Barca: The rise and fall of the club that built modern football WINNER OF THE FOOTBALL BOOK OF THE YEAR 2022

Simon Kuper's book "Barcelona: More Than a Club" is a masterfully written history of FC Barcelona, exploring how the club became the most successful football club in the world and how its position now hangs in the balance. The book provides unprecedented access to the inner sanctum and the people who strive daily to keep Barcelona at the top, charting the club's rise to greatness and its decline and fall.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 384 pages
Publication date: 23 June 2022
Publisher: Short Books Ltd

From the bestselling co-author of Soccernomics comes the story of how FC Barcelona became the most successful football club in the world - and how that envied position now hangs in the balance.

Barcelona is not just the world's most popular sports club, it is simply one of the most influential organizations on the planet. With almost 250 million followers on social media and 4 million visitors to its Camp Nou stadium each year, there's little wonder its motto is "More than a club." But it was not always so. In the past three decades, Barcelona has transformed from a regional team to a global powerhouse, becoming a model of sporting excellence and a consistent winner of silverware.

Simon Kuper unravels exactly how these transformations took place. He outlines the organizational structure behind the club's business decisions, and details the work of its coaches, medics, data analysts, and nutritionists who have revolutionized the sporting world. And, of course, he studies the towering influence of the club's two greatest legends, Johan Cruyff and Lionel Messi.

Like many leading global businesses, FC Barcelona closely guards its secrets, granting few outsiders a view behind the scenes. But, after decades of writing about the sport and the club, Kuper was given unprecedented access to the inner sanctum and to the people who strive daily to keep Barcelona at the top.

Erudite, personal, and capturing all the latest successes and upheavals, his portrait of this incredible institution goes beyond football to understand Barcelona as a unique social, cultural, and political phenomenon.

I began my research thinking I was going to be writing a book about football. But as I dug deeper, I realized that Barcelona was so much more than a sport. It was a cultural force that had shaped the city and its people for generations.

The club's history dates back to 1899, when a group of football players from the neighborhood of Barcelona came together to form a team. They called themselves FC Barcelona, and their first game was played on November 29, 1899.

Over the years, Barcelona has become one of the most successful football clubs in the world. The team has won numerous titles, including the UEFA Champions League, La Liga, and Copa del Rey. Barcelona has also produced some of the greatest players in the history of the sport, including Johan Cruyff, Lionel Messi, and Xavi.

But Barcelona's success has not come without its challenges. In recent years, the club has faced financial difficulties, and has been forced to sell some of its star players to balance the books. The club's current president, Joan Laporta, has been working to turn the club around and return it to its former glory.

One of the key factors behind Barcelona's success has been its commitment to innovation. The club has been at the forefront.

In recent years, the club has also been focused on sustainability. The club has implemented a number of initiatives to reduce its carbon footprint and promote social responsibility. The club has also launched a number of initiatives to promote diversity and inclusion, including a program to provide free football training to young people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Another key factor behind Barcelona's success has been its fan base. The club has a loyal and passionate fan base that is spread across the world. The club's fans are known for their loyalty and support, and they have played a key role paragraph in the club's success.

In conclusion, FC Barcelona is not just a football club. It is a cultural force that has shaped the city and its people for generations. The club's history, success, and challenges are a testament to the power of sport to bring people together and to inspire change. Barcelona's commitment to innovation, sustainability, and diversity and inclusion is a model for other organizations and businesses around the world.

The club's success has not come without its challenges, but the club's fans and its commitment to its values have helped it to overcome those challenges and to continue to thrive. Barcelona is a symbol of hope and inspiration, and its legacy will continue to be felt for generations to come.

Weight: 394g
Dimension: 130 x 196 x 36 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781780725543