Richer Than God is an authoritative, provocative, investigative account of Manchester City’s history, culminating in its transformation as Sheikh Mansour seeks to spend the formerly miserable Manchester club into the European elite. When Conn asked an American working in Abu Dhabi whether its economy had been at all affected by the global recession, he said: ‘My friend, we’re richer than God’.
It is also a tale of innocence: that of a six-year-old boy transfixed by his sky-blue heroes, coming of age as a writer with the mature understanding that both his club and the game are businesses. Why should modern football continue to claim the unquestioning loyalty of fans, when there is so much in the game to question?
It is also a tale of innocence: that of a six-year-old boy transfixed by his sky-blue heroes, coming of age as a writer with the mature understanding that both his club and the game are businesses. Why should modern football continue to claim the unquestioning loyalty of fans, when there is so much in the game to question?
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Reviews
'Always gripping, Richer Than God's story of heartbreak and passion is one that any football fan can identify with, and is an essential read for those who wish to be shown the brutal machinations of the modern game ... Lifelong City supporter David Conn relates an extraordinary tale of industrial decline and global deal making' Big Issue.
'More forensic than Hornby's classic [Fever Pitch], it benefits from the author's instinctive knowledge of when to zoom in on his own involvement and when to pull back for the bigger picture' Guardian.
'A brilliant analysis of Abu Dhabi-era Manchester City, English football and post-industrial UK. I loved it' Independent.
'City fans ought to devour Conn's story of their club, and, for those interested in the current state of English football, it's equally indispensable' Independent on Sunday.
'It is a beautifully evocative description not only of City's turbulent recent history, but also of the trials and troubles of Manchester itself' Manchester Evening News.
'combines quite brilliantly a tribute to all that his club have achieved while unravelling how the super-wealthy owners are a major part of all that is wrong with football today' Morning Star.
'Few have written as intelligently and passionately about the voodoo economics of modern football as the Guardian journalist David Conn' New Statesman.
'a warm memoir of life growing up as a City fan ... an engaging read, whichever team you happen to support' Sport magazine.
A must read' The Times.
''no other journalist has pursued the story so exhaustively ... passionately made' Guardian.