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The Quality of Madness: A Life of Marcelo Bielsa
'A triumph. Not one just for Leeds fans, or even football nerds, Bielsa's story will resonate with anyone drawn to life's maverick thinkers' - i news
NOW FULLY UPDATED WITH NEW CHAPTERS ON THE RETURN OF LEEDS TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE
Marcelo Bielsa is one of football's greatest eccentrics and greatest this is the first English biography of one of football's most contradictory characters.
He has coached some of the greatest names in world football - Gabriel Batistuta, Carlos Tevez, Javier Mascherano, Juan Sebastian Veron and Ander Herrera. He has been cited as a mentor by Pep Guardiola, Mauricio Pochettino and Diego Simeone.
Yet Marcelo Bielsa remains one of the great enigmas of world football - a fabulously innovative and obsessive coach, who has transformed Leeds United, Marseille and Athletic Bilbao. He also lasted two days at Lazio and led Argentina to their greatest footballing disaster.
Featuring interviews from across South America, Europe and Yorkshire, The Quality of Madness is a comprehensive and compelling biography, tracing Bielsa's story from growing up as a member of one of Argentina's most remarkable families to his revival of Leeds.
Bielsa has long been known as 'El Loco' - the Madman - and yet as Tim Rich's revelatory study reveals, there is mercurial method and audacious logic to the madness.
NOW FULLY UPDATED WITH NEW CHAPTERS ON THE RETURN OF LEEDS TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE
Marcelo Bielsa is one of football's greatest eccentrics and greatest this is the first English biography of one of football's most contradictory characters.
He has coached some of the greatest names in world football - Gabriel Batistuta, Carlos Tevez, Javier Mascherano, Juan Sebastian Veron and Ander Herrera. He has been cited as a mentor by Pep Guardiola, Mauricio Pochettino and Diego Simeone.
Yet Marcelo Bielsa remains one of the great enigmas of world football - a fabulously innovative and obsessive coach, who has transformed Leeds United, Marseille and Athletic Bilbao. He also lasted two days at Lazio and led Argentina to their greatest footballing disaster.
Featuring interviews from across South America, Europe and Yorkshire, The Quality of Madness is a comprehensive and compelling biography, tracing Bielsa's story from growing up as a member of one of Argentina's most remarkable families to his revival of Leeds.
Bielsa has long been known as 'El Loco' - the Madman - and yet as Tim Rich's revelatory study reveals, there is mercurial method and audacious logic to the madness.
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Published December 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
May 8, 2020
Okay, I'm a Leeds United supporter, and therefore not totally unbiased. But the book is very well written and entertaining about a man obsessed with all aspects of football. He may be slightly mad - but he's also a genius - and a very humble one. You may not like Leeds United (they all hate us), but you'll without a doubt, if you love football, like El Loco.
April 10, 2020
Hugely enjoyed reading about Bielsa’s time as club coach in Argentina and his time as national manager of Argentina. Also, enjoyed learning about his time managing in a Europe. An enjoyable read
July 30, 2021
Interesting, well-written book about Bielsa's life and times which is strangely short on tactic talk given the subject's obsession. I didn't know much about Bielsa except the fact that he had worked at Bilbao and Leeds but this filled in the gaps. The lack of actual in-depth discussion of Bielsa's methods (except for vague references to his one-to-one drills and focus on fitness) was frustrating in the end, for me, but it's also a reflection on the level of analysis in modern football. Too much these days, in matches and series like the Amazon All or Nothing... programmes, the focus is on the sensational or controversial rather than real step-by-step discussions about what is going on.
At best we get notes on lines or formations but thorough explanations of what each coach is doing or asking of indivicual players is either ignored or - I suspect - not actually understood. This seems to be a shame. I suspect a decent, open explanation of what Guardiola or Bielsa or Klopp asks of their players would be enlightening and more interesting than constant close-up replays of possible offsides, fouls or penalties.
At best we get notes on lines or formations but thorough explanations of what each coach is doing or asking of indivicual players is either ignored or - I suspect - not actually understood. This seems to be a shame. I suspect a decent, open explanation of what Guardiola or Bielsa or Klopp asks of their players would be enlightening and more interesting than constant close-up replays of possible offsides, fouls or penalties.
October 15, 2024
Terminei esse livro do Tim Rich e lembrei de um trecho do poema “Outubro”, da Louise Glück, que considero adequado para resumir a figura de Marcelo Bielsa:
"Tanta coisa mudou. E no entanto você tem sorte: / O ideal arde em você como uma febre. / Ou não como uma febre, como um segundo coração. (...) Que privilégio o teu, seguir apaixonadamente / aferrada ao que amas; / o confisco da esperança não te destruiu."
Afinal, se o apelido de “El Loco” provém de excentricidades do tipo dirigir de madrugada um Fiat 147 pelas pradarias argentinas para tentar convencer um então adolescente Mauricio Pochettino a jogar pelo Newell’s Old Boys (ou abrir mão de um confortável spa em Leeds para morar num apartamento de um quarto próximo a uma rede de supermercados – o qual frequentava trajando o agasalho de treino da equipe), ele se mantém principalmente por não abrir mão de um estilo de jogo “incansável, impiedoso e fluente”. Acontece que, se você não dispõe de um orçamento e uma estrutura bilionárias como a que sempre possuiu Pep Guardiola, por exemplo, essa obstinação por um certo ideal romântico de futebol faz com que as glórias sejam efêmeras e as derrotas e fracassos, constantes.
Não que Bielsa se incomode muito com isso, tampouco seus admiradores. O autor reproduz algumas declarações que ajudam a dimensionar essa idiossincrasia:
"Ele disse que, se não tivesse se tornado treinador de futebol, gostaria de ter sido diretor de cinema, mas duvidava que tivesse talento. No mundo do futebol, manipulado por interesses comerciais, Marcelo representa uma ética romântica; é mais do que um técnico de futebol, porque sua atitude no esporte é a mesma que tem em sua vida. Ele enxerga o mundo como um diretor de cinema."
"Chamam-no Il Loco. Muito bem; nós adoramos a gloriosa loucura do herói romântico, aquele que se coloca acima do que há de sórdido no jogo, em prol da superioridade espiritual e do desprezo à mediocridade."
"Há uma arrogância em Bielsa, um sentimento de que ele não precisa fazer aquelas contratações grandiosas, de que não precisa mudar seu estilo. Ele vai contra a corrente; é determinado e teimoso. Há nele uma qualidade shakespeariana. É um romântico, um romântico trágico, alguém que deve vencer, mas que não vence."
