Broken Dreams: Vanity, Greed and the Souring of British Football

By Tom Bower

Book Overview

Greedy, vain and ambitious personalities dominate English football. From the author of devastating exposes of Mohamed Fayed, Richard Branson and, most recently, Geoffrey Robinson, Broken Dreams is a superbly incisive account of how self-interested individuals, adopting questionable and predatory business methods, are exploiting the sport of football to earn billions of pounds and huge glory. Focusing on key figures including Terry Venables, Ken Bates, David Dein, Harry Redknapp, Rio Ferdinand and other famous agents, chairmen and managers, Tom Bower exposes the money, the politics, and the vicious battles behind the beautiful game. For the first time a non-sports writer reveals the vanity and greed which endanger the national sport.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 074322079X
• ISBN13: 9780743220798
• Release Date: February 2003
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 342 Pages

Customer Reviews

Heart breacking

Broken Dreams is the most appropriate title for this book. As somebody who loves the game, this is heartbreaking. Tom Bower details the corruption, greed and the distinct lack of interest by anybody to fix the problem in great detail without ever getting bogged down. It highlights that the corruption starts from the top with footballs governing body FIFA not willing to adhere to their own rules or in-force them with any conviction. England's governing body are also shamefully to blame something that has spiralled out of control. Bower highlights how agents wedge themselves into a deal that in essence does not require their "help". It is clear from the book that everybody, including the player, has more to gain my moving clubs. Bower exposes some top British managers and holds little back when dealing with footballs chairmen. If you like a corruption tale and something that will make you jaw drop then this is the book for you. You don't need to know anything about football, just a love of sport and heartache at seeing it ruined by greedy men who don't.