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Maradona

The Hand of God

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Maradona

By: Jimmy Burns
Narrated by: Paul Thornley
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Bloomsbury presents Maradona by Jimmy Burns, read by Paul Thornley.

‘The definitive work on Diego Maradona’ The 42
'One of football’s greatest stories ... this is the best football book in ages' Goal
'A modern footballing classic' FHM
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Anyone doubting that Diego Maradona was more than just a football player had only to witness the outpourings after his death on November 25th 2020. During his tempestuous life and career, he played for top clubs in South America and Europe, notably Napoli where he became an adored hero and adopted son, and grew to be a legend in his homeland of Argentina after leading them to victory in the 1986 World Cup.

Having gained access to his inner circle, Jimmy Burns traces Maradona’s life from the slums of Buenos Aires, where he was born, through his great years of triumph, to the United States from where, in 1994, he was ignobly expelled after undergoing a positive drugs test. He also tells of his failed attempt to bring further glory to Argentina as coach in the 2010 World Cup, and ultimately, his tragic decline and recent death.

Widely regarded as the best and most revealing account of the highs, lows, genius and flaws of arguably the greatest footballer of all time, this biography inspired Asif Kapadia’s award-winning 2019 film Diego Maradona.
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'Excellent and well-researched' Sunday Times

‘I finished it thinking how great it would be to make something on Diego Maradona one day’ Asif Kapadia, director of Diego Maradona©2021 Jimmy Burns (P)2021 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Americas Football (Soccer) South America Sports Latin American Career
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Critic reviews

If [those interviewed in this book] are my friends, I prefer to have enemies (Diego Maradona)
Burns’ forensic skills are to the fore in this deft, perceptive study of politics, corruption, exploitation and the occasional dash of genuine sporting genius
An excellent book … The seamy backstairs politics of international soccer have never been more tellingly exposed
The Hand of God is illuminating and atmospheric as it cuts through the web of myth, mystery and full-blooded hypocrisy
Maradona’s life is one of grotesque farce ... Gazza’s career compared with this looks like Emmerdale sat next to the Borgias
A compelling cocktail of celebration and cheating
Excellent and well-researched
Jaw-on-the-floor fascinating. A modern footballing classic
I finished it thinking how great it would be to make something on Diego Maradona (Asif Kapadia, director of the award-winning film Diego Maradona)
Love or hate the man, his is one of football’s greatest stories and so this is the best football book in ages
The definitive work on Diego Maradona
A violent mix of sporting brilliance and personal disgrace
Shows that Maradona has got a lot of soul (Noal Gallagher, Oasis)
All stars
Most relevant
Read this back in 2000 and thoroughly enjoyed. Updated version excellent also. The best Maradona biography ever. 10/10

The Greatest

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.... but horrendously narrated. Read this years ago and wanted to catch up on the new chapters. Wish I'd not bothered. This listen was a real struggle. No fluidity at all. If you want to know this story then buy the book, it's a brilliant read!!

A brilliant book....

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It’s a shame the author too many times ridicules Diego Maradona with childish name calling in relation to his physique. Then pretends to know what’s happening in his head as to why he does the things he does. The delivery of the narration was annoying at times too many mistakes like “San Pablo” stadium. Story is a classic rags to riches just a boy who wanted to play Football.

GOAT DAM

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I really enjoyed the book. Certainly the best ever on Maradona. Particularly the early years in Argentina are fascinating and the source material is really strong. Narration - beautifully done! Only minor negatives are the occasional unnecessary author options which are disparaging to the subject or others eg Terry Vendables. Particularly to the subject it seemed necessary when he has got such strong first hand primary sources. But overall I recommend anyone with even a passing interest in football should purchase this book.

In depth

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