David Bolchover
The Story of Béla Guttman: “The Greatest Comeback: From Genocide to Football Glory”
Summary
David Bolchover, author and commentator, introduces his latest book, The Greatest Comeback: From Genocide to Football Glory, a biography of the legendary football coach Béla Guttmann (1899–1981). Bolchover highlights Guttmann’s impact as a pioneer in football coaching, breaking the dominance of Real Madrid in the European Cup with Benfica’s victories in 1961 and 1962, as well as Guttmann’s outspoken and innovative personality, intertwining the exciting football narrative with the personal challenges Guttmann faced during the Holocaust.
David Bolchover
David Bolchover is an author and commentator. His latest book, The Greatest Comeback: From Genocide to Football Glory, a biography of the legendary football coach Béla Guttmann, was shortlisted for the William Hill Sports Book of the Year. David has also published three high-profile business books, including the best-selling The 90-Minute Manager, and has written opinion columns for a number of leading newspapers, including the Times, the Telegraph, the Guardian, and the Financial Times. He has appeared frequently on the BBC, Sky, and other broadcast outlets.
I think they were hidden because most people who regarded these great Jewish players as their heroes were murdered in the Holocaust. That is the main reason but there are other reasons too. As I’ve alluded to, 90% of the world’s Jews now live in United States and Israel and have less interest, certainly in United States, in soccer.
There’s enough to fill several shelves in a library. There are some absolutely amazing stories. The story of Salamo Arouch, the Greek Jewish boxer who fought for his life in the boxing fights in Auschwitz, and ended up in Tel Aviv after the war. The story of Alfred Nakache, a French Jewish swimmer, who came out of Auschwitz having obviously lost huge amounts of weight and won a gold medal in the Olympics or broke some world record.