The Club

English football, notorious for its unappetising pies, poor management, and infamous hooliganism, has astoundingly evolved into a commercial juggernaut and a global entertainment spectacle. The Club charts the dizzying rise of the Premier League, a business empire erected in just twenty-five years through ambition, innovation, and sheer risk-taking. The authors peel back the layers of this transformation, orchestrated by a diverse ensemble of influential figures including Russian oligarchs, Arab sheikhs, Asian magnates, American tycoons, seasoned managers, unflinching agents, and the omnipotent Murdoch media.

This meticulous chronicle reveals how these power players carved out, rebranded, and exported the Premier League product to an astounding 185 countries—nearly matching the global footprint of the United Nations, which recognises 193. This phenomenal expansion, however, has come at a price. As clubs boast valuations in the billions and players command transfers worth hundreds of millions, the local supporters who once were the lifeblood of English football are increasingly priced out, thus eroding the clubs’ local identities. The Club serves as a poignant commentary on our globalised business landscape, exemplifying the trade-offs of going global.

Through a series of exclusive and revealing interviews conducted within the hallowed halls of football's power corridors, Robinson and Clegg bring readers into the boardrooms of the sport's biggest players. These interviews include discussions with Liverpool's John W. Henry, Tottenham's Daniel Levy, Manchester United's Martin Edwards and David Gill, Arsenal's Arsène Wenger and Stan Kroenke, and Manchester City's sporting director Txiki Begiristain, among others. Furthermore, the narrative includes insights from executives at clubs like Chelsea, West Ham, Leicester City, and Aston Villa. Their voices illuminate this definitive account of the Premier League’s boom and bust cycles, offering an unparalleled glimpse into how English football turned into a worldwide spectacle.

An excellent recap, with wonderful access and forensic detail on the Premier League's rise to global alpha status... All told with an arch sense of humour The Guardian