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Joshua Robinson
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The Club: How the Premier League Became the Richest, Most Disruptive Business in Sport Kindle Edition

by Jonathan Clegg (Author), Joshua Robinson (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars 1,674 ratings

An excellent recap, with wonderful access and forensic detail on the Premier League's rise to global alpha status... All told with an arch sense of humour The Guardian

How did English football - once known for its stale pies, bad book-keeping and hooligans - become a commercial powerhouse and the world's premium popular entertainment?

This was a business empire built in only twenty-five years on ambition, experimentation and gambler's luck. Lead by a motley cast of executives, Russian oligarchs, Arab Sheikhs, Asian Titans, American Tycoons, battle-hardened managers, ruthless agents and the Murdoch media - the Premier League has been carved up, rebranded and exported to phenomenal 185 countries. The United Nations only recognizes 193.

But the extraordinary profit of bringing England's ageing industrial towns to a compulsive global attention has come at a cost. Today, as players are sold for hundreds of millions and clubs are valued in the billions, local fans are being priced out - and the clubs' local identities are fading. The Premier League has become the classic business fable for our globalised world.

Drawing on dozens of exclusive and revelatory interviews from the Boardrooms - including Liverpool's John W. Henry, Tottenham's Daniel Levy, Martin Edwards and David Gill at Manchester United, Arsène Wenger and Stan Kroenke at Arsenal, Manchester City's sporting director Txiki Begiristain, and executives at Chelsea, West Ham, Leicester City and Aston Villa - this is the definitive bustand boom account of how the Premier League product took over the world.

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  1. Print length
    387 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    John Murray
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    12 Dec. 2018
  6. File size
    1.0 MB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Product description

Review

A fascinating and necessary investigation into the forces that led to the creation of the Premier League. Meticulous in its research ― Jonathan Wilson, author of Inverting the Pyramid

Brilliant -- Miguel Delaney ― Independent

A remarkable and astonishing transformation ... detailed with panache ― The Sunday Times

captures the Premier League's startling and continuing evolution...Robinson and Clegg specialise in access...the scene setting is lively ― Financial Times

Magnificent ... Witty, pacy, thorough, this is a book hard to put down

― Mail on Sunday

The most fascinating book ever written about the Premier League ― Mundial

Clegg and Robinson are expert storytellers in unspooling the narrative of one of Britain's most successful exports, illustrating the creative tensions between owners that made it possible. The work is at once thorough but also readable and entertaining, with protagonists presented as real live characters, rather than faceless suits: a testament to their reporting and writing skills ― Gabriele Marcotti

A brilliant book on the business history of the Premier League ― Independent

A fascinating book, by two witty and meticulous sports writers ― Sunday Times

Magnificent . . . a fine job they have done explaining how English football went from moribund national embarrassment to globe-bestriding colossus. Witty, pacy, thorough, this is a book hard to put down. ― Mail on Sunday

Astute ... forensic and impeccably sourced ― The Economist

Richly detailed, remarkably told . . . Clegg and Robinson provide unparalleled access to the people who make the league go ― Billy Beane

Informative and regularly entertains ― FourFourTwo

A jaunty journey through the past quarter of a century in English football ― The Times

A vivid portrait ... but also a candid account of the league's imperialist present and likely future ... it's quite an achievement ― Tito Football

A shrewd and colourful account of the Premier League's business history ― Jonathan Northcroft, Sunday Times

A tale told with much verve and some wit by two experienced sports journalists ... Revelatory ― Spectator

About the Author

Joshua Robinson is the European sports correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, and has written for the New York Times, the Washington Post and Sports Illustrated.

Jonathan Clegg is an editor for The Wall Street Journal, his work has also appeared in the Daily Telegraph, the Independent, and FourFourTwo magazine.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07GDLXKXT
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ John Murray
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 12 Dec. 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1.0 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 387 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1473699540
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Best Sellers Rank: 230,530 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
  • Customer reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 1,674 ratings

About the authors

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  1. Joshua Robinson

    Joshua Robinson

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Joshua Robinson is the European sports correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, and has written for the New York Times, the Washington Post and Sports Illustrated. He is a graduate of Columbia University.

    See more on the author's page
  2. Jonathan Clegg

    Jonathan Clegg

    Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    Jonathan Clegg is the Sports Editor for The Wall Street Journal. His work has also appeared in the

    Daily Telegraph, the Independent (U.K.), and FourFourTwo magazine.

    See more on the author's page
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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
1,674 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book interesting to read, with one describing it as an entertaining history of the Premier League. Moreover, the writing style receives positive feedback for being well written. Additionally, customers appreciate the book's insights, with one noting it provides a comprehensive look at English football.

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ReadabilityInsightWriting style
16 customers mention ‘Readability’16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and interesting to read, with one customer describing it as an entertaining history of the Premier League.

"This book is an interesting read and not too difficult to get into...." Read more

"Interesting and insightful view on the PL and its monies" Read more

"Really interesting book, especially if you are interested in football and business...." Read more

"A very good read showing up the greed and underhand tactics employed by owners of a number Clubs within the Premiership...." Read more

9 customers mention ‘Insight’9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's insights, with one customer noting its comprehensive coverage of English football and another highlighting its thorough research.

"...Some great insights into the set up of the Premier league and how these deals really happen, funny what small margins it can come down to...." Read more

"Starts off brilliantly, well written and engaging - it imparts a lot of information about the TV/Premier League/Sky 'partnership' and how it emerged...." Read more

"Great book with amazing insight! It has provided some fascinating colour on the sport I love!..." Read more

"Very informative read. From the early days of coaching staff doing the kit deals for a few quid to billion pound TV deals, this tells the while story" Read more

4 customers mention ‘Writing style’4 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book.

"Starts off brilliantly, well written and engaging - it imparts a lot of information about the TV/Premier League/Sky 'partnership' and how it emerged...." Read more

"An excellent well reseached and well written book that could be just a fact filled,but is in fact is an exiting ,intriguing journey through the..." Read more

"I couldn’t put it down. It’s a brilliant telling of what makes the Premier League tick. You won’t be disappointed!" Read more

"Sharply written, supremely well researched and full of fascinating, funny andn sometimes shocking anecdotes. Absolutely flew through it...." Read more

Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting book about when football was invented in 1992.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 January 2019
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    My only quibble about the book is a throwaway comment about the pre-Sky t.v. money being shared equally between the 92 clubs, with Man Utd receiving the same as Macclesfield.
    A little bit of research would have found that Macclesfield didn't enter the Football league until 1997. I knew this, and I'd imagine a lot of other football fan's did too. But then again, football for many doesn't exist outside the Premier league.
    9 people found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent insight into the business of football.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 January 2021
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Really interesting book, especially if you are interested in football and business. Some great insights into the set up of the Premier league and how these deals really happen, funny what small margins it can come down to. If you have watched the Premier league develop then some of the behind-the-scenes decisions around each clubs development will shed some new light on what was happening.
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  • Baggie Dave
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enlightening
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 October 2020
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    A very good read showing up the greed and underhand tactics employed by owners of a number Clubs within the Premiership. Secret meetings and plans to take control and ditch the rest. If you are a genuine football fan you will be angered by the destruction of the beautiful game.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Michael Beaty
    5.0 out of 5 stars Not what you think, but interesting none the less.
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 October 2021
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    I bought the book hoping for a background on the formation of the league but obviously this is not that. If you already have a background of knowledge of the league in the early years, this adds a little more background to stories you probably know. Enjoyed it, and will recommend to friends.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Robbo
    4.0 out of 5 stars Pretty good
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 27 April 2019
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    Starts off brilliantly, well written and engaging - it imparts a lot of information about the TV/Premier League/Sky 'partnership' and how it emerged. However, after that its tails off a little, I feel; more about the success stories of various 'top' clubs. Having said that, I'm just over half way through it so it could be an edge of the seat ending.... Fingers crossed.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Michael Elliott
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Headlong Ride and Read into the Premier League
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 March 2020
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    An excellent well reseached and well written book that could be just a fact filled,but is in fact is an exiting ,intriguing journey through the history of the the Premier League
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Stuart Parkinson, The Everyday Economist
    3.0 out of 5 stars A nice read but a somewhat misleading title
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 May 2019
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    This is a pleasant enough book to read, and the pages go by relatively easily, but its title is misleading. It is NOT the story of HOW the Premier League became the richest, most disruptive business in sport. It is, rather, just the story of WHAT HAPPENED in the Premier League since its formation in the early 1990s. Nonetheless, it is interesting to read about the stresses inherent in the Premier League of late, as the Big Six agitate in favour of an increasing share of the financial bounty, and the rest try to slow them down. I can't help but think, at the end of the book, that the Premier League's days may even be numbered, to be replaced by a pan-European super-league. For all the money sloshing around, for example, the PL seems to have had the dickens of a time finding anyone who wants to replace Richard Scudamore, and I've often wondered why of late.

    So I give this book the customary three stars that I like to award to books that don't do what they make out they are going to do in the title, even though it is a perfectly pleasant read, nonetheless.
    10 people found this helpful
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  • Mr S Jegathjenan
    5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 January 2019
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Great book with amazing insight! It has provided some fascinating colour on the sport I love! Recommend to any true football fan, especially those who follow the Premier League.
    5 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Sharief Faraidooni
    4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read
    Reviewed in the United Arab Emirates on 23 August 2023
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I have enjoyed this book. Fast and intriguing read. I enjoyed the many inside stories that came in the book and I finally understood how the PL became the biggest and richest league in the world. The book is also kind of sad as the world of football is changing and being monetized. Gone are the days that you support a club because of its history and achievements and hello to the days where the rich get even ridiculously more richer.

    Fun book to read.
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  • Balaji
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
    Reviewed in India on 12 September 2025
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    A good read for Premier League beginners
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  • Christian Merschinger
    5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and fun-read
    Reviewed in Germany on 12 January 2019
    Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
    The book is informative and - like the subject of the book - a good entertainment in itself. Great read for anyone interested in football (soccer), globalization and the 'love match' between Football and TV.

    There are many funny passages, perhaps even more so for non native speakers like me, here just one example:

    "On the pitch, Gullit's comically superior standard was obvious. From his position behind the defence, he would bring down long balls on his chest and then volley a pass out to this fullbacks just to hear the crowd gasp. (The more traditional English approach in that situation would have been to hammer the ball into the next parliamentary constituency) But when he tried to build Chelsea's play from the back in the Dutch style he'd always known, Gullit ran into trouble: he'd pass the ball to his fellow defenders only to find that they didn't want the damn thing.... . (p. 83).
    One person found this helpful
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  • Santiago R.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Gran libro. Cuidado si no eres inglés nativo
    Reviewed in Spain on 3 March 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Es un gran libro. Pero al no hablar inglés de forma nativa me ha costado entender el vocabulario cerrado.
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  • Robinson Vasconcelos
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excelente livro para quem gosta de esporte e negócios.
    Reviewed in Brazil on 28 January 2020
    Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase
    Ótimo livro. Muitas informações inéditas de bastidores que ajudam a entender por completo o contexto histórico desse grande desafio que foi construir o maior produto de esporte da atualidade.
    Report

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