Rise of the Villans

Guillem Balague’s brilliant new book on Emery, Rise of the Villans… Balague’s book reveals delightful details about Emery, like how he considered trademarking his famous Spanglish interview greeting of “Good ebening” and how his favourite book is Searching for and Maintaining Peace by Father Jacques Philippe, a volume on Catholic spirituality. * Jonathan Northcroft, The Times *One of the book’s strengths is that it treats the fanbase as part of the story rather than scenery, capturing why many supporters feel that club and coach are an unusually good match, and what it means when the Holte End senses a real plan unfolding… If you want the cleanest way to describe what Balagué is offering here, it’s this: a backstage pass to the making of a modern football identity, told by a writer whose career has been built on getting close enough to show the reader the wiring. Not the roar alone, but the switches that made the roar possible. * Sam Wayne, Midlands Gazette *

Guillem Balague is an award-winning author, football journalist and presenter who works for BBC TV, BBC Radio 5 Live, ITV, LaLiga TV and the American network CBS.

His books include:

• A Season on the Brink
• Pep Guardiola: Another Way of Winning
• Messi
• Cristiano Ronaldo
• Brave New World: Inside Pochettino’s Spurs
• Maradona: The Boy, The Rebel, The God
• Rise of the Villans: Inside Unai Emery’s Aston Villa Revolution
• Barça Captains: The Leaders That Built the World’s Greatest Football Club

Several of Guillem’s books have been Sunday Times bestsellers in the UK, and shortlisted for various book awards.

He is also chairman of Biggleswade United.