Brilliant Orange: The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Soccer

People interested in sports often feel that events are controlled by jinxes or bad luck, for their own team or for the opposition. Here is a book that examines an outstanding national sport history (I remember some of those times and events) and how such things actually played out. Champions usually prevail, but it takes an entire team to perform at their best to be successful in world competitions. When all goes well it is not an accident, and a privelege to witness such events and athletes. Here was a period in which a group of very talented but fairly modest players played (for a while) mostly unencumbered, but then proved to be unable to outrun their anxieties for multiple seasons. The author showed how their strategy on the field had been successful because it was explicit, understood and shared, and backed up by talent. The cooperative approach seems to have worked so well because it was part of the national psychology.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. It is not just about the success of the Dutch soccer team! The author successfully weaves political themes, history, and a general sense of culture into a nation's values and sense of self. My mom's side is mostly Dutch and I visited the Netherlands two years ago, I have a much greater appreciation for what "being Dutch" means and how it influences my choices and behaviors. I never had heard or read what the Dutch people did to their own Jewish residents during the Nazi occupation! So scary how close they came to a larger domination of society! I have given this book to my mom to read and she knows nothing about soccer. I believe she is going to very much enjoy it!

In summer 1978 I was 6 years old and I watched my first World Cup finals. Dutch lost that game, but won my heart, and since then my whole understanding of football was influenced by the way that great generation that invented Total Football played. David Winner makes excellent job describing the roots of philosophy that is in the center of Total Football. This book is not historical account, does not give reader statistics and chronology, but the essence of football seen and performed by the one of two smallest nations among world's super powers (second being Uruguay). Wonderfully written, it is a must for everyone who tries to understand the most beautiful game in the world.

Fantastic book that details the reasons for the manner of which the Dutch play. Gives lots of background on their famous failures and how Cruyff helped change the entire country, not just from a football point of view. The architecture, politics and art of the Netherlands are also well detailed which helps give the reader a better look into the Dutch lifestyle and why some of the great Dutch teams of the past are more are seen as winners regardless of their lack of silverware.

Very well written. Digs deeply into the Dutch soccer mentality. Not just a book about Dutch soccer. Explains a lot about the mentality and attitude of the Dutchies and life in the Netherlands. Great stories about Ajax and the 1974 and 1978 World Cup teams. Love all the stories about behind the scenes intrigue involving the national team in the 70's and 80's. Very balanced view of Johan Cryuff's influence on Dutch soccer.

An alright book. It's not badly written, but isnt exactly a real page turner - there are certainly large peaks and valleys as far as the material goes. The interviews with the players are pretty good. There is some good stuff in this book to take away, but all-in-all, maybe about 15-20 pages worth of goo material.

I like the book quite a lot. It was very entertaining, more so than the Italian Job. I would however recommend reading Morbo by Phil Ball before this book, no that is how to write about football.

This book was a great purchase for my dad who loves soccer, especially Dutch soccer. He loves reading about any kind of soccer. He said the book was a great one to read especially if you love soccer or Dutch soccer.

A bit of a slow moving book but if you love the game in any way, shape, or form, and you don't mind being "challenged" when you read, then this is a sublime choice, especially if, like me, you have always been fascinated by the Dutch machine!