Association football (Soccer) Books

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Book SynopsisThis book contains a complete match-by-match statistical record of every official game played by the England National team from the World's first ever international match against Scotland in 1872 through to the end of 2020.

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Book SynopsisJurgen Klopp's Liverpool Football Club are champions of England, Europe and the World. 'Robbo: Now You're Gonna Believe Us' is the inside story of their record-breaking season as seen through the eyes of their popular left-back Andrew Robertson, revealing the Anfield dressing room secrets behind their remarkable success.

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Book Synopsis'Football matters, as poetry does to some people and alcohol does to others...Football is inherent in the people...There is more eccentricity in deliberately disregarding it than in devoting a life to it. The way we play the game, organize it and reward it reflects the kind of community we are' Written just two years after England's '66 triumph when the national game was at its zenith, Arthur Hopcraft's The Football Man is repeatedly quoted as the best book ever written about the sport. This definitive, magisterial study of football and society profiles includes interviews with all-time greats like Bobby Charlton, George Best, Alf Ramsay, Stanley Matthews, Matt Busby and Nat Lofthouse. It is a snapshot of a pivotal era in sporting history; changes and decisions were made in the sixties that would create the game we know today. For many who are disenchanted with the modern game - the grip of businesses and corporations, the dominance of advertising, the extortionate ticket prices and inaccessible matches, the fickleness of teenage millionaires - The Football Man takes the reader back to the heart and soul of the national game when pitches were muddy and the players were footballers not brands. Voted in May 2005 as one of Observer's top sports books of all time, this is a long-awaited reissue of the classic football 'bible'. 'Masterpiece among sports books' Guardian 'It remains one of my favourite football reads' Graham TaylorTrade Review'Brilliant portrayal. One of the classics of the genre.' Metro 'A masterpiece among sports books' Guardian 'The best book on the game.' Observer 'It remains one of my favourite football reads.' -- Graham Taylor

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Book SynopsisThe King of White Hart Lane is the authorised life story of Alan Gilzean, the legendary, world-class Tottenham Hotspur, Dundee and Scotland footballer. Exclusive insights provided by his family, closest friends and colleagues add to the author's own experience to reveal Gilzean, the man and the player. A reserved, charming and intelligent individual who shunned the limelight off the field, Gilzean played with a swagger as a maker and taker of goals, especially alongside Jimmy Greaves at Spurs. We discover how the native of the Perthshire town of Coupar Angus became one of the greatest performers in the history of both his clubs. Gilzean emerged a Scottish folk hero having scored the winning goal against England in front of 133,000 at Hampden Park - and was later welcomed back with open arms by the game after ending a self-imposed exile during which the uninformed conjured often defamatory myths. The elegant striker dubbed 'Nureyev in Boots' left us on Sunday, 8 July 2018. There will never be another like him.

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Book SynopsisKing Klopp: Rebuilding the Liverpool Dynasty is the story behind Jurgen Klopp's success at Liverpool. Since Klopp's appointment as head coach in October 2015, the club has grown exponentially, swiftly becoming the dominant force in English and European football. But how was the team's rebirth achieved in just a few short years? Experienced football scout and opposition analyst Lee Scott takes an in-depth look at the tactical concepts underpinning Liverpool's success - revealing who does what, how and why. Discover the secrets of the game model developed by Klopp as well as the roles of key players in realising his master plan. Never afraid to experiment, Klopp has refined his game model year on year to the point where Liverpool dominate through their control of space as much as through their pressing and intensity. It's been some ride for Liverpool fans, but beyond the silverware and marquee wins lies an even more intriguing story - the story of a tactical evolution.

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Book SynopsisGlorious Reinvention is the story of how Ajax rediscovered their mojo to compete again with Europe's best. In November 2010, after Ajax's 2-0 loss in the Champions League group stage to Real Madrid, Johan Cruyff wrote a newspaper column criticising his former club. He believed the side were poorly run, had lost their identity and been left behind by modern football. Cruyff wanted change. He wanted Ajax to rely on their academy as they once had, and he wanted former Ajax players in high positions calling the shots at the club. This was dubbed 'the velvet revolution' - a peaceful coup that would propel Ajax to once more compete with the best. A few years on, with many of the changes in place, the side reached a Europa League final and a Champions League semi-final with an exquisite style of football and methods that Cruyff would have appreciated. Ajax, now run by former club greats such as Edwin van der Sar and Marc Overmars, combined the techniques of old with modern elements.

