Association football (Soccer) Books

Book SynopsisThe Jimmy Greaves We Knew celebrates the life and career of a national treasure through the memories of friends, family, team-mates, the media and fans. They recall a goalscoring great, a TV celebrity - most notably as one half of the legendary Saint and Greavsie - a newspaper columnist, comedian and raconteur who battled alcohol addiction. The modern game also pays tribute to this charismatic, friendly, down-to-earth, witty individual who built a reputation for hitting the back of the net playing for Chelsea, AC Milan, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and England. Greaves set a European record of 357 goals in 516 top-flight games and netted 44 in 57 full international appearances. Tragically, Greaves suffered a stroke in 2015 and died on 19 September 2021, when two of his former clubs, Spurs and Chelsea - plus 60,000 fans - gave him a minute's applause before they played each other at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The love and affection is as strong as ever.

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Book SynopsisIn the fourth book in the acclaimed Turf Wars series, veteran journalist and broadcaster Steve Tongue chronicles the competitive history of football in Yorkshire.Sports-mad Yorkshire is proud to be the home of football, the birthplace of the world''s oldest independent club as long ago as 1857. So the turf wars began earlier than anywhere else, often with bad blood spilt when Sheffield FC took on neighbouring Hallam. Fierce rivalries that remain to this day emerged among two new Sheffield clubs, Wednesday and United, plus Doncaster Rovers, Rotherham United and early FA Cup winners Barnsley; then in West Riding''s Bradford, Leeds and Huddersfield.After a national Football League was founded, the county had at least one team in the top division from 1892 for the next 90 years, capable of winning the English game''s biggest honours.This book charts the ever-changing fortunes of one of the great football regions, with a colourful cast of famous play

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Book SynopsisJeff Goulding''s Red Odyssey, an epic chronicle of Liverpool FC''s history, continues with more tales of drama and joy, heroes and villains, victors and vanquished.In 2020, Klopp''s Reds captured the club''s first league title in 30 years, completing a remarkable treble of domestic, European and world honours. Jurgen''s Last Stand: Red Odyssey IV is the story of what came next, reliving how Jürgen came agonisingly close to a clean sweep of all available honours in 2022 before carrying off a domestic cup double.Goulding treats us to a supporter''s-eye view of the drama in Paris, which is emotively contrasted with a glorious homecoming that enveloped the team and the city of Liverpool in a blanket of solidarity and celebration.Finally, as a tired Klopp battles to build Liverpool 2.0, supporters are rocked by his decision to step down at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, before their passionate response propels him and the club through yet another hist

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Book SynopsisWinner Stays On journeys into the heart of English football using FA Cup fixtures to plan the route.This unique adventure takes us across the entire spectrum of the English game, from Tuffley Rovers to Burton Albion, Luton Town to Manchester City, revealing the people and places that make football tick. With original research and rich, thought-provoking prose, the book blends elements of travel writing with football culture and barstool sociology. It's also funny.A frank account of the state of modern football as well as a heartfelt celebration, the book uncovers where the game is going wrong. Amateur footballers are afforded the same curiosity as Premier League stars; faltering industrial towns are treated with the same respect as upmarket villages and prosperous, world-leading cities.Over 14 matches and 14 locations, Winner Stays On brings us a fascinating first-hand take on modern England and the sport its inhabitants turn to for escapism.Trade Review"[The book] takes the armchair reader on a journey across England by way of following teams, towns, and cities as balls are drawn out of the bag, round by round, for the FA Cup... R M Clark describes his emotions and experiences, the people he met and of course the main match action. An original idea made more interesting by all the pleasant, personal touches." -- Mark Watkins * Dare Radio *

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Book Synopsis(Still) Ain't Got a Barrel of Money charts Sheffield United's astonishing rise from the brink of oblivion, after dropping to the Fourth Division for the first (and only) time in its history, to competing in the inaugural Premier League season. It tells the story of the managers and the players who gave Blades fans back their pride.

