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The Barcelona Inheritance: The Evolution of Winning Soccer Tactics from Cruyff to Guardiola
From Cruyff's "Total Football" to the epic rivalry between Guardiola and Mourinho, a gripping chronicle of the rise and fall of Barcelona's dominance in world soccer.
Barcelona's style of play--pressing and possessing--has become the hegemonic style in modern soccer. In The Barcelona Inheritance, author of the soccer classic Inverting the Pyramid, Jonathan Wilson, reveals how and why this came to pass.
Now that the side is in decline--as they increasingly rely on the star power of players like Lionel Messi, abandoning their long-established philosophy--Wilson investigates what went wrong and who the rising influences are. What emerges is a deep analysis of the evolution of soccer tactics and style over the course of a generation. Starting with the theories forged by Cruyff and his successors, Wilson also writes about the people and personalities who gathered at the Camp Nou for what was effectively the greatest coaching seminar in history. The Barcelona era was marked by memorable friendships and rivalries and, in one case, an apocalyptic falling out that continues to shape the game.
This ambitious scope allows Wilson to delve into the tensions caused by the new relevance of geopolitics on rival teams because of the countries that own them, the distraction of players' legal issues around tax irregularities, and how teams adapted in order to challenge and put an end to Barcelona's dominance.
Barcelona's style of play--pressing and possessing--has become the hegemonic style in modern soccer. In The Barcelona Inheritance, author of the soccer classic Inverting the Pyramid, Jonathan Wilson, reveals how and why this came to pass.
Now that the side is in decline--as they increasingly rely on the star power of players like Lionel Messi, abandoning their long-established philosophy--Wilson investigates what went wrong and who the rising influences are. What emerges is a deep analysis of the evolution of soccer tactics and style over the course of a generation. Starting with the theories forged by Cruyff and his successors, Wilson also writes about the people and personalities who gathered at the Camp Nou for what was effectively the greatest coaching seminar in history. The Barcelona era was marked by memorable friendships and rivalries and, in one case, an apocalyptic falling out that continues to shape the game.
This ambitious scope allows Wilson to delve into the tensions caused by the new relevance of geopolitics on rival teams because of the countries that own them, the distraction of players' legal issues around tax irregularities, and how teams adapted in order to challenge and put an end to Barcelona's dominance.
333 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 9, 2018
92 people are currently reading
1607 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Wilson
88 books501 followersJonathan Wilson is a British sports journalist and author who writes for a number of publications including the Guardian, the Independent and Sports Illustrated. He also appears on the Guardian football podcast, Football Weekly.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 70 reviews
September 23, 2018
Over time, I've cooled in regards to Wilson, who has gone from writer with a different perspective to grating know-it-all. If you can ignore his personality, this is actually a very good book, but there were too many eye-rolls for it to be brilliant.
Although it's called the Barcelona Legacy, really this is a book about four personalities - Cruyff, Van Gaal, Mourinho and Guardiola. Other football names are included, but this is a mini-biography of them and their teams. As a concept, this is a bit iffy. As a book, it worked quite well. Wilson is both knowledgeable and balanced - impartial would be the wrong word as he is fairly unfavourable, but not unreasonable in his criticisms.
After a tortured family tree from Queen's Park to Barcelona, about as reliable as the lineage at the start of the Gospel, Wilson gives some background on Cruyff before discussing his time at Barcelona, and the remaining managers above who were all at the club in the late 90s. If there was a unifying theme, it would be the extent to which Cruyff's influence lived on in the managers' methods, as Wilson looked at how the managers acted and their relative success. I did think this worked well, as Mourinho and Guardiola's careers are hardly obscure, and this prevented it from becoming a pure rehashing. The discussions of training sessions were revealing but the parts about Van Gaal were newer to me and more interesting, and as Wilson had interviewed him his thoughts were personal, rather than inferred from press cuttings.
I can only assume Wilson didn't want to bore the reader with the club politics as sometimes this was quite vague - the machinations of power at Ajax went over my head as Cruyff manufactured a power base then lost it within a paragraph. Unfortunately, Wilson wasn't so restrained when it came to trivia and auditions for Pseud's corner. Did mentions of Milton and Dekker really add to the text? At one point Wilson seems to criticise Mourinho for pointing out he has won medals under three different UEFA presidents "to others this might be a curiosity", but later asserts that' the KNVB were sticking to their trusted model resolutely' because 3 out of 4 Dutch managers had played for Sparta Rotterdam in 1981. If it was that resolute, they'd have made sure all of them fit the bill. Clearly Wilson had loved this bit of trivia and had to invent a narrative in order to include it.
There were also some bizarre footnotes* quoting sources rather than simply putting 'as Xavi told Sid Lowe in a Guardian interview', say, and other witticisms such as Mourinho (whose great uncle was an aristorat) playing football with his neighbours 'or servants' (HA!), and altogether these were really annoying. Which is a shame, as he doesn't need to do it if the core book is good enough, as in this case.
*in the book The Barcelona Legacy.
Although it's called the Barcelona Legacy, really this is a book about four personalities - Cruyff, Van Gaal, Mourinho and Guardiola. Other football names are included, but this is a mini-biography of them and their teams. As a concept, this is a bit iffy. As a book, it worked quite well. Wilson is both knowledgeable and balanced - impartial would be the wrong word as he is fairly unfavourable, but not unreasonable in his criticisms.
After a tortured family tree from Queen's Park to Barcelona, about as reliable as the lineage at the start of the Gospel, Wilson gives some background on Cruyff before discussing his time at Barcelona, and the remaining managers above who were all at the club in the late 90s. If there was a unifying theme, it would be the extent to which Cruyff's influence lived on in the managers' methods, as Wilson looked at how the managers acted and their relative success. I did think this worked well, as Mourinho and Guardiola's careers are hardly obscure, and this prevented it from becoming a pure rehashing. The discussions of training sessions were revealing but the parts about Van Gaal were newer to me and more interesting, and as Wilson had interviewed him his thoughts were personal, rather than inferred from press cuttings.
I can only assume Wilson didn't want to bore the reader with the club politics as sometimes this was quite vague - the machinations of power at Ajax went over my head as Cruyff manufactured a power base then lost it within a paragraph. Unfortunately, Wilson wasn't so restrained when it came to trivia and auditions for Pseud's corner. Did mentions of Milton and Dekker really add to the text? At one point Wilson seems to criticise Mourinho for pointing out he has won medals under three different UEFA presidents "to others this might be a curiosity", but later asserts that' the KNVB were sticking to their trusted model resolutely' because 3 out of 4 Dutch managers had played for Sparta Rotterdam in 1981. If it was that resolute, they'd have made sure all of them fit the bill. Clearly Wilson had loved this bit of trivia and had to invent a narrative in order to include it.
