Barca

The Making of the Greatest Team in the World

By: Graham Hunter

Narrated by: Graham Hunter

Length: 14 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

Barcelona is the greatest football team in the world, the greatest for a generation, and possibly the greatest of all time. This is the untold inside story of how the best and most loved football team in the world came to redefine how the game is played. We start with the 2011 Champions League final at Wembley, the game that ended the debate about whether Barcelona was the greatest team in the world and began a new one: are they the best ever? We are inside the winning dressing room and inside the mind of the team s coach, Pep Guardiola.

From there, the focus is on each of the iconic personalities of this team, telling its story through them, from its genesis in the late 1980s to their coronation in London: Guardiola; his mentor, Johan Cruyff; Xavi; Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi, perhaps the greatest footballer of all time.

©2012 Graham Hunter (P)2012 Audible Ltd

Critic reviews

"Fantastic book. It's can't-put-down good." (Oliver Holt, The Daily Mirror)

"Superbly-written analysis & celebration of Pep, Messi, Xavi etc. Brilliant book." (Henry Winter, The Daily Telegraph)

In-depth analysis of the greatest team ever

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, I would, not just to Barcelona fans but football fans everywhere. It clearly shows where Barcelona made mistakes, what were the circumstances and how luck played its role into constructing one of the best teams ever. Everyone can learn something from this book, the Football Manager video gamers, the football fanatics, the casual fan, the sports fan or anyone into sports.

What does Graham Hunter bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Graham Hunter, being the author, shows the excitement in parts that I would doubt can be portrayed when reading the book. Simple put, he does an excellent job narrating.

Quality

It is a long book, but is worth the time. Excellent and very educational 5 star all round.

The Barca Story

A great depth of story of the journey of Barcelona from Cruyff to now. An enjoyable listen.

Fantastic Read

Excellent read. Well narrated. Wizzed through it and I want more. A collector's item for every football lover especially Barca fans.

Great Story!

I enjoyed this boy greatly! Fantastic history of the club and Mr. Hunter narrates the story superbly.

Wonderful stories and important details

For anyone who loves the beautiful game, this is a must read. It has incredible personal details about each of the Barcelona players as well as the managers and decision makers that surround them. International football is such a small world that even fans of teams that compete with Barcelona may find that some of their favorite players or coaches were once involved with Barcelona. This book was such a great Audi companion for long drives to and from soccer events and taught me a lot as a coach as well.

Ecstatic

Great read for all FC Barcelona & Messi fans. Awesome detail and intricate insight into the club.

Informative Good insights into the players

I enjoyed it, and it was long but informative. Mainly when it gives us a peek into the players' thoughts and players' backgrounds and the way things evolved, little stories about players' interaction with each other.

Superb ... A++++

A must for any Barça fans so much inside facts.. Won't be disappointed after buying it

Great listen

If you follow barcelona, then this a great insight at why they have become a phenomenal team. A must read for the barca fan.

A Fantastic Insight

A fantastic insight into how the greatest team in the world was put together. Full of anecdotes from the people that matter; players, coaches, managers and board members. The author has obviously built up close and trusting relationships with the main protagonists in this book, with tales from the Barca dressing room to the inner sanctums and workings of La Masia. A compelling piece of work for any football fan.

Fascinating Story poorly written and narrated

What disappointed you about Barca?

Chronologically this book is all over the place, jumping from one year or decade to another for no apparent reason. Narration is poor as well. There is no need for dramatic inflection or sly laughs in a story as interesting and dramatic as this.

What other book might you compare Barca to, and why?

Sid Lowe's Fear and Loathing in La Liga which is a much better book in every way.

Who might you have cast as narrator instead of Graham Hunter?

He could stay as narrator but needs to learn how to narrate correctly.

Interesting but very sycophantic

The history of Barca was very interesting and overall this is an interesting book, but I did find myself board by it at times. Also it very very very pro Barca, Pep (which wasn't a surprise considering the title and what they achieved) but at times it felt rather sycophantic.

It was rather amusing to listen this in August 2021, when you see the absolute bin-fire of a club Barca have been shown to be.

But defiantly worth a listen, especially if you are a Barca fan.

Mesmerising

The best insight to the making and history of the greatest football team to have graced this unbelievable planet.

Graham has really done well to call on the views and experiences of every key member of this journey on this epic account of the Pep years and beyond.

good read

great read! I loved the section on the academy!
wanted more on that.
many thanks!

Hunter take a bow!

Great book which has only heightened my love for the greatest football team on the plant. Highly informative and enjoyable! Get it!