What do you think?
Rate this book
Glory in Gothenburg: The Night Aberdeen FC Turned the Footballing World on Its Head
On a rainy night in Gothenburg in May 1983 twelve young Scotsmen turned the footballing world on its head. Against all the odds, those players took on the might of Spanish giants Real Madrid, and beat them convincingly. Aberdeen were winners of the European Cup Winners Cup. The manager, Alex Ferguson, would go on to become one of the greats, his team Pittodrie legends. The tale of that season, the remarkable triumph in the Ullevi Stadium and of the men who made it possible has never fully been told - until now. "Glory In Gothenburg" goes behind the scenes, deep into the inner sanctum, and through a series of in-depth interviews with all the main characters reveals what made that side and those players so special and what drove them on to achieve unparalleled success. Thirty years later, the story remains one of the most astonishing in the history of Scottish football.
- GenresFootball
276 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2012
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
May 18, 2013
I was very much set to read this book, when a good omen came along and prompted a conversation that I can return to much better informed. When getting a lift into town on, what is now known to Dons fans as "Gothenberg Day", my mate stopped to let a couple cross the road. It was only when we looked up we discovered it was Alex McLeish and his wife. This led to a discussion on what became of the "Gothenberg Greats" with my friend becoming incredulous that John Hewitt now worked a 9-5 job.
This book works so well because it is more than a recounting of Aberdeen's greatest success. Each chapter focuses on a match from that run and on one of the players from that night. We are given the details of their arrival at the club and what happened to them once they left. There are plenty stories you'll be familiar with, but others that will be a revelation, such has been the varying fortunes of the legends.
As a Dons fan born in 1984, there has always been something mythical about this time in my club's history. Many of the players still refer to it as a "fairy story" and the club has certainly returned to its pumpkin form during my time as a fan. With it being nigh on 20 years since our last trophy, it's nigh on unimaginable for me to think of the scenes of jubilation that this win caused.
I would highly recommend this book for Dons fans of any age as we will never see this kind of success again. Whether you are reliving that night or like me weren't alive at the time there is a lot to learn and take away from this book.
This book works so well because it is more than a recounting of Aberdeen's greatest success. Each chapter focuses on a match from that run and on one of the players from that night. We are given the details of their arrival at the club and what happened to them once they left. There are plenty stories you'll be familiar with, but others that will be a revelation, such has been the varying fortunes of the legends.
As a Dons fan born in 1984, there has always been something mythical about this time in my club's history. Many of the players still refer to it as a "fairy story" and the club has certainly returned to its pumpkin form during my time as a fan. With it being nigh on 20 years since our last trophy, it's nigh on unimaginable for me to think of the scenes of jubilation that this win caused.
I would highly recommend this book for Dons fans of any age as we will never see this kind of success again. Whether you are reliving that night or like me weren't alive at the time there is a lot to learn and take away from this book.
March 6, 2021
In 1983, Aberdeen became the first and to date the only Scottish team to win 2 European trophies.
On a rainy night in Gothenburg, a young manager called Alex Ferguson led Aberdeen to The European Cup Winners Cup, defeating the mighty Real Madrid (The European Super Cup would follow).
BBC Radio Scotland's Richard Gordon, a passionate Aberdeen fan, lovingly retells the story.
With each chapter of the book focusing on a specific game in the cup run as well as a member of the squad. It was a really enjoyable insight to the team and what went on in and around the club and where the players are now.
It suffered a little as Ferguson himself wasn't involved, but overall it was a very enjoyable piece of nostalgia.
On a rainy night in Gothenburg, a young manager called Alex Ferguson led Aberdeen to The European Cup Winners Cup, defeating the mighty Real Madrid (The European Super Cup would follow).
BBC Radio Scotland's Richard Gordon, a passionate Aberdeen fan, lovingly retells the story.
With each chapter of the book focusing on a specific game in the cup run as well as a member of the squad. It was a really enjoyable insight to the team and what went on in and around the club and where the players are now.
It suffered a little as Ferguson himself wasn't involved, but overall it was a very enjoyable piece of nostalgia.