Um desses admiradores é o próprio Pep Guardiola, que admitiu ter ganhado muito mais títulos, mesmo sem entender tanto sobre futebol quanto entende Marcelo Bielsa (e que este, humilde que é, discorda, ao dizer que Guardiola desenvolveu um estilo próprio de pensar o esporte). Um dos trechos mais interessantes do livro é aquele em que Tim Rich narra o primeiro encontro entre os dois. Poderia ser, inclusive, o enredo de um conto borgeano ou pigliano: aconselhado por Gabriel Batistuta, em 2006 Guardiola viaja para o interior da Argentina, na companhia do escritor e cineasta David Trueba (1). Bielsa os recebe com um churrasco, e depois de conversarem sobre cinema e cultura (o técnico provém de uma família rica e intelectualizada, com mãe professora, irmã arquiteta e irmão e avô advogados e diplomatas), enfim dialogam sobre futebol:
"Eles passaram a falar sobre os aspectos práticos do dia a dia de um treinador, como lidar com a imprensa, por exemplo. Bielsa explicou por que, àquela altura, havia deixado de conceder entrevistas exclusivas. “Por que vou dar entrevista para um jornalista de um jornal poderoso e negar uma entrevista para um repórter mais modesto do interior? Qual o critério?”. Ao se tornar técnico do Barcelona, dois anos mais tarde, Guardiola adotaria política parecida. O mesmo ocorreu em Munique e em Manchester. Ele não dava entrevistas exclusivas e falava com a imprensa apenas durante as entrevistas coletivas, em que todos podem fazer perguntas. Então, Bielsa se virou para Guardiola e disse: “Por que você, que conhece todo o lixo que existe no futebol, a desonestidade das pessoas neste esporte, quer voltar àquele ambiente e ser treinador? Você gosta tanto assim de sangue?”. Guardiola respondeu: “Eu preciso desse sangue”".
Acho que “esse sangue”, proferido por Guardiola mas que corresponde ao que imagino que sente Marcelo Bielsa, é exatamente o que a Louise Glück quis dizer com o “ideal que arde como uma febre”.
Há ainda um outro aspecto do livro que eu gostaria de destacar. Em 2016 eu me formei em História. Meu primeiro projeto para o Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso foi sobre futebol. Não deu certo, e escrevi sobre um assunto completamente diferente. A vida seguiu caminhos improváveis, agora faço outra graduação, de Educação Física, mas enquanto lia pensei que, se em algum momento eu retomasse os estudos na área das humanidades, um tema que eu gostaria de estudar seria o da Ética e da Moral sob o recorte da passagem de Marcelo Bielsa pelo Leeds United. Foi no período em que dirigia o time inglês que aconteceram dois dos momentos mais significativos da trajetória bielsista. Primeiro, o da espionagem: uma tentativa de espionar o treino de uma equipe adversária foi descoberta, criou-se uma celeuma em torno disso, acusações foram feitas, e o treinador se justificou dizendo que o que fez não é ilegal, que “não é algo visto como positivo mas não é uma violação da lei”, e que “nem tudo que é legal é correto e que há coisas erradas que fazemos sem intenção de prejudicar os outros” (e que seu irmão Rafael Bielsa justificou citando o enredo do romance “O intocável”, de John Banville, que trata da vida de um curador de arte que também era um espião a serviço da União Soviética).
O outro acontecimento, na mesma temporada (do céu ao inferno em tão pouco tempo, um drama impregnado de bielsismo) foi num jogo contra o Aston Villa. Um jogador adversário sofreu uma falta, caiu, o juiz não marcou falta, os companheiros de jogar, esperando que os atletas do Leeds fizessem o mesmo, não fizeram e ainda por cima marcaram um gol. Instaurou-se o quiproquó, e por fim Bielsa orientou seus jogadores a deixarem o Aston Villa marcar um gol de empate. A comoção foi tamanha que a Fifa concedeu um prêmio de Fair Play à equipe; no entanto, nosso modesto personagem não deu muita importância ao ocorrido: “apenas devolvemos o gol. Os fatos são aqueles que todos viram. Mostramos nossa interpretação do ocorrido ao fazer o que fizemos. O futebol inglês é conhecido por seu espírito esportivo e, por isso, não tenho de comentar o assunto”. Mesmo assim, escreveu uma carta para ser lida na entrega do prêmio:
"Eles [os jogadores] poderiam ter alegado que eu deveria ter respeitado a decisão dos árbitros, mas, em vez disso, aceitaram minha interpretação particular entre uma coisa legal e uma coisa justa. Gostaria de citar minha mãe, que sempre soube o que era certo e o que era errado. Queria mencionar também o Newell’s Old Boys, de Rosário, um clube ao qual pertenço e onde, por vinte anos, aprendi a viver o futebol de maneira singular. Existem algumas presenças constantes em minha vida, como a da minha mulher, a da minha irmã e a de alguns amigos que me fazem lembrar de valores que não devem ser esquecidos. O futebol, graças a seu impacto gigantesco, atua, às vezes, em alguns domínios da ética pública e está particularmente envolvido na formação daqueles que têm menos ou que são mais fracos. […] Contudo, acredito que a maioria daqueles que possuem menos opta por fazer a coisa certa. Com muito esforço, essas pessoas permanecem dignas e mantêm a decência. O reconhecimento que a Fifa nos oferece inclui essas pessoas, uma vez que premia o mesmo comportamento que elas adotam anonimamente todos os dias de suas vidas."
Esta carta, ao meu ver, é um bom resumo da FILOSOFIA de vida bielsista, por assim dizer. E o fato de haver episódios contraditórios, como o da espionagem, me fazem enxergar em Marcelo Bielsa uma personagem como muitos de nós, sempre perdidos em ciclos de erros e acertos, tentativas e fracassos, impetuosidades e arrependimentos.
