Association football (Soccer) Books

Book SynopsisUPDATED TO INCLUDE ALL THE ACTION FROM THE CLUB'S TITLE-WINNING CENTENARY YEAR.THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER, PUBLISHED IN ASSOCIATION WITH LEEDS UNITED'Every up and down at Leeds United. Essential reading.' Phil HayThe definitive history of Leeds United's first century. 100 Years of Leeds United tells the story of a one-club city and its unique relationship with its football team. Since its foundation in 1919, Leeds United Football Club has seen more ups and downs than most, rising to global fame through an inimitable and uncompromising style in the 70s, clinching the last Division One title prior to the Premier League's inauguration in 1992, before a spectacular fall from grace at the start of the 21st century.United finally restored their top flight status after a sixteen-year wait with an unstoppable promotion campaign in the club's 100th year; the transformation under manager Marcelo Bielsa fittingly reminiscent of those instigated by Howard Wilkinson and Don Revie decades earlier.In 100 Years of Leeds United, Chapman delves deep into the archives to discover the lesser-known episodes, providing fresh context to the folkloric tales that have shaped the club we know today, painting the definitive picture of the West Yorkshire giants.Trade ReviewEvery up and down at Leeds United: Essential reading. -- Phil Hay

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Book SynopsisTrailblazers uncovers the extraordinary pioneering exploits of Nottingham Forest. The Garibaldi Reds have historically influenced progress in the game and possess a wonderful collection of unique records and exceptional firsts'. Key elements of the game today can be linked to the groundbreaking feats of this remarkable football club.

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Book SynopsisThe story of Luton Town FC from 2014 to the present-day when the club rose from non-League to the Premier League, the only club to achieve this feat.

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Book SynopsisFew cities in the world have as many professional football clubs as London and none have the history explored in this book by journalist and broadcaster Steve Tongue. It was in the English capital that the Football Association - the first of its kind anywhere - was founded in 1863 and that the FA Cup, the world's most famous domestic cup competition, was born. After the North and Midlands dominated the first forty-odd years of league football, three clubs in particular - Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea - began to challenge them and eventually succeeded, joining West Ham United as trophy winners not only at home but in Europe. Between those four clubs, and more than a dozen other professional clubs past and present, grew the turf wars that are the bedrock of the great rivalries and derbies across England's most vibrant football city. Turf Wars tells the story of football in the capital.

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Book SynopsisRemember when Zinedine Zidane lifted the World Cup in 1998? Kylian Mbappe doesn't. The gifted young forward wasn't born when the French team became world champions for the first time. But it was Mbappe's unique talent that helped France to reach the summit of world football once again in 2018, erasing years of failure, rancour and shame. These two crowning achievements made Les Bleus the envy of the world, but the road between these two highs was blighted by bitterly painful lows. Zidane's headbutt; a players' strike; infighting and recriminations; even sex scandals and blackmail. This was also a turbulent time for French society, as the promise of racial harmony in 1998 gave way to rising tensions and riots. Mbappe witnessed it all, honing his prodigious talent in the banlieues of Paris as the nation threatened to implode. His story embodies France's journey from disaster to triumph; football's hottest new property growing up in a troubled neighbourhood and inspiring a divided country on and off the pitch. In Sacre Bleu, Matthew Spiro traces the rise, fall and rise again of Les Bleus through the lens of Kylian Mbappe. Featuring a foreword by Arsene Wenger and interviews with leading figures in French football, including Marcel Desailly, Lilian Thuram, Emmanuel Petit, Robert Pires and Olivier Giroud, Spiro asks what went wrong for France and what, ultimately, went right.Trade Review"Winning the World Cup in 1998 was the highlight of my career. In this brilliant book, Matt Spiro captures the significance of that event and explains how it changed football in France for ever." - Frank Leboeuf, former France international "When I lived in France in the early 1990s I am not sure that I would have predicted the effect that the country would have not only on UK football, but on global football. Certainly, when they made such a mess of qualifying for the 1994 World Cup, winning the next one seemed a long way off. Having worked with Matt many times, it is no surprise that he has perfectly captured the essence of this beautiful country and its beautiful game." - Mark Chapman, broadcaster "A detailed and sensitive account of France's turbulent journey from one World Cup triumph to another; a fascinating story of football but also of far wider issues." - Jonathan Wilson, The Guardian "Glory, influence and the sheer volume of talent are clear themes of French football over the past twenty-five years. Matt Spiro goes deeper and covers the complications of culture and race, too. This is a book about modern France as well as modern French football." - Michael Walker, The Athletic "During my six seasons in France I saw the way Les Bleus brought an entire nation together. When they won the World Cup in 1998, I was kissing my teammates at pre-season training, thinking I was French. This fantastic book brings back some wonderful, vivid memories and truly encapsulates the complex relationship France has with football." - Tony Cascarino, former Marseille, Nancy and Republic of Ireland striker "An amazing tale... Spiro skilfully traces the emergence of world-class players from city ghettos imbued with strife through a volcanic mix of inhabitants from former French colonies." - Eric Brown, Sports Journalists' Association "A brilliantly insightful and entertaining read." - Jon Spurling, FourFourTwo