April 30, 2014
This review if from my website The Sports Book Review
You can scarcely believe it nowadays, but there was a time when Europe’s superpowers could be regularly overcome by a provincial team from a less fashionable league. Given the right circumstances, smaller sides could rise up and beat the behemoths of the game, clinching major European silverware as they did so.
One of the more stunning examples of such a tale was the 1982-83 Aberdeen side, led by a certain Alex Ferguson and featuring a host of famous names, many of whom were embarking on what would become illustrious careers. I can just about recall the images of a rain soaked John Hewitt celebrating his late headed winner which beat Real Madrid in the 1983 European Cup Winners’ Cup Final in a sodden Gothenburg. It didn’t seem such an astonishing shock to my youthful mind, but with the benefit of a little time and a little perspective it can’t be classed as anything other than a phenomenal achievement.
Just how did this happen? Now it would be beyond Aberdeen’s wildest dreams to merely compete domestically with the relative financial giants of Celtic, and Rangers once they climb their way back. In 1983, it was another matter altogether.
By using that most golden of seasons in Aberdeen’s history, Gordon traces the rise through chapters looking jointly at the progressing season and the key men involved in making history for the Dons. Working through the whole line up from that famous Final flourish in Gothenburg from Jim Leighton, Willie Miller and Alex McLeish at the back, to Gordon Strachan, Neale Cooper, Eric Black, John Hewitt and Mark McGhee further forward and all those in between, Gordon tells each players’ tale with the benefit of first hand interviews from each player.
The players’ own stories are told in mini-biographical form within each chapter, but of course focused on their time at Aberdeen and in that European run in particular. What strikes is that in almost every case, the memories are fresh and clear, barring the seemingly forgetful Gordon Strachan. For many, it was the pinnacle achievement of the playing career, and is looked on fondly by them all. Even for those who went on to achieve more elsewhere, or at least of a higher profile in later years, the pride of those astonishing years in Aberdeen are clear for all to see.
At the helm there was of course the dominating figure of Alex Ferguson; a relative whipper-snapper at the time. Given what he went on to achieve, it is fascinating to note the effect he had on the team he made his reputation at, with examples of his infamous temper (such as after Aberdeen’s 1983 Scottish Cup win) and also his softer sentimental side (allowing an injured player to warm up in front of the fans so they would sing his name). What is clear is that even for those he subsequently fell out with, the respect is absolute from those that made it at Aberdeen. His ruthlessness may mean that some of those who fell by the wayside feel differently, but that would be another story; this is all about those who succeeded beyond their wildest dreams.
Given this influence it is a shame that Ferguson is the one key protagonist who wasn’t interviewed for this book; the reasons are explained, but it’s a shame nonetheless. But there is so much revealing testimony from the players about Ferguson that it actually paints a detailed picture of the big man’s early managerial years. The lack of a Ferguson interview doesn’t impact overall on the impression of a thoroughly well researched book, mixed in with Gordon’s own personal recollections of that Aberdeen team and that night in Gothenburg.
For an Aberdeen fan, this book will bring the glorious memories flooding back, but for fans of other clubs it serves as a reminder that things weren’t always this way. There was a time when money wasn’t the be all and end all, and that given the right circumstances and the right people, others could rise to the top and achieve the impossible. Fascinating reading for football fans of all persuasions.
You can scarcely believe it nowadays, but there was a time when Europe’s superpowers could be regularly overcome by a provincial team from a less fashionable league. Given the right circumstances, smaller sides could rise up and beat the behemoths of the game, clinching major European silverware as they did so.
One of the more stunning examples of such a tale was the 1982-83 Aberdeen side, led by a certain Alex Ferguson and featuring a host of famous names, many of whom were embarking on what would become illustrious careers. I can just about recall the images of a rain soaked John Hewitt celebrating his late headed winner which beat Real Madrid in the 1983 European Cup Winners’ Cup Final in a sodden Gothenburg. It didn’t seem such an astonishing shock to my youthful mind, but with the benefit of a little time and a little perspective it can’t be classed as anything other than a phenomenal achievement.
Just how did this happen? Now it would be beyond Aberdeen’s wildest dreams to merely compete domestically with the relative financial giants of Celtic, and Rangers once they climb their way back. In 1983, it was another matter altogether.
