Once Upon a Time in La Liga
Spanish Football's Forgotten Tales
Published on 8. September 2025
Book
Paperback/Softback
288 pages
978-1-83680-168-9 (ISBN)
Description
Brendan Madden delves into archives and secret files, and speaks to those who were there, to uncover Spanish football's most incredible hidden stories.
Perfect for anyone interested in Spanish football or wider Spanish culture and history.
In this passionately crafted collection brimming with compelling characters, you'll learn about:
The team-mates persecuted by Franco's regime for a humble protest
How the fastest winger in the land became a Nazi spy
The boy abandoned at an orphanage who became a rebellious generational talent
Two rising stars caught in one of Spain's deadliest fires
The boardroom figures who defied ETA and Galicia's drug cartels
Johan Cruyff's bizarre stint at Levante
The extraordinary life of the man who gave the world 'tiki-taka'
How a Blackpool lad became the cherished voice of Spanish TV
The goal that shook Barcelona in the middle of the night
The profound connection between Cadiz's carnival and its football club
Meet new heroes and villains in this meticulously researched anthology, which offers a vivid, deeply human glimpse into Spanish football - and the culture, politics and history that shaped it.
Perfect for anyone interested in Spanish football or wider Spanish culture and history.
In this passionately crafted collection brimming with compelling characters, you'll learn about:
The team-mates persecuted by Franco's regime for a humble protest
How the fastest winger in the land became a Nazi spy
The boy abandoned at an orphanage who became a rebellious generational talent
Two rising stars caught in one of Spain's deadliest fires
The boardroom figures who defied ETA and Galicia's drug cartels
Johan Cruyff's bizarre stint at Levante
The extraordinary life of the man who gave the world 'tiki-taka'
How a Blackpool lad became the cherished voice of Spanish TV
The goal that shook Barcelona in the middle of the night
The profound connection between Cadiz's carnival and its football club
Meet new heroes and villains in this meticulously researched anthology, which offers a vivid, deeply human glimpse into Spanish football - and the culture, politics and history that shaped it.
Reviews / Votes
"Brendan Madden is such an atmospheric writer who transports you to the heart of these enthralling tales, which are an absolute treat for any fan of Spanish football." -- Tim Lee * Commentator and analyst for LaLiga TV * "A meticulously researched work that gets to the heart of some of the lesser-known corners of Spanish football." -- Jonathan Wilson * The Guardian and editor of The Blizzard * "If you love football, you'll NEVER regret buying this book. Packed full of extraordinary stories from Spanish football - uplifting, idiosyncratic, passionate, mad, sad, bad and brilliant - almost all of which you've never read before." -- Graham Hunter * ESPN and Revista de La Liga * "These are the stories about the people you haven't heard about or, if you have, not like this." -- Sid Lowe * The Guardian and The Spanish Football Podcast * "Extraordinary stories brilliantly told - a fresh, beautiful take on Spanish football's past." -- Phil Kitromilides * Presenter on LaLiga TV & The Spanish Football Podcast * "Brendan Madden is a gifted writer with a deep knowledge of Spanish football and its culture, and an eye for an untold, absurd story, told with real flair. I love reading his work and I'd recommend it to anyone with even a passing interest in La Liga." -- Alex Kirkland * Madrid correspondent for ESPN FC and producer of The Spanish Football Podcast * "These remarkable stories will be revealing for Spanish football fans and equally engaging for those who are not. Scrupulously researched, this is sportswriting at its best: original, educational, thought-provoking and emotional." -- Colin Millar * The Athletic *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Hove
United Kingdom
Dimensions
Height: 139 mm
Width: 215 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
322 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-83680-168-9 (9781836801689)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Brendan Madden spent the best part of two decades watching Spanish football as an analyst before swapping numbers for words. As a writer he has contributed to outlets such as The Blizzard and Nutmeg magazines. He has travelled extensively in Spain and lives in London with his wife and two children.