Hail, Claudio!: The Manager Behind the Miracle

Description

Leicester City's victory was more than just a 'miracle'. It was hard work and humility. It was skills and tactics. It was Claudio Ranieri. Leicester City's Premier League victory was the 5,000-1 triumph that delighted the world. But how did Claudio Ranieri pull off one of the greatest achievements in sport? This is the inside story of the rise and rise of the butcher's son from Rome, whose hard work, passion for the game and ability to learn from his mistakes have earned him the respect of players, fans and owners worldwide. Gabriele Marcotti and Alberto Polverosi have known Claudio Ranieri since his early days as a professional footballer. They have closely followed his successes and his failures as he navigated the often topsy-turvy world of football and developed as a player and manager. Hail, Claudio! takes an in-depth look into what sets Ranieri apart as a manager, into precisely how the Premier League was won, and what went wrong following that golden season.

Born in Italy and now living in London, Gabriele Marcotti is a senior writer and analyst for ESPN, World Football Correspondent for The Times and UK correspondent for Corriere dello Sport. His previous books include The Italian Job- A Journey to the Heart of Two Great Footballing Cultures, shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year Award, and Capello- Portrait of a Winner. Alberto Polverosi was born in Montelupo Fiorentino, Tuscany and has been writing for Corriere dello Sport since 1977. He has covered eight World Cups and seven European Championships. He lives in Florence.

In this inside account, it is Ranieri's steadiness and dignity that impress most. -- Nick Pitt * Sunday Times, Book of the Year *