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Calcio: A History of Italian Football
 
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Calcio: A History of Italian Football [Illustrated] (Hardcover)

by John Foot (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Hardcover: 565 pages
  • Publisher: Fourth Estate Ltd; illustrated edition edition (3 April 2006)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0007175744
  • ISBN-13: 978-0007175741
  • Product Dimensions: 23 x 15.2 x 4.6 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 234,787 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #61 in  Books > Sports, Hobbies & Games > Football > European > European Leagues
    #61 in  Books > Society, Politics & Philosophy > Social Sciences > Social Issues > Football

Product Description

Sunday Times

'shows how football and Italian society are inextricably
intertwined, and is full of fascinating vignettes.'


Andrew Baker, Daily Telegraph

'...the pace never slackens...a meticulous and knowledgeable guide...leaves the reader wanting to investigate further.'

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Customer Reviews

17 Reviews
5 star:
 (12)
4 star:
 (2)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:
 (2)
1 star:
 (1)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.3 out of 5 stars (17 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Superb insight into Italian football., 31 Jul 2006
By James M. (Ireland) - See all my reviews
To many people, Italian football is a mystery. On one hand, Italy has produced some of world football's best players and is home to the world's biggest clubs. The football is often beautiful and there is never a lack of passion. On the other it embraces the worst parts of the game with games often soiled with blatant cheating and racist fans.

Calcio does a very good job in attempting to shed light on the Italian mindset and the culture and society that spawned its approach to the beautiful game.

The author John Foot clearly has alot of love for the Italian game but that doesnt cloud his judgement of the dark side of the game. He is rightly outraged by the unchecked racism that has blighted the game since the 1990s. In fact the book really ecsells in the chapters on fan culture. He also delves into the scandals and murders that have occured within the game.

From the origins of Calcio through to the personalties who have shaped the game, such as Benito Mussolini and on to Silvio Berlusconi, Foot has created a detailed and enjoyaable account of Italian football. All the major players who have played the game including; Gianni Rivera, Giacinto Facchetti, Gigi Riva, Marco Van Bastin etc, are all examined.

This book is a superb journey into a football crazy nation highlighting some of the best and worst of Italian mentality. It is only a pity that this wasn't published until later so as to include the recent match fixing scandal, the largest in Italian history, and Italys triumph in the World Cup.
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating, 14 May 2006
By Twazzer (Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire) - See all my reviews
This massive work gives a sweeping survey of the history of Italian football. Brilliantly written, Calcio is full of great anecdotes and thought-provoking, intelligent analysis without going into unnecessary detail. Calcio touches on every aspect of football in Italy and particuarly shines in the tragic rise and fall of Torino and the Superga tragedy. A story which is important in the story of not onyl Italian football but also in world football but yet maybe not widley known in the UK.

Key players are also covered in Calcio with splashes of humour as well as an assessment of their place and impact in Italian football. The real value of Calcio is that it gives you an accessible introduction of the history of Italian football and that it encourages you to read more on particular aspects of this subject.

A great read!!
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12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Stupendo!, 10 April 2006
By A Customer
A great read for anyone interested in football, Italy or Italian football. The author takes us through the history, the scandals, the players, the teams and the mysteries which have surrounded the game in Italy. Funny, sad and powerful at the same time, it reads like a thriller whilst having a strong historical base in documents and research. Great Stuff! I learnt a lot despite being a fan of the game. Hilarious section on the English and Scottish players failures in Italy. Terrifying section on the fans.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars All you ever wanted to know about Italian football
This is a very accessible combination of history, sociology and football fanatic's guide to Italian football. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Orielh

5.0 out of 5 stars Bellissimo!
In Italy, football is far more than just a game. It's a part of life. The loyalties and passions of those involved in the italian game and it's fan can get to quite extreme... Read more
Published 9 months ago by Paul Tapner

1.0 out of 5 stars Very poor, colourless and ill-informed.
This book fails to talk about Coverciano, the spiritual centre of Italian football, gives the impression there is no passion or joy in Italian football and makes some absurd and... Read more
Published 11 months ago by M. Ryan

5.0 out of 5 stars essential for the history of italian footy
Of all the books on the market about Italian football (and there are plenty) this is perhaps the best of the lot. Read more
Published 15 months ago by godzilla78

5.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining and well-paced read.
I have just finished reading this book (the updated edition with Cannavaro lifting the World Cup on the cover.) The author obviously knows his calcio. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Grant Coleby

2.0 out of 5 stars Appropriate for Britons. The rest of the world, not so much.
I'm sympathetic towards the difficulty in getting in more information and pages in a book that already spans 500+ pages. I am, truly. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Er Cavosso

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure Joy
This book is a wonderful read. Even my wife, who hates football, enjoyed it. I've read an awful lot of books, from Dostoevsky to detectives, and can't remember too many that gave... Read more
Published on 2 Sep 2007 by S. Ferry

2.0 out of 5 stars More dictionary than history
There is some wonderful material here, but it is wasted (I assume by the editors, who had typical English football supporters in mind) by the annoying sub headings and a bizarre... Read more
Published on 3 April 2007 by Tyler Hargreaves

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply brilliant
At first you'd imagine that the history of the football in Italy whose leagues are so often dubbed as boring. Read more
Published on 27 Nov 2006 by Midas

5.0 out of 5 stars The most comprehensive review of Italian football
By far the most compelling and comprehensive text produced on Italian football. In no way does John Foot romanticise football in Italy, but instead, focuses on the corruption,... Read more
Published on 5 Sep 2006 by Mr. S. Bayne

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