Classic Derbies and Epic Rivalries: A Journey Through the World’s Most Captivating Football Clashes

Andy Bollen explores the history, tradition and violent nature of football’s biggest clashes.

In unravelling the history of these infamous feuds, Bollen gets to the crux of each conflict, exploring why the fans dislike each other so vehemently.

Football is often a search for political identity, as in Spain’s El Clásico between Barcelona and Real Madrid, while in Buenos Aires’ Superclásico, it’s poverty and privilege at the heart of the rivalry between working-class Boca Juniors and bourgeois River Plate.

Whether it’s the Cairo derby with Al Ahly and Zamalek, the Croatian chaos of Dinamo Zagreb and Hajduk Split or Turkey’s Intercontinental derby with Galatasaray and Fenerbahçe, these clashes are a potent mix of fanatical zealot, political rally and crazed ultras preparing for war.

Showcasing and detailing football’s great games, names and most memorable moments, Bollen has penned an important work on classic derbies and epic rivalries.

Andy Bollen is an author, comedy writer and drummer. He has written six books including A History of Scottish Football in 100 Objects,

Fierce Genius: Cruyff’s Year at Feyenoord and A History of European Football in 100 Objects. He has written comedy for BBC TV and radio for three decades. He has also written for Nutmeg, The Set Pieces, The Guardian, the Sunday Mail and various other outlets.