For the first time ever, an incredible visual archive of Ultras worldwide is curated in this book. Beneath the surface of modern life, the ancient urge for fanatacism and tribal warfare lives on. Their exploits are legendary, their tales are tall, hated and feared by millions, yet idolised by a hardcore minority. In a world in which we are told place no longer means anything - loyalty to a team, loyalty to an area, loyalty to a social class, are all out of time. And yet here they are, continuing to exist in this highly structured and obsessive world. From its roots in the UK the worldwide scene is explored from Turkey to Russia, Asia, Ukraine, Poland, Italy, France and all of Europe. Whether you are disgusted or fascinated - this is human behaviour. For some, this has always been and will always be, a way of life.
ULTRAS IS THE BIGGEST YOUTH MOVEMENT IN THE WORLD. There are those that support a football team, and there are those that support a team fanatically; and then there are the ULTRAS.
For anyone who has ever been to a match and stared in
open mouthed wonder at the displays of the organised
gangs of ULTRAS, the gigantic banners and flags, the
displays of synchronised placards, the flares, the chanting;
here finally is a book that will explain what exactly is going
on, with photographs, articles and commentary.
Packed with images of this dramatic sub-culture from across the footballing world, ULTRAS is the first book that attempts to tell the whole story of this enduring movement.
It explores the social forces and the psychological drives behind the culture and looks at the struggle of the ULTRAS against the gentrification of modern football. And it reports on some of the key moments the ULTRAS culture has erupted into violence.
It's the perfect gift for anyone who is even remotely interested in football. This book is definitive in it's approach and asks the question, who does football belong to?
So, how do we sell the book and why would someone buy it?
This book resonates with the football fan as a core part of a tribe. (Their Team).
The tribe is the group that is gathered around each time.
- The books is a way to connect them to the rest of their tribe who share the same passion.
- It tells stories that the audience will understand, offering an explanation and exploration of the extremities of a sport and its followers and fanatics
- it challenges their own status within their tribe and their position within its hierarchy. That's the ranking system that denotes who has the most respect and power within the group.
- it resonates with their values and beliefs. Passion, loyalty and shared love of their chosen football team.
- It's the antitote to their ignorance and offers a 'come join us invitation to their private and extreme world'
- By buying the book they individually evolve and unlock the secrets of the Ultras, their affiliation, domination and the tension they exert over the team and its supporters.
This is a book not just for the ultra of which there are tens of thousands, but the other 90% of the crowd who are wondering just what is going on in the Curva de Sud, the Kop or just who are those Green Monsters?
England Scotland Romania
Serbia Poland Greece
Hungary Italy Malaysia
Canada USA Turkey
Brazil Sweden Germany
Holland France Russia
Belgium Argentina Croatia
Stats:
. World Cup final - 1 billion viewers
. El Classico Barcelona vs Real Madrid - watched in 50
countries by 450 million people
. Manchester United vs Liverpool - 200 countries 700 million
people
. Average Premier League game has an worldwide audience
of 12 million
. That's 4.56 billion people worldwide watch the premier
league each season
. Italy Serie A 4.5million worldwide per game
. German Bundesliga 2 million per game
. Spain La Liga 2 million per game
