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Once Upon a Time in La Liga: Spanish Football's Forgotten Tales
Brendan Madden delves into archives and secret files, and speaks to those who were there, to uncover Spanish football’s most incredible hidden stories.
Perfect for anyone interested in Spanish football or wider Spanish culture and history.
In this passionately crafted collection brimming with compelling characters, you’ll learn
The team-mates persecuted by Franco’s regime for a humble protestHow the fastest winger in the land became a Nazi spyThe boy abandoned at an orphanage who became a rebellious generational talentTwo rising stars caught in one of Spain’s deadliest firesThe boardroom figures who defied ETA and Galicia’s drug cartelsJohan Cruyff’s bizarre stint at LevanteThe extraordinary life of the man who gave the world ‘tiki-taka’How a Blackpool lad became the cherished voice of Spanish TVThe goal that shook Barcelona in the middle of the nightThe profound connection between Cádiz’s carnival and its football clubMeet new heroes and villains in this meticulously researched anthology, which offers a vivid, deeply human glimpse into Spanish football – and the culture, politics and history that shaped it.
Perfect for anyone interested in Spanish football or wider Spanish culture and history.
In this passionately crafted collection brimming with compelling characters, you’ll learn
The team-mates persecuted by Franco’s regime for a humble protestHow the fastest winger in the land became a Nazi spyThe boy abandoned at an orphanage who became a rebellious generational talentTwo rising stars caught in one of Spain’s deadliest firesThe boardroom figures who defied ETA and Galicia’s drug cartelsJohan Cruyff’s bizarre stint at LevanteThe extraordinary life of the man who gave the world ‘tiki-taka’How a Blackpool lad became the cherished voice of Spanish TVThe goal that shook Barcelona in the middle of the nightThe profound connection between Cádiz’s carnival and its football clubMeet new heroes and villains in this meticulously researched anthology, which offers a vivid, deeply human glimpse into Spanish football – and the culture, politics and history that shaped it.
333 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 8, 2025
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December 2, 2025
Such a loving, wonderful, joyous description of Spanish football and the country’s culture. Like Spain itself, the book seems straightforward yet so many complexities to unpick. Even if you’re not a football fan, anyone interested in Spain’s history should read this book. It took me to Spain and many memories of living there and watching Spanish football from afar. One of the most engaging books I’ve read recently.
Displaying 1 of 1 review