Waking the Giant: The perfect gift for any Aston Villa fan

by Gregg Evans, Matt Maher

The inside story of one football's club's astonishing revival.

In early July 2018, Aston Villa were staring into the abyss.

Locked in a cash crisis triggered by defeat in the Championship play-off final, one of English football’s most historic and successful clubs stood on the brink of financial catastrophe.

Yet less than six years later, Villa were celebrating qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in their history.

Waking The Giant takes you inside one of the most extraordinary revival acts in modern football, from the last-minute takeover by billionaire duo Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens which saved the club, through the promotion and equally remarkable Premier League survival inspired by boyhood supporter Dean Smith, right up to the present day and their return to the European elite under Unai Emery.

It is a tale of triumph plucked from the jaws of despair, several times over, with Villa frequently defying the odds to keep climbing and reclaim their place at English football’s top table.

From club record runs to great escapes from relegation and British record transfers, this is a rollercoaster ride not to be missed.

Genres: Football, Nonfiction

288 pages, Hardcover

Published December 2, 2025

Reviews

[Liam Davies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book; a great insight into the recent evolution of the club with some incredible anecdotes - credit to the great work and journalism from Evans & Maher. A must read for all Villa fans.

[DAVID · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must for all Villa fans. It’s excellent.

I listened to it as an audiobook and unfortunately the narrator was very poor.

No feeling no passion in his delivery, surely they could have found an actor Villa fan to do it. The fact that he pronounced the names of so many Villa legends wrong to me was an unbelievable own goal. Peter Withe and Juan Pablo Angel were legends so it was so disappointing that the narrator pronounced their surnames as any non football fan may have done !

Reliving the fall and rebirth of my club I found emotional as I recalled the memories of games and goals scored - could have been so much better if narrated by someone like David Bradley a brummie and Villa fan who I am sure would have added real passion to the story.

[Simon Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

As an avid villa supporter I really enjoyed this romp through the past few years from our brush with bankruptcy and administration through to Champjons League nights. Really accessible and an easy-read, the book is punctuated with contributions from players and staff at the relevant time.
My only negative point is that there is nothing new here that wasn’t reported somewhere at the time. Listening to 1874 podcast, author Gregg Evans teased aspects of the book and assured listeners that there were some really surprising revelations in the book, but o can’t recall reading anything new that I hadn’t seen or heard in The Athletic, Birmingham Mail, podcasts or Twitter.
This aside, it doesn’t make it any less enjoyable. Fans of other clubs may be surprised at some of the stories from the club in this period, as they won’t have followed the club as avidly through media at the time.
Highly recommend.

[M Guest · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing, doesn’t read like the roller coaster journey first touted at the pre launch. Reads like an infomercial for Sawiris and Edens. Too corporate and no sense of the fan experience. (I am eternally grateful to the current custodians for rescuing the club, hence the 3 star review)

[Aaron Gillespie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Must read for every Villa fan. Felt the later chapters on Emerys time a bit weaker with less insider detail and more just a listing of what happened but the first half of the book on the championship days and takeover give great insight and have heaps of inside information and research.

[Joel Rawlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Feels like a must read for any Villa fan. A mixture of eye-opening exclusives and previously unheard stories from the rollercoaster journey in the Championship to a return to European football. As someone who went through it all as a supporter, it's interesting to read about how it was for those playing or in charge at the time.

[Brian Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting and insightful read for the Villa fans , of which I am one. Although I knew some of the background about the club nearly going under I did not realise how bad it actually was due to poor ownership and management both on and off the pitch .The renaissance over the last few years is remarkable due to to good ownership and management on and off the pitch. It was interesting to hear about some of the players' perceptions of things . Not sure how much interest there is for non Villa fans .

[Jack McGee · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredible story that I have been lucky enough to witness as a fan. Gregg and Matt tell it well, although it does seem too personal at times - that they might be too close to it all. It doesn't cloud the experience at all, just can be noticed when reading. Thoroughly recommend to all Aston Villa fans - UTV.

[Euan Dick · Rating 2 out of 5]

Disappointing. Reads like a puff piece for the club instead of really discussing any great topics. Obviously had interviews with key people but what they said doesn’t seem to be challenged just regurgitated.
Just Reads like a lot of Athletic articles stuck together.

Enjoyable to read as a recollection of the past but no new insights/opinions.

[Dean HOCK1NG · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Villa fan this is biased. I think anyone who supports Villa will love this book and any football fan will enjoy it. Well written, interesting and great to see some behind the scenes work that we’d not typically be aware of

A must for Villa fans and a recommendation for any football fan in general

[Geoff Stokes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't get the audiobook version, I did, and the narration was truly dreadful. The content itself was insightful and knowledgeable although the last season seemed to be glossed over compared to other chapters.

[Stuart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great for Aston Villa fans who want to know what went on behind the scenes of the return to the EPL, the financial finagling of the recent owners, the impact of the cabbage, the slip-ups of Steven Gerrard and the departure of Jack Grealish.

This is probably as good as you’ll get.

[Kathryn Heap · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reliving some of the best and worst moments of my life through words. Learnt loads of things I didnt know about my club . Reading through and sending passages to people when it mentioned something they would like to know or an inside joke made the reading experience even better

[Shane Meade · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read for any true villa fan.
UTV

[hjgh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Aston Villa modern history. Easy to read and well written

[Will · Rating 5 out of 5]

The greatest story ever told.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read . some real nuggets of info that havnt been in the public domain before

[Chad Lavallee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for any Villa fan. Well documented times of the rise of Villa from the Championship to Champions League.