Por último, declaro que gostei da perspectiva do autor. Longe de ser uma hagiografia, Rich escreve de uma maneira que, mesmo demonstrando simpatia e admiração pelas escolhas do biografado, não deixa de apontar os exageros – tanto daqueles que o incensam quanto dos que o diminuem por não ter uma estante repleta de troféus. No fim, creio, a admiração ou não acontece muito mais por conta das escolhas de vida e filosofia de cada um: se o que importa são os objetivos grandiosos e conquistas relevantes, Bielsa não é necessariamente um exemplo. Agora, para aqueles que não se preocupam tanto com glórias e com o ideal de sucesso (que vão contra a “tirania dos troféus”, para usar uma expressão que dá título a um dos capítulos), e que aceitam as contradições e vicissitudes da vida, o argentino é um personagem a ser levado em consideração. Para mim, claro, um ídolo absoluto e uma figura de referência.
---
(1) Há uma crônica do Enrique Vila-Matas, “El arte de conocer futbolistas”, na qual ele coloca o Guardiola na categoria de “ases del fútbol con tendencias intelectuales” (junto com Andoni Zubizarreta, Ernesto Valverde e Miguel Pardeza) e narra o dia em que conheceu pessoalmente o Pep:
"Como se ve, me faltaba Guardiola. Ya dije que el arte de conocer futbolistas es lento y exige ser selectivo. Actuando Luis Alegre y David Trueba como médiums, quedé una noche citado con Guardiola. Me había leído y quería conocerme. Nos encontramos, mi felicidad fue enorme, como si me hubiera citado con Borges. Como tenía bien aprendida la lección, no hablamos para nada de fútbol, sólo de Joyce para arriba. De Samitier a Guardiola. Creo que es una trayectoria impecable."
---
RICH, Tim. A virtude da loucura. A vida de Marcelo Bielsa. Tradução Camilo Adorno. São Paulo: Editora Grande Área, 2021 (2020). Versão digital.
GLÜCK, Louise. Poemas 2006-2014. Tradução Heloisa Jahn, Bruna Beber, Marília Garcia. São Paulo: Companhia das Letras, 2021, p. 27-29.
VILA-MATAS, Enrique. Una vida absolutamente maravillosa. Ensayos selectos. Barcelona: Penguin Randon House, 2011, p. 95.
"Tanta coisa mudou. E no entanto você tem sorte: / O ideal arde em você como uma febre. / Ou não como uma febre, como um segundo coração. (...) Que privilégio o teu, seguir apaixonadamente / aferrada ao que amas; / o confisco da esperança não te destruiu."
Afinal, se o apelido de “El Loco” provém de excentricidades do tipo dirigir de madrugada um Fiat 147 pelas pradarias argentinas para tentar convencer um então adolescente Mauricio Pochettino a jogar pelo Newell’s Old Boys (ou abrir mão de um confortável spa em Leeds para morar num apartamento de um quarto próximo a uma rede de supermercados – o qual frequentava trajando o agasalho de treino da equipe), ele se mantém principalmente por não abrir mão de um estilo de jogo “incansável, impiedoso e fluente”. Acontece que, se você não dispõe de um orçamento e uma estrutura bilionárias como a que sempre possuiu Pep Guardiola, por exemplo, essa obstinação por um certo ideal romântico de futebol faz com que as glórias sejam efêmeras e as derrotas e fracassos, constantes.
Não que Bielsa se incomode muito com isso, tampouco seus admiradores. O autor reproduz algumas declarações que ajudam a dimensionar essa idiossincrasia:
"Ele disse que, se não tivesse se tornado treinador de futebol, gostaria de ter sido diretor de cinema, mas duvidava que tivesse talento. No mundo do futebol, manipulado por interesses comerciais, Marcelo representa uma ética romântica; é mais do que um técnico de futebol, porque sua atitude no esporte é a mesma que tem em sua vida. Ele enxerga o mundo como um diretor de cinema."
"Chamam-no Il Loco. Muito bem; nós adoramos a gloriosa loucura do herói romântico, aquele que se coloca acima do que há de sórdido no jogo, em prol da superioridade espiritual e do desprezo à mediocridade."
"Há uma arrogância em Bielsa, um sentimento de que ele não precisa fazer aquelas contratações grandiosas, de que não precisa mudar seu estilo. Ele vai contra a corrente; é determinado e teimoso. Há nele uma qualidade shakespeariana. É um romântico, um romântico trágico, alguém que deve vencer, mas que não vence."
Um desses admiradores é o próprio Pep Guardiola, que admitiu ter ganhado muito mais títulos, mesmo sem entender tanto sobre futebol quanto entende Marcelo Bielsa (e que este, humilde que é, discorda, ao dizer que Guardiola desenvolveu um estilo próprio de pensar o esporte). Um dos trechos mais interessantes do livro é aquele em que Tim Rich narra o primeiro encontro entre os dois. Poderia ser, inclusive, o enredo de um conto borgeano ou pigliano: aconselhado por Gabriel Batistuta, em 2006 Guardiola viaja para o interior da Argentina, na companhia do escritor e cineasta David Trueba (1). Bielsa os recebe com um churrasco, e depois de conversarem sobre cinema e cultura (o técnico provém de uma família rica e intelectualizada, com mãe professora, irmã arquiteta e irmão e avô advogados e diplomatas), enfim dialogam sobre futebol:
"Eles passaram a falar sobre os aspectos práticos do dia a dia de um treinador, como lidar com a imprensa, por exemplo. Bielsa explicou por que, àquela altura, havia deixado de conceder entrevistas exclusivas. “Por que vou dar entrevista para um jornalista de um jornal poderoso e negar uma entrevista para um repórter mais modesto do interior? Qual o critério?”. Ao se tornar técnico do Barcelona, dois anos mais tarde, Guardiola adotaria política parecida. O mesmo ocorreu em Munique e em Manchester. Ele não dava entrevistas exclusivas e falava com a imprensa apenas durante as entrevistas coletivas, em que todos podem fazer perguntas. Então, Bielsa se virou para Guardiola e disse: “Por que você, que conhece todo o lixo que existe no futebol, a desonestidade das pessoas neste esporte, quer voltar àquele ambiente e ser treinador? Você gosta tanto assim de sangue?”. Guardiola respondeu: “Eu preciso desse sangue”".
Acho que “esse sangue”, proferido por Guardiola mas que corresponde ao que imagino que sente Marcelo Bielsa, é exatamente o que a Louise Glück quis dizer com o “ideal que arde como uma febre”.
