Welcome to the literature page of Milan Fans Berlin! Here we present and analyse all books we have read about subjects having to do with soccer fans, ultras, hooligans and anything which could happen before, during or after a football match. We would like to underline that this reviews are solely and exclusively the opinions of Milan Fans Berlin. We will, however, try to be as neutral and impartial as possible, giving credit and expressing critics where it is due, and taking into account the contents, the credibility as well as the suspense for the final rating. Sometimes it is possible to order the books directly on-line by clicking on the book’s cover, although it may not be available in the requested language. We regret that Milan Fans Berlin have neither influence whatsoever in this, nor do we have anything to do with the order and delivery, as we do not earn anything by recommending the books. We wish you a pleasant reading time!
Milan Fans Berlin

Review by MFB: Really a book worth reading! Written by somebody whose love for football and Real Madrid set the path for his life, it is a collection of short stories on quite a high level. Kept short, interesting and with a bit of humour it definitely stands out from the masses of books written about the subject football.

Review by MFB: When I first read the title of the book I thought "oh no, again one of these books where the English complain to be treated badly just because they are English".
Well with all due respect, one should not wonder what happens when you (responsible father and husband) try to get to a game without a ticket, in a foreign land and get caught up into trouble! And then complain about the bad prisons there?!
But under the point of view of the tale and the feelings which are transmitted in this book, I would definitely suggest it. The English humour is what it is and adds a good part of spice to the novel.
As well one appreciates, faced with the adventures the writer had to endure, the commodity of one’s home country! Not for one moment would we like to change the role with the unfortunate writer, whose only guilt was to be at the wrong place at the wrong time (even if he somewhat could have foreseen it). It shows how people are treated in other countries and how law is stretched sometimes to an extent difficult to understand. And it shows how camaraderie and friendship can develop in obviously hopeless situations. I liked a lot the writing style, exciting but without any gimmicks and quite down to earth.

Review by MFB: It takes a good amount of adventurousness to travel to countries which many of us would even have difficulties to locate on a map.... just to see football games. But this is exactly what the authors have done. And they share the often quite primitive conditions under which second or third division games take place, not to mention the precarious political and general conditions of many of said countries. But we also learn about the customs of the people living there, about hospitality and helpfulness which we often do miss in our own home countries. Very interesting and entertaining - not just for football fans.

Review by MFB: Matthias is a member of an “Ackertruppe”. A group of young people who meet on remote fields to fight against like-minded guys. We learn a lot about this world, the respect for the opponents and the value of friendship. At the same time the day-to-day life is described: job, study, family and the blossoming relationship, from which Matthias still does not know how and where he should place it in his life, dominated so far by football, violence and party scene. The book is exciting from the first to the last page, with many situations changing from funny to tragic.
The main character is quite critical, questioning himself and his actions, without the usual "I-am-always-the-coolest" attitude. Matthias describes in detail his thoughts and doubts, but also his beliefs. Highly recommended!

Review by MFB: Besides the fact that one can see our glorious Curva Sud ion the book's cover this book is very important for understanding Italy's fan culture and its connections with political and national events. If one is interested in all what happens in Italy on a national level and want to know how it can be observed through the eyes of football fans, this is mandatory literature. The author describes in a very detailed manner how football matches can influence outcomes in a total different area, which apparently has nothing to do with football at all. Specific chapters are dedicated to Silvio Berlusconi's political career and how his ownership of one of Italy's most prestigious club, AC Milan, had its effects on it. As well there are chapters describing the violence on and off the grounds, and how this has its root in historical events, often dating centuries ago. Only a foreigner living in Italy could have written about this sort of subjects in this objective and detailed way. Let's admit it, Italians never really belonged to the, say, most neutral people when it comes to football, where usually the end justifies the means. The author has her critical eyes as well on the various TV programs which completely take over the Monday, discussing and criticising in somewhat hilarious ways the matches played the day before. This gives a deep insight in the television culture and into several aspects of Italian society. The only thing we feel a little uncomfortable with is that some events and happenings in Italy are described in a sometimes too critical way because, probably, of political correctness, which we feel is out of place here. We feel that if things are felt, seen and dealt with differently in Italy than elsewhere, we just have to report them as they take place.

Review by MFB: Domenico Mungo is an Ultra throughout. Hundred percent behind a certain way to live the passion for his colours. He narrates the story of the italian Ultra movement of the last decades, from the beginning of the seventies to nowadays. Without any frills, just as it is, or better as it was.
This book is only published in italian.

