What do you think?
Rate this book
Spain: The Inside Story of La Roja's Historic Treble
This is the story of the greatest achievement in the history of international football.
After decades of failure, Spain won the European Championship in 2008 andthen the World Cup in 2010. At Euro 2012 they became the first team to win three consecutive tournament titles.
Graham Hunter was inside the dressing room as the players celebrated after the finals of the World Cup and Euro 2012. His access-all-areas pass at all three tournaments has resulted in remarkable eyewitness accounts and new interviews with star players and the men behind the scenes. Across every day of La Roja’s treble, the author takes you on to the training ground; on the team bus; into the canteen; inside the hotels and on to the pitch.
You’ll hear the team talks that inspired Spain to victory plus the inside stories from Fernando Torres, Xavi, Iker Casillas, David Villa, Cesc Fàbregas, Andrés Iniesta, Gerard Piqué and the others behind an unprecedented era.
After decades of failure, Spain won the European Championship in 2008 andthen the World Cup in 2010. At Euro 2012 they became the first team to win three consecutive tournament titles.
Graham Hunter was inside the dressing room as the players celebrated after the finals of the World Cup and Euro 2012. His access-all-areas pass at all three tournaments has resulted in remarkable eyewitness accounts and new interviews with star players and the men behind the scenes. Across every day of La Roja’s treble, the author takes you on to the training ground; on the team bus; into the canteen; inside the hotels and on to the pitch.
You’ll hear the team talks that inspired Spain to victory plus the inside stories from Fernando Torres, Xavi, Iker Casillas, David Villa, Cesc Fàbregas, Andrés Iniesta, Gerard Piqué and the others behind an unprecedented era.
443 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 11, 2013
13 people are currently reading
200 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
August 5, 2020
I loved this book. I’ve talked before about how I support the Spanish National Team and how the 2008-2012 era is just my favourite thing and it was a pure delight to watch Spain’s success happening in real time, so reading Spain: The Inside Story of La Roja’s Historic Treble was just as delightful.
It doesn’t just follow the events of the three tournaments and give a play by play of each of Spain’s matches. The tournaments are a major part of it, but it also looks at the history of the Spanish National Team, the legacy of the coaches that led the National Team to victory, and how the players in this historic era got to where they are. The youth system is a major factor and it was interesting to learn about how the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain, builds up and invests in players when they are so young. It’s not just teaching these young players the skills they need, but teaching them a good work ethic and attitude, and how to work as a team. This book makes clear how so many of the golden generation had grown up playing with each other, either for their club or their country, and how club rivalries mean nothing when they have a Spain shirt on – no matter how hard José Mourinho may have tried.
There are interviews with players, organisers, pundits, and coaching staff in Spain: The Inside Story of La Roja’s Historic Treble. The coaches and their staff are given their due and it’s clear that the players have respect for them. It’s interesting and impressive to hear how some of the more experienced players, like captain Iker Casillas, Carlos Puyol and Xavi (who acted as a second captain to the national side really), were involved in some big decision making and all players were allowed to share their thoughts. Luis Aragonés who coached the national side to victory in 2008, instilled a sense of pride and confidence in the players and wasn’t afraid to make big changes to the team, and then Vicente del Bosque who took over and coached Spain from 2008 – 2016, ran with the foundations that Aragonés had set.
Spain: The Inside Story of La Roja’s Historic Treble is definitely a book for fans of the Spanish National Team, but I think any football fan would gain something from this book. To see how it takes decades to produce players and a team of this calibre is important. Spain’s success didn’t happen overnight, and they had a lot of doubters, but the way this group of players, so many of whom were involved in at least two of the major tournaments, achieved something so extraordinary is to be admired. The players in this era were friends first rather than teammates and how they learnt to read each other so well, offer advice and support in important moments (it’s thanks to Pepe Reina’s advice and experience that Casillas saved Paraguayan José Cardozo’s penalty at the World Cup) and just work together so seamlessly is just wonderful.
You might think Spain: The Inside Story of La Roja’s Historic Treble would be a dry read but it’s actually really entertaining and often funny. There’s a lot of witty anecdotes from players and staff and Hunter does a great job at explaining events and finding humour in tense situations.
I had a huge grin on my face pretty much the whole time I was reading Spain: The Inside Story of La Roja’s Historic Treble. It was so much fun reliving Spain’s golden years, there were some things I knew or remembered but so many others were new to me and it was wonderful to learn more about these players and these teams that were such a solid unit. I just love these Spanish players and their friendships and this book really captures how the Spanish National Team really had captured lightning in a bottle and managed to hold on to it for six years.