There were also some bizarre footnotes* quoting sources rather than simply putting 'as Xavi told Sid Lowe in a Guardian interview', say, and other witticisms such as Mourinho (whose great uncle was an aristorat) playing football with his neighbours 'or servants' (HA!), and altogether these were really annoying. Which is a shame, as he doesn't need to do it if the core book is good enough, as in this case.
*in the book The Barcelona Legacy.
April 8, 2019
I enjoyed this, I find Jose Mourinho fascinating and Jonathan Wilson writes a solid interesting story here. I think one of the most interesting aspects is the small world interconnected nature of the football managerial round about and that comes across very well here, at times reading almost like a soap opera. Plus there’s a podcast covering important matches discussed in the book and apparently you can never have too many football podcasts to listen to.
September 28, 2018
In my early twenties I spent a two week holiday in Thailand with friends. Typically such holidays involve full moon parties, buckets with mystery booze, and magic mushrooms on ‘Mushie Mountain’. While I was there I spent more time reading Inverting the Pyramid, Jonathan Wilson’s seminal book on the history of football tactics than I did doing basically anything else. I say this to provide the context that I’m not an objective reviewer of Wilson’s work as I probably enjoy his broad stroke analysis of football’s evolution more than your average reader.
More than the Barcelona Legacy, Wilson tells the story of Johan Cruyff’s legacy and how the modern game has been shaped by coaches who were at Barcelona in some capacity in the early 90’s. The book traces the tactical evolution of Pep Guardiola, Louis van Gaal, José Mourinho Ronald Koeman, Luis Enrique, and Frank de Boer, and the impact those coaches have had on the game’s overall evolution. It’s a story of football philosophy and what it means to play football “the right way”.
The clash of Pep and José in Spain is the box office centrepiece of the story – Pep’s Cruyffian ideals versus vs Mourinho ‘s cynical counter attacking football. Wilson avoids taking sides and presents an unbiased assessment of how the game has developed across Europe. This is perhaps the best thing about the book as the most popular books to present on any of these figures are generally very biased either in favour of their subject (like Marti Peraneu’s books on Pep) or against (like Diego Torres trashy, brilliant and totally unreliable book on Jose). Given their current fortunes, it would have been very easy to fall into the trap of declaring Pep the victor in a battle of good vs evil.
Many of the individual details of the book will be familiar to the type of person who generally reads Wilson’s books (i.e. football nerds) who will likely have read many of the books Wilson cities throughout. However, the book is very well researched with Wilson adding the views of key players like Javier Zanetti or Ricardo Carvalho either from interviews or from biographies that aren’t available in English. It ensures some fresh and interesting material even for those of us who have devoured the many biographies of the key figures and clubs at the centre of the story.
I enjoyed particuarly the bits of the book that I hadn’t read about elsewhere – Mourinho’s origin story (well he is basically a super-villian), Van Gaal’s post Barca evolution and the turmoil at Ajax were all areas I was less familiar with that are covered well.
Like all of Wilson’s books he can’t resist showing off his literary knowledge with the occasional digression showing how well read he is. I quite like this about Wilson’s writing – and The Outsider shows this side of his work off the best – but I can imagine it will alienate some readers. Those interludes are brief and the book quickly gets back to more familiar territory.
What this book excels at is providing a clear joining of the dots by setting Pep, Jose and the others in the context of Cruyff. Above all it is a testament to Cruyff’s influence on the game and how his approach shaped 25 years of tactical evolution.
Like all Wilson’s work, its a very enjoyable, interesting and thought provoking read. It leads immediately to a YouTube binge as you try track down some of the more memorable matches and moments. I think you can tell if you’ll like this book by your response to someone using the phrase post-Cruyffian. If it makes you think of Guardiola’s possession based football this is the book for you. If it makes you think ‘tosser’ then it might not be the book for you!
One thing the book left me wondering about is Athletico Madrid’s rise which is noted but not quite explained. I’ve since ordered Hijacking Laliga by Evan McTear which promises to answer that very question!
The book is accompanied by a 6 part podcast which narrows in on 6 key games covered in the book. An interesting, and to my mind successful, way of promoting the book while also enhancing the experience for readers. Hopefully something that catches on.
You can read all of my sports book reviews at http://allsportsbooks.reviews/reviews...
More than the Barcelona Legacy, Wilson tells the story of Johan Cruyff’s legacy and how the modern game has been shaped by coaches who were at Barcelona in some capacity in the early 90’s. The book traces the tactical evolution of Pep Guardiola, Louis van Gaal, José Mourinho Ronald Koeman, Luis Enrique, and Frank de Boer, and the impact those coaches have had on the game’s overall evolution. It’s a story of football philosophy and what it means to play football “the right way”.
The clash of Pep and José in Spain is the box office centrepiece of the story – Pep’s Cruyffian ideals versus vs Mourinho ‘s cynical counter attacking football. Wilson avoids taking sides and presents an unbiased assessment of how the game has developed across Europe. This is perhaps the best thing about the book as the most popular books to present on any of these figures are generally very biased either in favour of their subject (like Marti Peraneu’s books on Pep) or against (like Diego Torres trashy, brilliant and totally unreliable book on Jose). Given their current fortunes, it would have been very easy to fall into the trap of declaring Pep the victor in a battle of good vs evil.
Many of the individual details of the book will be familiar to the type of person who generally reads Wilson’s books (i.e. football nerds) who will likely have read many of the books Wilson cities throughout. However, the book is very well researched with Wilson adding the views of key players like Javier Zanetti or Ricardo Carvalho either from interviews or from biographies that aren’t available in English. It ensures some fresh and interesting material even for those of us who have devoured the many biographies of the key figures and clubs at the centre of the story.
I enjoyed particuarly the bits of the book that I hadn’t read about elsewhere – Mourinho’s origin story (well he is basically a super-villian), Van Gaal’s post Barca evolution and the turmoil at Ajax were all areas I was less familiar with that are covered well.
Like all of Wilson’s books he can’t resist showing off his literary knowledge with the occasional digression showing how well read he is. I quite like this about Wilson’s writing – and The Outsider shows this side of his work off the best – but I can imagine it will alienate some readers. Those interludes are brief and the book quickly gets back to more familiar territory.
What this book excels at is providing a clear joining of the dots by setting Pep, Jose and the others in the context of Cruyff. Above all it is a testament to Cruyff’s influence on the game and how his approach shaped 25 years of tactical evolution.