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Book SynopsisNamaste, Geezer is a revealing and trenchant memoir by one of England's top national newspaper reporters, who has seen and covered it all, from the Heysel disaster to World Cups, plus the death of Princess Diana.Most football fans who grew up loving the game in the hooliganism-blighted 1970s probably experienced running from opposition fans at some point. For Shekhar Bhatia, the menacing enemy was within the nastier, right-wing elements among fans of his own team. Taken to West Ham by his father, who arrived in Britain from India in the late 1950s, young Shekhar just could not understand the hate directed towards rare Asian-heritage fans back then, and has since spent a lifetime steering a path between his loyalty to the Hammers and racism in the game.Often shocking, ultimately joyous, this is a tale of rising above prejudice to fulfil ambitions, in both football and journalism.

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Book Synopsis'A brilliant insight into Liam's life in football' Kevin Moran'Insightful, often joyous, and hugely entertaining' Roddy Doyle'One of our country's great footballers, and definitely our most beautiful' - John GilesThe #2 Irish Bestseller"Being a footballer was my destiny." After being expelled from school for playing football for his country, fifteen-year-old Liam Brady travelled to London to join Arsenal, and soon became an indispensable part of their glorious 1970s team. Rightly considered one of the Republic of Ireland's best-ever footballers, he went on to enjoy successes with Juventus, Sampdoria and West Ham, as well as managing Celtic and Brighton and Hove, and becoming assistant manager of his national team. Today he is best known for his much-respected TV punditry and searingly intelligent insights into the game he adores. Full of honest insights, amusing anecdotes and recollections of extraordinary times, with Born to be a Footballer Brady delivers a compelling story of a fifty-year career that is unparalleled in Irish sport.Trade Review'Once in a generation you find a most gifted and talented player. In my generation of the 70s and 80s that player was Liam Brady. This book is a brilliant insight into Liam's life in football. He is honest about his ups and downs and will bring back great memories for all of us who grew up in this era' -- Kevin Moran'Any book about Liam Brady had better be good - and this one is very, very good. It is insightful, often joyous, and hugely entertaining. I loved it' -- Roddy Doyle'One of our country's great footballers, and definitely our most beautiful' -- John Giles'By any measure, an incredible life. And a book that more than does it justice' -- Malachy Clerkin

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Book SynopsisRelive Scotland's epic journey to and at the 1990 World Cup in Italy: the trials and tribulations, the dramatic games and goals that defined Scotland's fifth World Cup in a row. Just how did the unheralded Andy Roxburgh lead Scotland through a tough qualifying group? Featuring players' and fans' stories, this is the definitive account.

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Book SynopsisBill McCracken, the Offside King is the first biography of a football pioneer and Newcastle United legend who forced a change which altered how football was played. Known as the 'Offside King', Bill was a key figure in Newcastle's famous Edwardian line-up. Discover the colourful career and life of a hugely influential figure.

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Book SynopsisRobin Friday was an exceptional footballer who should have played for England. He never did. Robin Friday was a brilliant player who could have played in the top flight. He never did. Why? Because Robin Friday was a man who would not bow down to anyone, who refused to take life seriously and who lived every moment as if it were his last. For anyone lucky enough to have seen him play, Robin Friday was up there with the greats. Take it from one who knows: 'There is no doubt in my mind that if someone had taken a chance on him he would have set the top division alight,' says the legendary Stan Bowles. 'He could have gone right to the top, but he just went off the rails a bit.' Loved and admired by everyone who saw him, Friday also had a dark side: troubled, strong-minded, reckless, he would end up destroying himself. Tragically, after years of alcohol and drug abuse, he died at the age of 38 without ever having fulfilled his potential. The Greatest Footballer You Never Saw provides the first full appreciation of a man too long forgotten by the world of football, and, along with a forthcoming film based on Friday's life, with a screenplay by co-author Paolo Hewitt, this book will surely give him the cult status he deserves.Trade ReviewA story of shattered dreams, hedonism and a short life lived very much to the full . . . this is one of the essential modern football books * FourFourTwo *It has a magical atmosphere and is easily the most compulsive soccer biography you'll ever read * Melody Maker *A terrific read * Daily Mail *Poignant, funny and tragic * The Scotsman *

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Book SynopsisThis book contains as full a statistical record as archival data permits for games played by the England Women's National team from their first official match played against Scotland in 1972 to the final match played in 2022.

