Description
Book SynopsisTimed to coincide with the 2018 World Cup, the fascinating story of how the Spanish have transformed English soccer over the last eighty years.As American television spectators witness on Saturday mornings, Britain’s Premier soccer league is increasingly dominated by Spanish stars, from David Silva to David De Gea, while managers such as Rafa Benitez and Pep Guardiola have helped to transform the way English soccer is played. But the origins of this particular Spanish invasion date back eighty years to 1937, when the Spanish Civil War led to a stream of refugees fleeing their country for the safe haven of the south coast of England. They learned the game here, before returning to Spain when it was safe to help clubs such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Athletic Bilbao to La Liga success.
The Franco era broke that link, but in the recent years the reputation of Spain’s stars has grown, and every club wants to have a sprinkling of
tiki-taka magic