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Book SynopsisRenowned football writer and Spurs expert Julie Welch brings us a revealing and exhilarating account of the club's roller-coaster journey down the decades through the prism of its key strike partnerships.In 1961, Bobby Smith and Les Allen were the strike duo who led Tottenham to the league and cup double, making them the first club to achieve the feat in the modern era. It set in train Spurs' proud record of memorable strike partnerships whose goals brought glory to the club, rescued it from the doldrums or simply supplied unforgettable entertainment to millions of fans.These strike duos featured some of the greatest goalscorers and biggest personalities in English football history - from the top flight's record scorer in Jimmy Greaves partnering Alan Gilzean, to Steve Archibald and Garth Crooks, Teddy Sheringham and Jurgen Klinsmann and Son Heung-min and Harry Kane. Packed with insight, anecdotes and the recollections of legendary players, managers and supporters, Double Acts brings to life a rich and glorious history.

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Book SynopsisThis book tears up the traditional narrative of Sir Alf Ramsey's life and career. Using new evidence to tell Alf's story afresh, it changes everything we thought we knew about him. Alf defied disadvantage to play professionally, win trophies and then lead England. His story is an inspiring read a true odyssey of English diversity.

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Book SynopsisThe legend. In his own words. From the poverty-stricken streets of Sao Paulo to an international icon and one of the most celebrated footballers of all time, Pele''s life story is as extraordinary as it is enrapturing. With his trademark wit and deference, the legend draws us into a wonderful story lit by insight and humour and encompassing everything you ever wanted to know about the great man himself. From shining shoes for extra pennies at the Baru Athletic Club to triumph in several World Cups, the glory of being on top of the world -- and staying there -- is shared in what is undoubtedly one of the must-read autobiographies of the year. On top of his athletic achievements, Pele has also been a staunch campaigner for human rights and in particular the plight of street children in his home country, leading to an appointment as a UN Ambassador and an honorary knighthood from the British monarchy. By turns addictive, moving and enlightening, this i

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Book SynopsisThrough 1996 and 1997 bestselling author Joe McGinniss followed the Italian football season from Castel di Sangro, a small town nestled in the Abruzzi region of Italy. The motley crew that comprised the di Sangro soccer team in the early 90s masked an unparalleled prowess for playing soccer. This is the story of a team and a town with no aspirations, just a passion for the game, and how that passion allowed this team to rise to the top of the professional Italian soccer league. With the lust for life of Robert Crichton''s THE SECRET OF SANTA VITTORIA and the sporting dreams of modern movie classic FIELDS OF DREAMS, THE MIRACLE OF CASTEL DI SANGRO is an ebullient story of how a two-hour game transformed a dot on the map into a place of magic, miracles and wonder.Trade ReviewThis wonderful, compelling book seems destined to join the shortlist of football classics * INDEPENDENT *A gripping and engaging tale * SUNDAY TELEGRAPH *The most essential football book other than FEVER PITCH and THE GLORY GAME * FOUR-FOUR-TWO MAGAZINE *reads like good fiction. * OBSERVER *

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Book SynopsisBob Waterhouse uncovers the dark history of Bramley Moore Dock site of the new Everton FC ground tracing the historical links between the city of Liverpool and the slave trade. This fascinating book is a must for all Everton supporters and anyone with a personal connection to Merseyside.