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Book SynopsisA statistical guide to football in Poland, covering the top division from inception to 2024 with home-and-away' charts showing results plus final tables for each season. Also includes tables for some regional leagues, 1919-1927 plus Polish Cup results for the final 3 rounds in every year and team line-ups and scorers for the Final itself.

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Book SynopsisArsenal 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 red-and-white history - with an entry for every day of the year. From the club's Victorian roots playing in donated shirts right up to the Emirates era, Gunners fans have witnessed league, cup and Double triumphs, hard-fought derbies and unforgettable European nights - all featured here. All-time greats including Thierry Henry and George Armstrong, Liam Brady, Charlie George and Eddie Hapgood loom larger than life - while their team-mates bare their buttocks before the North Bank, score solo pop hits and win Olympic gold medals. Find out which legend debuted on the day George Graham was born; the day which links Bertie Mee and Arsene Wenger; and which Arsenal manager was sacked on Friday the 13th.

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Book SynopsisFollowing Leeds United is anything but easy. The ups and downs as the club has marched on together range from huge highs to near extinction. As the Whites celebrate 100 years since they came into existence in 1919, James Buttler chronicles a dramatic history through the eyes of the 36 managers that have taken their turn in the dugout. From Don Revie and Howard Wilkinson, who both took Leeds United to the pinnacle of the English game, to Brian Clough, Dave Hockaday and Darko Milanic, whose tenure came and went in a matter of days. The 36 managers of Leeds United have stepped up, excited, enjoyed and endured. Whether successful or not, they took on the challenge. Relaying their experiences through extensive research and exclusive interviews with Kevin Blackwell. Simon Grayson, Howard Wilkinson, George Graham and Eddie Gray, the tale of a great club is told. 100 years where dreams, careers and legends were forged. Where trophies and titles were won. Huge European evenings and stylish football, which made Leeds United the best team in the game. And relegations, financial calamities and strife, which tested them all. 100 years of Leeds United has often frustrated, sometimes delivered dreams, but has never been dull.

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Book SynopsisFootball fans love nothing more than to read about their favourite teams. Although this book is aimed at young teenagers they will delight all ages with their mixture of funny and enlightening stories and will give hours of pleasure discovering quirky facts about your favourite team. Each title is also augmented with a selection of sketches by the young sketch artist Becky Welton that depict some of the stories within.

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for the 2023 Sports Book Awards for Best Football Writing of the Year Discover the origins of the Lionesses that brought football home. England's Lionesses are on the front and back pages; their stars feature on prime-time television; they are named in the national honours lists for their contribution to their sport and to society. The names of Lucy Bronze, Steph Houghton and Ellen White are emblazoned across the backs of children’s replica jerseys. These women are top athletes – and top celebrities. But in 1921, the Football Association introduced a ban on women’s football, pronouncing the sport 'quite unsuitable for females'. That ban would last for half a century - but despite official prohibition the women’s game went underground. From the Dick, Kerr Ladies touring the world to the Lost Lionesses who played at the unsanctioned Women's World Cup in Mexico in 1971, generations of women defied the restrictions and laid the foundations for today's Lionesses - so much so that in 2018 England's Women’s Super League became the first fully professional league in Europe...when just a few decades previously women were forbidden to play the sport in England at all. This book tells the story of women’s football in England since its 19th-century inception through pen portraits of its trailblazers. The game might have once been banned because of its popularity – find out about the subversive women who kept organising their teams and matches despite the prohibition, who broke barriers and set records – the legends of the game who built the foundations of the stage upon which today’s stars flourish. 'At what feels like a pivotal moment, Carrie’s forensic research and depth of knowledge make her the perfect person to guide us through the constantly changing landscape of women’s football' - Kelly Cates, TV presenterTrade Review'At what feels like a pivotal moment, Carrie’s forensic research and depth of knowledge make her the perfect person to guide us through the constantly changing landscape of women’s football' -- Kelly Cates, TV presenter'One of the most talented and considered minds working in women’s football today' -- Carl Anka * The Athletic *'The name of this book is taken from the reason given by the Football Association when it banned women from playing football in 1921. Carrie Dunn gives you a detailed look at that era in time and paints portraits of the trailblazers who built the foundations for today’s game' * Goal.com - 12 best things to buy to celebrate the 2022 Women's European Championship *'When it comes to women’s football and the history of the Lionesses, Carrie always brings expertise at the back, amazing research in centre midfield and never misses up front when it comes to passion' -- Colin Murray, BBC Radio 5 Presenter and Writer'Her passion and erudition seep through every syllable' * The Guardian *'It now feels extraordinary how invisible women have been in the history of sport - gaps that are starting to fill like in the insightful work of Carrie Dunn's Unsuitable for Females. She does great job recreating the past, taking us to the present and raising questions. More of that please!' -- Guillem Balague, football broadcaster and expert'Carrie Dunn's passion for her subject is there on every page. A brilliantly researched and important book' -- Adrian Durham, football broadcaster and award-winning author'I've worked with Carrie and I know 'Unsuitable for Females' will be an insightful, enlightening, witty, and thought-provoking read' -- Ricky Hill, former England men's international'Carrie Dunn is an inspiration - she has been championing women in football for many years, through her research, teaching and journalism. Those recent converts to the joy of the women's game will find Carrie's work on the Lionesses' history gives rich context to this success' -- Jo Swinson, author of 'Equal Power' and former MP'Unsuitable for Females is far more than just a history book ... [it] is a triumph of storytelling and skilfully fills in some of those historical gaps from the sport that have remained unexplored for too long' -- Tim Stillman, football writer'This book shows how women's football had to fight for its presence. It's extremely well written' -- Stuart Cosgrove * Off the Ball *'Carrie is my go-to for anything concerning The Lionesses. She’s always got an anecdote or insight I’ve never heard or considered before. Impeccably researched, I implore you to read Unsuitable for Females from cover to cover' -- Lynsey Hooper, presenter and broadcaster'One of the leading voices in women's football' * Mirror Sport *'Just incredible ... it’s so interesting' -- Nicky Campbell * BBC Radio 5 *'A great book ... a remarkable story' * BBC CWR (Coventry and Warwickshire), Breakfast Show *'A fantastic, really interesting history' -- Trisha Goddard'Recounting the troubled, shocking but ultimately immensely inspirational story of the women's game in England, Dunn's riveting book tells of the courageous female players who defied the half-century ban on women's football and the glorious rise of the Lionesses' * Waterstones Online *

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Book SynopsisBryan Gibson grew up watching football, wishing he was on the pitch rather than in the crowd. After securing a trial at a well-known club, he was thrilled to be called into the manager’s office only to be asked ‘What would you do if you weren’t to play football?’ Part fact, part fiction and inspired by the author’s calamitous attempts to become a professional, Football’s Tallest Tales spans every aspect of The Beautiful Game and tells of the many fascinating characters he met along the way. The book includes a madcap reinvention of soccer that introduces readers to such fictional legends of football as Stanley Accrington, Betty Skyrocket and over-zealous supporter Hyam Keenbritches. Covering every aspect of the game, including the invention of Dragon Grease (an indispensable aid), the gestation of women’s football, the demise of the annual Goalkeepers’ Convention and other stories, Football’s Tallest Tales also homes in on such farcical real-life muses as the cricket teacher who morphed into the umpire Dickie Bird, Herman the German of Bayern Munich FC, and Sandy Soot, football angel turned chimney sweep who showed the author how to take the perfect penalty kick. Featuring many present-day football clubs, players and comical events as well as explaining such mysteries as why Barnsley FC supporters are all poets, playwrights and performers. A totally original super-spoof – the ideal gift for any football fan.Trade Review‘The runaway best-seller that upped and ran away’– Radio Water Bottle; ‘If you want to know how footballs came to be round not square this book contains all you need to know’– Anon; ‘Ground breaking’– Groundsman’s Weekly; ‘A perfect cure for football fever’– Society of the Wet Sponge.Table of ContentsKick Off; 10 minutes; Tall Tale No.1 - Stanley Accrington; 15 minutes; Tall Tale No.2 - Superfan; 30 minutes; Tall Tale No.3 - Old Soss; 43 minutes; Tall Tale No.4 - The Goalkeepers’ Convention; 45 minutes; Tall Tale No.5 - Pundit Wars; 65 minutes; 80 minutes — Cricket Break; Tall Tale No.6 - The Trip That Changed Football; 82 minutes 37 seconds; Tall Tale No.7 - Strange Games; 90 minutes; Tall Tale No.8 - Dragon Grease; Stoppage time; Tall Tale No.9 - Cup Finals; Extra time; Squeaky bum time.

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Book SynopsisSir David Murray's life story is a truly remarkable tale of never-say-die triumph over unimaginable adversity. For 50 years he has been a towering figure in Scottish business, sport and philanthropy. His family name is synonymous with steel but his rise to power owes as much to mettle as it does to metal.

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Book SynopsisFull colour and packed with action photos, this book profiles the best players in the world, telling the stories of their rise and success. Each player is profiled in a dedicated spread with key statistics and points of interest.

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Book Synopsis'TERRIFIC' - Daily Mail'ONE OF THE UNDISPUTED GREATS' - Sun'Why me? How could a boy from a Copenhagen tower block say I want to be a champion with Manchester United and Denmark and make it happen?'Peter Schmeichel is a giant of football, who won more Premier League titles (five) than any player in his position and captained Manchester United in the incomparable, last-gasp Treble-clinching win over Bayern Munich in the 1999 Champions League final. 'I don't believe a better goalkeeper played the game,' Sir Alex Ferguson said. One: My Autobiography is Schmeichel's story.In it, he takes us inside the remarkable, winning environment of a club that transformed football during the 1990s, and on to the pitch on that crazy, breathless night in Barcelona in 1999. From Ferguson's unique gifts to Eric Cantona's unique personality, he delivers a close-up and insightful portrait of United's golden era.However, One: My Autobiography goes way beyond the pitch.Schmeichel has an incredible family story to tell, starting with his father, Antoni, a brilliant Polish jazz musician who battled demons and for years kept a momentous secret from those around him. And he explores what he has been able to pass on to his own son, Kasper - himself a Premier League-winning goalkeeper and number one in the Danish national side.Peter's life after football, seldom straightforward, is described with astonishing candour. One: My Autobiography is about football, origins, journeys and legacy.Trade ReviewIt's comforting to know that one of the football heroes of my formative years is every bit the role model that I always thought him to be * On Magazine *One . . . is way beyond the glorified sporting diaries that crowd the shelves at this time of year . . . splendidly rendered * Irish Independent *Peter Schmeichel charts his exceptionally successful goalkeeping career alongside the remarkable story of his family * Irish Times’ Best Sport books of the year *The best autobiographies are always the ones written when the passing of time allows events to be considered and evaluated in proper perspective . . . Genuine candour runs through the story . . . A quite riveting story * Backpass Magazine *This is much more than the usual footballer's life story . . . It's warm, frank and conversational in tone . . . Terrific * Daily Mail, 2021's best books for sports fans *The story of one of the undisputed greats * Sun, Best Books for Christmas *A rollercoaster ride through the life of the Danish and Manchester United goalkeeper * Evening Standard, Memoirs of the Year *Engaging, honest and unsentimental . . . riveting * David Walsh, The Sunday Times *