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Book SynopsisOur incredible story under a supreme manager shared in all its glory.' Jordan HendersonThe definitive account of Jürgen Klopp's astonishing revival of Liverpool Football ClubFULLY UPDATED FOR THE 2020-2021 SEASONLiverpool Football Club's stunning Premier League title victory deserves a place in the official record of great sporting achievements. Talismanic manager Jürgen Klopp delivered a first title in 30 years as the Reds became the only team in British history to hold the European Cup, Super Cup, World Club Cup and domestic league title simultaneously.A difficult title defence followed, derailed by an unrivalled injury crisis during a thankless, Covid-shaped season. Still Klopp's Liverpool weathered this storm to secure Champions League football again, surmounting personal tragedy and endless professional setbacks. But what makes the club tick? Can the lessons of its success be replicated by others?Melissa Reddy reveals the inside story of Jürgen Klopp's astonishing revival of the LTrade Review‘Our incredible story under a supreme manager shared in all its glory.’ Jordan Henderson ‘The tale of a watershed season wonderfully told by a great writer I have huge respect for.’ Ian Wright ‘Remarkable storytelling of a remarkable season.’Gérard Houllier ‘I’ve been reading, keeping busy in the bubble. Believe Us, which is the story of Liverpool.’ Eddie Jones, England Rugby coach

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Book SynopsisHeart of Poland is an incredible journey through the country''s football culture, and an intensely personal exploration of a nation as it stands at the crossroads of a sporting revolution.In much the same way British football transitioned in the early 1990s, Poland faces its own moment of reckoning. Told through the lens of photojournalist Alex Webber, the essence of Polish football is revealed via its many layers of football: from its highest echelons to the tough realities of the lower leagues.Working as a photographer, covering football and fan culture across the Polish leagues, Webber''s all-areas access has allowed him to document these changes; and the result is his portfolio of stunning images.Shooting on a match-by-match basis to tell the story, Webber documents a series of footballing contrasts: from heated derbies and riotous rivalries, to sedate village matches and arcane, forgotten grounds. Beautiful photographs, repro

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Book SynopsisAs Marcelo Bielsa's interpreter, Salim Lamrani was his right-hand man throughout his first season in charge of Leeds United. As a privileged witness to that remarkable 2018/19 campaign, Lamrani tells the inside story of how the club came within a hair's breadth of returning to the Premier League before winning promotion in the very next season to end a 16-year exile. Lamrani lays bare the secrets behind Bielsa's methods, starting with the demands he makes in an intense pre-season, through to the Argentinian tactician's unwavering loyalty to a highly effective style of play - a style based on possession, collective coverage, rapid transitions, changes of tempo and constant attack. For him, beauty is non-negotiable. Thanks to Bielsa, the players of Leeds United were the actors in an unforgettable epic, which made an indelible mark on millions of supporters. Taking us match by match through Bielsa's first year in English football, Lamrani weaves a fascinating narrative and paints an intimate portrait of a unique football genius.

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Book SynopsisLiverpool FC Cult Heroes is devoted to 20 players who, over the years, have won a special place in the hearts of the Anfield faithful - not necessarily the greatest footballers, but a unique brotherhood of mavericks and stalwarts, local lads and big signings. The cast list alone is enough to stir up memories and tug at the heartstrings of any Reds fan - Elisha Scott, Billy Liddell and Joey Jones, Johnston, Carragher and Suarez - recalling how these charismatic personalities ignited passion on the terraces. Find out which Red icon was left at a motorway service-station as a prank. Which striker was involved in a punch-up with Italian waiters after a European Cup semi in Milan. And which skipper was carried through Lime Street station on the shoulders of fans. Discover and delight in the magical qualities of these 20 mere mortals elevated to cult status by the Red half of Liverpool.

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Book SynopsisThe inside story of Tottenham Hotspur''s tumultuous 1991 FA Cup campaign, as told by the players, staff, fans and broadcasters who lived it. Essential reading for every Spurs fan!From Ewan Flynn, author of the critically acclaimed Amazon best-seller We Are Sunday League.For manager Terry Venables, and his talented, eclectic and sometimes wayward squad, hazards abounded on that year''s fabled road to Wembley. Tottenham Hotspur plc was out of step with Tottenham Hotspur FC; fans were organising in protest; the Midland Bank was getting ready to call in Spurs'' astronomical debt. Everything seemed to depend on Paul Gascoigne poised to become the world''s greatest player and the price tag on his head. Could he avoid the dual perils of injury and his spiralling white-hot fame?This exhaustively researched and irreverently written book: Features exclusive interviews with players, club staff, fans and broadcasters who lived the trauma and triumph of Tottenham Hotspur''s 1991 FA Cup campaign Takes the reader inside Spurs during the most tumultuous season in the club's history Gets to the bottom of what really happened with Gazza and that tackle in the cup final Reveals how the struggle for Spurs facilitated the Premier League breakaway and ensured the survival of Rupert Murdoch''s Sky TV Spurs fans inside Wembley Stadium didn''t know it, but the big beasts encircling their wounded club would for better or worse determine Tottenham''s future and irrevocably transform the whole of English football.

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Book SynopsisChronicles a momentous year in the life of England's largest wholly fan-owned football club, FC United, who were the only English side to win a European trophy in 2024.In 2005, a group of Manchester United fans stood up and said no to the rampant commercialisation of football and set up their very own club. Some reckoned it would be all over by Christmas', but two decades on FC United of Manchester provides a beacon for supporter ownership in a world that increasingly views football clubs as the property of the fabulously wealthy.Read and you will discover: A unique perspective on life at England's largest wholly fan-owned football club as it approaches its 20th anniversary How a collectively owned and run club which seeks to unite football, fans and community copes with turbulent economic times without the backing of a wealthy owner while staying true to its core values The inside track on FC United: in his role as volunteer board reporter, Jonathan Allsopp has reported on more than 80 FC United board meetings over the last eight years, writing nearly half a million words in the process How a regular pre-match club night in the afternoon' offers football fans something more than cheap lager, saturated fats, fixed-odds coupons and gawping at a big screen In its founding manifesto, FC United set out to be a good example of how a club can be run in the interests of its members and be of benefit to its local communities' 20 years on, has it succeeded?

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Book SynopsisAll About Pressing in Soccer provides a detailed look at the history, theory, and practice of pressing in soccer. With this comprehensive resource, the coach and player will improve their understanding of the game, making them stronger and more successful as a coach or player. Beginning with a look at the history of pressing, the reader will gain background knowledge crucial for understanding the theory behind pressing, which is presented in the following section. Once the reader understands the why and the how of pressing, he will be able to use the practical techniques presented in the third section. With this book, the reader, whether a coach or a player, will have all the tools necessary to implement a strong pressing tactic in the game, giving them that necessary edge over their opponents.

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Book SynopsisThe worlds best soccer players are incredibly fit, fast, lean, and strong. Achieving this level of athleticism requires a rigorous soccer fitness training program applying the most effective drills, exercises, and core training methods. In Soccer: Functional Core Training, the authors present numerous drills for this training. Based on the latest the findings in sports science and on the authors long-term coaching experience, they present an extensive practical guide to help you improve your teams performance through core training, soccer specific exercises, and drills. The exercises can be used for amateurs and professional players, youth and adults alike. Your players can learn how to score the most exciting and acrobatic goals, how to tackle without fouling, and how to avoid injuries. The drills in the book create typical match situations to help your team prepare for the game and stay motivated. Many of the fitness exercises require no extra equipment and rely only on bodyweight, thus targeting many different muscles at once. The book is easy to use on the pitch and the ideal tool to turn youth players into the next Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, or Bastian Schweinsteiger.

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Book SynopsisIreland's rich football heritage has been captured in this quirky and readable guide that will fascinate, amuse, educate and entertain.

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Book SynopsisJurgen Said to Me is a human-interest story centred around Liverpool FC''s most successful and charismatic leader of recent times. It charts Jurgen Klopp''s impact on Liverpool through the voice of the author and those at the heart of his revival.In October 2015, Klopp took the helm at Liverpool at a time when the famous club were entering a third decade of league-title drought. The German coach had prospered with his brand of ''heavy-metal football'', but little was known about his personality beyond an obvious energy and charisma. He entered a city steeped in personality, history and trauma - a place where the people demand more than a mere coach to lead their clubs.Klopp''s social influence has stretched to matters such as diversity, the economy, the COVID-19 pandemic and local history. The book explores the human impact of a man who single-handedly harnessed togetherness and the global unity of millions, while reshaping one of the most fam

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Book SynopsisHow much do you really know about the club you love? You can find out by exploring the 1,000 questions set out in 100 categories that make up this Everton quiz book. It s not often that books on football make reference to Bob Dylan, the London Underground, Pink Floyd, The Godfather, the Beatles, Shakespeare, Rising Damp and The Who, but this one does! Call Yourself a Toffees Fan? is a quirky, challenging affair for real Everton fans who can test themselves or take on each other, with the emphasis on enjoyment and discovery. Try these for size: in the 1966 FA Cup Final between Everton and Sheffield Wednesday, which surname appeared on both sides? What was unique about the 1962/63 season at Goodison Park? Who is the only Everton manager to score the winning goal in a European Cup Final? You will struggle to find anything as comprehensive as this eclectic collection. It s a must for Everton fans of all ages and you might not see anything quite like it again.

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Book SynopsisThe Arsenal Scrapbook provides an insight into the unique journey of Arsenal one the most famous football club’s in the world.

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Book SynopsisMany of the top professional soccer players played futsal in their youth--Pelé, Luis Figo, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Xavi, and Fabregas--and have stated that playing the game made them the great players they are today. Futsal is an exciting, fast moving game of technique, skill, tactics, and physical endeavor. Players undertake the ultimate challenge by testing their skills under the most intense pressure, due to the lack of time and space, stressing the importance of quick reaction times and reflex training. Often used in the off season for soccer players, futsal is due to be placed at the heart of all development programs, improving technique and increasing fun in youth training. Coaches face huge tactical challenges as the game changes minute by minute. It is for these reasons that Futsal has taken a huge grip upon the soccer landscape and the development of players from grassroots upwards. This book is ideal in assisting players and coaches in honing theiTrade ReviewSturgess’ book shows coaches how to teach the game with a series of drills and skills and more than 100 photographs and illustrations. Even the England football team could learn something from this * School Sport *the perfect read for coaches at all levels. -- Jorge Braz, head coach of the Portugal National Futsal Team and FIFA Futsal instructorI highly recommend this book for those who want to learn more about the game - there's no better than Peter Sturgess! -- Keith Tozer, Head Coach of U.S. Futsal Men's National TeamTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 So what is Futsal? 2 Coaching young players 3 Creating the right environment 4 Technique, physical literacy and decision-making 5 The Futsal coaching session 6 One of the secrets of Futsal - the importance of the 'building blocks' 7 Developing your 'game plan' 8 Developing your attacking game plan 9 Developing your defensive game plan 10 What next? Index

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Book SynopsisThe Beautiful History charts the fascinating story of Britain through football club badges. From Premier League giants to non-league sides, it features over 100 clubs, with each badge coming alive to reveal the story behind it, whilst also giving events in history an exciting and engaging twist, as it takes you on a footballing journey from the dinosaurs to the digital age. What does Colchester United's eagle tell us about Roman Britain? Why do the badges of three football clubs feature the Mayflower, the ship on which the Pilgrim Fathers set sail for the New World? Why does the Norwich City canary celebrate 16th-century refugees, and which team honours the Battle of Britain and why? The Beautiful History holds all the answers and links football to key dates like 1066 and 1588, with tales that are often surprising, quirky or laugh-out-loud funny. An engaging, informative and fun book for fans of all ages, it includes activities, places to visit, a football timeline and quiz.Trade Review"Intriguing micro-histories... joyfully bringing [football club badges] to life. The Beautiful History succeeds in its game plan, presenting a richly illustrated whistle-stop tour without ever wandering out of position." * EYE Magazine *

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Book SynopsisLionel Messi and the Art of Living is a bold and insightful examination of a world-famous sporting hero's career from an entirely new perspective, providing a context extending far beyond the football field. The idea that sports stars are role models is a cliche, but it is also true in a way that is rarely appreciated. Although the details of Messi's story are already well known, The Art of Living examines afresh and anew his highs and lows, his successes and failures, his ongoing evolution and his endless struggle to succeed. It encourages us to consider, to analyse and - above all - to think about Messi's career from a different viewpoint, understanding how his journey can be related to our own lives on a meaningful and impactful level. Containing exclusive, illuminating interviews with deep thinkers and high achievers from a number of different fields, this book delivers a fresh and inspiring approach to a global icon, ensuring that you will never look at Lionel Messi - or life - in the same way again.

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Book SynopsisPretty Poly tells the fascinating story of the football shirt, charting its dramatic evolution over a 150-year period, from modest beginnings to a product at the centre of a billion-dollar industry. An emblem of everything it means to be a fan, the football shirt evokes memories of triumph and disaster and acts as a symbol of belonging to a chosen footballing tribe. Packed with facts, figures and anecdotes, Pretty Poly explores the history embedded in every feature of modern-day strips. It covers their ever-changing shape, the emergence of dedicated club and national colours and the often surprising reasons behind them. It also looks at the companies and designers behind some of our favourite strips, and explores the birth and exponential growth of the replica-kit industry. Along the way, we learn the histories of the iconic sponsors, names, numbers, patches and badges, and meet the kit collectors with a burning lifelong passion as we delve into the burgeoning vintage kit market that feeds their interest.Trade Review"An engaging, illuminating read... Ireland is an engaging chronicler, enthusiasm and affection for his subject evident in every sentence." * When Saturday Comes *

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Book SynopsisCinque Anni takes an in-depth look at the reasons why Italy failed to qualify for two consecutive World Cups but became champions of Europe. It tells the story of how all this happened the agony and ecstasy, the tears and laughter. It's a must-read for anyone fascinated in the fine line in sport that can separate winning and losing.

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Book SynopsisSliding Doors, Shattered Dreams chronicles Ireland's infamous 1982 World Cup qualification campaign, alongside a vivid picture of 1980s Ireland. The book also ponders how a golden generation of players might have fared had they qualified for Espana '82 and the potential impact on manager Eoin Hand's career and the broader Irish game.

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Book SynopsisTwelve of Liverpool Football Club's biggest names reflect on their most memorable games during their careers with the club. Laurie Hughes, Ian St John, Ian Callaghan, Tommy Smith, Phil Neal, Alan Kennedy, Mark Lawrenson, Jan Molby, John Barnes, Mark Wright, Gary McAllister and Jamie Carragher recall contributions to memorable triumphs, including league championships, domestic cup success - such as the 1986 all-Merseyside FA Cup Final - and three of the five European Cup wins - with Carragher recalling that night in Istanbul, when Liverpool completed one of the most remarkable comebacks of all time to beat AC Milan. With a foreword by Ronnie Moran, Match of My Life is an evocative and absorbing look back at some of the great moments in the history of the most successful English club side of all time.

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Book Synopsis'As vibrant, colourful and complex as South America's largest city'São Paulo, 2013: a city at an extraordinary moment in its history. Mario Leme, a detective in the civil police, has developed a friendship with a young English investigative journalist, Ellie. When she goes to meet a contact in central São Paulo, Mario observes from the street as she walks into a building and doesn't come out. Inside, he discovers the dead body of a young man he doesn't recognise, and Ellie's phone lying on the floor. Told partly from Leme's point of view, partly from Ellie's, Gringa takes us through five days during the redevelopment of the centre of Sao Paulo in the run-up to the 2014 World Cup. Ellie's disappearance links characters at every level of the social hierarchy, from the drug dealers and civil and military police to the political class she witnesses the feral brutality of urban breakdown. Gringa, with shades of Don Winslow and James Ellroy, is a portrait of São Paulo in all its harshness and dysfunction, its corruption and social divisions, its kaleidoscopic dynamism, its undercurrent of derangement, and its febrile, sensual instability, executed with a deep knowledge of the city's aPRAISE FOR JOE THOMAS 'Brilliant' The Times 'Feverish energy' Guardian 'Wonderfully vivid' Mail on Sunday'Sophisticated, dizzying' GQ'Vivid and visceral' The Times'Superbly realised vivid and atmospheric' Guardian'Original' Mail on Sunday'A stylish, atmospheric treat an inspired blend of David Peace and early Pinter' Irish Times 'Sparse, energetic, fragmented prose' The Spectator 'Vibrant, colourful, and complex' Irish Independent 'Stylish, sharp-witted, taut. A must for modern noir fans' NB Magazine 'Definitive confident and energetic' Crime Time 'Brilliant manic energy' Jake Arnott 'Wildly stylish and hugely entertaining' Lucy Caldwell 'Vivid, stylish, funny' Mick Herron 'Gripping, fast-paced, darkly atmospheric' Susanna Jones 'Snappy, thoughtful, moving' John King 'Exciting, fresh, incredibly assured' Stav Sherez 'Happy days!' Mark Timlin 'Utterly brilliant' Cathi Unsworth 'Had James Ellroy and David Peace collaborated on a novel they'd have written something like this' Paul Willets

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Andrés Iniesta is the Barcelona and Spain legend, rated by the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Paul Scholes as one of the greatest footballers of all time. This is the thinking fan's footballer with a thinking fan's football book.Andrés Iniesta was twelve years old when scouts invited him into Barcelona's famous La Masia academy. Shortly after he joined the club, Barca legend Pep Guardiola remarked of him, 'This lad is going to retire us all.'Iniesta rapidly became a permanent fixture in the Barca midfield, propelling the club to a raft of trophies, including eight La Liga championships and four Champions League titles. With his country he has won the European Championship twice, and scored the winning goal in the 2010 World Cup final.Behind the wonderfully graceful passing and movement, and the accolades and trophies he has garnered, there exists an intelligent and thoughtful man who, until now, has let his beautifully skilful feet do the talking. In The Artist: Being Iniesta, the Spanish maestro paints a vivid self-portrait, in his own words but also in those of his coaches, team-mates, opponents, friends and family. The result is intriguing.

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Book SynopsisGlory, Glory Lane is the life-affirming history - including a momentous last season - of a world-famous football stadium, home to Tottenham Hotspur for 118 years. A Victorian structure turned wraparound 21st-century all-seater, it became a theatre of dreams for supporters all attracted by teams which played the 'Spurs way' to achieve glory. The Lane gave a stage to a conveyor belt of legends from Cameron to Alli via Nicholson, Blanchflower, Greaves, Hoddle and Klinsmann. It provided unforgettable memories in unforgettable atmospheres - heart-lifting, heart-breaking, nerve-racking. Its story veers from founders obsessed by Harry Hotspur to Harry Kane via Harry Redknapp; through matches, personalities, ground developments and threatened closure, all with first-hand accounts. It's hard to imagine how a new GBP750m stadium can ever replace the edifice which shut its gates for the last time after Spurs played Manchester United in May 2017, having created a daunting legacy.

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Book SynopsisCreative Soccer Training includes 350 modern practical games and drills that build on basic playing skills. Foregoing theoretical introductions, the authors focus on presenting comprehensive exercises and particular skills that go beyond standard training.

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Book SynopsisHow much do you really know about Manchester United? Put your knowledge to the test with this bumper book of brainteaser quizzes and fascinating facts, beautifully illustrated by one of the world's leading sports artists. It's packed with trivia on all the great Man United sides and players - from the 'Busby Babes' to 'Fergie's Fledglings', from Charlton, Law and Best to Rooney, Ronaldo and Rashford - providing hours of highly dippable fun and entertainment. Which player earned a taekwondo black belt and seriously considered abandoning his football career to work as a docker? Which Republic of Ireland international was raised in orphanages? Son of a Greco-Roman wrestling champion, which striker served in the Norwegian army? Which United striker made history when he played for Stockport County alongside his father? Which player appeared opposite Cate Blanchett in the 1998 movie Elizabeth? Trivquiz Manchester United holds the answers to all these questions and hundreds more.

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Book SynopsisAston Villa On This Day revisits all the most magical and memorable moments from the club's distinguished past, mixing in a maelstrom of quirky anecdotes and legendary characters to produce an irresistibly dippable diary of Villa history - with an entry for every day of the year. From the club's Victorian foundation by the congregation of Handsworth's Villa Cross Wesleyan Chapel through to the Premier League era, Villa's rollercoaster history takes in FA Cup glory from the Victorian age to the 1950s, Third Division ignominy in the early '70s followed by league championship success just a decade later, all crowned by European Cup victory in Rotterdam. Pivotal historic events such as Villa committee man William McGregor's founding of the Football League form a backdrop against which Villa Park heroes - Archie Hunter, Pongo Waring and Peter McParland, Andy Gray, David Platt and Paul McGrath - all loom larger than life.

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Book SynopsisFatigued by bloated big-game football and bored of samey big cities, Daniel Gray went in search of small town Scotland and its teams. At the time when the Scottish club game is drifting towards its lowest ebb once more, Stramash singularly fails to wring its hands and address the state of the game, preferring instead to focus on Bobby Mann's waistline. Part travelogue, part history and part mistakenly spilling ketchup on the face of a small child, Stramash takes an uplifting look at the country's nether regions. Using the excuse of a match to visit places from Dumfries to Dingwall, Gray surveys Scotland's towns and teams in their present state. Stramash accomplishes the feats of visiting Dumfries without mentioning Robert Burns, being positive about Cumbernauld and linking Elgin City to Lenin. It is a fond look at Scotland as you've never seen it before.Trade ReviewThere have been previous attempts by authors to explore the off-the-beaten paths of the Scottish football landscape, but Daniel Gray's volume is in another league. - THE SCOTSMAN Truly splendid' - ARTHUR MONTFORD An excellent book about the country's smaller teams - [Stramash] captures the vague romance that still clings to these smaller Scottish clubs. It will make a must-read for every non-Old Firm football fan - and for many Rangers and Celtic supporters too. - DAILY RECORD As he takes in a match at each stopping-off point, Gray presents little portraits of small Scottish towns, relating histories of declining industry, radical politics and the connection between a team and its community. It's a brilliant way to rediscover Scotland. - THE HERALD A great read, because Gray doesn't write about just football, he uses football as an excuse to explore the histories of small towns in Scotland. - THE SKINNY Why do the Gers and Hoops have retail outlets in the capital? Why do buses depart for Glasgow on a Saturday morning from every corner of Scotland? Gray's book is a splendid attempt to answer these questions, and more besides - The result is sociology at its best, which is to say eminently readable - Stramash may turn out to be a memoir of the way we were, and an epitaph. - SUNDAY HERALD I defy anyone to read Stramash and not fall in love with Scottish football's blessed eccentricities all over again - Funny enough to bring on involuntary laugh out loud moments. - THE SCOTTISH FOOTBALL BLOG

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Book SynopsisPenalty kicks play a significant role in determining the outcome of a match. Because of this-and because they don't happen in every game-fans, media, and even athletes and trainers are fascinated by penalty kicks. Over the past 30 years, there have been more than 130 scientific studies which identify the motivational, strategic, anticipatory, and attention- and perception-based factors that can mean a successful or failed penalty kick. This book presents the information from these studies in such a way that it is useful for the athletes, trainers, managers, and even the soccer fans. All the information on penalty kick methods is based on sport psychology and movement science. The authors have also included anecdotes of the biggest and most important penalties in the history of soccer. They connect these actual events with the scientific findings, creating real life examples which make it easier to understand the science. Furthermore, they examine the penalty kick from both the kicker's and the goalkeeper's perspectives to explain shooting and saving techniques from every angle. A successful penalty kick takes more than just luck, and The Penalty Kick demystifies the science so that the reader knows how to win every penalty kick

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Book SynopsisOften football coaches find that to keep their players motivated and engaged, they must create new practices every week. But when there are those particular practices that the players enjoy playing again and again which also provide the ideal environment for them to develop, why not use them more than once? Essential Practices for Player Development will provide the reader with 10 core football practice sessions that the players will find both enjoyable and challenging and that the coach will find develops key areas of the game. There are 9 adaptations provided with each core practice, making 100 practices in total. Every practice is linked to one key area of the game that is identified as being essential to player development. To support practice delivery, the book additionally covers key aspects of session planning so that the most effective learning environment can be produced for the players. Also included is information on long-term player development, recognizing and supporting individual player needs, interventions, and player challenges. This book is not only a resource for football coaches just starting out on their coaching journey, but it is also for more experienced coaches looking to adapt their practice sessions. All practices provided can be used exclusively to create training curriculum for a full season, meaning there is no need for a coach to create a new session every week. The sessions can also be used to form the foundations of the curriculum, leaving room for a coach to add in those favorite practices. Essential Practices for Player Development is a book coaches will refer back to time and again.

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Book SynopsisUruguay remains a curious case in world football. Early Olympic and World Cup triumphs made it the game's first global power, and the small country has punched above its weight ever since. But the story behind its success is untold. In this first English-language history of Uruguayan football, Martin da Cruz maps the game's journey from exclusive British pastime to Uruguayan national passion, bringing to life the teams, players and personalities who helped create one of the world's most intense sporting cultures. From the start, football was intimately tied to Uruguay's national story. Wedged between giants Argentina and Brazil and lacking a cohesive national identity, Uruguay used the game to create unified and educated citizens, to put an end to civil war and become an advanced social democracy. Yet football also drove counter-narratives of class and race, challenging Uruguay's self-identification as a peaceful, 'white' nation. From Beauty to Duty is the story of a little country made big.

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Book SynopsisThe rip-roaring story of Manchester City's red-hot goalscoring hero Erling Haaland.Unlike his seafaring forefathers, Haaland arrived in England peacefully in 2022. But the result was the same with the Viking running riot before heading to European shores to rampage through even the most stubborn defences.Haaland helped sweep Manchester City to a record-equalling treble of Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup glory. The Striking Viking smashed home a record-breaking 36 Premier League goals and continued his incredible Champions League record to make it 35 in 29 games.This book is packed with exclusive unpublished material, including the story behind his transfer to England. It features the words of the great man himself, team-mates, opponents and Pep Guardiola. It explores his early career in Norway, and his later successes in Salzburg and Dortmund, before bringing us up to date with his Man City and international heroics.Want to know Haaland the player and the man? This is the book for you.

