Publisher's Synopsis
"Manchester United Ruined My Wife", the hilarious tale of a life-long United supporter and the way his obsession affected his wife and daughters, one of whom grew up to be an international pop star, was first published in 2004 selling over 10,000 copies. This new, updated edition brings the tale from the tragedy of Munich up to the triumph of Moscow, including the protracted sale to American owners, the rise and rise of FC United of Manchester and finally the double whammy of United's 17th league title and the agony and ecstasy of Russian penalty roulette in Moscow. How can a man love one woman, when he is in love with eleven men? When people get married it is 'Till death do us part', yet, for almost 40 per cent of the population, marriage ends in divorce. But, when you fall truly, madly, deeply in love with your football team there is no divorce, you do not stray. Your team is the one constant, consistent, permanent, overwhelming obsession in your life.Rarely has a book been written that so painfully yet humorously conveys the all-consuming red-hot passion, joy and despair felt by the vast majority of football fans. With highs so intense it reduces sex to mere skin rubbing, David Blatt puts wives in their rightful place on the substitutes bench as he takes the reader on a journey through his United-watching adventures, from the Busby Babes via the 1968 European Cup final, relegation, promotion, the wilderness years of the 70s and 80s, a first Championship in 26 years and the glorious 1999 treble, which culminated in the unforgettable Champions League triumph in Barcelona. It is a tale that millions of so-called 'ordinary' football fans can relate to. After all, how can kissing girls compete with getting up at 5am for a 400 mile round trip for home games? 'I've just read it. I'll kill him when he gets home' - Helene Blatt.
