Club Soccer 101: The Essential Guide to the Stars, Stats, and Stories of 101 of the Greatest Teams in the World

To capitalize on the growing popularity of soccer within the United States, NBC has begun broadcasting the English Premier League to an American audience. If you're already a soccer fan, this is welcome news. But what if you're a neophyte, lost in a land of unfamiliar players and storied club teams? This work provides a fantastic introduction to those who are attracted to the sport but haven't been raised in its traditions. In this encyclopedia of famous soccer clubs both past and present, Dempsey (A Supremely Bad Idea: Three Mad Birders and Their Quest to See It All) chooses 101 of the most famous club teams to play the game, and explains what made them special. Each entry features a brief table of facts followed by a narrative history of the club. For example, the entry on FC Barcelona notes when and where the team was founded, its uniform colors, and its leading scorer. Dempsey then goes on to describe FC Barcelona's role in Spanish history as a symbol of Catalonia and a victim of former prime minister Franco's intimidation.