Like all Wilson’s work, its a very enjoyable, interesting and thought provoking read. It leads immediately to a YouTube binge as you try track down some of the more memorable matches and moments. I think you can tell if you’ll like this book by your response to someone using the phrase post-Cruyffian. If it makes you think of Guardiola’s possession based football this is the book for you. If it makes you think ‘tosser’ then it might not be the book for you!
One thing the book left me wondering about is Athletico Madrid’s rise which is noted but not quite explained. I’ve since ordered Hijacking Laliga by Evan McTear which promises to answer that very question!
The book is accompanied by a 6 part podcast which narrows in on 6 key games covered in the book. An interesting, and to my mind successful, way of promoting the book while also enhancing the experience for readers. Hopefully something that catches on.
You can read all of my sports book reviews at http://allsportsbooks.reviews/reviews...
February 2, 2019
It was less about FC Barcelona’s history, and more about Cruyff, Van Gal, Mourihno, and Guardiola and their times with various clubs such as Ajax, Manchester City, Chelsea, and (of course) Barça. It also speaks of “Total Football” and how it has been implemented and has evolved through these coaches. Interesting read, but not what I expected.
January 14, 2020
A fascinating read bringing the skills of the Scottish football international and newsagent R S McColl and Jose Mourinho together via the links of Johan Cruyff and Pep Guardiola. The best football book I have read this year.
August 10, 2018
An enjoyable read, looked forward to this and it was worth the wait.
May 16, 2024
Aż za głupia jestem na tą książkę haha
May 23, 2025
Audiobook, worth a listen.
July 17, 2019
Disappointing
I bought this because I'm a huge Cruyff/Guardiola fan but it wasn't what I was hoping for. In my opinion it just relays what's happened in the past 25 years but only stays on the surface when I wanted it to get under the skin. I wanted more detail on the tactics and player profiles on Cruyff's dream team, Van Gaal's Ajax team. Where's Michael Laudrup, Bakero, Hagi, Prosinecki? The writer tries to see both sides but in the end its too biased towards Barcelona and 'good football'.
I bought this because I'm a huge Cruyff/Guardiola fan but it wasn't what I was hoping for. In my opinion it just relays what's happened in the past 25 years but only stays on the surface when I wanted it to get under the skin. I wanted more detail on the tactics and player profiles on Cruyff's dream team, Van Gaal's Ajax team. Where's Michael Laudrup, Bakero, Hagi, Prosinecki? The writer tries to see both sides but in the end its too biased towards Barcelona and 'good football'.
August 21, 2018
Un análisis del estilo Cruyff y sus influencias. Contextualizado y crítico. Ofrece una lectura interesante de los últimos 20 años de fútbol en términos tácticos, estratégicos, estructurales y disciplinarios. Wilson es una garantía. Siempre.
April 23, 2022
So good. Different but good.
May 19, 2020
Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho were until very recently the two most dynamic managers in world football. Their histories, their past meetings and the personal rivalry they developed in Spain (later in England with the two big Manchester clubs) are explored in this excellent book.
The history of both managers is traced back to its source, all the way to the formative era of 'Total Football' at Ajax Amsterdam. Rinus Michels looms large, but casting an even bigger shadow is Johan Cruyff, the genius footballer who was a chief exponent of Ajax's tradition, carrying it into the ethic of the Dutch national team and finally to FC Barcelona. As manager and later godfather of the Catalan giant, Cruyff's teachings gained traction, certainly with Josep Guardiola, a midfielder developed within the club who improved as a consequence. Over the years, Pep would modify and adapt the 'Cruyffian' philosophy to his own management style, leading to some of the most devastating club sides of the last twelve years. At Barca, Bayern Munich and Manchester City, his tactics have delivered consistent and dominant success, and additionally have suggested a positive and entertaining way for football to be exhibited.
Mourinho's background is more humble than Guardiola's, though his time in management has lasted longer. First emerging as a translator for Bobby Robson during the English Mister's time in charge at the Camp Nou, Mourinho stuck around and then went into the managing of teams for himself, gaining prominence when he won the Champions League with Porto. Hugely successful spells at Chelsea and Internazionale followed, though Jose slowly pulled away from the Cruyffian method within which he developed his own philosophies. Favouring a defensive minded and counter-attacking approach, Mourinho's teams eschewed the Barca fundamentals of possession football and midfield passing to produce something akin to an anti-Cruyff game.
With Guardiola at Barca and Real Madrid hiring Mourinho, the pair entered into direct rivalry, which spilled over into bitterness and personal attacks on each other. As entertaining as this undoubtedly was for spectators and the media, this atmosphere took its toll. Stress levels grew as the stakes were raised to dizzying heights. Things continued when the pair took on opposing teams in the Premier League, but by now a certain fatigue crept into their exchanges. Mourinho's dazzle faded as he failed to transform Manchester United into winners again. At the Etihad, Guardiola continues but his lustre isn't what it was as Jurgen Klopp's 'third way' gains traction at Liverpool, and he hasn't yet achieved the Holy Grail of the Champions League with them.
Other people are raised as supporting characters, notably others in Cruyff's wake like Louis Van Gaal and Ronald Koeman. These are equally fascinating individuals, both strong-willed and there's something that's just good fun about following the ups and downs of Van Gaal. He doesn't suffer from a lack of self-belief, but delivered an inconsistent range of results as his methods either took or did not with his players. A Champions League winner at Ajax and successful with AZ Alkmaar and the Netherlands, Van Gaal ultimately fell, like Mourinho did later, at Old Trafford. Perhaps that says more about the situation at United than for either manager, both geniuses but unable to arrest a period of malaise at this massive club that prizes commercial success over what it produces on the pitch, and which relied wholly on the work of their predecessor, Sir Alex Ferguson.
Mourinho comes forth as a divisive character, not exactly likeable but certainly charismatic, carrying deep-rooted flaws that can contribute to his downfall in certain jobs. The book suggests that he did well at Porto, Chelsea and Inter because none of these teams were massive enough to be bigger than the manager and thereby allowed him to force his will and personality on who they signed and how they played. At Real and United, club traditions were far more consuming and diminished the Mourinho effect. Much is made of the ethic of Seniorito at the Bernabeu, the aim for gentlemanly conduct, which he undercut with his negative brand of football and his petty barbs at Guardiola.
As for Pep, it's easy to cast him as the good guy, ordering the more attractive style of play and suffering for his passion to impose success and his ethics on the sides he's managed. But in the end he's every bit as obsessive as Jose, and you're left to imagine the sheer toll his emphasis on endless work and obsession has taken on him and on others. The football he wants might be joyful, but the effort to achieve it seems to be anything but.