Review by MFB: One of many books written about the eternal scuffles and riots between rival hooligan groups. Even if it is written by them who were "in the middle of it all" it unfortunately gets a little tedious from the middle onwards, becoming only a list of riots following each other.

Review by MFB: We meet Bill, Cass Teddy and Co. from West Ham United´s Inter City Firm who tell us how it all began in the late seventies and eighties, when the hooligan phenomena reached its peak. It is written in several chapters where the authors talk freely and explain why people acted the way they did and how they feel now abut it. It is definitively worth reading, as people talk with pride and do leave anything to the imagination, giving a thorough inside view to this subject

Review by MFB: Sure, everyone has a game of football which he’ll never forget. Either because it was so tragic, because the particularly hated opponent was defeated, or because it was the decisive game to win the league or the cup. This collection of " The best 100 football matches " is well worth reading, and not just because it’s a good subject.
Recommended for all those who see football for what it is: a wonderful game!

Review by MFB: We thought that terrace violence and disturbances were a thing exclusively found in the „western“ world? Well not at all. The two authors show the reality in the stadiums behind the iron curtain. Together with impressive pictures and interesting interviews we get an insight of the Hooligan movement’s development. Scary but exciting

Review by MFB: Does the “perfect game” exist in football? This is the basic question of this quite scientific, but nevertheless very interesting book.
It’s not only pages of statistics and percentages, eventhough there are plenty, but as well it is tried to analyse defense, attack, frills and moods of players as well as transfer politics. We get a look into the legendary Milan Lab, a sercret held laboratory with even magic reputation. Football experts give their thoughts about the game we do love most and all will, at the end, have no final answer to the afore mentioned question.
Friends of betting will have a lot to read about some people trying to go as near as possible to forecast results and goal differences.
Even a british economist evaluates the possibility of making the game predictable, beaking it down into small pieces and analysing many different aspects. We do not know if perfection can be found in football, but it’s for sure worth a try.

Review by MFB: Tim Parks is an Englishman living in Verona since twenty years. This book describes his adventures while travelling to away games with the notorious Ultra mob of Hellas Verona, the "Brigate Gialloblù". One season he promises not to miss one single game, giving us a deep insight into the world of one of allegedly Italy's most dangerous football fan group and explaining this world, which seems so strange for the normal bystander. We learn a lot about the connections between economics, politics and football in Italy. It is also a bit of a study of a nation where the result of a football match seems more important that the result of political elections. The book is easy to read at the beginning, but has the odd length in-between, due to the fact that he describes events in his personal life, sometimes he strays into philosophy, thus getting a bit heavy.

Review by MFB: This book ist the third part of John King’s trilogy following Football Factory and Headhunters. Three main characters tell their stories which, apparently, have nothing to do with each other, but are still closely related.
Bill, a pensioner remembers the days in the war-damaged London, Tommy and a bunch of friends try in one way or another to get to Berlin for the England away game, marauding their way through the Netherlands and Germany, while Harry, full up to the ears with Dutch smoke, tries to figure out his rather uncertain future.
The book deals with friendship, national pride, fanatic support, sex and violence and is written in a no-frills street language, which definitely underlines its originality. The reader unable to understand some typical slang words and anecdotes will have his trouble reading this. Nevertheless we strongly recommend this book, as it gives a further insight into the English football culture.

Review by MFB: Fan's magazine definitively gets the points for the excellent photos shown. Not only the banners and flags are described, but they are put in relation with the latest events, so that even people unfamiliar with the latest developments in the Ultras' world can keep up. All teams are taken care of, another positive fact, so that we can see the enthusiasm shown not only on the famous grounds, but as well on the little pitches in rural Italy, where, despite the lack of the teams' importance, the Ultras mentality rules nevertheless. We want to positively underline that the magazine has no fear in describing the day-to-day life of the Ultras in Italy, getting as well in a realistic way to the rather annoying facts such as the not always nice treatment by the authorities and the scuffles breaking out here and there.

Review by MFB: Blunt description of the hooligans in Switzerland. The author was very close to the events and impresses with its precise and detailed descriptions. Certainly one of the most realistic books about hooligans, their way of living, their motivation to do what they do – fighting, and how they always manage to settle their disputes, if necessary, in fields, woods and meadows.

May be the book could have been a bit longer and perhaps given a glimpse into the private lives of some characters described in it.

