Book description
'Whenever I look at him, it is as though the Messiah has returned.'
That's how Jimmy Murphy, manager of Wales' 1958 World Cup side,
described John Charles. In Italy, where he played for Juventus and
Roma, Charles was known as Il Gigante Buono - the Gentle Giant
- because of his placid temperament.
One of the greatest footballers Britain has ever produced, Charles
left his native Swansea at 16 to join Leeds United, where his
phenomenal strike rate helped the club reach the First Division for
the first time in its history. His goal-scoring exploits at Ellan Road
then attracted the attention of Juventus, who paid a British record of
£65,000 to take him to Turin in 1957. Charles went on to score an
incredible 105 goals in 178 appearances for I Bianconeri - the
Black and Whites - and helped them to win three Series A titles in
five years.
In contrast to his humble upbringing in South Wales, he enjoyed a
glamorous lifestyle in Italy. However, it was not all glory. A
disasterous return to Leeds United in 1962 was followed by a spell at
Roma, where he struggled to recapture his past form. The man who was
treated as a god in Turin wound down his playing career with Cardiff
City before turning to management in the Southern League.
This detailed and engrossing biography contains candid interviews
with former teammates and family members and follows Charles' life
after football, detailing his failed business ventures and his brave
fight against cancer.
Mario Risoli is a journalist and writer. His first book, When Pelé
Broke Our Hearts, made the Sunday Times top-ten bestseller list and
Arrivederci Swansea: The Giorgia Chinaglia Story
, also received critical acclaim. He lives and works in Wales.