It doesn’t just follow the events of the three tournaments and give a play by play of each of Spain’s matches. The tournaments are a major part of it, but it also looks at the history of the Spanish National Team, the legacy of the coaches that led the National Team to victory, and how the players in this historic era got to where they are. The youth system is a major factor and it was interesting to learn about how the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain, builds up and invests in players when they are so young. It’s not just teaching these young players the skills they need, but teaching them a good work ethic and attitude, and how to work as a team. This book makes clear how so many of the golden generation had grown up playing with each other, either for their club or their country, and how club rivalries mean nothing when they have a Spain shirt on – no matter how hard José Mourinho may have tried.
There are interviews with players, organisers, pundits, and coaching staff in Spain: The Inside Story of La Roja’s Historic Treble. The coaches and their staff are given their due and it’s clear that the players have respect for them. It’s interesting and impressive to hear how some of the more experienced players, like captain Iker Casillas, Carlos Puyol and Xavi (who acted as a second captain to the national side really), were involved in some big decision making and all players were allowed to share their thoughts. Luis Aragonés who coached the national side to victory in 2008, instilled a sense of pride and confidence in the players and wasn’t afraid to make big changes to the team, and then Vicente del Bosque who took over and coached Spain from 2008 – 2016, ran with the foundations that Aragonés had set.
Spain: The Inside Story of La Roja’s Historic Treble is definitely a book for fans of the Spanish National Team, but I think any football fan would gain something from this book. To see how it takes decades to produce players and a team of this calibre is important. Spain’s success didn’t happen overnight, and they had a lot of doubters, but the way this group of players, so many of whom were involved in at least two of the major tournaments, achieved something so extraordinary is to be admired. The players in this era were friends first rather than teammates and how they learnt to read each other so well, offer advice and support in important moments (it’s thanks to Pepe Reina’s advice and experience that Casillas saved Paraguayan José Cardozo’s penalty at the World Cup) and just work together so seamlessly is just wonderful.
You might think Spain: The Inside Story of La Roja’s Historic Treble would be a dry read but it’s actually really entertaining and often funny. There’s a lot of witty anecdotes from players and staff and Hunter does a great job at explaining events and finding humour in tense situations.
I had a huge grin on my face pretty much the whole time I was reading Spain: The Inside Story of La Roja’s Historic Treble. It was so much fun reliving Spain’s golden years, there were some things I knew or remembered but so many others were new to me and it was wonderful to learn more about these players and these teams that were such a solid unit. I just love these Spanish players and their friendships and this book really captures how the Spanish National Team really had captured lightning in a bottle and managed to hold on to it for six years.
January 23, 2025
A look behind the curtain of the best national side to ever play the beautiful game. I remember falling in love with football through this team at the 2010 world cup in South Africa, reading this book has brought the memories or that tournament flooding back. First hand tales and accounts from Spanish footballing legends between 08-12, perfectly depicted by one of my favourite authors in Graham Hunter. This is a must read for all that have the same feelings towards Spanish football as me. Immense.
May 8, 2015
"What we do, what we have done, is make something very difficult appear completely normal." Iker Casillas sums it up beautifully when he describes what Spain has achieved over the past decade. And this book follows the story of the Spainish national team in the conquest of three consecutive tournaments, something never replicated in world football, and gives us the background, the whys and hows this amazing feat was achieved. A truly must read for a football fan.
July 4, 2022
An enjoyable and very insightful read, which really emphasises the greatness of that Spanish team and their monumental achievements. Hunter really does paint them as a unit, and almost all members of the squad get their chance to shine, in the tournaments and in the narrative. The format could be a tad repetitive for some readers though, and there are occasions when the author is itching to get across how cool and respected he is. Nevertheless it’s a unique insight into elite sporting triumph
October 13, 2020
A fantastic trip back through history of the Spanish National Team rise to glory, along with historical context on how they got to the top, held their position for 6 years. Great personal moments by the author being there with the team as well. Superb book for any football fans out there.
October 7, 2017
One of my all-time favourite books. You know, the Euro-winning Spanish team of 2008 was my favourite football team of all time. So the first third of the book is an absolute joy for me, I had to fight my happy tears while reading it.