Review by MFB: You do not have to be an Arsenal fan to appreciate this book, but it helps. This is the story of an Arsenal fan, from his birth to the present day. The remarkable point about this book is that it contains something for everybody:
older readers will remember quite few of the players and games mentioned in the first half while younger ones will know the players and matches of the last couple of years. Readers not inclined to football will read about a life of a man, obsessed with it. Football fans will read interesting opinions and theses expressed by the author. Arsenal fans will have the proof that they chose the best team I the world while Arsenal haters could be in inner trouble for having eventually chosen the wrong one!
Originally we wanted to deduct a full point, as sometimes the descriptions of the dates, games and opponents go way too much into details nearly reaching the border of tediousness, but towards the end of the book the author shows a remarkable foresight of the influences that developments of modern football have on matches, often degrading them to commercial shows. For this he deserves lots of respect!

Review by MFB: Exciting like a thriller, horrible like the worst nightmare but with sometimes even humorous spells, this book describes the adventures of an American journalist experienced while travelling within England and Europe together with the most feared and notorious mob – the English hooligans. A real “page turner” that does not leave anything to the imagination about this world of violence

Review by MFB: This book is definitely not for the faint hearted and the goodwill people of this world. It is the book about a man who lives in two – very – different worlds, for which the reader all but envies him. Being a policeman in normal life, he searches for the excitement and the kick only a well done football scuffle can give in his spare time. His mastering of these two lives and the hope never to be discovered is really well described and adds suspense. Standing for law and order in his community when in uniform, he shows as well respect to his street fighting opponents when involved in the – voluntary – fights with opposite football firms.
Only luck and fortunate situations prevent him from being severely injured in fights or discovered by his unsuspecting colleagues in the force. But fortune runs out at some stage.

Review by MFB: The second part of last years' edition is as good as the first one. However, it is necessary to have good command of the Italian language to be able to understand the political and sports related "double entendres" shown on the banners and flags in Italian grounds.

Review by MFB: Juliette is a whore
This book accumulates the most interesting banners exposed by fans in Italian football grounds. To fully understand the often sarcastic and double meaning of the banners, we only suggest this book to people who have a very good command of the Italian language.

Review by MFB: Mickey Francis leads us from Manchester’s Moss Side area past most of Britain’s and Europes Football grounds finishing with the famous trial that shattered the hooligan world. The Guvnors was one of the most famous hooligan gangs following Manchester City FC. The author does not only speak about himself, but we witness as well some of his mates’ adventures. The book is thrilling and well worth reading

Review by MFB: Meeting Mozzer and his friends, driving through England looking for other hooligan gangs to kick off with, lets this book become quite predictable at first. Reading through the second half we get a good description of the characters’ backgrounds and whereabouts, which gives a bit of appreciable depth. Still one does not really understand for which team the gang’s heart beats, but this becomes less important as we read on. Nice fiction, quite credible in facts and figures

Review by MFB: As soon as you start to read this book you may feel the urge to put it back into the shelf right away. The total lack of punctuation marks and the very bad grammar, which cannot even be excused with the usage of slang language, make the reading quite difficult and is a challenge for your eyes. As the reason for the reading is the interest in the life of our red-black brethren we read it in one go. The description of the day-to-day life of a certain group of Milan Ultras, going from bloody battles on open fields over the assault of a train packed with enemy supporters and finishing with the savouring of mind enhancing substances gets more exciting as one goes on reading. The popular art of taking other opponents' banners whilst being at away games is the central subject. It explains ways of thinking of this sub-culture, giving valuable insight into the customs and the hierarchy of such groups, but not leaving out the odd humorous event. This is definitely not a book for "low life week-end" supporters, but for these who want to look further than the Monday newspaper reports of Italy's terrace disturbances. However, we do have to detract a star and a half for the fact that the events took place more than twenty years ago and the really miserable writing style.

Review by MFB: This is a journey through the Milan of the eighties, nineties and 2000. It’s as well a society study of these decades in the northern Italian city narrated by one who was in the middle of it. At the same time we learn how the phenomenon of the Ultra movement emerged developed and reached its climax. The author is the founder of one of the most notorious Ultra groups of Internazionale FC. He explains the Fan-culture as well as the rather uncomfortable relationship between different worlds, which, at first sight, don’t seem to have anything in common. However, digging deeper into the strata of society, we discover some strange, sometimes shocking truth. Thanks to some favorable circumstances the author lives in the middle of this sometimes artificial world on fashion, wealth and sports stardom. But he doesn’t make any concessions thus sticking to his principles and paying the price of twelve years in jail for this, which he immortalizes in his skin. One of the most complete books about this subject.

