Football Dynamo [Paperback]

Marc Bennetts (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 5, 2009

In 1991, the collapse of the USSR seemed to signal the death of the Russian football industry, as the money, the players and the fans left. But now the oligarchs who profited from the post-Soviet turmoil are supporting the nation's football clubs and their dreams of glory, resulting in unprecedented success. Along this journey into the heart of Russian football, Marc Bennetts meets the managers, oligarchs, players, pundits and fans that define the Russian Premier league, now the fastest-growing and most intriguing football league in the world. From Andrei Arshavin and the national team's adventures at Euro 2008 to the symbolism of a club from war-torn Chechnya lifting the Russian FA Cup, "Football Dynamo" uncovers shocking revelations about corruption, hooliganism and racism, but also the true beauty of the game and the country.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

The Russian Premier league is the fastest-growing, most extreme and intriguing football league in the world.

The collapse of the USSR in 1991 seemed to signal the death of the Russian domestic game, as the money, the players and the fans left. But now, with oil prices at a record high, the oligarchs who carved up the country’s assets in the post-Soviet turmoil are willing to support the nation’s football clubs and their dreams of glory.

In Football Dynamo, Marc Bennetts journeys into the heart of Russia to find the managers, oligarchs, players, pundits and fans that define the national game. From interviews with Russian internationals such as ex-Manchester United star Andrei Kanchelskis to the symbolism of a club from war-torn Chechnya lifting the Russian FA Cup in 2004 and the controversial defeat of England in the Euro 2008 qualifiers, his quest unwittingly uncovers shocking revelations about corruption, hooliganism and racism, but also the true beauty of the game and the country.

Marc Bennetts is a journalist and translator who has written for Insight Guides in conjunction with The Discovery Channel and DK's Eyewitness Guides on Russia and Russian football. He supports Nottingham Forest. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Marc Bennetts is a journalist and translator who has written for Insight Guides, The Discovery Channel and DK's Eyewitness Guides on Russia and Russian football. He lives in Moscow, Russia, and supports Nottingham Forest.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Virgin Paperbacks (March 5, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0753515717
• ISBN-13: 978-0753515716
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.8 x 7.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,285,311 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars dynamic look at the modern Russian soccer scene, August 24, 2011

By 

Brian Maitland (Vancouver, BC, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Football Dynamo (Paperback)

This is a look inside modern day Russia that you just don't find anywhere else. As the author pointed out early in the book, it's odd that so many travel books choose to ignore sports when that is probably one of e the best ways to experience a culture from the locals' POV.

When you read this you'll no longer think, as far as Europe goes, that Italy's Serie A has a grip on match fixing and corruption. Russia's professional leagues take corruption to levels that defy description although Marc Bennetts does his best to describe them in as much detail as possible.

The book covers many aspects of the Russian game from the popularity of Moscow's Spartak team from the communist era through to today capitalist age to even soccer in war-torn Chechnya. The funny thing is the least interesting chapter was the last on Guus Hiddink's reign as manager of the national team when Russia surprised many by making the semi-finals of Euro 2008. By the time you reach this stage of the book, the successes just are not as crazy and wild as the rest of the tales.

Although, I have the "revised and updated" version, Zenit St. Petersburg's 2008 UEFA Cup win is not covered in the chapter on Zenit. It's buried in the last chapter just in case you're wondering.