by Henrik Brandão Jönsson (Author), Nichola Smalley (Translator)
In Brazil nothing is more important than football. If England is the birthplace of football then Brazil - the five-time World Cup winners and home of Pele, Romario, Ronaldo, Neymar and the rest - is the heart and soul of the game. Jogo Bonito - meaning `the beautiful game' - takes you on a journey through the Wild West of Brazilian football. On the way we meet an eclectic cast of characters, such as Mario Zagallo, the four-time World Cup winner; the long, lost son of Garrincha; Brazil's best-loved bad boy player turned politician, Romario; and many more. We take a trip to an away game with the country's most violent hooligans, visit the home of the world's largest amateur football tournament and enjoy a boozy dinner with South America's most famous commentator - he of `goooooooool' fame. Jogo Bonito is a history, a travelogue and a gonzo-style report into a country which has the sixth biggest economy in the world and yet questionable records on education, healthcare and corruption. The result is a book that not only tells the story of Brazilian football, but also of today's Brazil.
Format: Paperback
Pages: 288
Publisher: Yellow Jersey
Published: 05 Jun 2014
ISBN 10: 0224099892
ISBN 13: 9780224099899
Book Overview: An exuberant and entertaining exploration of Brazil, the world's biggest football superpower