Fields of Glory, Paths of Gold tells the remarkable story of the growth of European football over the past 125 years, from the game's humble beginnings in England and Scotland to today's glittering Champions League, which is followed by millions around the world. It charts the early course of the European game and examines how the Continental teams gradually caught up with the British masters and eventually overtook them. Packed with intriguing stories and facts, Fields of Glory, Paths of Gold also: . charts the foundation and development of the club sides that shaped European football, from Herbert Chapman's great Arsenal team of the early 1930s, through Real Madrid to Ajax and Bayern Munich; . assesses the great international teams that emerged over the years, including Vittorio Pozzo's Italy and Ferenc Puskas's magical Magyars; . relays the story behind the origins of the European Cup and appraises the teams who dominated the competition's early years; . highlights the exceptional players who revolutionised the game, from Johan Cruyff, the first 'total footballer', to Franz Beckenbauer, who invented the role of attacking sweeper; . brings to life the great rivalries of club football, epitomised by the bitter and long-standing struggle between Barcelona and Real Madrid; . examines the important work of visionary managers, such as Herbert Chapman, Rinus Michels and Sir Alex Ferguson; . covers the figures who have been influential off the pitch, including L'Equipe editor Gabriel Hanot, who inspired the European Cup, and Silvio Berlusconi, who developed the modern-day AC Milan; and . traces the roots of the Champions League, showing how the competition was designed to favour the elite from Western Europe's major leagues Fields of Glory, Paths of Gold is an authoritative and entertaining tome for football fans of all ages, devoted supporters and armchair spectators alike.