To order or comment - backlist here

 

RRP: £10.95
SPECIAL OFFER £8 INC UK P&P

Special offer from the publishers
Buy 'Mancini: Diary of a Champion'
£8 UK
£10 Rest of World


(It will appear on statements as
charged to "Ancient Egypt Magazine")

 

ISBN: 1901746 933 - 9781901746938
£10.95 - Softback - 352 pp
Published: 11th June 2012

This is the INCREDIBLE inside story of Manchester City’s first title in 44 years and perhaps the most remarkable football season of all-time, written from the point of view of the man in the eye of the storm - City manager Roberto Mancini.

A season that ended so dramtically, with two injury-time goals at the Etihad to secure the club’s first Premier League title, had begun serenely for the Sky Blues as they romped to the top of the league scoring goals almost at will, culminating in a 6-1 romp at Old Trafford. Holding the lead at the top from September until March, their title juggernaut was halted by Manchester United’s incredible run of performances and the loss of form of key players. It took a remarkable collapse from United to hand back the initiative, a second chance Mancini’s men gratefully accepted with a run of six wins to secure the title - yet there was so much more to this incredible season.

Controversy was never far away: Carlos Tevez's on-off transfer, his shocking refusal to come off the bench in Munich and his subsequent ‘strike’ became an unwanted distraction. Yet his return just in time to add much needed impetus to City’s waining title challenge, made him a hero once more for supporters who wanted him to 'rot in the reserves' back in October. Then there were the antics of Mario Balotelli; the fireworks on and off the pitch including several red cards and a disastrous performance against Arsenal that appeared to undermine his manager and team-mates.

So often a club regarded as the punchline of British football, Harry Harris looks at City’s rise from the ashes following the influx of Mansour’s millions. The FA Cup triumph that ended the club’s 35-year wait for a major trophy and October’s stunning 6-1 derby victory at Old Trafford appeared to signal a shift in power and City’s title win has confirmed that an exciting new era in British football is about to dawn and this book follows every kick, tantrum and controversy throughout their remarkable season.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Harry Harris has won a total of 14 journalism awards. A regular analyst on football related matters on all major TV news and sports channels, he has appeared on Richard & Judy, Newsnight, BBC News, ITN News at Ten, Sky and Setanta. He is also a regular on Radio 5 Live, Radio 4, and TalkSport. He has been interviewed on Football Focus and appeared on the original Hold The Back Page and Jimmy Hill's Sunday Supplement on Sky.

Arguably the most prolific writer of best selling football books of his generation, Harry has penned 66 titles including the acclaimed best seller Pele - His Life and Times and George Best’s last book, ‘Hard Tackles and Dirty Baths’.

Harry has written one of the most influential football columns in the country for three decades and is regarded as one of the best investigative journalists and perhaps the best news gather of his generation. He has worked for the Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, Daily Express, Daily Star and Sunday Express and has nearly 30 years experience as the country’s number one football writer. Harry is now Football Correspondent for ESPN Soccernet.

 
Empire Publications, 1 Newton Street, Manchester M1 1HW Tel: 0161 872 3319 Fax: 0161 872 4721