Review by MFB: The book genuinely describes the shady side of our beloved game, football. It deals with the incidents before and after the game on the streets and in the vicinity of the grounds.
The author really did a good job in researching deeply and thoroughly into the depths of this phenomena and as well he describes the differences between some European countries for example Poland and Italy. Although it is more a documentary than a narration, it stays exciting and interesting all the way through. Whoever reads this book, be it a person involved or the normal guy, will find interesting points and explanations for certain behaviours he has either experienced himself or seen on TV.
The reason for not reaching 100% satisfaction is due to the author describing a bit to one-sided some events which take place on grounds and terraces in other countries. Reminding that different countries see things in different ways, it should be left to the reader to judge. Here the reader is pushed a bit too much on the side of the sadly ever-present political correctness.
Definitely a good read for all those interested in the world of the shady characters gravitating around football games.

Review by MFB: This pocketbook is for readers with a rather advanced knowledge of the Ultra movement. On top of it it’s partly written in roman dialect and therefore recommended only for those who speak good or very good Italian, and at the same time are familiar with any dialectal peculiarities. From page one the reader is in the middle of the action. We join an Ultra of SS Lazio, who lets us take part in his travels to risky away games and learn a lot about rivalry, fanatism and italian fan culture. Unvarnished, honest and not distorted by unnecessary political correctness, he describes to us his experiences during the championship season showing that the Ultras are not just a fashion, but a lifestyle.

Review by MFB: Pierluigi Collina is one of the most famous referees of the last twenty years. He has written history through his professional, severe but fair way in which he conducted games. The book describes his professional life starting from the small grounds in the outskirts leading through the Serie A grounds and ending in the famous World Championship grounds in all continents, where he is still remembered.
As well the private life is well described, how he lived and why he chose such a sometimes quite dangerous hobby. An interesting book for all who want to know the life of someone whom, after all arguments have expired, we like to give the ultimate guilt for the defeat of our team on the field.

Review by MFB: The Fossa dei Leoni is considered AC Milan’s twelfth man since 1968. You have to search a lot to find more loyal and devoted ultras of this team. This book describes in a detailed manner and with help of lots of pictures the groups’ birth, what has happened since and what “being ultra” is all about. The group wrote this book themselves, so it’s all first hand facts.

Review by MFB: This is not a book for beginners. Demanding, interesting and yet exciting it is the work of a student who had to write a homework under the topic “The change of football fans and fan enclosures in the last years”. A big advantage is the fact that the author himself is part of the social group he is talking about, having followed his team Eintracht Frankfurt for many years home and away. So he knows his subject and we are not served third party stories. The Fans of Eintracht Frankfurt are considered to be among the “best” fan groups for what concerns passionate support and displays throughout Germany and Western Europe.
We learn more about Ultras, Hooligans and Fans, their style, reason of being and ways to act and support. The steady change of football once a pastime of the lower social classes towards the rather expensive way to enjoy a match, limited now to the privileged in society is very well described. How the fans change in regards to the relation between them and the team and its Board of Directors is very well described in many pages, underlined through statistics, although never becoming boring. The violence, once the horror of the terraces, has now changed from scuffles in the stands to fights outside the stadiums. The book covers the time from the eighties to the present days, the role of the fans, the police, and the ever growing tendency to see the football team more as a cash cow that a football team and the growing level of security measures to prevent violence. All these subjects are mirrored through the Eintracht Fans, giving a clear, unbiased story of the sports we all love so much.

Review by MFB: A very detailed and well researched book about the history of the Lazio fans. It begins around 1900 and extends to the nineties. All Ultra groups of Lazio are described and speak about their passion in good times as well as in bad times. Certainly one of the most complete books written about the fans of a football team.

Review by MFB: The authors, members of the ultra group Brigate Gialloblú of Hellas Verona, have for many years, been the flagship of the Italian ultra movement. The history of this movement is told to us by Domenico Mungo by a collection of banners exposed in Fan Enclosures all over Italy. The banner "striscione", has always been the main mean of communication between italian Football Fans. In a time when everybody must have all banners, flags etc. "approved" by institutions, it is interesting to read what was exposed in the last decades in Italy, often written on many parts of cloth barely stitched together.

Review by MFB: Too bad that this book becomes even more monotonous the longer you read it. The first chapters give a very interesting and exciting description of the ultras of Napoli from the perspective of its members. Unfortunately, from there onwards it is just a series of fights that always start and end the same way, so that in the end it does not matter at all whether they are fighting with rival ultras or police officers. Strangely enough, the main character is - except for one occasion - always on the winning side and mostly outnumbered. All this makes this book boring and predictable. Maybe less fighting description and more insight in the character’s life and surroundings together with a better writing style would have made this book better.

