'The definitive work on Diego Maradona' The 42 'One of football's greatest stories ... this is the best football book in ages' Goal 'A modern footballing classic' FHM _________________________ Anyone doubting that Diego Maradona was more than just a football player had only to witness the outpourings after his death on November 25th 2020. During his tempestuous life and career, he played for top clubs in South America and Europe, notably Napoli where he became an adored hero and adopted son, and grew to be a legend in his homeland of Argentina after leading them to victory in the 1986 World Cup. Having gained access to his inner circle, Jimmy Burns traces Maradona's life from the slums of Buenos Aires, where he was born, through his great years of triumph, to the United States from where, in 1994, he was ignobly expelled after undergoing a positive drugs test. He also tells of his failed attempt to bring further glory to Argentina as coach in the 2010 World Cup, and ultimately, his tragic decline and recent death. Widely regarded as the best and most revealing account of the highs, lows, genius and flaws of arguably the greatest footballer of all time, this biography inspired Asif Kapadia's award-winning 2019 film Diego Maradona. _________________________ 'Excellent and well-researched' Sunday Times 'I finished it thinking how great it would be to make something on Diego Maradona one day' Asif Kapadia, director of Diego Maradona

The definitive biography of Maradona, fully updated with new material following his death in 2020

About the Author
Jimmy Burns is a prize-winning author and journalist. Among his books are The Land that Lost its Heroes (winner of the Somerset Maugham prize for nonfiction), Barca: A People's Passion, Papa Spy, La Roja, Pope of Good Promise, and Cristiano & Leo. He lives in London with his wife and two daughters. www.jimmy-burns.com Twitter: @jimmy_burns

Reviews
If [those interviewed in this book] are my friends, I prefer to have enemies -- Diego Maradona
Burns' forensic skills are to the fore in this deft, perceptive study of politics, corruption, exploitation and the occasional dash of genuine sporting genius * Time Out *
An excellent book ... The seamy backstairs politics of international soccer have never been more tellingly exposed * Financial Times *
The Hand of God is illuminating and atmospheric as it cuts through the web of myth, mystery and full-blooded hypocrisy * Irish Times *
Maradona's life is one of grotesque farce ... Gazza's career compared with this looks like Emmerdale sat next to the Borgias * Peter Davies, author of All Played Out *
A compelling cocktail of celebration and cheating * Daily Mail *
Excellent and well-researched * Sunday Times *
Jaw-on-the-floor fascinating. A modern footballing classic * FHM *
I finished it thinking how great it would be to make something on Diego Maradona -- Asif Kapadia, director of the award-winning film Diego Maradona
Love or hate the man, his is one of football's greatest stories and so this is the best football book in ages * Goal *
The definitive work on Diego Maradona * The 42 *
A violent mix of sporting brilliance and personal disgrace * Daily Mirror *
Shows that Maradona has got a lot of soul -- Noal Gallagher, Oasis



Book Information
ISBN 9781526639417
Author Jimmy Burns
Format Paperback
Page Count 336
Imprint Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Weight(grams) 266g