The Man Who Saved FC Barcelona (Review)

The Man Who Saved FC Barcelona: The Remarkable Life of Patrick O’ Connell is an enchanting story of an Irish footballer and manager that saved the mighty Barça in some very dark and difficult times.  It is a story of football from a very different era than today.

O’Connell’s playing career was quite legendary as was his work as an manager.  He played for the likes of Hull City, Sheffield Wednesday, and Manchester United in addition to serving as captain of the Irish national team.

He would have great managerial success in Spain, bringing Racing de Santander to the First Division and leading Real Betis to a La Liga title before taking the reins at FCB.  His last stop would be several seasons at Sevilla FC, who he guided to a second-place finish in La Liga in 1942-43.

It is written by someone connected to the family, which makes it extra special as it is truly a “labor of love.”  Sue O’Connell happens to be the wife of Mike O’Connell, grandson of Patrick O’Connell.  She includes letters, newspaper articles, and storytelling to get the point across in a very organized, chronological order.  The point is very clear: Patrick O’Connell was an “outstanding sportsman,” someone who deserves more credit that he received.  His personal life was another story as he was described a “non-starter” as a husband and father, suggesting his football success came at the expense of his family and friends.

The letters are to be treasured, offering personal moments from those surrounding O’Connell.  There’s talk of civil war, tragedy, “a flying machine,” and all kinds of personal difficulties.  O’Connell lived in a difficult time and didn’t have an easy life.  He lived, played, and managed through the first World War, the Spanish Civil War, and World War II.

How ironic is it that an Irishman would save a great Catalan club? He actually saved the club from bankruptcy in the difficulties surrounding the Spanish Civil War, taking his team on a tour of North America and raising thousands of dollars in the process.  This single move prevented the financial collapse of the club and is also responsible for the sporting giant we have today.

It’s amazing to think of the potential successes O’Connell would have had at a different time in history.  He would probably be a millionaire manager living the life, rather than struggling and dying in poverty.  You also have to wonder if he would have done things differently if given a second chance.

This is a story that deserved and needed to be told.  All fans of FC Barcelona owe this man a great debt of gratitude. Reading this book and learning about this great man is certainly a good place to start.  I’m sure the folks at Amberley Publishing would  appreciate the support of the estimated 270 million Barça fans all over the globe.  FC Barcelona is, after all, one of the top-supported teams in the world and that wouldn’t be possible without the foundation that O’Connell provided.

This book is a must-read for anyone that loves Spanish football or FC Barcelona.  Anyone that loves a good story would certainly enjoy this one.  No wonder Amberley Publishing has emerged as one of the world’s best publishers of books about football.