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Book SynopsisYou can see them, but you don't know them.Ultras are football fans like no others. A hugely visible and controversial part of the global game, their credo and aesthetic replicated in almost every league everywhere on earth, a global movement of extreme fandom and politics is also one of the largest youth movements in the world. Yet they remain unknown: an anti-establishment force that is transforming both football and politics. In this book, James Montague goes underground to uncover the true face of this dissident force for the first time. 1312: Among the Ultras tells the story of how the movement began and how it grew to become the global phenomenon that now dominates the stadiums from the Balkans and Buenos Aires. With unprecedented insider access, the book investigates how ultras have grown into a fiercely political movement, embracing extremes on both the left and right; fighting against the commercialisation of football and society – and against the attempts to control them by the authorities, who both covet and fear their power.Trade ReviewBrilliant and daring * Tobias Jones, Guardian *Utterly gripping. I couldn’t recommend it highly enough. * Rory Smith, New York Times *

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Book SynopsisIs it football any more?''Fascinating and persuasive'' The HeraldEveryone involved in the VAR controversy should read this short, beautifully-written book and think again' Sir Michael BarberIn 2019, the English Premier League introduced the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), a way of using technology to review and correct the on-field referee's decisions. It's been a disaster: players hate it, managers hate it, pundits line up to pour scorn on its decisions, and fans have coined the chant it's not football any more' to describe its effect on the game.Almost every other sport in the world has managed to integrate technology into its decision-making process. Why is football failing so badly? Is it a special case, or have the game's authorities got something wrong? And what does the controversy about VAR tell us about the nature of authority, rationality and technology in the 21st century?

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Book SynopsisJohn Wight spares nothing in his appraisal of Glasgow Celtic Football Club as a cause to live by rather than just a club to support, with a special focus on the 1980s. During this tempestuous decade, when Thatcher and Thatcherism ruled the roost, like so many others from his background, Wight found sanctuary and meaning in Celtic.

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Book SynopsisFor three extraordinary seasons at Bayern Munich, Martin Perarnau was given total access around the German super club – to its players, its backroom staff, its board members and, above all, to its manager, Pep Guardiola. In the follow-up to his critically acclaimed account of Guardiola’s first full season at Bayern, Pep Confidential, Perarnau now lifts the lid on the Catalan’s whole tenure in Bavaria. Pep Guardiola: The Evolution takes the reader on a journey through three action packed seasons as Bayern smashed domestic records yet struggled to emulate that dominance in Europe, analysing Guardiola’s management style through key moments on and off the field. Perarnau reveals how Guardiola improved as a manager at Bayern despite failing to land the ultimate prize in European football, examines his decision to leave Germany to take up the challenge at Manchester City and how his managerial style will continue to evolve in the Premier League. This is more than the story of three seasons with one of the biggest clubs in the game. It is a portrait and analysis of a manager and the footballing philosophies that have beguiled the world.Trade Review'Perarnau's fascinating follow-up to Pep Confidential, his acclaimed inside portrait of Guardiola's first season at Bayern … [and shows] football's most successful manager is a Swiss Army Knife coach' * Sunday Times *'A hugely informative read' * FourFourTwo Magazine *'Unrivalled access' * The Observer *'Amazing' * Independent *'Perarau's inside access is extraordinary' -- Graham Hunter'Brilliant' -- Jamie Carragher

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Book SynopsisA FINANCIAL TIMES BEST SPORTS BOOK OF 2022''This book delivers a thousand memories''. - Mark Lawrenson----A football fan''s dream come true every complete UK PANINI sticker album 1978-1985 reproduced together for the very first time. ''Swapsies'', ''Got, Got, Need'' and ''Shinies''... This landmark illustrated book is a fantastic feast of nostalgia for any football fan of a certain age. PANINI albums were a must-have if you were a football-mad kid growing up in the late 70s and 80s, when player stickers were bought, bartered and collected in a treasured rite of passage. This book will bring back all those I had that one', I'd forgotten about him' and look at that haircut!' memories as well as providing in-depth details on all the players and teams of the era.Licensed by PANINI, this is a comprehensive collection of PANINI''S UK domestic football albums from 1978 to 1985 inclusive. Covering all English First Division and Scottish Premier teams,Trade ReviewThis book delivers a thousand memories -- Mark LawrensonThis reissued collection of ordinary men turned into immortals is also an elegy to evanescent youth and defunct hairstyles. I felt I remembered half the stickers. -- Simon Kuper * Financial Times *A new anthology of Panini albums is a treasure trove into a long-forgotten world * Ian Herbert, Daily Mail *Those albums were part of football history * Bryan Robson *Table of ContentsForeword by Mark Lawrenson Introduction by Greg Lansdowne Football 78 Football 79 Football 80 Football 81 Football 82 Football 83 Football 84 Football 85