Há ainda um outro aspecto do livro que eu gostaria de destacar. Em 2016 eu me formei em História. Meu primeiro projeto para o Trabalho de Conclusão de Curso foi sobre futebol. Não deu certo, e escrevi sobre um assunto completamente diferente. A vida seguiu caminhos improváveis, agora faço outra graduação, de Educação Física, mas enquanto lia pensei que, se em algum momento eu retomasse os estudos na área das humanidades, um tema que eu gostaria de estudar seria o da Ética e da Moral sob o recorte da passagem de Marcelo Bielsa pelo Leeds United. Foi no período em que dirigia o time inglês que aconteceram dois dos momentos mais significativos da trajetória bielsista. Primeiro, o da espionagem: uma tentativa de espionar o treino de uma equipe adversária foi descoberta, criou-se uma celeuma em torno disso, acusações foram feitas, e o treinador se justificou dizendo que o que fez não é ilegal, que “não é algo visto como positivo mas não é uma violação da lei”, e que “nem tudo que é legal é correto e que há coisas erradas que fazemos sem intenção de prejudicar os outros” (e que seu irmão Rafael Bielsa justificou citando o enredo do romance “O intocável”, de John Banville, que trata da vida de um curador de arte que também era um espião a serviço da União Soviética).
O outro acontecimento, na mesma temporada (do céu ao inferno em tão pouco tempo, um drama impregnado de bielsismo) foi num jogo contra o Aston Villa. Um jogador adversário sofreu uma falta, caiu, o juiz não marcou falta, os companheiros de jogar, esperando que os atletas do Leeds fizessem o mesmo, não fizeram e ainda por cima marcaram um gol. Instaurou-se o quiproquó, e por fim Bielsa orientou seus jogadores a deixarem o Aston Villa marcar um gol de empate. A comoção foi tamanha que a Fifa concedeu um prêmio de Fair Play à equipe; no entanto, nosso modesto personagem não deu muita importância ao ocorrido: “apenas devolvemos o gol. Os fatos são aqueles que todos viram. Mostramos nossa interpretação do ocorrido ao fazer o que fizemos. O futebol inglês é conhecido por seu espírito esportivo e, por isso, não tenho de comentar o assunto”. Mesmo assim, escreveu uma carta para ser lida na entrega do prêmio:
"Eles [os jogadores] poderiam ter alegado que eu deveria ter respeitado a decisão dos árbitros, mas, em vez disso, aceitaram minha interpretação particular entre uma coisa legal e uma coisa justa. Gostaria de citar minha mãe, que sempre soube o que era certo e o que era errado. Queria mencionar também o Newell’s Old Boys, de Rosário, um clube ao qual pertenço e onde, por vinte anos, aprendi a viver o futebol de maneira singular. Existem algumas presenças constantes em minha vida, como a da minha mulher, a da minha irmã e a de alguns amigos que me fazem lembrar de valores que não devem ser esquecidos. O futebol, graças a seu impacto gigantesco, atua, às vezes, em alguns domínios da ética pública e está particularmente envolvido na formação daqueles que têm menos ou que são mais fracos. […] Contudo, acredito que a maioria daqueles que possuem menos opta por fazer a coisa certa. Com muito esforço, essas pessoas permanecem dignas e mantêm a decência. O reconhecimento que a Fifa nos oferece inclui essas pessoas, uma vez que premia o mesmo comportamento que elas adotam anonimamente todos os dias de suas vidas."
Esta carta, ao meu ver, é um bom resumo da FILOSOFIA de vida bielsista, por assim dizer. E o fato de haver episódios contraditórios, como o da espionagem, me fazem enxergar em Marcelo Bielsa uma personagem como muitos de nós, sempre perdidos em ciclos de erros e acertos, tentativas e fracassos, impetuosidades e arrependimentos.
Por último, declaro que gostei da perspectiva do autor. Longe de ser uma hagiografia, Rich escreve de uma maneira que, mesmo demonstrando simpatia e admiração pelas escolhas do biografado, não deixa de apontar os exageros – tanto daqueles que o incensam quanto dos que o diminuem por não ter uma estante repleta de troféus. No fim, creio, a admiração ou não acontece muito mais por conta das escolhas de vida e filosofia de cada um: se o que importa são os objetivos grandiosos e conquistas relevantes, Bielsa não é necessariamente um exemplo. Agora, para aqueles que não se preocupam tanto com glórias e com o ideal de sucesso (que vão contra a “tirania dos troféus”, para usar uma expressão que dá título a um dos capítulos), e que aceitam as contradições e vicissitudes da vida, o argentino é um personagem a ser levado em consideração. Para mim, claro, um ídolo absoluto e uma figura de referência.
---
(1) Há uma crônica do Enrique Vila-Matas, “El arte de conocer futbolistas”, na qual ele coloca o Guardiola na categoria de “ases del fútbol con tendencias intelectuales” (junto com Andoni Zubizarreta, Ernesto Valverde e Miguel Pardeza) e narra o dia em que conheceu pessoalmente o Pep:
"Como se ve, me faltaba Guardiola. Ya dije que el arte de conocer futbolistas es lento y exige ser selectivo. Actuando Luis Alegre y David Trueba como médiums, quedé una noche citado con Guardiola. Me había leído y quería conocerme. Nos encontramos, mi felicidad fue enorme, como si me hubiera citado con Borges. Como tenía bien aprendida la lección, no hablamos para nada de fútbol, sólo de Joyce para arriba. De Samitier a Guardiola. Creo que es una trayectoria impecable."
---
RICH, Tim. A virtude da loucura. A vida de Marcelo Bielsa. Tradução Camilo Adorno. São Paulo: Editora Grande Área, 2021 (2020). Versão digital.
GLÜCK, Louise. Poemas 2006-2014. Tradução Heloisa Jahn, Bruna Beber, Marília Garcia. São Paulo: Companhia das Letras, 2021, p. 27-29.
VILA-MATAS, Enrique. Una vida absolutamente maravillosa. Ensayos selectos. Barcelona: Penguin Randon House, 2011, p. 95.
July 14, 2020
I'm a Leeds fan, so clearly biased, but this is a fascinating insight into the life and work of one of my favourite people, Marcelo Bielsa. You won't find another person in football with the depth of character and principles of this man, which he displays both in the way he manages his teams and also in his personal life, by, for instance inviting the team Baker and grocer along with him to meet the President of Chile when he had just masterminded their qualification for the world cup, or paying for a world class team hotel for his hometown club Newell's Old Boys. I knew some of the stories about him in here, but not all of them, so it was a fascinating book which I didn't want to end but couldn't stop reading as obsessively as Bielsa himself.