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Book Synopsis'Fantastic book written by a true LFC legend.' Jurgen Klopp'George Sephton is part of the brickwork of Liverpool Football Club and was witness to so many iconic moments. He has lived through a huge chunk of our history, from when Liverpool were in the Second Division, when he used to come to Anfield with his father, all the way to being crowned World Club and Premier League champions. It's been a rollercoaster ride, and George has been there for all the ups and downs - but mainly the ups.' Sir Kenny Dalglish'The voice of George Sephton has been heard at Anfield for so long that you could be forgiven for imagining him poised with a wind-up gramophone and a 78-rpm record of Gerry with his ukulele and a single Pacemaker, on a comb and tissue paper, piping Alan A'Court and Alf Arrowsmith onto the field.' Elvis CostelloGeorge Sephton's relationship with Liverpool Football Club began in 1971 when he wrote to the club secretary applying to be the stadium announcer. His first match also marked the debut of Kevin Keegan. For the past fifty years, Sephton has been at Anfield for all but a handful of home fixtures, as well as travelling with the team to major finals. From the highs of winning numerous league titles and European Cups, to the lows of Heysel and Hillsborough, Sephton has been with Liverpool through it all. From encounters with great managers and legendary players - from Bill Shankly to Kenny Dalglish, John Barnes to Jurgen Klopp, he tells his unique and entertaining story of the greatest club in the world.Table of Contentsi: Foreword ii: 'Sleeve Notes' iii: Prologue 1: Part One: The Fifties and Sixties 2: Part Two: The Seventies 3: Part Three: The Eighties 4: Part Four: The Nineties 5: Part Five: The 2000s 6: Part Six: The 2010s 7: Epilogue 8: Acknowledgements 9: Plate Section Photography Credits 10: Index

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Book SynopsisThis is the story of the renaissance of cash-strapped Worcester City, with a pitch-side view of a remarkable season as City claw their way back from bankruptcy to promotion and the cusp of Wembley. It's also the story of Stourbridge and Kidderminster Harriers, two clubs bonded with the Blues for 120 years.

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Book SynopsisGribble's unique mystery, featuring the actual Arsenal squad of 1939, sends Inspector Anthony Slade into the world of professional football to investigate a case of deadly foul play on and off the pitch.

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Book SynopsisGet ready for the Euros by journeying through the iconic and searingly honest story of one of the country''s best ever footballers''A truly world class career . . . This is a must read'' 5***** READER REVIEW''An astonishing tale of commitment, loyalty and determination'' 5***** READER REVIEW''A heart on sleeve account of success and failure'' 5***** READER REVIEW________Steven Gerrard is a phenomenon. He has played over 700 games for his beloved Liverpool and is the third most capped player in English football. He is one of the greatest sportsman of his generation.In My Story Gerrard speaks fully and frankly about his extraordinary playing career, opening up about the key matches and moments to give us the view from on the pitch. His exhilarating accounts of winning and losing while staying loyal to one club through good and bad tell us about his commitment both to the game and to Liverpool. It''s a story

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Book Synopsis'Terrific ... well-researched, well written' David Winner, author of Brilliant Orange 'Deeply researched...nicely written, and manages to get inside Cruyff's very bizarre head' Simon Kuper Argumentative, brilliant, arrogant, visionary. Johan Cruyff was one of the greatest footballers of all time, a worldwide phenomenon and arguably the most famous Dutchman of the twentieth century. Both on the pitch and from the sidelines as a coach, with his brand of Total Football he changed how the game was played and left a lasting legacy. Although Cruyff led a large part of his illustrious career and life in the spotlight, in many ways Cruyff the man and sportsman is still a complete mystery. Based on years of extensive research, this biography the first to cover all aspects of Cruyff’s life and work, from his key influence in the great Ajax and Netherlands sides of the 1970s to his role inTrade Review'Terrific' -- David Winner, author of Brilliant Orange'Deeply researched...nicely written, and manages to get inside Cruyff's very bizarre head' -- Simon Kuper