It's a fascinating book, a deep dive into the backgrounds of two of the most dominant characters within the game in the past two decades. It refuses to get bogged down in turgid tactical discussion and places as much emphasis on the human beings involved, their personal strengths and weakness that translate into the ups and downs of the teams they have coached.
The history of both managers is traced back to its source, all the way to the formative era of 'Total Football' at Ajax Amsterdam. Rinus Michels looms large, but casting an even bigger shadow is Johan Cruyff, the genius footballer who was a chief exponent of Ajax's tradition, carrying it into the ethic of the Dutch national team and finally to FC Barcelona. As manager and later godfather of the Catalan giant, Cruyff's teachings gained traction, certainly with Josep Guardiola, a midfielder developed within the club who improved as a consequence. Over the years, Pep would modify and adapt the 'Cruyffian' philosophy to his own management style, leading to some of the most devastating club sides of the last twelve years. At Barca, Bayern Munich and Manchester City, his tactics have delivered consistent and dominant success, and additionally have suggested a positive and entertaining way for football to be exhibited.
Mourinho's background is more humble than Guardiola's, though his time in management has lasted longer. First emerging as a translator for Bobby Robson during the English Mister's time in charge at the Camp Nou, Mourinho stuck around and then went into the managing of teams for himself, gaining prominence when he won the Champions League with Porto. Hugely successful spells at Chelsea and Internazionale followed, though Jose slowly pulled away from the Cruyffian method within which he developed his own philosophies. Favouring a defensive minded and counter-attacking approach, Mourinho's teams eschewed the Barca fundamentals of possession football and midfield passing to produce something akin to an anti-Cruyff game.
With Guardiola at Barca and Real Madrid hiring Mourinho, the pair entered into direct rivalry, which spilled over into bitterness and personal attacks on each other. As entertaining as this undoubtedly was for spectators and the media, this atmosphere took its toll. Stress levels grew as the stakes were raised to dizzying heights. Things continued when the pair took on opposing teams in the Premier League, but by now a certain fatigue crept into their exchanges. Mourinho's dazzle faded as he failed to transform Manchester United into winners again. At the Etihad, Guardiola continues but his lustre isn't what it was as Jurgen Klopp's 'third way' gains traction at Liverpool, and he hasn't yet achieved the Holy Grail of the Champions League with them.
Other people are raised as supporting characters, notably others in Cruyff's wake like Louis Van Gaal and Ronald Koeman. These are equally fascinating individuals, both strong-willed and there's something that's just good fun about following the ups and downs of Van Gaal. He doesn't suffer from a lack of self-belief, but delivered an inconsistent range of results as his methods either took or did not with his players. A Champions League winner at Ajax and successful with AZ Alkmaar and the Netherlands, Van Gaal ultimately fell, like Mourinho did later, at Old Trafford. Perhaps that says more about the situation at United than for either manager, both geniuses but unable to arrest a period of malaise at this massive club that prizes commercial success over what it produces on the pitch, and which relied wholly on the work of their predecessor, Sir Alex Ferguson.
Mourinho comes forth as a divisive character, not exactly likeable but certainly charismatic, carrying deep-rooted flaws that can contribute to his downfall in certain jobs. The book suggests that he did well at Porto, Chelsea and Inter because none of these teams were massive enough to be bigger than the manager and thereby allowed him to force his will and personality on who they signed and how they played. At Real and United, club traditions were far more consuming and diminished the Mourinho effect. Much is made of the ethic of Seniorito at the Bernabeu, the aim for gentlemanly conduct, which he undercut with his negative brand of football and his petty barbs at Guardiola.
As for Pep, it's easy to cast him as the good guy, ordering the more attractive style of play and suffering for his passion to impose success and his ethics on the sides he's managed. But in the end he's every bit as obsessive as Jose, and you're left to imagine the sheer toll his emphasis on endless work and obsession has taken on him and on others. The football he wants might be joyful, but the effort to achieve it seems to be anything but.
It's a fascinating book, a deep dive into the backgrounds of two of the most dominant characters within the game in the past two decades. It refuses to get bogged down in turgid tactical discussion and places as much emphasis on the human beings involved, their personal strengths and weakness that translate into the ups and downs of the teams they have coached.
October 27, 2018
Jonathan Wilson is one of my favourite journalists, his attention to detail and style of writing has always appealed since the days of "Inverting the Pyramid" ten years ago.
The subject matter of this book was not new to me, having read the works of Sid Lowe for one in the past, but JW pulls together some very familiar stories in an engaging and interesting manner making links across the heritage of the Dutch approach to football and how that is informing the game right upto today.
The manner in which the current crop of managers have been influenced by the developments at Ajax in the 1970s and Barcelona during both the 1970's playing period of Cruyff and later during his managerial stints at both clubs is fascinating to reflect upon.
This is not only in the direct manner of influence seen in the work of Guardiola at Barca, Bayern and Manchester City but also in the other extreme, the anti-Cruyff approach taken by Mourinho in the years since 2008 when , as the author proposes, the Portuguese has been on a campaign to prove that the pressing possession based style of the modern adapted Cruyff can be beaten by a more destructive defensive style that scorns possession.
The incentive for this campaign being driven by the rejection that Mourinho experienced when applying for the manager's job at Camp Nou, a rejection made more painful by the Catalan club appointing Guardiola to the post.
Drawing in the parts played also by Van Gaal and Koeman in the successes and history of Barcelona over the last twenty years as well as the driven nature of Guardiola and his obsessiveness that has driven such success over the last decade but which proved to be too intense for him to continue at Barca this is a very informative and enjoyable book
The subject matter of this book was not new to me, having read the works of Sid Lowe for one in the past, but JW pulls together some very familiar stories in an engaging and interesting manner making links across the heritage of the Dutch approach to football and how that is informing the game right upto today.
The manner in which the current crop of managers have been influenced by the developments at Ajax in the 1970s and Barcelona during both the 1970's playing period of Cruyff and later during his managerial stints at both clubs is fascinating to reflect upon.
This is not only in the direct manner of influence seen in the work of Guardiola at Barca, Bayern and Manchester City but also in the other extreme, the anti-Cruyff approach taken by Mourinho in the years since 2008 when , as the author proposes, the Portuguese has been on a campaign to prove that the pressing possession based style of the modern adapted Cruyff can be beaten by a more destructive defensive style that scorns possession.
The incentive for this campaign being driven by the rejection that Mourinho experienced when applying for the manager's job at Camp Nou, a rejection made more painful by the Catalan club appointing Guardiola to the post.