March 1, 2021
It has quite a breathless style, while at the same time going round the houses to fit in extra detail on some of the more peripheral figures who have come in and out of Bielsa's career. You suspect that might be to fill the gaps left by a paucity of words from the man himself.
That being said, given Bielsa is so recalcitrant as far as interviews etc, the book does about as good a job of getting to the core of the man as anything. It backs up all that we, as fans, already think of him - that he is a ridiculously principled, loyal and brilliant football coach and, more importantly, human - while showing us a glimmer of the other aspects to him, including the hints of an ego, which add flavour to his story through football.
That being said, given Bielsa is so recalcitrant as far as interviews etc, the book does about as good a job of getting to the core of the man as anything. It backs up all that we, as fans, already think of him - that he is a ridiculously principled, loyal and brilliant football coach and, more importantly, human - while showing us a glimmer of the other aspects to him, including the hints of an ego, which add flavour to his story through football.
July 28, 2020
A serviceable biography of Marcelo Bielsa. Bielsa is notoriously reluctant to give interviews so there are few insights into the man, the book largely restricted to a chronology of his career and comments from those who worked with him, most of which seem to come from previously published interviews and/or press conferences. Ending, as it does, mid way through the most recent, Covid-19 interrupted, season the book misses perhaps Bielsa’s greatest achievement to date, taking Leeds United back to the English Premier League after 16 years in the wilderness. I suspect a revised edition soon.
February 16, 2021
Marcelo bielsa has to rank right up there in terms of some of the managers that I like in respect in the football world. He's able to take players and remold them as a team collectively into something which is synergistically better then what the individuals are made up of. If that makes sense. 2 + 2 is 5 clearly when it comes to Marcelo bielsa … maybe even more than five. He is of South American descent. Can be extremely volatile and doesn't speak English very well so still needs a translator. His body language speaks for itself though and the teams that he's managed, currently at Leeds United, are able to understand through the tone of his voice, the look in his eye, his body mannerisms, all of these are extremely flamboyant and extremely expressive of the type of personality he has. He grew up in an environment which was extremely intellectual. A lot of his family members are lawyers and he grew up with thousands of books in his house. Quite similar, perhaps not as extreme, as our own house. Anyway there's enough written about him and not much more than I can really add . Highly recommend this book though and here are some of the best books:
He spent most of his free time learning how to tango or alone on the 7th floor reading. One of his teammates remarked that for away games the rest of the team stuff their bags with music cassettes to take with them: bielsa filled his with books. He liked difficult conversations . He would sometimes stand in front of the manager saying I disagree and we would look at each other asking ourselves what he meant by that.
The impact of the two World Cup victories in 1978 and 1986 had divided coaching in Argentina into two camps. There were those who followed Cesar menotti's ideas that the very essence of football meant taking risks and the football of Carlos bilardo which held that no matter how you get it the result was everything. Bielsa claimed to be following a middle way that combined the best of both.
There was a price to be paid for being so single minded and being so well known for how you play and that is that every single team that played against Argentina in the 2002 World Cup when Marcelo bielsa was manager knew exactly how they would play. There would be no Plan B when it came to Marcelo bielsa.
When the mistakes are of such a grotesque magnitude the conclusion has to be that the manager’s responsible. He was not the only one who thought that. Soon there were angry fans at the door of his home in Rosario in Argentina. There about 20 of them demanding he come out and face them. Bielsa came out holding a hand grenade. If you don't go now he told them I will pull the pin. The fans quickly dispersed.
I've seen goals as good as the one Diego Maradona scored against England he said. But I've never seen a goal like that in such an important match. Messi can score those kinds of goals but it is rare for him to do it when the pressure is really on.
His office was transformed into a bunker at permanent boiling point in which people worked to the limit of exhaustion. Hundreds of videos which in time would grow into thousands were piled onto the shelves and gave the place the air of a laboratory.
The first three months after his resignation he spent in a convent in an attempt to detoxify himself from football. I took the books I wanted to read. I did not have a phone nor did I have a television. I read a lot and I don't think anyone reads as much about football as I do. I lasted three months before I started talking to myself and answering back and then it was time to go.
He had come to learn from the man managing dorados de Sinaloa . The man whom Pep Guardiola considered probably the best coach in the world perhaps even better than Johan Cruyff: Juanmo lillo. He had no playing career to speak of and was wrapped up in the theory and romance of the game. He owned a library that contained 10,000 newspapers and magazines about football.
Maradona employed management techniques Caligula the Roman emperor might have recognized. He got through 70 different players when he was managing argentina and when decisions were questioned he would grab his crotch and yell at journalists that they could suck it and keep on sucking.
it is the words Bielsa built around him that are striking. You have been killed by this game. Except the injustice. Swallow the venom. When the speech climaxes with: I congratulate you all everyone of you he almost bows like an actor.
What impressed payet was the way Bielsa talked the language he used specifically. In the way he operated, in his work, in his emotions, the way he celebrated a goal, the victories. He used strong words but he uttered them with such serenity, such calmness. During a pre match chat, I looked at Steve Mandanda, he pointed at the manager and said I would die for him. How he managed to motivate us was such a crazy thing. His words could take us very far. Again a powerful example of the power of words and language to influence behavior on a football pitch, in other sports, in the classroom and in the office of business world.
There's no mention of bielsa, although the wall by the car park had 22 holes in it and in the language of betting in Argentina 22 is referred to as el loco.
When Mauricio Pochettino began work at Southampton, he barely spoke a word of English. I spoke through hugs, contact, with my facial expressions and my gestures, he said. My poor English forced me to find other ways to read people and communicate.
Lamrani also recommended that lead squad be given books to read. There are many benefits of reading he explained. It develops intelligence, aids memory, reinforces concentration, stimulates the imagination and enriches the vocabulary. He drew up a reading list and organized a kind of book club that from September would become as much of the preparations at Thorp arch as the video analysis. Among the books that were put on the players reading list were: the little Prince by Antoine de St exupery, Jack london's the call of the wild and Victor hugo's Les miserable. Some choices like the secret of the All Blacks were aimed more squarely at an audience of sportsmen.
We would play 11 versus 11 once a week and that was harder than the actual game. He would keep shouting: keep going keep going and if he saw you walking he would be on to you. There would be no rest. you learned the body could do so much more than you believed.
By the battle of Goodison Park in November 1964 in which everton's Derek temple had been so badly tackled his teammates initially thought he had been killed.
