{"product_id":"waking-the-giant-inside-the-rebirth-of-aston-villa-paperback","title":"Waking the Giant: Inside the Rebirth of Aston Villa (paperback)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom the publisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded\" style=\"padding-bottom: 24px;\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eThe inside story of one football club's astonishing revival\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eFeaturing exclusive interviews with Jack Grealish, John McGinn, Ollie Watkins, Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa, along with many other key figures\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn early July 2018, Aston Villa were staring into the abyss.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLocked in a cash crisis triggered by defeat in the Championship play-off final, one of English football’s most historic and successful clubs stood on the brink of financial catastrophe.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYet less than six years later, Villa were celebrating qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in their history.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eWaking The Giant\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e takes you inside one of the most extraordinary revival acts in modern football, from the last-minute takeover by billionaire duo Nassef Sawiris and Wes Edens which saved the club, through the promotion and equally remarkable Premier League survival inspired by boyhood supporter Dean Smith, right up to the present day and their return to the European elite under Unai Emery.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt is a tale of triumph plucked from the jaws of despair, several times over, with Villa frequently defying the odds to keep climbing and reclaim their place at English football’s top table.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFrom club record runs to great escapes from relegation and British record transfers, this is a rollercoaster ride not to be missed.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eFeaturing exclusive interviews with:\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"a-unordered-list a-vertical\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eJack Grealish\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eJohn McGinn\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eOllie Watkins\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eTyrone Mings\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eEzri Konsa\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eAlbert Adomah\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eDamian Vidagany, Director of Football Operations\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eJesus Garcia Pitarch, former sporting director\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eDean Smith, former manager\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eKeith Wyness, former CEO\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eAnd dozens of other off-the-record conversations with key figures, managers, coaches, players and staff.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eGregg Evans\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e writes for \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eThe Athletic \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eand the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Before that he covered West Midlands football for Reach PLC, formerly Trinity Mirror and had stories published in the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eBirmingham Mail\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eSunday Mercury\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eDaily Mirror.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e He's also a regular on the 1874 Aston Villa Podcast. He's on X as @greggevans40.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eMatt Maher \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eis chief sports writer at the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eExpress \u0026amp; Star\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and has covered sport in the West Midlands for more than 15 years. His coverage of Aston Villa saw him named regional sports writer of the year in 2021. He's on X as @mjmarr_star.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e---\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product_spec\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eHarperNorth\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e20 x 13 cm\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003ePaperback\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e288 pages\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product_spec\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eAugust 2026\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eEnglish\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product_spec\"\u003e9780008741044\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Gregg Evans, Matt Maher","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58527110234493,"sku":null,"price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0271\/5149\/9341\/files\/2026-08-1213.47.16.jpg?v=1786541832","url":"https:\/\/stanchionbooks.com\/products\/waking-the-giant-inside-the-rebirth-of-aston-villa-paperback","provider":"Stanchion","version":"1.0","type":"link"}