Drawing in the parts played also by Van Gaal and Koeman in the successes and history of Barcelona over the last twenty years as well as the driven nature of Guardiola and his obsessiveness that has driven such success over the last decade but which proved to be too intense for him to continue at Barca this is a very informative and enjoyable book
January 3, 2021
Although named "The Barcelona Legacy" this book should be read as "The Cryuff Legacy". To be blunt before the arrival of Cryuff-the most influential person in football also one of the best ever to play the game-Barcelona, though a big name, didn’t have a legacy or to put it more aptly any style.
After the arrival of Cruyff-the manager Barcelona's fortunes changed in the trophy count but what makes Cryuff and his input such an elevated status in the game is how his ideology shaped the modern game by his greatest acolyte Pep Guardiola and the charsimatic but result oriented Jose Mourinho.
This is basically a amulgamation of 4 bios-Cryuff/Van Gaal/Pep/Mourinho.So we see how Cryuff views the game and how it influnenced his philosophy,how Van Gaal's differs from Cryuff(spolier-not much),How Pep is way more flexible then he was givem credit for and what really sets Jose of today to that of 2010.
Wilson tried to be as much objective as possible but still it can't gloss over the fact that Jose mourinho is a control freak with a machieavilan mindset.while his force of personality made him successful in Porto/Inter/Chelsea,at Madrid and United his underdog strategy was simply unfeasible.
What this book lacked is the Klopp Revolution but that would betray the premise of the book so that omission though eye catching is logical and also i am glad that wilson pointed out how political it is to manage both Madrid and Barca.In English dominated media this fact is not amplified enough.
A great read for those who wants to know about the evolution of Total Football to Juege de Posicion through the prism of Cryuff/VanGaal/Pep and despite his baptism in Total Football how Jose veered to the Dark Side(for the football aesthetics among us).
A very good read.
4/5 rating from me
After the arrival of Cruyff-the manager Barcelona's fortunes changed in the trophy count but what makes Cryuff and his input such an elevated status in the game is how his ideology shaped the modern game by his greatest acolyte Pep Guardiola and the charsimatic but result oriented Jose Mourinho.
This is basically a amulgamation of 4 bios-Cryuff/Van Gaal/Pep/Mourinho.So we see how Cryuff views the game and how it influnenced his philosophy,how Van Gaal's differs from Cryuff(spolier-not much),How Pep is way more flexible then he was givem credit for and what really sets Jose of today to that of 2010.
Wilson tried to be as much objective as possible but still it can't gloss over the fact that Jose mourinho is a control freak with a machieavilan mindset.while his force of personality made him successful in Porto/Inter/Chelsea,at Madrid and United his underdog strategy was simply unfeasible.
What this book lacked is the Klopp Revolution but that would betray the premise of the book so that omission though eye catching is logical and also i am glad that wilson pointed out how political it is to manage both Madrid and Barca.In English dominated media this fact is not amplified enough.
A great read for those who wants to know about the evolution of Total Football to Juege de Posicion through the prism of Cryuff/VanGaal/Pep and despite his baptism in Total Football how Jose veered to the Dark Side(for the football aesthetics among us).
A very good read.
4/5 rating from me
March 10, 2022
When I think of Barcelona and its legacy, my mind naturally goes to their brand of football, 'Tiki-Taka'. But Jonathan Wilson has opened my eyes with this book that Barcelona's true legacy (and in turn Cruyff's too) goes much deeper than that.
The number of the current managers that came from Barcelona's 90's team is astounding and it shows Cruyff's managerial tree is as strong as it could ever be. What I love about this book is that it doesn't focus on only Cruyff and Guardiola, but also Mourinho, Louis Van Gaal, and Luis Enrique. It highlights the not only the highs of Post-Cruyffian football but also the lows.
But the one thing that struck me most from this book is the fight that the disciples of Post-Cruyffian beliefs endure to ensure it does not become a lost art. But what they may have not realised is that this form of footballing philosophy is next to near impossible to replicate. Their 70's predecessors were an exception to the rule, not the rule itself. But through all of the attempts (both failed and near-successes), Post-Cruyffian football has proved not to be the answer, but instead posed the many questions to which have formed the way of the modern game. That is it's legacy.
The number of the current managers that came from Barcelona's 90's team is astounding and it shows Cruyff's managerial tree is as strong as it could ever be. What I love about this book is that it doesn't focus on only Cruyff and Guardiola, but also Mourinho, Louis Van Gaal, and Luis Enrique. It highlights the not only the highs of Post-Cruyffian football but also the lows.
But the one thing that struck me most from this book is the fight that the disciples of Post-Cruyffian beliefs endure to ensure it does not become a lost art. But what they may have not realised is that this form of footballing philosophy is next to near impossible to replicate. Their 70's predecessors were an exception to the rule, not the rule itself. But through all of the attempts (both failed and near-successes), Post-Cruyffian football has proved not to be the answer, but instead posed the many questions to which have formed the way of the modern game. That is it's legacy.
August 19, 2022
Wilson's retelling of how Barcelona's style (or possession based football) was born is well written and fascinating, much more readable that Inverting the Pyramid, and infinitely more entertaining. I highly recommend it to most football fans who would like to understand a bit more about the way Manchester City play, and how Guardiola's style came to be, or maybe even to Mourinho fans, as the stories of the two managers are intertwined and rightfully described side by side, in this book.
The one problem I have with this is the clear bias that Wilson demonstrates against Mourinho, his beliefs and his football. He is allowed to not enjoy his style and to despise his off-field antics (I would agree with him, on that regard), but way too many times, it felt like Wilson would excuse Guardiola's mistakes ("he lost the game, BUT if this and that hadn't happened, Barcelona would have probably won...") while deminishing Mourinho's accomplishments. This happened so often that it actually became irritating, as if I was reading the work of an 18 year-old sports science student, explaining why Guardiola is his favorite football coach.
I would have preferred a more objective and impartial version of the facts, without his personal opinions and his failed attempts at being funny.
The one problem I have with this is the clear bias that Wilson demonstrates against Mourinho, his beliefs and his football. He is allowed to not enjoy his style and to despise his off-field antics (I would agree with him, on that regard), but way too many times, it felt like Wilson would excuse Guardiola's mistakes ("he lost the game, BUT if this and that hadn't happened, Barcelona would have probably won...") while deminishing Mourinho's accomplishments. This happened so often that it actually became irritating, as if I was reading the work of an 18 year-old sports science student, explaining why Guardiola is his favorite football coach.