His ideas have become the mainstream and as he once observed: everyone with new ideas is thought mad until they work.
First and foremost they have to have character. Footballers who win have character in bread into them. Only once did he come close to failing.
He spent most of his free time learning how to tango or alone on the 7th floor reading. One of his teammates remarked that for away games the rest of the team stuff their bags with music cassettes to take with them: bielsa filled his with books. He liked difficult conversations . He would sometimes stand in front of the manager saying I disagree and we would look at each other asking ourselves what he meant by that.
The impact of the two World Cup victories in 1978 and 1986 had divided coaching in Argentina into two camps. There were those who followed Cesar menotti's ideas that the very essence of football meant taking risks and the football of Carlos bilardo which held that no matter how you get it the result was everything. Bielsa claimed to be following a middle way that combined the best of both.
There was a price to be paid for being so single minded and being so well known for how you play and that is that every single team that played against Argentina in the 2002 World Cup when Marcelo bielsa was manager knew exactly how they would play. There would be no Plan B when it came to Marcelo bielsa.
When the mistakes are of such a grotesque magnitude the conclusion has to be that the manager’s responsible. He was not the only one who thought that. Soon there were angry fans at the door of his home in Rosario in Argentina. There about 20 of them demanding he come out and face them. Bielsa came out holding a hand grenade. If you don't go now he told them I will pull the pin. The fans quickly dispersed.
I've seen goals as good as the one Diego Maradona scored against England he said. But I've never seen a goal like that in such an important match. Messi can score those kinds of goals but it is rare for him to do it when the pressure is really on.
His office was transformed into a bunker at permanent boiling point in which people worked to the limit of exhaustion. Hundreds of videos which in time would grow into thousands were piled onto the shelves and gave the place the air of a laboratory.
The first three months after his resignation he spent in a convent in an attempt to detoxify himself from football. I took the books I wanted to read. I did not have a phone nor did I have a television. I read a lot and I don't think anyone reads as much about football as I do. I lasted three months before I started talking to myself and answering back and then it was time to go.
He had come to learn from the man managing dorados de Sinaloa . The man whom Pep Guardiola considered probably the best coach in the world perhaps even better than Johan Cruyff: Juanmo lillo. He had no playing career to speak of and was wrapped up in the theory and romance of the game. He owned a library that contained 10,000 newspapers and magazines about football.
Maradona employed management techniques Caligula the Roman emperor might have recognized. He got through 70 different players when he was managing argentina and when decisions were questioned he would grab his crotch and yell at journalists that they could suck it and keep on sucking.
it is the words Bielsa built around him that are striking. You have been killed by this game. Except the injustice. Swallow the venom. When the speech climaxes with: I congratulate you all everyone of you he almost bows like an actor.
What impressed payet was the way Bielsa talked the language he used specifically. In the way he operated, in his work, in his emotions, the way he celebrated a goal, the victories. He used strong words but he uttered them with such serenity, such calmness. During a pre match chat, I looked at Steve Mandanda, he pointed at the manager and said I would die for him. How he managed to motivate us was such a crazy thing. His words could take us very far. Again a powerful example of the power of words and language to influence behavior on a football pitch, in other sports, in the classroom and in the office of business world.
There's no mention of bielsa, although the wall by the car park had 22 holes in it and in the language of betting in Argentina 22 is referred to as el loco.
When Mauricio Pochettino began work at Southampton, he barely spoke a word of English. I spoke through hugs, contact, with my facial expressions and my gestures, he said. My poor English forced me to find other ways to read people and communicate.
Lamrani also recommended that lead squad be given books to read. There are many benefits of reading he explained. It develops intelligence, aids memory, reinforces concentration, stimulates the imagination and enriches the vocabulary. He drew up a reading list and organized a kind of book club that from September would become as much of the preparations at Thorp arch as the video analysis. Among the books that were put on the players reading list were: the little Prince by Antoine de St exupery, Jack london's the call of the wild and Victor hugo's Les miserable. Some choices like the secret of the All Blacks were aimed more squarely at an audience of sportsmen.
We would play 11 versus 11 once a week and that was harder than the actual game. He would keep shouting: keep going keep going and if he saw you walking he would be on to you. There would be no rest. you learned the body could do so much more than you believed.
By the battle of Goodison Park in November 1964 in which everton's Derek temple had been so badly tackled his teammates initially thought he had been killed.
His ideas have become the mainstream and as he once observed: everyone with new ideas is thought mad until they work.
First and foremost they have to have character. Footballers who win have character in bread into them. Only once did he come close to failing.
December 4, 2020
As a Leeds season ticket holder, it was practically the law that I read this book. Unfortunately, I don't read that much about football, especially non-English football, so two thirds of the book, as player after player, team after team, situation after situation were name-checked, I struggled. It was all jyst a bit too dry.
Don't get me wrong, the history of Argentina, the Bielsa family history and the scene-setting were all interesting. Some points had me chuckling, others reading out loud to my (non-football fan) wife.
It's the final third that interested me most, though, even though there's less of that scene-setting, a sudden propensity for strange pop culture references and some stories that I had heard - and which underline Bielsa's character - missing. (For example, the players being made to litter pick so they got an inkling of how much their fans had to work to be able to watch football.)
The book was also probably written too soon. Bielsa's second season at Leeds is covered, but only almost in passing. Delaying publication and updating the text just a few months later would result in a much happier ending.
Don't get me wrong, the history of Argentina, the Bielsa family history and the scene-setting were all interesting. Some points had me chuckling, others reading out loud to my (non-football fan) wife.
It's the final third that interested me most, though, even though there's less of that scene-setting, a sudden propensity for strange pop culture references and some stories that I had heard - and which underline Bielsa's character - missing. (For example, the players being made to litter pick so they got an inkling of how much their fans had to work to be able to watch football.)
The book was also probably written too soon. Bielsa's second season at Leeds is covered, but only almost in passing. Delaying publication and updating the text just a few months later would result in a much happier ending.
November 3, 2020
Few football managers have the aura of Marcelo Bielsa, a man whose reputation far exceeds the trophies he has collected. Pep Guardiooa rates him as the best in the world yet Bielsa has never taken charge of a super power, choosing more romantic and challenging projects. In many ways he is the anti-Mourinho, a coach who refuses to abandon his principles in pursuit of success.
