The Greatest Comeback: From Genocide to Football Glory: The Story of Bela Guttman

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Before Pep Guardiola and before Jose Mourinho, there was Bela Guttmann: the first superstar football coach, and the man who paved the way for the celebrated coaches of the modern age.

Hewas also a Holocaust survivor. In 1944, much of Europe had wanted Guttmanndead. He hid for months in an attic near Budapest as thousands of fellow Jewsin the neighbourhood were dragged off to be murdered. Later, he escaped from aslave labour camp before a planned deportation and almost certain death. Hisfather, sister and wider family were murdered.

Butby 1961, as coach of Benfica, he had lifted Europe's greatest sporting prize,the European Cup, a feat he repeated the following year.

Thisbiography spans two contrasting visions of Europe: one of barbarism andgenocide, and one of beauty, wonder and romance, of balmy evenings inmagnificent cities, where great players would stretch every sinew in a bid towin football's holy grail. With dark forces rising once again in thatcontinent, the story of Bla Guttmann's life asks the question: which visionwill triumph in our times

Reviews

"Packed with insight and interesting debate, The Greatest Comeback is both deeply poignant and extremely topical. David Bolchover has expertly woven one huge, tragic strand of twentieth-century history together with a great footballing story." - Henry Winter, Chief Football Writer, The Times; "David Bolchover has produced a remarkable work: as a history book alone, it carries the reader though a hideous chunk of the twentieth century in the most deft and compelling way, while as a biography of a great football coach it is both original and definitive." - Patrick Barclay, football journalist, London Evening Standard; "Moving, original, full of insight, this is a gripping tale told by a skilled storyteller. You don't need to be interested in the Holocaust to find this fascinating account of some great footballing moments absorbing. And you don't need to be interested in football to want to learn about this tale of survival. But if you are by chance interested in both, you will find this book extraordinary." - Daniel Finkelstein, associate editor, The Times; "A fascinating, brilliantly told biography of Europe's first superstar football coach, The Greatest Comeback is a moving, terrifying and inspirational story of survival and triumph. If you're a football fan and Bela Guttmann is just a name you have seen in the lists of European Cup-winning managers, take the time to read about the man. It is an astonishing journey." - Oliver Holt

Author Bio

David Bolchover is an author and commentator. He has published three previous books, including the bestselling 90-Minute Manager, which explored the various management styles of the great football coaches. He has written for a number of leading newspapers, such as The Times, the Telegraph and the Financial Times, and has frequently appeared on the BBC, Sky and other broadcast outlets.