I would love to read an extension about the 2014 disgrace at the World Cup, insights at the changing room, what Del Bosque told theteam players.
I would love to read an extension about the 2014 disgrace at the World Cup, insights at the changing room, what Del Bosque told the
July 16, 2017
This is so enjoyable, it's written in a very conversational style and is so interesting but also quite moving in places despite knowing the ending. All the Spanish players seem so likeable and it's just a really good story.
November 24, 2021
Graham's got the t-shirts and some brilliant quotes from the magical team of 2008-2012, which marked the end of the first era of modern football. Very good on team spirit, as well as the rivalry between Madrid & Barca.
March 23, 2017
Very easy to read with great insight into the bubbles that the players and managers found themselves in. Loved the style of tournament writing as it was day by day, and not jumping around or missing days. It was a cumulative process which was well described.
September 28, 2023
Really enjoyed this. A perfect accompaniment to ten days in Spain. 🇪🇸😎👍
Great memories of a wonderful team and a good group of men.👏
Great memories of a wonderful team and a good group of men.👏
April 5, 2020
When I thought that Graham Hunter had offered the perfect homage of the greatest club side of a generation, he outdoes himself with a ridiculously good account of the best international side ever.
This book reads a bit like a diary, with a blend of hindsight that is alluring and fabulous. The level is detail comes up a notch from his previous book (if even possible) and the storytelling is captivating. The Day-by-day account of the Euro 2008 triumph is just brilliant and it was an utter joy to relive this historic campaign.
Due to Hunter’s unparalleled access to the Spain camps, his style is different to in Barça, but I think that I prefer it this way.
From wide-ranging and expert analysis regarding the context of both Luis Aragones’ and Vicente Del Bosque’s professional careers, to detailed training day and match day meal-time routines and what the players ate, this book has it all. This really is the complete story, in unmatched detail, of the La Roja journey from desolation to glory.
Hunter brilliantly allows the narrative to take centre-stage, when it may have been tempting to dominate the book with anecdotes. Instead, he uses anecdotes sparingly and tells stories which are central to the romance of La Roja’s story.
This book reads a bit like a diary, with a blend of hindsight that is alluring and fabulous. The level is detail comes up a notch from his previous book (if even possible) and the storytelling is captivating. The Day-by-day account of the Euro 2008 triumph is just brilliant and it was an utter joy to relive this historic campaign.
Due to Hunter’s unparalleled access to the Spain camps, his style is different to in Barça, but I think that I prefer it this way.
From wide-ranging and expert analysis regarding the context of both Luis Aragones’ and Vicente Del Bosque’s professional careers, to detailed training day and match day meal-time routines and what the players ate, this book has it all. This really is the complete story, in unmatched detail, of the La Roja journey from desolation to glory.
Hunter brilliantly allows the narrative to take centre-stage, when it may have been tempting to dominate the book with anecdotes. Instead, he uses anecdotes sparingly and tells stories which are central to the romance of La Roja’s story.
December 14, 2013
The Spanish national men's football team achieved something unique in 2012 when they won the European Championship for a second consecutive time, with winning of the 2010 World Cup coming between these two successes. This book tells the story of how all of this came about.
There could have been a real danger of the book becoming simply match report after match report, but the author uses the personal access that he has had to the team, the technical staff, administrators, etc., to really good effect. Throughout, the words of the people involved complement the on-going history.
There is much here that those behind the England men's football team could learn from. However, beyond the detail, ultimately this is a fitting tribute to the success of Spain's national team in recent years, a tale well worth telling. The current national men's football team from Spain is sure to be remembered for a long time; already many rank them alongside the likes of Brazil's 1970 team. I recommend that all football fans learn more about the team and the reasons for their success by reading this book.
There could have been a real danger of the book becoming simply match report after match report, but the author uses the personal access that he has had to the team, the technical staff, administrators, etc., to really good effect. Throughout, the words of the people involved complement the on-going history.
There is much here that those behind the England men's football team could learn from. However, beyond the detail, ultimately this is a fitting tribute to the success of Spain's national team in recent years, a tale well worth telling. The current national men's football team from Spain is sure to be remembered for a long time; already many rank them alongside the likes of Brazil's 1970 team. I recommend that all football fans learn more about the team and the reasons for their success by reading this book.
January 8, 2015
Excellent insight into what made the Spanish football team be so successful across three major tournaments.Superb behind the scenes insight.
January 24, 2016
Magisterial
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews