A clutch of books were published telling the story of Leicester City's amazing achievement in winning the Premier League in 2016; this one, co-written by two Italian journalists well acquainted with Claudio Ranieri and the English game, gives a more rounded view of the team's manager, charting his childhood in Rome, his determined path to a career in top level Italian football as a defender with the obscure southern Italian side Catanzaro, and the bulk of the book, his thirty year managerial career.
The book is very much Italian in style, tending to the dramatic and much entertaining hyperbole, but the authors;' love of the beautiful game, the essence of Ranieri himself, driven, human and above all a passionate and masterful tactician of the art of the counter-attack, shines through on the pages, and, admittedly in hindsight, give many clues as to the extraordinary events as that season unfolded.
Seen in this way - the best shorthand for the Leicester phenomenon is that he got them playing like Italians - the drama intensifies in the second half of the book which is a chronological account of the 2015-2016 season. Here is the realisation that game after game, the team were consistently defending well, counter-attacking with pace and decisiveness - Leicester's record over that season showed almost metronomic achievement, every ten games played they'd win six or seven, draw two or three and lose one. Incredibly, the combined mights of many of the World's richest and well-resourced teams seemed incapable of countering these deceptively simple tactics. The team was resolute and unlike many "smaller" clubs before, were not stumbling as the effects of a long season, stretched resources, and - yes - dumb luck, added to the pressure of being front runners.
So, the story unfolds and its unlikely cast of characters; the avuncular Ranieri characterised as being washed-up when appointed in July 2015, became a maestro conducting the elusive genius of Riyad Mahrez, the incredible work ethic of N'Golo Kante, and the lightning speed and deadly finishing of Jamie Vardy melded into a team of unconsidered talents, for whom even a season or two of struggle in the top Division seemed beyond their ambition and capabilities only a few months before Ranieri's appointment.
The bonuses of the book are the focus on his Italian coaching career and later moves abroad, the finest of which is rightly celebrated here.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer – no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
From the Publisher
Top reviews from United Kingdom
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 April 2018
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 January 2017
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 December 2016
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 3 January 2017
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 August 2022
Top reviews from other countries
Shrey Harris
Amazing book for young athletes
Reviewed in India on 19 June 2021
Shrey Harris
Reviewed in India on 19 June 2021
Images in this review