This biography gives an excellent overview of Bilesa's career, yet could have benefited from going into further detail. A lot of the quotes are also second hand, although the author does interview some of those who have played under or worked with Bielsa.
There's plenty here to satisfy even a football obsessive such as myself and you emerge with a clear understanding of the man and his methods.
As an Athletic Bilbao fan, I knew mostly about Bielsa from his short but spectacular spell at the San Mames, which included a memorable run to the Europa League final.
That is chronicled here but I found the chapters on his early days in Argentina more interesting as they showed how his career was shaped.
Bielsa's intensity, allied to the demands he places on players and club officials, usually leads to a parting of the ways before too long.
In the case of Reims and Marseille, his reign was incredibly brief and for all the talk of Bielsa being a romantic, it's clear money and thirst for power have also been motivations at stages of his career.
He's now in his third season at Leeds and it will be interesting to see if one of football's great nomads will stick around for much longer.
This biography gives an excellent overview of Bilesa's career, yet could have benefited from going into further detail. A lot of the quotes are also second hand, although the author does interview some of those who have played under or worked with Bielsa.
There's plenty here to satisfy even a football obsessive such as myself and you emerge with a clear understanding of the man and his methods.
As an Athletic Bilbao fan, I knew mostly about Bielsa from his short but spectacular spell at the San Mames, which included a memorable run to the Europa League final.
That is chronicled here but I found the chapters on his early days in Argentina more interesting as they showed how his career was shaped.
Bielsa's intensity, allied to the demands he places on players and club officials, usually leads to a parting of the ways before too long.
In the case of Reims and Marseille, his reign was incredibly brief and for all the talk of Bielsa being a romantic, it's clear money and thirst for power have also been motivations at stages of his career.
He's now in his third season at Leeds and it will be interesting to see if one of football's great nomads will stick around for much longer.
September 3, 2020
A philosophy best described as a middle course between Menotti and Bilardo, Marcelo Bielsa is a conductor of Shakespearan quality. This book has been on my list to complete for a long time and it's a emotional journey complete with a furnace of passion at every step. A man that is aggressive. Relentless. Intrinsic in humble values to his very bone. Strength delivered with such serenity. Murderball with a human touch
Follow his life story as it takes you from the legendary beginning at Colos del Paque to the human link at San Mames and to the fiery State Velodrome. Witness first hand the inner workings of the Argentian national team and to how he set the foundations for the success of La Roja. The book also guides you to why it didn't quite work for him out at glamour show at Pierre Mauroy and the setting of unfulfilled promises at the Eternal City .
It culminates with his arrival at Yorkshire to revive not a sleeping giant but one in comatose. From making players pick up trash on arrival, Spygate, Play-off heartbreak and the eventual success of a 16-year journey. White scarves waved in rhythm to the man Leeds fans call God
Plaudits and quotes from the pantheon in the game. Masterclass in the art of tactical analysis and revivalist football A football character in capiral letters. El Loco makes anyone who believes a disciple. This book is your guide.
8.5/10
#MarceloBielsa #TimRich #TheQualityOfMadness #LeedsUnited #Quercus #FootballBooks #Leeds #ElLoco
Follow his life story as it takes you from the legendary beginning at Colos del Paque to the human link at San Mames and to the fiery State Velodrome. Witness first hand the inner workings of the Argentian national team and to how he set the foundations for the success of La Roja. The book also guides you to why it didn't quite work for him out at glamour show at Pierre Mauroy and the setting of unfulfilled promises at the Eternal City .
It culminates with his arrival at Yorkshire to revive not a sleeping giant but one in comatose. From making players pick up trash on arrival, Spygate, Play-off heartbreak and the eventual success of a 16-year journey. White scarves waved in rhythm to the man Leeds fans call God
Plaudits and quotes from the pantheon in the game. Masterclass in the art of tactical analysis and revivalist football A football character in capiral letters. El Loco makes anyone who believes a disciple. This book is your guide.
8.5/10
#MarceloBielsa #TimRich #TheQualityOfMadness #LeedsUnited #Quercus #FootballBooks #Leeds #ElLoco
October 10, 2021
Marcelo Bielsa is a fascinating man who has built up a reputation as one of the most influential coaches of the modern game. Allied to a highly enigmatic personality and an approach that generates admiration to the point of veneration.
He is also highly selective about those in the wider world of journalism he speaks with preferring to eschew individual and personal interviews for the all access and broader press conferences.
A difficult subject for a biography then if you are not within the tight inner circle.
Whilst this was an interesting book that I rattled through at speed it did not quite live up to the hopes that I had for it. It understandably relies on second hand material for much of the insight into Bielsa and lacks a little in analysis therefore.
The structure is a little sloppy at times , bouncing around time wise with not quite enough signposting to help this reader keep a firm grip of when and who we was being written about. Also as the book neared its end the inclusion of some meandering diversions did not seem to add to the subject matter
The detail about his family and early life were interesting and the book did paint a compelling picture of a person who seems to fit the description of intense and committed to a tee.
I was hoping for a little more insight into the man but considering Bielsa's approach to life and the media that is a big ask of any writer and one not quite pulled off here
He is also highly selective about those in the wider world of journalism he speaks with preferring to eschew individual and personal interviews for the all access and broader press conferences.
A difficult subject for a biography then if you are not within the tight inner circle.
Whilst this was an interesting book that I rattled through at speed it did not quite live up to the hopes that I had for it. It understandably relies on second hand material for much of the insight into Bielsa and lacks a little in analysis therefore.
The structure is a little sloppy at times , bouncing around time wise with not quite enough signposting to help this reader keep a firm grip of when and who we was being written about. Also as the book neared its end the inclusion of some meandering diversions did not seem to add to the subject matter
The detail about his family and early life were interesting and the book did paint a compelling picture of a person who seems to fit the description of intense and committed to a tee.
I was hoping for a little more insight into the man but considering Bielsa's approach to life and the media that is a big ask of any writer and one not quite pulled off here
July 10, 2022
If Bielsa is managing Team A, and his Team are playing Team B, then you are almost guaranteed to get a few facts about Team B's players/manager/venue, sometimes even jumping back in time 20 years. It's just an opportunity for the author to show off his knowledge, or the amount of research he has put in; but it's supposed to be a book about Bielsa. Due to these tangents, there's plenty of paragraphs I had to re-read to make sense of. Some paragraphs can be overly long, like half a page, so it often looks like a wall of text. There's some sentences where he's trying to favour writing style over explicit, clear statements like saying "they beat [x manager]'s side" but if you don't know which team they managed at that time, then it's unclear. The book ends with Leeds United in the Premiership, but only describes a few games then ends abruptly; it might have been better to wait the season is over to include this. I don't think this gives you much insight into Bielsa at all, or at least you forget the information after being spammed with unrelated facts.
