Rob Carless

Sunshine After the Rain is the story of Aston Villa FC from 2009 to 2023 – a turbulent time when the mighty Villa lion fell from the top flight before clawing its way back to the Premier League and Champions League. After the untimely departure of Martin O’Neill just days before the start of the 2010/11 season, the club entered the doldrums before relegation in 2016. At the heart of this book are those three surreal seasons when Villa played in the Championship. It was a time when the club’s owners and manager changed several times; a period of mid-table finishes, play-off heartbreak and coming close to folding. But the Villans re-entered the top flight under Dean Smith, and Unai Emery brought European football back to Villa Park. From the misery of Moscow in 2009 to beating Brighton on the final day of the 2022/23 season, the book recounts all the matches that mattered. Contributions from the players, managers and supporters bring the story to life.

Definitive story of one of the most extraordinary periods in the history of the Italian national football team, contextualised with a journey through Italy’s footballing past.When it comes to international football, Italy dines at the finest tables. Their failure to qualify for consecutive World Cups in 2018 and 2022 sent shockwaves through the footballing world. Yet, incongruously sandwiched between the two failures was success in the European Championship against the backdrop of a world grappling with one of the deadliest pandemics on record. What on earth was going on?Delving into Italian football’s past to make sense of the present, this compelling book includes:In-depth analysis of one of the most fascinating periods in the history of the Italian national football teamStories about how football began in Italy and the important part played by its portsHow the Italian national team was transformed by one man and the journeys to glory experienced in the 1930sHow the Azzurri stayed relevant for many decades despite the tragedy that befell them in 1949Cinque Anni tells the tale of how it all happened – the agony and ecstasy, the tears and the laughter. It’s a must-read not only for fans of Italian football, but for anyone fascinated by the fine line that can separate winning and losing.