The Road to Lisbon: A Novel

In 1967 Celtic manager Jock Stein stepped from the tunnel of Lisbon’s Estadio Nacional and took up a position pitch-side as his team of home-grown players ran out to face the might of Inter Milan, the charismatic superstars of Italian football, in the European Cup final. Celtic were a team forged in Stein’s own image, steeled with a relentless industry and integrity by their inspirational manager whose character had, in turn, been honed by the horrors of the deep dark of the Lanarkshire coalfields. Martin Greig and Charles McGarry’s extraordinary novel delves to the very heart of that incredible season, telling the story through the eyes of Stein – as he plots and plans and drags his team to the pinnacle of European club football – and those of Tim, an idealistic young fan from the south side of Glasgow, whose dreams of life beyond the decaying slums of the Gorbals are inextricably tied to those of his heroes. The Road to Lisbon is a novel of hopes and dreams, of self-discovery and triumph over adversity …and of an unerring love with an institution that represents so much more than just a football club.

Reviews of The Road to Lisbon: A Novel

'Jack Kerouac's On the Road meets David Peace's The Damned United in this spectacular novel' – Scottish Daily Mail 'By focusing on both boss and fan, the authors capture the passion and determination of the true football devotee' – Herald 'A superb novel about a momentous Celtic triumph' – Celtic View