Description
Futbolítica
Book Summary
In this gripping essay, Ramon Usall demonstrates that football is much more than a sport: it is a mirror of contemporary political history. Through a tour of clubs and national teams from around the world, the author reveals how teams have been key political actors, representing anti-colonial struggles, nationalist claims, resistance to Nazism or communism, and armed conflicts. A work that transforms our view of the beautiful game.
What is it about?
Futbolítica explores the intersection between football and politics throughout the 20th and early 21st centuries. The book analyzes how matches between national teams have triggered wars, how clubs like FC Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao, Dinamo Zagreb, or Ararat Yerevan have been symbols of oppressed national identities, and how teams like Benfica, Colo-Colo, or Steaua București have embodied social and political struggles. Usall also debunks myths, such as Real Madrid's supposed republican past, and examines the role of football in the Cold War, the Balkan wars, and recent sovereignty movements. All this with a narrative filled with anecdotes and curious facts that make reading it an epic experience.
Main themes
- Football as a tool for political and nationalist resistance.
- Relationship between clubs and national teams with anti-colonial and liberation movements.
- The role of sports in armed conflicts and totalitarian regimes (Nazism, communism).
- Identity, sovereignty, and representation of minorities through football.
- Historical analysis of iconic clubs and their political symbolism.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at football fans who want to go beyond the score and understand the social and political background of the sport. Also for readers interested in contemporary history, politics, nationalism, and social movements, as well as journalists, teachers, and students looking for an original and well-documented perspective on the 20th century.
What this book contributes
- An innovative vision that connects football with the major historical events of the last century.
- Surprising anecdotes and data that enrich the understanding of clubs and national teams.
- Keys to interpreting the political symbolism of teams from around the world.
- A rigorous and enjoyable analysis, suitable for both experts and novices.
- A reflection on how sport reflects and shapes collective identities.
Technical specifications
- Author: Usall i Santa, Ramon
- Publisher: Ara Llibres
- Language: Catalan
- Subject: History, politics and government
- Collection: Serie H
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: May 2017
- Number of pages: 376
- Weight: 1205 g
Editorial review
Futbolítica is a work that achieves a difficult balance: being rigorous in historical and political analysis while remaining entertaining and accessible to the general public. Ramon Usall demonstrates a deep knowledge of world football and contemporary history, weaving a narrative that surprises and engages. For any reader interested in understanding the political power of sport, this book is an essential reference.