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Book SynopsisTHE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER''Wrighty''s characteristic honesty means his book is far more engrossing than most bland football memoirs'' Sunday TimesIan Wright, Arsenal legend, England striker and TV pundit extraordinaire, is one of the most interesting and relevant figures in modern football.His journey from a South London council estate to national treasure is everybody''s dream. From Sunday morning football directly to Crystal Palace; from ''boring, boring Arsenal'' to inside the Wenger Revolution; from Saturday afternoons on the pitch to Saturday evenings on primetime television; from a week in prison to inspiring youth offenders, Ian will reveal all about his extraordinary life and career.Ian will also frankly discuss how retirement affects footballers, why George Graham deserves a statue, social media, why music matters, breaking Arsenal''s goal-scoring record, racism, the unadulterated joy of playing alongside Dennis Trade ReviewWright's characteristic honesty means his book is far more engrossing than most bland football memoirs -- Julia Llewellyn Smith, Sunday TimesA warm and engaging read * Sunday Post *

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Book SynopsisThe Little Book of Arsenal is a hotshot collection of words of wit and wisdom by and about the managers, players and officials who have passed through the marble halls of Highbury. From Herbert Chapman to the appointment of Freddie Ljungberg as caretaker manager, via the likes of Bertie Mee, George Graham and Arsene Wenger, from one Double to another, and from Ted Drake to Charlie George, Frank McLintock, Liam Brady, Tony Adams, Dennis Bergkamp. Thierry Henry, Jack Wilshere, Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Nicolas Pepe, here are more than 170 hot-shot quotations for the avid Gooner. Enjoy the humour and poignancy as The Little Book of Arsenal takes you through the highs and lows of the club''s fortunes on the pitch and savour some great moments. As England Rugby International and broadcaster Stuart Barnes says: ''I did not have a choice, but I am so glad I was born an Arsenal supporter.''

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Book SynopsisThe Leeds United Collection takes you on a fascinating multi-coloured journey through the club's history from 1919 to the present day. With stunning photos of unique match-worn Leeds shirts and other paraphernalia, the book tells the Whites' story alongside anecdotes, interviews and quotes from many big names. See home and away shirts worn by Leeds legends from various eras including Billy Bremner and Albert Johanneson, David Batty, Gary Speed, Peter Lorimer, Paul Madeley, Paul Reaney, Norman Hunter, Mick Jones, Allan Clarke, Frank and Eddie Gray, Terry Yorath, John Sheridan, Ian Baird, Fabian Delph, Kalvin Phillips, Pablo Hernandez and many more. These superb images are brought to life with commentary on title- and trophy-winning seasons, plus promotion-winning campaigns. There are also interviews with Eddie Gray, Howard Wilkinson, Pablo Hernandez, Allan Clarke, Tony Currie, Jermaine Beckford, Aidan Butterworth, Simon Grayson, Brian Deane, Rod Wallace, Dominic Matteo and many more. This is a book no true Whites fan should be without.Table of ContentsRobert Endeacott is a respected writer, novelist and occasional artist, producing many works related to his team. His novels include One Northern Soul, No More Heroes, Dirty Leeds, After Extra Time (Dirty Leeds Uncut), Disrepute - Revie's England and The Gigante. His factual works include A Celebration - the Official Centenary Book. Ben Hunt is a leading Leeds United collector and possibly the only owner of a Leeds United museum.

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Book SynopsisDarlington FC fan Paul Hodgson pays tribute to 100 of the Quakers' most memorable players from more than half a century of supporting the club. A roller-coaster ride that any lover of football will enjoy and spanning the 1970s to the present day, the book is a must' for every Darlo fan.