August 11, 2021
Excellent - well written and informative. The more you learn about this complex and enigmatic man the more you appreciate his generosity of spirit, his humility and his painstaking analysis of the game.
He is seemingly a wonderful teacher and mentor and yet remains a mystery to most who have learnt most about themselves whilst under his wing.
There is a hackneyed and clichéd song written by Diane Warren I believe - You Were the Wind Beneath My Wings - in respect of many of those Bielsa has helped develop an outstanding career, not least the latest, Kalvin Phillips, Patrick Bamford, Raphinia, Jack Harrison, Stuart Dallas and Luke Ayling, that title seems disconcertingly apt.
A remarkable man in every respect, living a remarkable life and contributing in no small part to the lives of others.
He is seemingly a wonderful teacher and mentor and yet remains a mystery to most who have learnt most about themselves whilst under his wing.
There is a hackneyed and clichéd song written by Diane Warren I believe - You Were the Wind Beneath My Wings - in respect of many of those Bielsa has helped develop an outstanding career, not least the latest, Kalvin Phillips, Patrick Bamford, Raphinia, Jack Harrison, Stuart Dallas and Luke Ayling, that title seems disconcertingly apt.
A remarkable man in every respect, living a remarkable life and contributing in no small part to the lives of others.
May 24, 2021
As a Leeds fan I make no apologies for my biased praise of this book. It is a great read and a fascinating insight into a remarkable man. I’ve read dozens of Leeds United biographies mainly of the great Revie team which I grew up watching and there are some fine books even though references to the legendary games can be repeated and some authors can be rather lazy in their ‘research’. This is up there with the best of them though. I just hope as a fan that after a few more years of success I can read an updated version detailing triumphs and glories under such unique and inspirational leadership.
September 18, 2020
We measure great managers in the UK with the number of trophies won and the harvesting of top talent. But in Marcelo Bielsa - we have a football obsessive. His influence on the modern game can be seen in Poch's rise with Spurs and Guardiola's city. Marcelo Bielsa career in management is one which shows how when Leeds approached the cult hero - they weren't just getting a good manager. They were getting one of a kind.
January 20, 2021
It's a very good overview of the life and the career of a very interesting personality. The chapters about Leeds are shorter than I expected, but I guess the author did not want to focus too much on his favourite club. Overall, the book is a great reading for the quarantine, and I would recommend it to whoever is fascinated by football management.
March 2, 2021
A fascinating delve into the history of the great man, going way back to his youth in Argentina, helping the reader understand what shaped Bielsa and what made him the man he is today. A good read for any fan of Bielsa, one of the teams he coached or even just football itself. If anything, it has given me an even greater love of Marcelo Bielsa, than I had before.
December 16, 2021
Apesar da leitura ser pouco fluída no sentido da narração dos fatos e conexão entre os personagens, o livro da a possibilidade, ainda que de maneira superficial, de conhecer um pouco da perspectiva da personalidade de Bielsa. Traz também algumas reflexões para as atividades práticas daqueles que atuam com o futebol em diversos escaloes.
January 31, 2022
I had been looking for a long time for a book about the crazy genius that's Marcelo Bielsa, until I found this one. So my expectations were high, but Tim Rich met them completely. This book gives a great insight into Marcelo Bielsa, both as a person and as a football coach. If you're intrigued by Bielsa, I'd surely recommend 'The Quality of Madness'.
July 10, 2022
Great read!! Sometimes there are big gaps but this is purely testimony to how interesting and explosive Bielsa’s life has been to date. The only other gripe, if any, was it jumped from one period in time to another. Don’t let this put you off however, you will find out so much about this enigma of a coach and man, his family, upbringing, and career. MOT!! ALAW!!!!
October 10, 2024
"The Quality of Madness" ofrece un recorrido histórico por la trayectoria de Marcelo Bielsa, brindando contexto sobre los clubes y selecciones que ha dirigido. Sin embargo, se queda en la superficie al explorar la psicología del personaje y sus métodos. El libro no logra profundizar en la singularidad de su mente ni en la magnitud de su influencia.
September 3, 2020
Excellent insight into Bielsa.
This is definitely not just a book for Leeds fans. Fair to say he's watched a fair few obscure games on VHS in pursuit of his position but clearly a very demanding coach. Both sides of the story told. Good read.
This is definitely not just a book for Leeds fans. Fair to say he's watched a fair few obscure games on VHS in pursuit of his position but clearly a very demanding coach. Both sides of the story told. Good read.
March 8, 2021
It's not great literature and if you dont like football probably not for you but such is life.
It captures much of what makes bielsa bielsa
The tack on of the premiership.feels almost pointless.
I love leeds and I liked bielsa pre working for leeds so it was a book I liked
It captures much of what makes bielsa bielsa
The tack on of the premiership.feels almost pointless.
I love leeds and I liked bielsa pre working for leeds so it was a book I liked
September 21, 2021
Explains the hype well
Ive been fascinated by Biesla without knowing too much of his background and why he inspires such devotion. This book gives you the reasons along with interesting context especially regarding south and central American football.
Ive been fascinated by Biesla without knowing too much of his background and why he inspires such devotion. This book gives you the reasons along with interesting context especially regarding south and central American football.
January 11, 2022
Interesting book. The only thing I found a bit annoying was the authors tendency to bounce around different timelines, sometimes at quite a dizzying pace. Beyond that, this is a very insightful analysis into the great man that is Marcelo Bielsa.
June 3, 2022
Loved it: leaning about Marcelo's early football career as well as his cultural upbringing gives a real sense of the man. Worth a read for any Leeds fan, but also any lover of the romance of football.
August 22, 2020
Great biography, very in depth.
Really liked the author's writing style.
Really liked the author's writing style.
August 24, 2020
Poor detail and i think sometimes incorrect. A good introduction to his general life story but that's it.
September 19, 2020
Great insights
Insightful read into a pioneering independent determined football influencer. Definitely worth reading even if you are not a football fan.
Insightful read into a pioneering independent determined football influencer. Definitely worth reading even if you are not a football fan.
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