twee sectoren. Een tijdlang kwamen de twee voetbalclubs van de stad uit in twee verschillende competities: Amatori in de Joegoslavische, Triestina in de Serie A. Trieste was dan ook van zeer grote propagandistische waarde, in die mate zelfs dat nationaal geld werd geïnvesteerd om Triestina op het hoogste niveau te houden.
Italië is ook een land van schandalen. De tangentopoli-smeergeldaffaire die politiek Italië in de jaren 90 op zijn grondvesten deed daveren, vond in 2006 in het voetbal zijn gelijke in calciopoli. Als een octopus spreidde Juventus-manager Luciano Moggi zijn tentakels uit over de voetbalwereld met als einddoel totale controle over referees, sportbonden, transfers en financiën. Pervers was dat niet iedereen hier afkeurend tegenover stond. Corruptie was als het ware een way of life geworden. ‘After all, Moggi was a winner and, as declared in the most terrifying and cynical banner displayed by Juventus fans after the scandal broke: “The end justifies the means”’ (p. 290). Italianen kennen duidelijk hun pappenheimers.
Veel aandacht gaat in dit boek uiteraard naar de bakermat Genoa en de grote teams die de geschiedenis van het calcio hebben getekend: il grande Torino, Juventus, Milan, Inter, Lazio en Roma. Het belang van de ‘kleine(re)’ clubs mag echter niet worden onderschat. Stuk voor stuk hebben zij, hun spelers, managers en presidenti een voetafdruk nagelaten in de geschiedenis van het Italiaanse calcio: het provinciale linkse Perugia van de eigengereide Gaucci, het Napoli van Maradona, catenaccio, melina, Superga…
Calcio is gelukkig geen chronologische opsomming van feiten en cijfers, maar leest als een cultuurgeschiedenis van Italië met Foot als gids en calcio als leidraad.
August 22, 2012
Buku yang diperlukan setiap fans sepakbola, khususnya para pemuja calcio. Di Italia, sepakbola sudah menjadi bagian dari hidup dan dengan teratur John Foot menjabarkan bagian per bagian. Foot membagi bukunya ke dalam 15 bab, antara lain mulai dari membahas tentang sejarah masuknya sepakbola ke Italia, kota-kota sepakbola, klub-klub ternama, pelatih, pemain, serta kemudian tentang timnas Azzurri. Buku ini dapat menjadi pegangan karena mencatat banyak kejadian penting dalam sejarah calcio serta menjelaskan sejumlah fenomena yang kini sudah awam dipakai. Kenapa "calcio" yang dipakai sebagai padanan untuk kata sepakbola? Apa itu Tragedi Superga? Apa yang terjadi dengan Giorgio Chinaglia di Piala Dunia 1970? Tentang virus kekerasan dan fanatisme suporter; tentang pengaruh sepakbola dan paham politik; dan yang paling menarik adalah bagaimana masyarakat Italia gemar menyalahkan adanya "konspirasi" ketika tim kesayangan mereka tampil mengecewakan. Wajib dibaca.
September 20, 2017
An amazing read about calcio and through that, a look into Italy through it's love of the sport. The read can be choppy because Foot goes through sections are not in chronological order but set up based on different aspects of the game with overlapping histories(the media, the fans, the scandals, the national team, the cities, etc.). Italy is balanced as a hilariously wonderful place with a dark side to it and that is summed up in the narration of ridiculous scandals and abhorrent violence. Only other issue is the timing of the book, it was updated in 2007 in the aftermath of Calciopoli and the 2006 World Cup victory for Gli Azzurri but more has happened in that time that just could not be mentioned in the decade following the update. Still a wonderful book and a great read.
October 15, 2017
Only the addendum made me love Calcio a little bit less than this book, on the whole, made me do. John Foot captured both an innocence and the despotic about the Italian game. It just makes me wish that we (English) loved our national game as much as the nations we have exported it to. I really enjoyed reading about the pioneers of football in Italy, so even if, like me, you're not particularly interested in Italian football but enjoy sports writing this is a well crafted book.
July 25, 2014
A brilliant read - could be a tad too much for the non football fan. Focuses on events, characters and people rather than a linear factual analysis, which was refreshing. A brilliant depiction of the complexities of sport in society.
January 6, 2018
For the time period it covers it is extremely comprehensive and details the reasons behind the more emotional rivalries in the league.
If you dont follow Italian football it would be a hard read. But because I am a fan, this was a great read
If you dont follow Italian football it would be a hard read. But because I am a fan, this was a great read
December 30, 2013
Bit anti Juve
November 15, 2013
Great reading based on an enormous investigation enriched with details and written with passion. Maybe one of the greatest way to explore Italian culture
October 31, 2015
Sorprendente analisi della storia del calcio italiano, scritta da un autore inglese capace di identificare passaggi cruciali dello sport e della storia del Paese.