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Book SynopsisThe Greatest of Great Escapes: Rotherham United's Finest Hour is the story of one of the most astounding comebacks in modern football a true underdog tale that captured the imagination of football fans everywhere. The book relives the twists and turns that punctuated Rotherham's resurgence.

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Book SynopsisThis updated, family authorised biography of Manchester United heroJimmy Murphy, new to paperback, celebrates the career of the man who managed theclub after the Munich air disaster and took charge of Wales at the1958 World Cup.

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Book SynopsisDan Kay, who spent two decades at the Liverpool ECHO, penned precisely-crafted and thoroughly captivating player profiles of the biggest characters in Liverpool Football Club history. This book is a loving collection of these, with a foreword by Sir Kenny Dalglish.

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Book SynopsisHe is the larger-than-life figure who bounced back from rejection at 16 and graduated from parks pitches to become a Premier League goalkeeper, and later represent his country. Paddy Kenny's career was certainly not straightforward... just like his life. In his autobiography, Kenny lifts the lid on his time on and off the football field - including dressing-room rucks, being beaten for the Premier League's most famous goal and having his eyebrow bitten off in a curry house, just days before he faced Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney and Manchester United. This is Kenny's story... and the gloves are well and truly off.Trade ReviewTakes the reader right to the heart of the dressing room - showing what life can be like with some of football's biggest characters - The Athletic; Strips away the glitzy and glamorous facade... an honest account of what life was really like as a Premier League and international goalkeeper - Yorkshire Post; Goalkeepers have always been a bit crazy and they didn't come much more madcap than Paddy Kenny, who details the truth behind the headlines in this entertaining and frank account of his colourful career and life - Daily Mirror

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Book SynopsisWell written and thoughtful. Takes us on a tour of some of Europe's most innovative football thinkers - Financial TimesThe future of football is now. Football's data revolution has only just begun. The arrival of advanced metrics and detailed analysis is already reshaping the modern game. We can now fully assess player performance, analyse the role of luck and measure what really leads to victory. There is no turning back.Now the race is on between football's wealthiest clubs and a group of outsiders, nerds and rule-breakers, who are turning the game on its head with their staggering innovations. Winning is no longer just about what happens out on the pitch, it's now a battle taking place in boardrooms and on screens across international borders with the world's brightest minds driving for an edge over their fiercest rivals.Christoph Biermann has moved in the midst of these disruptive upheavals, talking to scientists, coaches, managers, scouts and psychologists in the world's major clubs, traveling across Europe and the US and revealing the hidden - and often jaw-dropping - truths behind the beautiful game. 'A book full of exciting ideas and inside views on modern football. The most exciting book in an exciting time for football.' Thomas HitzlspergerTrade ReviewWell written and thoughtful. Takes us on a tour of some of Europe's most innovative football thinkers -- Simon Kuper * Financial Times *A nicely written examination of the football data revolution -- Matthew Syed * The Times *The most exciting football book of our time -- Thomas Hitzlsperger, former player for Aston Villa and GermanyEasy to fall in love with. A brilliant, thought provoking book that details how much further football's data revolution can go? * Birmingham Post *

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Book SynopsisDame Bola takes us on a journey through the rich football-related language phrases, concepts, stories used by arguably the most passionate fans in world football. Fútbol dominates Argentinian society's machinery the cogs of their world simply wouldn't turn without a metaphorical mention of football in every sentence.

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Book Synopsis1982 tells the story of football's most exhilarating and entertaining World Cup side. This scintillating Brazil team - blessed with Zico, Socrates, Falcao, Eder and Junior - lit up the 1982 World Cup with a brand of football that was 'futebol arte'. Playing to the accompaniment of a samba soundtrack from their supporters in the stands, the side scored 15 goals in five games and enchanted the world, but their dream fell apart in the Sarria Stadium against Italy. Even so, it was a match considered one of the greatest World Cup fixtures of all time and it changed the way the game was played forever.The Brazilian 1982 World Cup side have become a cast of mythical characters. Despite failing to reach the semi-finals, they made the football world hold its breath every time they stepped on the pitch. Told through the eyes of a young boy who fell in love with the men in yellow, and the memories of those who were there to witness Brazil's most glorious failure, 1982 is the definitive account of the greatest team never to win a World Cup.

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Book SynopsisIt's an embarrassing truth for many football fans that it was only when professional football was eventually forced to close down that we recognised Covid-19 as a genuine threat to our way of life. Maybe just as shameful was the fact that once lockdown became normalised, it didn't take long for chatter to start about when the game might begin again. This book begins by charting what happened in the weeks leading up to that point, placing football in the context of furloughs, some new-found community awareness and dithering politicians. At the heart of the book are seven case studies of teams. From Burnley in the Premier League, down through the divisions to grassroots football, Project Restart looks at the hopes and fears of supporters and the actions of those charged with keeping their beloved clubs afloat. It looks at how we almost adjusted to the eerie echo of games on TV with no crowds and finishes by trying to address the biggest question in town: what will football look like in a post-Covid future?

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Book SynopsisJust Champion: The Stories Behind Rangers' 2020/21 Title Triumph tells the tale of a league title win against all odds. Rangers were ridiculed in 2018 when they appointed rookie manager Steven Gerrard. But slowly, and methodically, he transformed the side into a machine, and one that would completely dismantle Celtic's hopes of landing an unprecedented tenth successive title. Now, 25 members of the Rangers family - from ex-players to loyal supporters - tell the story of how the title came home to Ibrox. Mark Walters, Marco Negri, Ally Dawson and Lisa Swanson are among the players featured, as is former director John Gilligan. The impressive cast list also includes comedian and broadcaster Andy Cameron MBE, former MP Sir Brian Donohoe and even one of Her Majesty's Ambassadors. TV stars, restaurateurs, coaches and entertainers all share their stories, and what connects them is an unequivocal love of Glasgow Rangers. You will laugh, cry and marvel at each of the unique tales in this book.

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Book Synopsis** NEW COVER & INTRODUCTION BASED ON EXCLUSIVE PEP GUARDIOLA INTERVIEW ON THE 2022-23 TREBLE ** Over his first three seasons in England, Pep Guardiola built something the Premier League had never seen before: a team that dominated games like no other, scoring goals and collecting points and trophies at record-breaking pace. Throughout that journey, the Spanish journalists Lu Martín and Pol Ballús were embedded with the club, reporting this inside account of how a phenomenal team was constructed: from the recruitment of Guardiola himself, to the backroom staff that provide the platform for his team and the superstar players that set a new standard in British footballTrade Review‘The Treble made them immortal... This is their origin story’ The Athletic; 'As an insight into the inner workings of a modern top-level football club, there's not much around to match it' Malachy Clerkin, Irish Times sports books of the year; 'A nuanced, access-all-areas study' Four Four Two

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Book SynopsisEver wondered which goal Frank Lampard is proudest of, who Jürgen Klopp thinks will manage Liverpool in the future, what Rio Ferdinand thinks of Man United in the post-Ferguson years or exactly how many grey cashmere jumpers Pep Guardiola owns? In this collection of frank and funny conversations between footballers and their biggest fans, these vital questions (and many more) are finally addressed. A Game of Two Halves shows a different side to some of the biggest names in football, reminding us of the common ground we all share. This project is published in partnership with UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, with the goal of raising both funds for and awareness of their work with child refugees.Featuring forewords by Raheem Sterling and Gary Lineker and interviews betweenJürgen Klopp & John BishopPep Guardiola & Johnny MarrLucy Bronze & Clare BaldingFrank Lampard & Omid Djalili Rio Ferdinand & Rachel Riley Ian Wright & Wretch 32Héctor Bellerin & Romesh RanganathanSteven Gerrard & David MorrisseyGary Lineker & Fahd SalehEric Dier & David LammyJohn McGlynn & Val McDermid Vivianne Miedema & Amy RaphaelTrade ReviewHow Amy Raphael has got so many incredible people in one book is astounding, and proof of the power of football to bring us together. I loved every page. -- James CordenThere's more to these sporting greats than some would give them credit for, and all of them speak passionately, eruditely and honestly, whether on the subject of scoring goals or feminism and football...Amy Raphael has done a brilliant job of not only producing a first-class book that allows readers unprecedented access to some of the biggest names in world football but also in using that platform for bigger issues. * NB magazine *