Review by MFB: The author is a founding member of the Chelsea Headhunters, which was probably one of the most well known hooligan group in London. Through a long lastin undercover operation by the British police, the group was nearly dissolved and -deprived of their leaders- lost much of its influence and strenght. But what happened until then is described in exciting details making it an interesting book. It’s a journey through the London of the 70s and 80s. Fashion, football scene and society are portraited. Another good work on the hooligan phenomenon in England.

Review by MFB: Soul Crew – this is myth and legend at the same time. We have the chance to read the story of the Welsh Hooligan Gang, which caused havoc wherever they went. This is a classic book of hooligan literature which should have its place in every bookshelf of people interested in this subject. Sometimes though, it may become a bit monotonous just reading about the different scuffles, but they are described in a very detailed way, thus rendering this book still very interesting

Review by MFB: In this book we have the reports of the only persons with the authority to do so. Cass Pennant ex ICF leader and Martin King ex Headhunter Top Boy, describe their lives as well as the lives of their ancient enemies during the 70es, 80es and 90es, where they became Terrace Legends of Britain's Football grounds. They take the opportunity to visit some of the other Legends. Other Top Boys who have a lot to say about the subculture they belonged to, with their rules and codes of honour. But they did it voluntarily, nobody forced them to fight against each other, only this was their way of life, and how ever we do judge it, it has a sort of fascination, which is so well described in this book. We suggest to read this book slowly as every participant has his own story and key event, and it would be a pity to miss even one single one of them.

Review by MFB: The German Ultra movement is described from different angles and in great detail, hence interesting for the experienced as well as for the inexperienced but interested readers. A lot of information, best savored in little doses. Very well researched, at times critical but mostly fair, and without fear of too much political correctness, this phenomenon is reviewed not only limited to the negative headlines of the last few seasons, but it describes the many positive aspects. The fascination that such a movement has on people and the reasons why people join or loathe it. In addition to the many people involved who voice their opinion, it would have been even better if they had given the ultras more room to comment on certain "hot" topics, such as fireworks and clashes with rival ultra groups.

Review by MFB: The expectations created by the book's title are not fulfilled, sadly. We do learn a lot about the hooligan scene of the two major teams in the former DDR, such as BFC Dynamo and 1.FC Union, but the ultras are not to be found anywhere. Nevertheless the book gives a detailed insight into the last say, thirty years of incidents before, during and after the match.
The reader needs a very good command of the german language to understand the subject and to be able to follow the text.
We do learn that eventhough the former government denied the existence of violent football supporters, there were some indeed, and they did not hide.
The history of the two mentioned teams is described in detail, eventhough we do suggest to do some side research as well, to fill up any gaps the reader may have on this subject.

Review by MFB: This is not a book for beginners. Demanding, interesting and yet exciting it is the work of a student who had to write a homework under the topic "The change of football fans and fan enclosures in the last years". A big advantage is the fact that the author himself is part of the social group he is talking about, having followed his team Eintracht Frankfurt for many years home and away. So he knows his subject and we are not served third party stories. The Fans of Eintracht Frankfurt are considered to be among the "best" fan groups for what concerns passionate support and displays throughout Germany and Western Europe.
We learn more about Ultras, Hooligans and Fans, their style, reason of being and ways to act and support. The steady change of football once a pastime of the lower social classes towards the rather expensive way to enjoy a match, limited now to the privileged in society is very well described. How the fans change in regards to the relation between them and the team and its Board of Directors is very well described in many pages, underlined through statistics, although never becoming boring. The violence, once the horror of the terraces, has now changed from scuffles in the stands to fights outside the stadiums. The book covers the time from the eighties to the present days, the role of the fans, the police, and the ever growing tendency to see the football team more as a cash cow that a football team and the growing level of security measures to prevent violence. All these subjects are mirrored through the Eintracht Fans, giving a clear, unbiased story of the sports we all love so much.

Review by MFB: Another book about hooligans in England. It is not like we wouldn’t have heard or read about many events quoted in other books with the same. What is special about this one is that it is limited to the years 1967 to 1976, so the early years of football riots in Britain. You can read about how the fashion changed over the years and how pitch invasions as well as “taking the home end” were normal parts of the matchday.

Review by MFB: The author is a founding member of the Chelsea Headhunters, which was probably one of the most well known hooligan group in London. Through a long lastin undercover operation by the British police, the group was nearly dissolved and -deprived of their leaders- lost much of its influence and strenght. But what happened until then is described in exciting details making it an interesting book. It’s a journey through the London of the 70s and 80s. Fashion, football scene and society are portraited. Another good work on the hooligan phenomenon in England.