May 23, 2018
For a fan of Italian football, this is quite simply essential reading.
January 18, 2024
It's a solid book but at times I found it a bit disjointed.
All in all an interesting book that seems to do away with the narrative history, "in this year x happened, in the next year y happened", and instead focus on themes and particular topics. This means it's a very easy book to pick up, read a chapter, then leave for a spell before returning but at the same time I feel it misses a lot of detail. The book prefers to focus on the actors rather than the play so the great and notables are mentioned with a little blurb about each. Which can work in places but elsewhere it feels absurd. The conclusion of the book dives into the rather seedy practise of "financial doping" which is prevalent in Italy but is that REALLY the best time and place to move into that topic, in the summary? All very odd. One thing I am left feeling about the whole enterprise is how absurdly broken it is and how it seems everyone has universally accepted "hey, what you going to do about it" Perhaps it's a cultural thing, or just a lack of drive but it seems half the book is filled with some scandal and the end result was "and it was brushed under the carpet".
As football books go it's a good, interesting read but I found it slightly less engaging than others, such as Fear and Loathing in La Liga. Perhaps the wide topic hurt it, or perhaps it was the style it was written. Ironically for a book on Italian football it feels somewhat dated by the time I've read it. It ends with the Worlc Cup win in 2006 but given what's been happening in Italy recently I feel that perhaps a second edition is due.
All in all an interesting book that seems to do away with the narrative history, "in this year x happened, in the next year y happened", and instead focus on themes and particular topics. This means it's a very easy book to pick up, read a chapter, then leave for a spell before returning but at the same time I feel it misses a lot of detail. The book prefers to focus on the actors rather than the play so the great and notables are mentioned with a little blurb about each. Which can work in places but elsewhere it feels absurd. The conclusion of the book dives into the rather seedy practise of "financial doping" which is prevalent in Italy but is that REALLY the best time and place to move into that topic, in the summary? All very odd. One thing I am left feeling about the whole enterprise is how absurdly broken it is and how it seems everyone has universally accepted "hey, what you going to do about it" Perhaps it's a cultural thing, or just a lack of drive but it seems half the book is filled with some scandal and the end result was "and it was brushed under the carpet".
As football books go it's a good, interesting read but I found it slightly less engaging than others, such as Fear and Loathing in La Liga. Perhaps the wide topic hurt it, or perhaps it was the style it was written. Ironically for a book on Italian football it feels somewhat dated by the time I've read it. It ends with the Worlc Cup win in 2006 but given what's been happening in Italy recently I feel that perhaps a second edition is due.
August 7, 2024
A comprehensive history of Italian football that is really for the purest enthusiast as a cover to cover read. Some chapters are a little dry (early origins of the game; fans and ultras; politics;) but I love the chapters about teams and players, including the success or otherwise of the Azzurri (National team).
The author clearly loves his subject matter and has done extensive research with almost everything referenced with footnotes to check out if you wish.
I learned some, and was interested in Pro Vercelli, and Pro Patria as clubs that dominated before falling into obscurity. Reference is also made to two other books I wish to read; The Miracle of Castel Di Sangro and A Season With Verona.
If you love football, European Football, then this is for you. If you hold a passing interest, then maybe pick the chapters that suit and leave the others.
The author clearly loves his subject matter and has done extensive research with almost everything referenced with footnotes to check out if you wish.
I learned some, and was interested in Pro Vercelli, and Pro Patria as clubs that dominated before falling into obscurity. Reference is also made to two other books I wish to read; The Miracle of Castel Di Sangro and A Season With Verona.
If you love football, European Football, then this is for you. If you hold a passing interest, then maybe pick the chapters that suit and leave the others.
May 7, 2015
I bought this a year ago after hearing the author speak at Hofstra University, but its fatness, coupled with my general disdain for 'calcio', stopped me from picking it up. Then last week, for no apparent reason, I decided that I really wanted to read it, and tore right through its 500+ pages. It's just very well themed and entertainingly written, and I learned about a ton of stuff I never knew, like Scottish players Denis Law and Joe Baker's drunken car crash in Turin, or the fact that all the corrupt referees got off scot-free in the 2006 match-fixing scandal. All in all, a massively enjoyable summation of Italy's darkly eventful soccer history.
My only quibble is that it's all second-hand research and no new interviews with any of the main players and protagonists, but that would probably have made it twice as long, and knowing what kind of advance books like this attract, probably beyond the author's resources and remit.
My only quibble is that it's all second-hand research and no new interviews with any of the main players and protagonists, but that would probably have made it twice as long, and knowing what kind of advance books like this attract, probably beyond the author's resources and remit.
June 13, 2014
An enlightening exposition of Italian football from an author with a clear passion for Italian football. The murky side of Italian football is ruthlessly exposed as is the Italian psyche with regards to the games and their total disregard for the concept of fair play.
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