I would have preferred a more objective and impartial version of the facts, without his personal opinions and his failed attempts at being funny.
February 4, 2025
This was a very interesting read, although it wasn't what I was expecting.
For a book titled The Barcelona Legacy, it was less about the Catalan giants and more about the careers and impact of four primary individuals - Johan Cruyff, Louis van Gaal, Pep Guardiola and José Mourinho. Whilst I'd describe the subtitle of my edition - "Guardiola, Mourinho and the Fight for Football's Soul" - as misleading and click-baity. The alternative subtitle seen in other editions - "The Evolution of Modern Football From Cruyff to Guardiola" - is far more accurate. This was not about "a Fight for Football's Soul" and there were no heroes and villains. These are contrasting, conflicted and complicated personalities, fighting to stamp their legacy on a sport that is constantly evolving.
The book really centres around the influence of Cruyff's principles on the modern game. There are those clubs and coaches who embraced or advanced his ideas, and those who actively fought against them. This means Jonathan Wilson shines as much focus on the rise and fall of Dutch football, particularly Ajax, as he does on Barcelona itself.
However, I found the book at its most interesting when Wilson delved into the dichotomy between Pep and José. From their early days together at Barcelona (as player and assistant manager, or translator, respectively), through their bitter rivalry on either side of El Clásico, all the way to standing in opposing dugouts in Manchester. There is also an interesting insight into how close José was to becoming Barcelona manager instead of Pep, and how he became "a bit poisoned" by not being selected - a footballing sliding doors moment, if ever there was one.
I enjoy Jonathan Wilson as a sports journalist, so was not surprised to find this book full of his usual knowledgeable and engaging writing. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
For a book titled The Barcelona Legacy, it was less about the Catalan giants and more about the careers and impact of four primary individuals - Johan Cruyff, Louis van Gaal, Pep Guardiola and José Mourinho. Whilst I'd describe the subtitle of my edition - "Guardiola, Mourinho and the Fight for Football's Soul" - as misleading and click-baity. The alternative subtitle seen in other editions - "The Evolution of Modern Football From Cruyff to Guardiola" - is far more accurate. This was not about "a Fight for Football's Soul" and there were no heroes and villains. These are contrasting, conflicted and complicated personalities, fighting to stamp their legacy on a sport that is constantly evolving.
The book really centres around the influence of Cruyff's principles on the modern game. There are those clubs and coaches who embraced or advanced his ideas, and those who actively fought against them. This means Jonathan Wilson shines as much focus on the rise and fall of Dutch football, particularly Ajax, as he does on Barcelona itself.
However, I found the book at its most interesting when Wilson delved into the dichotomy between Pep and José. From their early days together at Barcelona (as player and assistant manager, or translator, respectively), through their bitter rivalry on either side of El Clásico, all the way to standing in opposing dugouts in Manchester. There is also an interesting insight into how close José was to becoming Barcelona manager instead of Pep, and how he became "a bit poisoned" by not being selected - a footballing sliding doors moment, if ever there was one.
I enjoy Jonathan Wilson as a sports journalist, so was not surprised to find this book full of his usual knowledgeable and engaging writing. A thoroughly enjoyable read.
February 15, 2023
Interestingly, the subtitle of the edition I received for Christmas is "The evolution of modern football from Cruyff to Guardiola", which is certainly the book Wilson set out to write. Whichever marketing wonk came up with this "Fight for football's soul" line obviously has a flair for melodrama but has also nailed the book's actual USP. By far the longest and most rewarding chapter is the one which covers the Pep v Jose La Liga years, a compelling slice of modern football history that was ultimately toxic for most of the people involved. That being said, it's not quite as good as a long-form article of Wilson's from a few years back - called, I think, The Devil and Jose Mourinho - which leaned even further into the Pseud's Corner-worthy religious and cultural analogies.
The rest of the book is a decent read, as is always the case with Wilson on tactics and managerial personalities. More proof, if it were needed, that Cruyff was a grumpy, unhinged ideologue, Pep a tetchy, neurotic ideologue, van Gaal a pompous yet self-aware arsehole and Mourinho perhaps the most fascinatingly repugnant character that football has produced.
The rest of the book is a decent read, as is always the case with Wilson on tactics and managerial personalities. More proof, if it were needed, that Cruyff was a grumpy, unhinged ideologue, Pep a tetchy, neurotic ideologue, van Gaal a pompous yet self-aware arsehole and Mourinho perhaps the most fascinatingly repugnant character that football has produced.
October 5, 2018
If you love football (soccer) and love analysis of modern tactics then read this phenomenal book. Jonathan Wilson is a great story teller, as I found out in reading Inverting the Pyramid, and he does a lot of that to make his point in this book. I would say Wilson is at the forefront of proper good football tactics analysis. My only minor complaint is that there's a slight bias to attacking post-Cruyffian tactics as opposed to counter-attacking post-Cruyffian tactics (or really any counter-attacking football in general), but anyone is going to have a bias one way or another. *spoiler* for the first 9/10s of the book Wilson is a gloating adoring fan of Guardiola and his style of play, with the exception of a jab here or there about "But he didn't win the Champion's League" (at Bayern), but he so incredibly and concisely points out the weaknesses to Guardiola's interpretation/implementation of Cruyff's philosophy in the last 10 pages. Lastly, I've never seen a description of Mourinho's faults that I've more agreed with.
September 8, 2019
Good sequel to “Inverting the Pyramid”
Of all football journalists, Jonathan Wilson (JW) is the best. He knows his tactics, his history and all the stats. JW has managed to put his football fanaticism to good use, i.e. enlighten the rest of us. Inverting the Pyramid (ITR) is the best football book I’ve ever read, so I figured to give this book a try. I grew up in the 80s/90s and have followed football ever since. The pace of play, athleticism, passing, intelligence and mental hardness have all improved dramatically. If you watch a game from the 70s, you almost fall asleep compared to the spectacle of the average Champions League match. Today it’s like you’re watching a pinball machine. You have lightning fast wingers like Robben and Mbappé, center backs built like MMA fighters, midfielders with the lung capacity of horses and absurdly high passing accuracy, etc., etc. The game today is much more demanding than it was in the past. It’s fair to say that football attracts the best athletic talent in the world, at least in Europe, South America and Africa. The non-UK anglo-world optimises, of course, for other sports.
