The Definitive Biography

Sir Matt Busby

The Man Who Made a Football Club

Football's greatest ever story, definitively told for the 50th anniversary of the European Cup win and the 60th anniversary of Munich

Many new books with a sporting theme are tumbling onto the shelves but I doubt any will be superior to the illuminating and comprehensive biography of Sir Matt Busby by the irrepressible football sage Patrick Barclay The events and emotions are recounted with haunting eloquence by Barclay: a master of his craft.

Patrick Barclay’s magnificent biography of Sir Matt Busby

‘Sir Matt Busby’s story has been told many times but, rarely with such perception and scholarly attention to detail’ ‘ a stunning biography ... destined to become a classic of its genre’

‘Superbly written … a book all football fans should read.’

Patrick Barclay began his career in football writing with the Guardian in Manchester in the mid-1970s, a few years after Sir Matt Busby had relinquished management and joined the Manchester United board. Barclay became one of Sir Matt's many acquaintances in the newspaper world and in 1994, having moved to the Observer by way of the Independent, attended the unforgettable match against Everton at Old Trafford that swiftly followed the great man's death. In that year Barclay was voted Britain's leading sports writer. 
 
He later worked for the Sunday Telegraph, The Times and the Evening Standard in London before retiring from regular journalism at the end of his tenth European Championship in 2016. He covered nine World Cups. Barclay has written acclaimed biographies of Sir Matt's successors Sir Alex Ferguson (Football - Bloody Hell!) and Jose Mourinho (Further Anatomy of a Winner) and is also the author of The Life and Times of Herbert Chapman.

The Man Who Made A Football Club 
 
Sir Matt Busby, who took Manchester United to unprecedented glory before seeing the club through profound tragedy, created the global entity that spreads from Old Trafford today. 
 
A player with Manchester City and Liverpool before the Second World War, Busby remained at the forefront of football through four decades and made an extraordinary contribution to the game in terms of both style and substance. In this definitive biography, Patrick Barclay looks back at Busby’s phenomenal life and career, including the rise of the Busby Babes in the 1950s, the Munich disaster that claimed 23 lives and the Wembley victory ten years on that made United the first English team to win the European Cup. Denis Law, Pat Crerand and such other members of that great side as Alex Stepney, David Sadler and John Aston are among the host of voices testifying to the qualities that set Sir Matt apart. 
 
This is the story of one of the greatest figures in football history, and of the making of a legacy that will last for ever.

The Biography of Alex Ferguson

Football - Bloody Hell!

Patrick Barclay's bestselling biography of Sir Alex Ferguson - one of the greatest football managers of all time.

Patrick Barclay traces the arc of the Scot's Govan youth to his Old Trafford supremacy with insight, sensitivity and poise

Stylishly written, admirably well-researched

Wonderful. Captures the contradictions of this complex personality as eloquently 
as it elucidates his genius

Barclay tells his story and in doing so describes the way the game has changed over the years. We see the famous temper in action, but also a more reflective, generous side

A firm but fair biography of a footballing legend

Do we really need another biography of Sir Alex Ferguson?...the answer is unequivocally in the affirmative

You'll be hard-pressed to find a book that will tell you as much about the intimidating character and gives such a revealing insight into the legend of British football that is Sir Alex Ferguson

Patrick Barclay is Chief Football Commentator for The Times and one of the most respected journalists in the business. During a career spanning eight World Cups he has been the chief football writer for each of the four quality newspaper groups in England: The Times, Guardian-Observer, Telegraph, and Independent. His first book, Mourinho: Anatomy of a Winner was published to acclaim in 2005.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE BRITISH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 
 
Sir Alex Ferguson is the most controversial and compelling figure in football. For many he ranks as the greatest manager of all time. He is certainly the most successful. 
 
It's been more than ten years since Ferguson's Manchester United triumphed over Bayern Munich in the dying seconds of the Champions League final. Since then he has presided over the rise and fall and rise again of José Mourinho; the arrival and departure of the world's best player, Ronaldo; the removal of one English talisman - Beckham - and the irresistible instalment of another - Rooney. Ferguson has been instrumental in making the Premier League the most successful competition in football, and he has endured while the mountains of cash have turned to valleys of debt. 
 
Throughout, award-winning journalist Patrick Barclay has been pitch-side and spoken to all those who know Ferguson best - fellow managers, former players, colleagues and commentators. The result is Football - Bloody Hell!: the definitive work on the game's greatest living legend.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe

Dominic O'Connell

Quentin Willson

Patrick Barclay

Sebastian Coe

Andrew Likierman

Sean Keach

Steph McGovern

The book tells us more about why Ratcliffe wants to buy Manchester United, how he would fund it and what an INEOS-run United would look like than anything produced in the past eight months of best-intentioned guesswork.

The INEOS Story

'Manual for success' The Athletic 
 
With an opening chapter by Sir Jim Ratcliffe 
To mark the 25th Anniversary of the founding of INEOS in 1998, seven leading specialist authors tell captivating narratives about the seven main strands of INEOS's business, including its core chemical business to its ventures into sport, automotive, consumer goods, sustainability, next generation and philanthropy. 
 
Business journalist Dominic O'Connell appraises INEOS after 25 years, with a particular focus on its last five years. Former Sportswriter of the Year Patrick Barclay writes about INEOS's involvement in sport, ranging from the America's Cup to cycling, athletics and Formula 1 racing. Motoring journalist Quentin Willson writes about latest strand to INEOS's business, the launch of the Grenadier, a phoenix from the ashes story following the demise of the Land Rover Defender. Business and Consumer Insight journalist Steph McGovern writes about INEOS's move into the consumer goods sector with brands such as Belstaff and INEOS Hygienics, so vital during the Coronavirus pandemic. Technology and Science journalist Sean Keach explores how INEOS is investing in sustainability and its journey to Net Zero. Lord Sebastian Coe writes about INEOS's commitment to the next generation, with a particular focus on INEOS's worldwide exercise initiative 'The Daily Mile' for children, and the 'Forgotten 40' - the 40% of the UK's young who are affected by a lack of basic resources. Finally, Sir Andrew Likierman writes about the various philanthropic projects that INEOS has launched and is involved with, and the importance the company places on giving back to the community. 
 
Grit, Rigour & Humour offers a balanced insight into one of the UK's most valuable companies, one which remains a chemicals company at its core, but has expanded rapidly over the past decade into one with interests in many diverse walks of life.

Patrick Barclay

Praise for Grit, Rigour & Humour

The book tells us more about why Ratcliffe wants to buy Manchester United, how he would fund it and what an INEOS-run United would look like than anything produced in the past eight months of best-intentioned ...

Books by Patrick Barclay

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