X-Book

Waking the Giant

Click Buy to Log in and see personalised pricing.

Send as a gift Get in the xigxag app
How does xigxag pricing work?

Listen to a sample

What to expect

The true story of one football club's astonishing return to the top

Featuring exclusive interviews with Jack Grealish, John McGinn, Ollie Watkins, Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa, along with many other key figures

Aston Villa are Europa League champions and cementing their place among England's elite — a club utterly transformed, and still rising.

But not so long ago the club was staring into the abyss. Locked 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.

Waking The Giant 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, to the return to European football under Unai Emery — and the foundations laid for the triumphs that have followed.

To understand how Villa lifted a European trophy and reclaimed their seat at the top table of English football, you first need to understand the journey. This is where it began.

It is a tale of triumph plucked from the jaws of despair, several times over, with Villa frequently defying the odds to keep climbing — a club rebuilt from the ground up, piece by piece, until the unthinkable became inevitable.

From club record runs to great escapes from relegation and British record transfers, this is a rollercoaster ride not to be missed.

Featuring exclusive interviews with:

  • Jack Grealish
  • John McGinn
  • Ollie Watkins
  • Tyrone Mings
  • Ezri Konsa
  • Albert Adomah
  • Damian Vidagany, Director of Football Operations
  • Jesus Garcia Pitarch, former sporting director
  • Dean Smith, former manager
  • Keith Wyness, former CEO

And dozens of other off-the-record conversations with key figures, managers, coaches, players and staff.

Critics Review

'A quite brilliant book with some amazing insights into the rise of Villa from some very dark times with incredible details about how close Villa were to folding and then the ups and downs of Dean Smith, Gerrard and then Emery.' ★★★★★ Amazon reader review
'Sat down at 6pm on the day of release to read this. Got off the sofa at 3am having not moved even for a drink … Some comical revelations and lots of insight. A great written record of the rise of the mighty Aston Villa.' ★★★★★ Amazon reader review
'Absolutely superb book, read it in 3 days, much to the amusement of my wife who reckons it’s the first book I’ve actually read in years! Lots of interesting background info, a must for all Villa fans.' ★★★★★ Amazon reader review
'Thoroughly enjoyed this book; a great insight into the recent evolution of the club with some incredible anecdotes. Credit to the great work and journalism from Evans & Maher. A must read for all Villa fans.' ★★★★★ Goodreads review
'For anyone who is a die hard or ardent supporter of Aston Villa, this book is a must read. Charting the startling rise from days when the club were on the brink of insolvency to becoming a Champions League side is astonishing, insightful, and a reminder to always cherish this club we love.' ★★★★★ Goodreads review
Author Gregg Evans and Matt Maher, Foreword by Tyrone Mings
Narrator Daryl Foster
Duration 10 hours and 16 minutes
Release Date
ISBN 9780008741037
Format x-book®
Publisher HarperCollins Publishers
Genre Association football (Soccer), Biography: sport, History of sport, Management: leadership and motivation, Social and cultural history
Availability AU, GB, IE, US

About xigxag and the x-book®

Discover the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed to simplify finding, purchasing, and enjoying your favourite books in audio format. Our flexible pricing model makes bestselling audiobooks affordable, offering the best audiobook deals without the need for a subscription. You can also give the perfect gift with our convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.

A core differentiator of xigxag is our groundbreaking listen-and-read x-book® technology, which delivers a truly immersive digital book experience. This unique innovation seamlessly combines the audiobook, text, and images into a brilliant, integrated format, complete with exclusive audiobook features and a next-generation digital reading experience. Our growing x-book selection is easily discoverable by looking for the distinctive purple x-book® ribbon, or by simply filtering your search by ‘x-book’.

Beyond our technology, xigxag is committed to sustainability and ethical practices, ensuring a guilt-free listening experience from an exceptional digital book platform. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we stand as a leader in audiobook innovation and a compelling alternative to big tech. Our commitment extends to delivering extraordinary customer service, provided by our friendly UK support team.

Effortlessly search audiobooks, gain insights from honest audiobook reviews evaluating both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. You can download or stream top audiobook titles anytime, anywhere, guaranteeing the best possible listening experience on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Experience the future of audiobooks today.