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Book SynopsisLiverpool FC is rarely out of the news and always is the subject of interest from inside and outside of the world of football. From Kenny Dalglish, Alan Hansen and Graeme Souness through Michael Owen, Robbie Fowler and Jamie Redknapp to Jamie Carragher, Steven Gerrard, John Henry and coach Jurgen Klopp, few clubs can boast as many people with so much to say for themselves, especially in the case of Bill Shankly, football's most quoted man. Liverpool have a proud tradition and a very loyal support, and this book aims to capture the flavour of both. In 2019 the Reds came to within a point of their long-awaited 19th title, but ultimately avoided disappointment by finishing their season winning the UEAF Champions League. With the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup also won by the end of 2019, Klopp now knows what it takes to win and few will be surprised if Liverpool are front and centre when it comes to handing out trophies in 2020. The Little Book of Liverpool, brim-full with more than 170 quotes, celebrates the club's continued success at home and abroad. Table of ContentsThe Liverpool Way • Shankly's Sayings • Red Stars • The Kop on Top • Inside the Boot Room • Comings and Goings • Secrets of Success • Magic Moments • You'll Never Walk Alone.

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Book SynopsisThe story of Leeds United from 1980 to 2000 when the club crashed and burned and then rose from the ashes to become the last First Division champions, before approaching the Millennium full of expectations for their dynamic young team.Trade Review'This is an absorbing tale of Leeds’ helter-skelter existence over a couple of eventful decades.' -- Sports Journalists Association, October 2023

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Book SynopsisThe complete, official history of the England football team as you've never seen it before! England: The Official History is a fascinating account of the world's oldest and most iconic national football team.• Includes England's fantastic performance at EURO 2020. • A great gift for any England fan. • Features more than 250 exceptional photographs of England icons past and present including Alf Ramsey, Bobby Charlton, Gary Lineker, Hope Powell, David Beckham, Steph Houghton and Harry Kane. • The complete story of the England men's and women's teams – from 1872 right up to the present day. • Written by award-winning journalist and author Daniel Storey in association with the FA and filled with incredible stories spanning 150 years of England football.The book charts the highs (and lows) of the England national teams and the men and women who've worn the Three Lions with pride. Each chapter delves into a specific era, covering key figures, famous and infamous matches, and the evolution of football over the course of more than a century and a half.This is the definitive visual history of English Football.Table of ContentsForeword • The dawn of a team (1870s-1890s) • Olympic success (1900s-1910s) • Intra-war years (1920s-1930s) • The full-time era (1940s) • Chastening defeats (1950s) • The march to greatness (1960s) • World Cup 1966 • The fallow years (1970s) • The re-rise of the women's game (1970s) • So near and yet so far (1982-1990) • The impossible job (1990-1994) • Reagan's time (1980s) • Golden generations (1996-2006) • Unfulfilled potential (2006-2016) • Hope springs eternal (1998-2013) • A brighter future (2016-2020) • Appendix: Lions & Lionesses. Plus features on key England figures including Alf Ramsey, Bobby Moore, Hope Powell, David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and more.

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Book SynopsisA bestseller in both the UK and the USA on its first publication, this book was the first fully authorised life of world's greatest living footballer. With exclusive access to Pelé, award-winning sports writer Harry Harris charts his meteoric rise from humble beginnings in Brazil to his first international at the age of sixteen. Superb athleticism, speed of thought and execution, and astonishing ball control helped him become the only player to have appeared in three World Cup-winning sides, and to have scored more than 1,200 goals in his senior career, a feat that is now unlikely ever to be equalled, let alone surpassed.Pelé remains the best footballer of all time, despite the extraordinary exploits of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Neymar, and legends such as Diego Maradona and Johan Cruyff. Now revised and updated to bring the story completely up to date, this is a tribute to a world-class sporting hero, a great sportsman and, to this day, an inspiration to millions.