By using that most golden of seasons in Aberdeen’s history, Gordon traces the rise through chapters looking jointly at the progressing season and the key men involved in making history for the Dons. Working through the whole line up from that famous Final flourish in Gothenburg from Jim Leighton, Willie Miller and Alex McLeish at the back, to Gordon Strachan, Neale Cooper, Eric Black, John Hewitt and Mark McGhee further forward and all those in between, Gordon tells each players’ tale with the benefit of first hand interviews from each player.
The players’ own stories are told in mini-biographical form within each chapter, but of course focused on their time at Aberdeen and in that European run in particular. What strikes is that in almost every case, the memories are fresh and clear, barring the seemingly forgetful Gordon Strachan. For many, it was the pinnacle achievement of the playing career, and is looked on fondly by them all. Even for those who went on to achieve more elsewhere, or at least of a higher profile in later years, the pride of those astonishing years in Aberdeen are clear for all to see.
At the helm there was of course the dominating figure of Alex Ferguson; a relative whipper-snapper at the time. Given what he went on to achieve, it is fascinating to note the effect he had on the team he made his reputation at, with examples of his infamous temper (such as after Aberdeen’s 1983 Scottish Cup win) and also his softer sentimental side (allowing an injured player to warm up in front of the fans so they would sing his name). What is clear is that even for those he subsequently fell out with, the respect is absolute from those that made it at Aberdeen. His ruthlessness may mean that some of those who fell by the wayside feel differently, but that would be another story; this is all about those who succeeded beyond their wildest dreams.
Given this influence it is a shame that Ferguson is the one key protagonist who wasn’t interviewed for this book; the reasons are explained, but it’s a shame nonetheless. But there is so much revealing testimony from the players about Ferguson that it actually paints a detailed picture of the big man’s early managerial years. The lack of a Ferguson interview doesn’t impact overall on the impression of a thoroughly well researched book, mixed in with Gordon’s own personal recollections of that Aberdeen team and that night in Gothenburg.
For an Aberdeen fan, this book will bring the glorious memories flooding back, but for fans of other clubs it serves as a reminder that things weren’t always this way. There was a time when money wasn’t the be all and end all, and that given the right circumstances and the right people, others could rise to the top and achieve the impossible. Fascinating reading for football fans of all persuasions.
January 6, 2013
This book really brought back some great childhood memories of the team I support, Aberdeen Football Club.
It was good to hear not only the players views but also get some insight of the views of fellow Aberdeen fan Richard Gordon.
I was 9 years old when my parents took me to Gothenburg so by the time took an interest in the game I was use to us winning, like so many of the players said, it was not till later they realized what had been achieved.
Although I do remember crying at the final whistle listening to the game in Belgium when I realized that my team were in a European final.
Parts of this book brought those emotions back.
A must read for any Aberdeen fan.
It was good to hear not only the players views but also get some insight of the views of fellow Aberdeen fan Richard Gordon.
I was 9 years old when my parents took me to Gothenburg so by the time took an interest in the game I was use to us winning, like so many of the players said, it was not till later they realized what had been achieved.
Although I do remember crying at the final whistle listening to the game in Belgium when I realized that my team were in a European final.
Parts of this book brought those emotions back.
A must read for any Aberdeen fan.
May 13, 2015
A great reliving of the famous European glories of Aberdeen Football Club. As a fan that was only just too young to really remember these events clearly, I thoroughly enjoyed this. The format is very successful (each chapter focuses on a particular match and a particular player). It really gives the feeling of the way that a football season regularly ticks by and the excitement and tension that builds as a team progresses through a competition. A must read for Dons fans.
January 5, 2014
Of course for any fan it's difficult not to be biased, but this is a well written and well structured, with chapters for players and concentrating on each game, part linking to the players. Always fun subject matter, and engaging written, even managing to dig up a couple of bits and pieces that seemed new. Fun, easy reading.
If only we had cause for more books like this...
If only we had cause for more books like this...
January 6, 2016
An excellent read about the amazing triumph by Aberdeen FC to win the European Cup Winner's Cup in 1983
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews