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Chelsea FC - Blue Gold - The Premiership 1992 To 2003 DVD ~ Chelsea Fc  (1)  £15.99

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Synopsis
Betrayed by his club but beloved by the fans, former Chelsea manager Claudio Ranieri has been a constant headline-maker in 2004. Occasionally puzzling, often eccentric, but always fascinating and refreshing, the Italian describes the highs and lows of an extraordinary season at Stamford Bridge -- and the dramatic end to his English journey. 'Hello, my sharks. Welcome to the funeral.' 'People have said I am a dead man walking -- but I am still moving!' 'Tonight I am a crazy man and Roman Abramovich is also going mad like me!' We rejoiced with him. We laughed with him. And we cried with him. In what turned out to be a year for the Blues resembling more a soap opera than a season of football, Claudio Ranieri reveals the highlights and the hurt of his farewell twelve months in England. This collaboration between Italian journalist Massimo Marianella and Ranieri promises to reveal the inside story of a rollercoaster year at Stamford Bridge, with a first-hand account of coaching the most expensively assembled team in the Premiership, alongside the increasing pressures of satisfying his bosses as Chelsea's season threatened to turn into anticlimax.

How did Ranieri keep all his players contented, when the value of his subs bench often exceeded that of most Premiership teams? What were the skills required to mould a group of exciting individuals into a team capable of challenging the likes of Arsenal and Manchester United at the top of the tree? With the media suggesting an uneasy alliance between Ranieri and Roman Abramovich, what was it that drove their complex relationship? What was the real truth behind the allegations that Ranieri's position was being undermined by his bosses? And when did the 'Tinkerman' discover his final denouement? Just some of the questions that will be answered in this book by arguably the most talked-about man in English football in 2004.

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews   1 of 1 people found the following review helpful: a fascinating insight into the beloved Chelsea Maestro, 25 April 2005 By  Daniel Cad (UK) - See all my reviews I first bought this book on a bit of a flutter, as something to read when I have nothing to do, but when I started reading I found myself pushing away other (sometimes rather important) tasks just so I could continue reading. I am a Chelsea fan and I would definitely reccomend this book to any other Chelsea fan. The sheer amount of insight into his players, coaching staff and of course, Roman Abramovich, had me reading the book for hours on end. Ranieri comments on the big name signings at the beginning of 03/04 season, and reveals the amount of power he had over certain things including the transfer market, one aspect I found particuarly illuminating as a first time reader who followed Chelsea's exploits in Ranieri's final season in charge would recall certain moments reported in the media and finally get an answer to what really happened. However, what made me enjoy the book more than anything else is the amount of emotion, passion and love Ranieri shows towards his players, and in particular the fans, as he fought against adversity and unnecessary criticism from all not associated with Chelsea Football Club. In short, the title, "Proud Man Walking" is one of the most fitting titles ever, as reading this book made me proud to be a Chelsea fan.  Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? (Report this)   1 of 1 people found the following review helpful: Really enjoyed it!!!, 19 Mar 2005 By A Customer Great book, not a chelsea fan at all but really enjoyed it, well written, not too heavy and a good insight into chelsea`s most frantic period.  Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? (Report this)   1 of 1 people found the following review helpful: A Fascinating Journey Into The Heart Of Football, 23 Feb 2005 By  Chris Halfhide (Hertford, England) - See all my reviews This book describes the most publicised season in football history direct from the horse's mouth. When Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea Football Club last summer, the question everyone was asking was "What will happen to Claudio?" This book provides us with the ins and outs of a dramatic season in football through the eyes of Claudio Ranieri. The book is much better than the usual autobiographies written about life in football because it focuses on just one season and provides us with a detailed description of each and every game played and his thoughts on the outcome. When you read this book you find yourself experiencing what Ranieri himself is feeling; the love of the game, the heartbreak of losing vital matches, the joy of winning when it matters most. This book is a must read for anyone who loves football. Ranieri shares with us his views on different styles of play, the personnel at Chelsea and the attitude of British football fans. Claudio Ranieri is one of the nicest football managers in the world and as an extra incentive to buy this book, he is donating all profits made from the sales of this book to Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital. Don't miss out on a great chance to witness the beautiful game from a football great.  Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? (Report this) › See all 4 customer reviews...		Most Recent Customer Reviews Better than i thought This book is written in diary form charting Ranieri's final year with Chelsea back in the 2003/04 season. Read more Published 13 months ago by S. Knight Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews › See all 4 customer reviews...