Forza Italia: A Journey in Search of Italy and its Football

by Paddy Agnew

For the first time, Paddy Agnew lifts the lid on Italian football, reflecting on 20 years of Italian living through "calcio"—the native word for all things football. When he and his girlfriend Dympna touched down in Rome in 1985, in search of adventure, sunshine, and the soul of Italian football (well, Paddy was looking for that), they were traveling into the uncharted terrain of a country they did not know and a language they did not speak. It soon became clear that neither Italy nor Italian football would be boring. In that first week in Italy, Michel Platini and Juventus won the Intercontinental Cup, whilst just days later the PLO killed 13 people in a random shooting at Rome's Fiumicino airport. Paddy covered both stories. Within two months of Paddy's arrival, TV tycoon Silvio Berlusconi bought debt-ridden AC Milan. Enmeshing the people's love of football with his own political ambitions, Berlusconi was to propel himself all the way to the Prime Minister's office. Berlusconi named his political party "Forza Italia" after a football chant, while the party MPs were known as the "azzurri," just like Italian international footballers. In that same period, Argentine Diego Maradona was the uncrowned King of Naples, leading Napoli to a first ever scudetto title in 1987, not withstanding a hectic, Hollywood-type lifestyle that mixed footballing genius with bad company of the organized criminal type. From Maradona to Shevchenko and from Platini to Totti, this is a fascinating tale of inspired players, skilled coaches, rich tycoons, glitzy media coverage, Mafia corruption, drug scandals, and fan power. It is also a personalized reflection on the consistent and continuing excellence of Italian football throughout a period of huge social, political, and economic upheaval.

Genres: Sports, Football, Italy, Soccer

320 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2006

Reviews

[Shatterlings · Rating 2 out of 5]

There’s just not enough football in this, I didn’t want to read about the builder of his house or the troubles of his commute to work. There’s a lot about the negative side of Italian football with of course the obligatory chapter about Maradona. There’s no particular narrative to this, it’s more a collection of essays, it was just all a bit disappointing.

[Graham Vincent · Rating 4 out of 5]

An account of a guy living in Italy, contextualized with the development of Italian football at the time. For this reason, the book is entertaining even for those with no interest in football. If you're looking for an academic thesis on Italian football, this isn't it. But read it for what it is. A lot of fun.

[Erik · Rating 1 out of 5]

The worst kind of football writing: deeply personal and devoid of any analysis and theory. Paddy Agnew, an Irish freelance football journalist living in Rome, tries to describe the modern state of Italian football via a series of articles highlighting some of the sport's most important stories. I don't know, it just came across as amateurish and poorly written. I bought it new and immediately got rid of it. Perhaps this had to do with my disgust of Italy winning the World Cup...

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good Read wrote by Irish journalist who re-located to Italy. Offers insight into italian life & love of football.

[Miles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good overview of recent Italian soccer from an Irish guy who moved to Italy. Basically for soccer fans, particularly Serie A fans, but that includes me, so I enjoyed it.

[Grant Shade · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty interesting and simple to read account of the journalist's time in Italy. I'd like to see a follow-up considering it was written just prior to "Moggi-gate" and the Azzuri's success in Germany.