JW focused himself in ITR on football tactics from 1900 to 2000, this book is much more about football philosophy from the early 70s until today. As footballers became ever better in quality, the spectacle of play often became less. There is no fun to see teams who make ZERO mistakes in defence. These teams might very well win prestigious prizes, but who remembers a clinical effective eam like the 2012 Champions League winning Chelsea? Nobody. OTOH, yet every foorball fan remembers the spectacular Champions League winning Barca of 2011. This has a lot to do with the mentality coaches instill on the players. Barcelona often plays to impress and entertain, Chelsea plays to keep a clean sheet and win. JW focuses on the football legacy of Johan Cruyff, his acolytes (Van Gaal, Guardiola, Koeman, Luis Enrique, Rijkaard), his nemesis (Mourinho) and Ajax, Barcelona, Bayern, Spanish and Dutch national team in general to explain these different views of football. According to JW the prominence and brilliance of the entertaining teams stems from the insights of Cruyff and his successors who improved upon it. The result-oriented coaches like Mourinho believe that the final score is all that matters. (Looking at his resume, he's not wrong!)
I don’t think either of these philosophies is a definite answer. Football is a spectator sport and must entertain, but in the end champions, by definition, must win! The curse of Dutch football has always been that they impress, but lose. (Though, the Dutch national tried to play for results in the FIFA WC final 2010, but still lost. So, it's better to impress after all?) Either way, it’s a fascinating discussion: should football coaches impress audiences or focus on results? The British clubs have gone to the Mourinho side: it doesn't matter who clubs put in that jerseys, how they score or what they do off the pitch -- as long as they win. Even nowadays, big money has taken over Barca, and no club has won more European Championships than Real Madrid, so... we're all galacticos now?
In his heart JW is still a football romantic, like Cruyff, but in the end football players choose money over clubs and therefore the richest clubs will rule the roast. Sometimes, we luck out when Guardiolas manage these clubs and entertain us, but sometimes we get (and need!) Mourinhos to deliver us the cold results.
Of all football journalists, Jonathan Wilson (JW) is the best. He knows his tactics, his history and all the stats. JW has managed to put his football fanaticism to good use, i.e. enlighten the rest of us. Inverting the Pyramid (ITR) is the best football book I’ve ever read, so I figured to give this book a try. I grew up in the 80s/90s and have followed football ever since. The pace of play, athleticism, passing, intelligence and mental hardness have all improved dramatically. If you watch a game from the 70s, you almost fall asleep compared to the spectacle of the average Champions League match. Today it’s like you’re watching a pinball machine. You have lightning fast wingers like Robben and Mbappé, center backs built like MMA fighters, midfielders with the lung capacity of horses and absurdly high passing accuracy, etc., etc. The game today is much more demanding than it was in the past. It’s fair to say that football attracts the best athletic talent in the world, at least in Europe, South America and Africa. The non-UK anglo-world optimises, of course, for other sports.
JW focused himself in ITR on football tactics from 1900 to 2000, this book is much more about football philosophy from the early 70s until today. As footballers became ever better in quality, the spectacle of play often became less. There is no fun to see teams who make ZERO mistakes in defence. These teams might very well win prestigious prizes, but who remembers a clinical effective eam like the 2012 Champions League winning Chelsea? Nobody. OTOH, yet every foorball fan remembers the spectacular Champions League winning Barca of 2011. This has a lot to do with the mentality coaches instill on the players. Barcelona often plays to impress and entertain, Chelsea plays to keep a clean sheet and win. JW focuses on the football legacy of Johan Cruyff, his acolytes (Van Gaal, Guardiola, Koeman, Luis Enrique, Rijkaard), his nemesis (Mourinho) and Ajax, Barcelona, Bayern, Spanish and Dutch national team in general to explain these different views of football. According to JW the prominence and brilliance of the entertaining teams stems from the insights of Cruyff and his successors who improved upon it. The result-oriented coaches like Mourinho believe that the final score is all that matters. (Looking at his resume, he's not wrong!)
I don’t think either of these philosophies is a definite answer. Football is a spectator sport and must entertain, but in the end champions, by definition, must win! The curse of Dutch football has always been that they impress, but lose. (Though, the Dutch national tried to play for results in the FIFA WC final 2010, but still lost. So, it's better to impress after all?) Either way, it’s a fascinating discussion: should football coaches impress audiences or focus on results? The British clubs have gone to the Mourinho side: it doesn't matter who clubs put in that jerseys, how they score or what they do off the pitch -- as long as they win. Even nowadays, big money has taken over Barca, and no club has won more European Championships than Real Madrid, so... we're all galacticos now?
In his heart JW is still a football romantic, like Cruyff, but in the end football players choose money over clubs and therefore the richest clubs will rule the roast. Sometimes, we luck out when Guardiolas manage these clubs and entertain us, but sometimes we get (and need!) Mourinhos to deliver us the cold results.
September 16, 2021
This is a fun read. Tracing the soccer philosophy of Barcelona in Cruyff's students: van Gaal, Guardiola, Mourinho, Koeman, Enrique, and others. It's quite shocking how much Cruyff's influence lasts considering how much managers in the modern game takes his idea of controlling the balĺ and how they act when they don't have the ball. Even those that can be categorized as anti-Cruyff such as Mourinho creates a game plan that largely responds to the Cruyff gameplan. There's always a constant tug of war between pragmatism and idealism since sometimes even when you have a great philosophy, you still can't win trophies (e.g. Guardiola can't win Champions League after his 2011 Barcelona Team).
This book traces this story through an in detail analysis of (mainly) Mourinho and Guardiola Teams throughout the years. I really enjoyed the back stories. Didn't know how so much of these world famous coaches were all in Barcelona during the Bobby Robson years (Guardiola, Enrique, and Koeman were players, Mourinho was translator). Enjoyed the personalities too.
This book traces this story through an in detail analysis of (mainly) Mourinho and Guardiola Teams throughout the years. I really enjoyed the back stories. Didn't know how so much of these world famous coaches were all in Barcelona during the Bobby Robson years (Guardiola, Enrique, and Koeman were players, Mourinho was translator). Enjoyed the personalities too.
December 1, 2021
One of the biggest fans of football club Barcelona, the guardiola and Mourinho era was personally the best era in the history of soccer. Guardiola became the Barcelona head coach in 2008-2012 while Mourinho, the rival coach for Real Madrid, was appointed as head coach in 2010-2013. The book goes in depth about the great rivalry between both clubs and coaches during the most successful time for both of these clubs as they were both the kings of world football during this 3 year period. Since I was able to see this amazing rivalry I am glad to say this book checked all the boxes when it came to providing all the information. The book talked about the classicos, Messi vs Ronaldo, the Champions league, La Liga etc. Anyone who was able to enjoy and watch this beautiful period of soccer knows everything is true and I am delighted to have this book and read success my team FCBarcelona had and how we dominated our biggest arch rivals Real Madrid and we did in style by playing lovely soccer thanks to the great coag and FCBarcelona legend Guardiola.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 12, 2019
If you are a football fan and enjoy seeing the bigger picture, then this is a great book for you.
