By VIKKI ORVICE
October 07, 2006
IT is one of the world’s biggest books — and it is about the world’s biggest football club.
The Manchester United Opus weighs a staggering 35kg — that’s 5st 11lb — and prices start at £3,000.
The ultimate in coffee table tomes it is an 850-page testament to the worldÂ’s most famous football club.
United greats such as Sir Bobby Charlton, Sir Alex Ferguson, Denis Law, Ryan Giggs, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Wayne Rooney are interviewed in the 400,000 words.
And the book is lavishly illustrated with 2,000 previously unseen photographs.
Charlton said: “It’s not something you can just pop in your pocket and read on the train. It’s enormous, a monstrous work.
“It’s a very important history of a truly great club, still the biggest club in the world.
“There is a huge story to be told and it’s very important to tell it.
“There are so many characters, great players and unforgettable moments. Doing the book has brought back a lot of memories for me and I’m very flattered to be involved.
“It’s only the second time they’ve published a book like this. Muhammad Ali was the subject of the first, now United are the second. It shows the standing of the club in world’s sport history.
“It’s a marvellous story of a marvellous club. A celebration of a great club.
“Anyone interested in football will be fascinated by it.”
The book, published next month, recounts the history of the club along with a section on the cultural role that the club has played in the cityÂ’s history.
There is also a unique record of every competitive game United have played.
All of the 10,0000 copies — which are half a metre square — are personally signed by Charlton and Ferguson.
And copies 1-500 will also be signed by Old Trafford legends Bryan Robson, Eric Cantona and Denis Law. Publishers Kraken Opus plan to bring out 12 gigantic books on sport and entertainment over the next three years.
There are five other titles currently under production in the Opus series — Superbowl XL, Diego Maradona, Formula One, Disney and Wimbledon.
BOBBY CHARLTON sits pretty on top of the Manchester United Opus.
The 850-page tomb weighs in at 35kg (5st 11lb) and includes 400,000 words plus 2,000 new photos. Prices start at £3,000 and just 10,000 copies have been published.
