Maradona, Guillem Balague
Maradona, Guillem Balague
List: $31.99 | Sale: $22.40
Club: $15.99

Maradona
The Boy. The Rebel. The God.

Author: Guillem Balague

Narrator: David John

Unabridged: 17 hr 31 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Seven Dials

Published: 07/08/2021

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included


Synopsis

MARADONA is the definitive new biography of a true global icon, from world-renowned football writer and journalist Guillem Balagué.

Diego Armando Maradona was widely acclaimed as a genius. One of the greatest footballers of all time, he was also one of the most controversial. In an international career with Argentina he earned 91 caps and scored 34 goals and played in four FIFA World Cups. With his unforgettable 'hand of God' goal and unsurpassed second one in the 1986 quarter-final against England, he captained his nation and led them to victory over West Germany in the final in Mexico. His vision, passing, ball control and dribbling skills, and his presence and leadership on the field, often electrified his own team's overall performance.

Maradona's club career included dazzling spells in his own country at Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors and Newell's Old Boys, and in Europe with Barcelona, Napoli and Sevilla. Yet his life was one of relentless media attention, including tales of drug abuse and constant health issues.

Based on in-depth interviews and first-hand stories, Guillem Balagué's masterly biography represents a psychological and sociological approach to the legend. This journey of exploration takes Guillem to Argentina, Spain, Italy and Dubai. Along the way, he asks what fosters such adulation, and how this adoration engendered a self-destructive personality. Even after his untimely death in 2020, Maradona continues to fascinate: his divine status seemingly preserved for ever.

About Guillem Balague

Guillem Balagué is an award-winning football author, journalist and presenter who works for BBC TV, BBC Radio 5 Live, ITV, LaLiga TV and the American network CBS.His books include A Season on the Brink: A Portrait of Rafael Benitez's Liverpool; Pep Guardiola: Another Way of Winning; Messi: The Definitive Biography; Cristiano Ronaldo: The Biography which won the Football Book of the Year Award at the British Sports Book Awards and the Best Football Book of 2016 in Poland; Brave New World: Inside Pochettino's Spurs and Maradona: The Boy, The Rebel, The God. All of Guillem's books have been Sunday Times bestsellers in the UK, and each has been shortlisted for various category awards.He is also chairman of Biggleswade United.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Sunny on July 27, 2024

Stunning book about the legend - nothing i can add at all. He was for me the greatest ever. Here are the best bits: Los Culés, Barcelona fans, would arrive half an hour early to games just to watch Maradona's warm-ups. As a child Pep Guardiola was among their number and said, 'Diego would stand in t......more

Goodreads review by Ritattoo on September 17, 2021

This was a very detailed book of Maradona’s life and the persons who played important roles in his life. The reasons I don’t give 5 stars: -even though the author emphasizes the importance of Claudia, hardly writes of her -the short story with Barcelona took more chapters then the World Cup of 1986 -th......more

Goodreads review by David on September 21, 2021

I haven't read a book on Maradona before this one and, afterwards, I wondered how I missed out on the phenomenon. Here is a classic rags to riches, obscurity to fame cautionary tale. This is an excellent introduction to the subject matter and it does inspire me to read more. Balague uses sources fro......more