One has to give Wilson credit for reconstructing the intellectual history of the (post-)Cruyffian football tactics and to narrate the careers of its protagonists (and main antagonist Mourinho) without too many fatiguing details and accounts of single matches. This is a considerable accomplishment, because if one follows the daily reporting on football only, one may not detect the important undercurrents of football's tactical development. (This review makes it clear that the title and cover of the British edition of the book [Blink Publishing] is somehow misleading and tries to cash in a little on the notorious and bitter enmity between Guardiola and Mourinho.) After reading this book, one cannot underestimate Cruyff's school of thought and, fortunately, in the final sentences of the book Wilson is honest enough to show proper reverence towards this revolutionary.
One has to give Wilson credit for reconstructing the intellectual history of the (post-)Cruyffian football tactics and to narrate the careers of its protagonists (and main antagonist Mourinho) without too many fatiguing details and accounts of single matches. This is a considerable accomplishment, because if one follows the daily reporting on football only, one may not detect the important undercurrents of football's tactical development. (This review makes it clear that the title and cover of the British edition of the book [Blink Publishing] is somehow misleading and tries to cash in a little on the notorious and bitter enmity between Guardiola and Mourinho.) After reading this book, one cannot underestimate Cruyff's school of thought and, fortunately, in the final sentences of the book Wilson is honest enough to show proper reverence towards this revolutionary.
July 28, 2020
This is a good book. I've enjoyed it. But it should come with a warning as it's not an investigation or an analysis but an FC Barcelona propaganda piece. Mourinho, one of the all time greatest coaches of the world, is painted as petty, self-doubting, devious character, when not a absolute cruel dictator. Cruyff, who was as much a prickly character as Mourinho, is instead portrayed as a genius and a savant. And Guardiola is always the good guy; no out of place comment, no high horse preaching, no cowardly behaviour, just a pure and unrelenting artist of football coaching. Wilson even twists and turns until he makes a match were Barça were forgiven four different penalties not as bad. It's a good, well-written book. Just not a serious or unbiased one.
October 5, 2019
Fascinating!
Didn't expect this book to be so 'entertaining'.
Though the title says Barcelona but the author has touched upon other clubs like Real Madrid, Ajax, Chelsea etc
Didn't expect much of Mourinho in a Barcelona book but again that's another pleasant surprise.
Loved the behind the scenes details of some of the most thrilling footballing events over the last 15/20 years as it made me nostalgic and I relived those thrilling and sometimes painful nights.
A beautiful book about undoubtedly the beautiful game....played in a beautiful way ( well mostly)!
No matter which club you support, it is a must read for any football fan.
Didn't expect this book to be so 'entertaining'.
Though the title says Barcelona but the author has touched upon other clubs like Real Madrid, Ajax, Chelsea etc
Didn't expect much of Mourinho in a Barcelona book but again that's another pleasant surprise.
Loved the behind the scenes details of some of the most thrilling footballing events over the last 15/20 years as it made me nostalgic and I relived those thrilling and sometimes painful nights.
A beautiful book about undoubtedly the beautiful game....played in a beautiful way ( well mostly)!
No matter which club you support, it is a must read for any football fan.
June 11, 2022
A very solid book! Amazing stories and brilliant characters and personality from all areas of the world.
However I was disappointed with some important contexted missed or even some incorrect facts. As most Johnathon Wilson books it goes on for a bit to long and adds way more detail then necessary which can makes the book feel like a drag which is a shame as it’s a very entertaining book.
I’m shocked it’s taken me a whole month… I do believe though it comes down to the pure fatigue and mental exhaustion that comes with his books and the amount of unnecessary detail plus I’ve been over the top busy.
However I was disappointed with some important contexted missed or even some incorrect facts. As most Johnathon Wilson books it goes on for a bit to long and adds way more detail then necessary which can makes the book feel like a drag which is a shame as it’s a very entertaining book.
I’m shocked it’s taken me a whole month… I do believe though it comes down to the pure fatigue and mental exhaustion that comes with his books and the amount of unnecessary detail plus I’ve been over the top busy.
July 4, 2024
Entertaining and comprehensive but rather a misleadingly titled book.
Despite the title, the book deals mostly with non-Barca clubs with brief discussion of Barca's history. Much of the book talks about Cruyff, Mourinho, Van Gaal and a little of Pep.
I liked the comprehensive coverage of the era with its controversies and colourful matches, incidents and personalities.
But when it came to Barca, especially Pep era Barca there is very very little information. Most of it read like after match reports with little insight on the reasons for the club's success or their tactics.
Despite the title, the book deals mostly with non-Barca clubs with brief discussion of Barca's history. Much of the book talks about Cruyff, Mourinho, Van Gaal and a little of Pep.
I liked the comprehensive coverage of the era with its controversies and colourful matches, incidents and personalities.
But when it came to Barca, especially Pep era Barca there is very very little information. Most of it read like after match reports with little insight on the reasons for the club's success or their tactics.
December 27, 2018
A slightly more schematic book would have had the genealogical structure the subtitle suggests. As it stands, it's a deft account of the subtle and combative interconnections of Ajax, Barcelona, the Spanish men's national team, and the various teams of Pep and Mourinho-- a story with quite a few twists in it in the first half of the 2018-19 season no less, and with implications for MLS now that Atlanta have hired Frank de Boer.
August 11, 2019
Summary of 50% of the book ... ‘I don’t hate José .. but ... ‘
It is a bit sad to trace José from Porto era to the end of his time at Man U ..:
And another season gone , another league title for Pep and another disappointing CL.
To me that’s the most interesting question - is there something inherent to the Peo approach that makes them vulnerable in knockout competitions or is just down to randomness?
It is a bit sad to trace José from Porto era to the end of his time at Man U ..:
And another season gone , another league title for Pep and another disappointing CL.
To me that’s the most interesting question - is there something inherent to the Peo approach that makes them vulnerable in knockout competitions or is just down to randomness?
February 9, 2022
A really expansive look at one of the central figures (Johan Cruyff) and clubs (Barcelona) in the history of soccer. It's remarkable how so much of the modern game is tied to either Cruyff, Barcelona or both and this book does a tremendous job of keeping it all tied together while bouncing between the two main characters in Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho with a constant eye on Dutch football as well. Can't recommend this book enough not just for Barcelona fans but soccer fans as a whole.
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