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Book Synopsis'Compelling from start to finish...Downie does full justice to an extraordinary life' Pete Davies, author of All Played Out. A stunning new biography of Socrates, the iconic captain of the greatest Brazil side never to win the World Cup. Socrates was always special. A hugely talented athlete who graduated in medicine yet drank and smoked to excess. The attacking midfielder stood out - and not just because of his 6'4' frame. Fans were enthralled by his inch-perfect passes, his coolness in front of goal and his back heel, the trademark move that singled him out as the most unique footballer of his generation.  Off the pitch, he was just as original, with a dedication to politics and social causes that no player has ever emulated. His biggest impact came as leader of Corinthians Democracy - a movement that gave everyone from the kitman to the president an equal say in the running of the club. At a time when Brazil was ruled by a military dictatorship, it was truly revolutionary.  Passionate and principled, entertaining and erudite, Socrates was as contradictory as he was complex. He was a socialist who voted for a return of Brazil's monarchy, a fiercely independent individual who was the ultimate team player, and a romantic who married four times and fathered six children.  Armed with Socrates' unpublished memoir and hours of newly discovered interviews, Andrew Downie has put together the most comprehensive and compelling account of this iconic figure. Based on conversations with family members, close friends and former team-mates, this is a brilliant biography of a man who always stood up for what he believed in, whatever the cost. 'Brilliantly written and researched. Amazing life.' Alex Bellos, author of Futebol: The Brazilian Way of LifeTrade Review'Brilliantly written and researched. Amazing life.' -- Alex Bellos * Author of Futebol: The Brazilian Way of Life *'Compelling from start to finish - a vivid portrait of one of the greatest players of all time, and of the thrilling, fascinating country he represented. Highly intelligent, politically engaged, Socrates had an impact reaching far beyond the field of play. Downie does full justice to an extraordinary life, rich in joy, in sadness, and in inspiration.' -- Pete Davies * Author of All Played Out *'Such a phenomenon [as Sócrates] deserves the rounded, accomplished biography he has been accorded by Reuters writer Andrew Downie, who draws on a knowledge not merely of Brazil's football but of its wider politics and society based on 17 years of living there. Downie celebrates the brilliance and the achievements.' * When Saturday Comes *'Downie has done a grand job of juggling all the different facets of the captain of the greatest Brazil team never to win the World Cup' -- Aidan Smith * The Scotsman *'Socrates was one of Brazil’s footballing icons...His posthumous fortune is having a biographer whose knowledge and understanding born of many years living in Brazil enables him to bring the reader "the full Socrates" in the colourful context both on and off the pitch...A valuable addition to the football bookshelf.' -- Keir Rednedge * KeirRadnedge.com *'I love this book. It’s a book about famous sporting figures that actually it turns out we don’t know that much about…It’s a great book, one of the best I’ve read this year so far. I fully recommend you pick that one up.' -- Matt Williams * Sports Book Podcast *'An excellent piece of work. Fascinating study of a complicated man.' -- Tom English * BBC Scotland *'The story of Brazilian international Socrates who, as well as being a captain, politician, smoker and drinker, trained as a doctor. A fascinating insight into one of football's most complex characters.' -- Stuart Horsfield * Shortlist *The confounding contradictions of Sócrates’ genius, and his apparent unwillingness to place football at any special pedestal, that forms the basis for Andrew Downie’s excellent new book, Doctor Sócrates: Footballer, Philosopher, Legend... Sócrates not only shaped the idea of what sport can mean to its fans...but he also showed the world that there was a place for dissent even in sport. -- Suhrith Parthasarathy * The Hindu *The fascinating story of a true legend. Downie...pieces together the gripping, remarkable and inimitable story of a man who was as prodigiously gifted as he was staggeringly self-centred. * Hindustan Times *'[Fans] now get the opportunity to read an honest biography of the Brazilian in Andrew Downie’s magnificent work...This must-read sport book of our times....First-class journalism...untainted by hagiography.' * Times of India *'Andrew Downie...manages to tread a narrow path in describing Socrates, with skilful writing, warmth in reporting and a clear eye. This biography should be compulsory reading for sports fans, but will also hold non-fans in thrall.' * India Today *'Excellent....a timely reminder of just how much impact this well-rounded character had during his short life.' * sportsbookofthemonth.com *'It is perhaps understandable that football, so identified with Brazil, has provided a rare opportunity to open a window onto this vibrant, hopeful, chaotic time and place through Downie’s book. If only there were more such biographies in English waiting for readers stimulated by his Sócrates read to find out more about the people who make up this endlessly complex, contradictory place called Brazil.' -- Tom Hennigan * Dublin Review of Books *'Downie's meticulously researched 384 pages, which includes extracts from the player's unpublished memoirs, delve into every nook and cranny of Socrates's life and is a brilliant read. For anyone who remembers the summer of '82 and watched Socrates weave his magic...(it) is a must-read.' -- Brendan Crossan * The Irish News *'Downie has painstakingly described [Socrates] in a very British style and in great detail. This biography finally does justice to one of the personalities of 1980s football.' * Le Telegramme *