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Book SynopsisFrom the 'team of the century' to relegation, from Feyenoord to Field Mill, from trophies under the iconic Bill Nicholson to relegation under former Zambia coach Keith Burkinshaw - all in a little over three years. The 1970s weren't kind to Spurs. Nicholson's exit, the loss of legendary players and the club's eventual relegation all took place during a defining decade for British sport, painted against a backdrop of dramatic change for society at large. Social and economic malaise both informed and fed off a blooming culture of football hooliganism. The defining images of the decade were violent ones, both on and off the terraces. This book explores Tottenham's place in that unfolding drama, the club's own Götterdämmerung. But, as in Wagner's Ring, there was also a renaissance. The sun rose again as that same maligned Burkinshaw built an exciting team around the young Glenn Hoddle and World Cup-winning duo Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa. By the end of the decade, Tottenham had been reborn and were ready for more glory, glory days.Trade Review“In Glory, Glory, Gone: The Story of Tottenham Hotspur’s Regression, Relegation and Rebirth in the 1970s, Rooke bravely dives straight into one of Tottenham’s most painful periods in its long history — painful not just because of the poor football and on-pitch results but because it shone an even brighter light on the era that had just passed, one which had established Spurs as one of the greatest clubs in England.…a fascinating read. The real comfort in Glory, Glory, Gone is that despite a decade of frustration, happy times and glory did come again to Spurs, eventually. Something for all of us living in the future to remember.” * Cartilage Free Captain *

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Book SynopsisAcross the history of football, a select group of teams have achieved iconic status. Sometimes it's through sheer success. For others, their stature is built by star performers. On occasions, it's because a team has gifted a new way of playing to the world. Most rarely it's because of all three. The Ajax teams that conquered Europe with their enthralling 'totaalvoetbal' are one of those rare cases. Those Dutch artists used the pitch as their canvas, the skills of the players provided a palette of gloriously bright colours and their totaalvoetbal inspired the brushstrokes that delivered masterpieces of football creativity. The Dutch Masters is the entrancing tale of how that iconic white shirt with a broad red band down its centre not only became synonymous with the beautiful game of totaalvoetbal, but also symbolised the success of the club that created a new paradigm of play. It's the story of how Ajax came to dominate the European game as the epitome of footballing perfection.Trade Review"In Dutch Masters, Gary Thacker (who also contributes to talkSPORT) avoids any Double-Dutch and plainly speaks about 'Totaalvoetbal' in respect of who invented it, who implemented it first (Ajax) and who later copied this (then) new brand of stylish football... It’s a mighty tome of 400 pages and a brilliant read." -- Mark Watkins * Dare Radio *"Gary Thacker’s interesting and entertaining book takes us through that era, when Rinus Michels, Johann Cruyff and co. brought ‘Totaalvoetbal’ to the world... Dutch Masters is a great book." * Read the League *

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Book SynopsisFantastic Football is the second book in the Stupendous Sports series which aims to do for PE what Horrible Histories did for Year 7 history. Full of cartoons, jokes, fun facts and useful stats, it gives a brief history of football, details of player positions, the future of the game, the importance of diversity, the forthcoming Football World Cup, the rise of women's football, plus a great section on skills and tricks. Brilliantly illustrated by Matt Cherry, this is for fans of the beautiful game, their parents (and grandparents), but firstly for young readers who want something entertaining to dip into and, like the game itself, to share with friends.

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Book SynopsisThe Beautiful Game and The Ugly Truth: Football's Tragic Link to Dementia is an emotive examination of the world's most popular sport and its ties to a devastating disease. In 2002, a coroner ruled Jeff Astle's death at the age of 59 was the result of heading footballs. His daughter, Dawn, says football does not believe it can be a killer - but that her father's death certificate proves it can be. Evidence of its impact continues to pile up, 20 years after Jeff's passing. In 2019, Dr Willie Stewart's groundbreaking FIELD study found former footballers are three-and-a-half times more likely than the general population to die of a neurodegenerative disease. In 2020, Sir Bobby Charlton became the fifth member of England's 1966 World Cup-winning side to be diagnosed with dementia. Countless families have seen loved ones slip away from them. Modern professional players are fearing for their futures, too, as experts explain why it is wrong to lay the blame on those old heavy leather footballs.

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Book SynopsisBrian Moore Saved My Sunday is a nostalgic romp through the golden days of regional televised football.It revisits a time when the voices of not just the peerless Brian Moore, but of Hugh Johns, Gerald Sinstadt, Gerry Harrison and others, brought drama to TV sets. Whether The Big Match, Shoot or Kick Off Match, each ITV region had its own version.Dozens of people from in front of or behind the camera, or on the mic, were interviewed for this fascinating book that was ten years in the making. The families of Moore, Johns and Sinstadt provide priceless insights and many exclusive photographs. Pioneering director Bob Gardam, creative mastermind Jeff Foulser, ITV stalwart Gary Newbon, and forces of nature like Granada''s Paul Doherty, also share their memories.Brian Moore Saved My Sunday will thrill those fans who wolfed down their Sunday lunch to grab the best spot in front of the TV for football

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