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Book SynopsisA publishing phenomenon in hardback, Roy Keane''s autobiography was the biggest selling sports book of the year.The book will include a new chapter covering events that followed the books publication: Keane''s vindication by the FAI report; the punishment meted out by the FA and Mick McCarthy''s resignation.Brilliantly reviewed, Roy Keane''s riveting, brutally honest autobiography has the potential to be one of the year''s biggest paperback bestsellers.

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Book Synopsis''A powerful chronicle of the transformation of English football and society through the prism of two very different characters'' Irish TimesJack was open, charismatic, selfish and pig-headed; Bobby was guarded, shy, polite and reserved to the point of reclusiveness. Jack was a gangling central defender who developed a profound tactical intelligence; Bobby an athletic attacking midfielder who disdained systems. Yet the Charlton brothers both enjoyed great success as football players and together, for England, they won the World Cup. Two Brothers is both the story of the most famous football players of their generation and an account of late-twentieth-century English football: the tensions between flair and industry, between individuality and the collective, between right and left, between middle- and working-classes, between exile and home. ''Wilson is meticulous in providing all manner of nuggets'' Sports Books of the Year, TheTrade ReviewRazor-sharp tactical analysis and an intriguing angle of its own * Irish Independent *Gripping * Daily Mail *Wilson is a fine, nuanced writer * TLS *Compelling... gets to the heart of Bobby and Jackie * Late Tackle Magazine *This is a social history, yet surprisingly moving as it chronicles two remarkable lives * Guardian *A powerful chronicle of the transformation of English soccer and society through the prism of two very different characters * Irish Times *Tells a familar, yet extraordinary, tale exceptionally well, illuminated and refreshed by Wilson's particular perspectives and insights * When Saturday Comes Magazine *A book that Jonathan Wilson was born to write... He has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the game... There is much poignancy in their stories -- Books of the Year * Irish Examiner *Explores the careers and personalities of Bobby and Jack Charlton, who we discover could not have been more different, and Wilson is meticulous in providing all manner of nuggets -- Sports Books of the Year * The Times *Wilson skilfully interweaves the stories of brothers with polar opposite personalities who also happened to be two of the most iconic footballing figures in the last century, using their respective career trajectories to tell a broader story of what it said about English and (sometimes) Irish society of the time of their heydays * The 42 *

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Book SynopsisFootball Weekly -- everyone's favourite football podcast -- has decided the time (and the money) is right to finally commit their wisdom to paper. You know what this means: trivia, filler, too much about The Mighty Cambridge United, not enough about [insert your club], and very occasionally an insightful remark.Expect all the trademark humour of their hugely successful live shows, plus:Max Rushden and Barry Glendenning's 'Blind Date'Mark Langdon's 'World of Meat'Jonathan Liew's 'You Are the PGMOL-Appointed Match Official'Ben Fisher's 'Car Parks of British Football'A thrilling new board game, 'Snakes & Blatters'Philippe Auclair's shocking FIFA exposéAn exclusive David Squires cartoonAnd much, much more!Edited by Jonathan Wilson, the book will feature the full pod line-up of:Barry Glendenning -- Max Rushden -- David Squires -- Barney Ronay -- Jonathan Liew -- John Brewin -- Scott Murray -- Elis James -- Paul Watson - Philippe Auclair - Troy Townsend - Ben Fisher -- Jordan Jarrett-Bryan -- Sid Lowe -- Nicky Bandini -- Lars Sivertsen -- Robyn Cowen.

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Book SynopsisAnna Trench is an illustrator, cartoonist, writer and teacher based in London. Florrie is her first book. It has been shortlisted for the First Graphic Novel Award and the LDComics Award.

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