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Book SynopsisHigh jinx and japes from Soccer Saturday''s roving reporter extraordinaire, Chris Kammy Kamara, whose boyish enthusiasm and often baffling, at-the-ground football reportage has given him cult status and an army of fans.Over the past decade, football results programme Soccer Saturday has become a television phenomenon, delivering goals and drama via a raft of ex-professional players positioned in TV studios and on precarious gangplanks in rusting stadiums around the country.At the heart of this success is free-wheeling pundit and roving reporter extraordinaire, Chris Kammy Kamara, the former footballer-turned-manager-turned-cult hero who has astounded and dumbfounded a legion of armchair fans with his crackpot catchphrases, hyperactive reporting style and Lionel Richie haircut.Mr Unbelievable is his rags to riches tale. As a player, Kammy trawled football''s outposts with the likes of Bradford City, Stoke City and Portsmouth where he suffered the slings, arrows and hurled bananas of racTrade Review"This book is unbelievable!" Jeff Stelling

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Book SynopsisCo-author Roy Collins has been a Sports columnist for over 16 years and is a personal friend of George Best. He was a chief sports writer on Today for ten years followed by the People Sport, and currently the Guardian and Sunday Telegraph.Trade ReviewBrilliantly raw * Sunday Times *His autobiography tells everything...this is a powerful, unexpectedly moving story * The Mirror *Fascinating-honest to the point of self-laceration-Best will always remain a breath-taking example of supreme talent and courage * Independent *Unquestionably the greatest -- Sir Alex FergusonWhere this book differs from the others - and there have been a few - is in Best's attempts to face his demons -- Michael Parkinson * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisDuncan Hamilton is the author of Provided You Don't Kiss Me: 20 Years with Brian Clough which won the William Hill Sports Book of the Year for 2007. In 2009, he was awarded the William Hill again, for Harold Larwood, as well as winning the prestigious Wisden Book of the Year for 2009 and Biography of the Year at the 2010 British Sports Book Awards. He lives in the Yorkshire Dales.Trade ReviewIn putting together Immortal: The Approved Biography of George Best, it must be said that author Duncan Hamilton has done little to redefine the genre. Instead, he has done everything he can with it as it is, he has pushed it, refined it, stretched it, lovingly touched up every corner of it until it is almost as perfect as it can be. In short, Hamilton has essentially won biography writing. […] what makes thisbook so wonderful, [is] the way that Hamilton patiently sets the scene, apparently meandering indulgently through the back stories of incidental characters, but actually drawing the reader deep into the 1960s, imperceptibly marking out the structures of sport, society and celebrity that the shockwave of Best’s arrival obliterated. * Mirror online *[An]evocative account, though that should not come as a surprise. The former newspaperman has become one of sport’s foremost biographers and he is in excellent form here with this account of a footballer who was once his hero. * The Times *A marriage of prose and detail so fine and fastidious that it takes the breath away. * Independent *This compulsively readable book will not be the last written about Best, but it may prove to be the most illuminating. * Independent on Sunday *What Duncan Hamilton’s impressively researched, definitive new biography, published on the 50th anniversary of Best’s United debut, captures is the artistry of the little Ulsterman. * Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisThe FIFA World Cup is arguably the biggest sporting event on earth. This book is the first to focus on the business and management of the World Cup, taking the reader from the initial stages of bidding and hosting decisions, through planning and organisation, to the eventual legacies of the competition.The book introduces the global context in which the World Cup takes place, surveying the history and evolution of the tournament and the geopolitical background against which bidding and hosting decisions take place. It examines all the key issues and debates which surround the tournament, from governance and corruption to security and the media, and looks closely at the technical processes that create the event, from planning and finance to marketing and fan engagement. Analysis of the Women's World Cup is also embedded in every chapter, and the book also considers the significance of World Cup tournaments at age-group level.No sport business or management course is comTable of Contents1. Introduction, 2. A Brief History of the FIFA World Cup as a Business, 3. Bidding and Hosting Decisions, 4. Politics and Geopolitics in Staging the FIFA World Cup: What is at Stake for the Hosting Nations?, 5. Diplomacy, International Relations, Soft Power and the World Cup, 6. Competition Design of the World Cup, 7. An Integrity System Framework for the Governance of the Football World Cups, 8. Environment and Sustainability in FIFA World Cups, 9. Finance of the FIFA World Cup, 10. Planning and Organising FIFA World Cups, 11. Planning, Sourcing, and Managing Resources for FIFA World Cups, 12. Engaging Fans, 13. Managing Risk and Security, 14. Marketing, Sponsorship and Merchandising, 15. Broadcasting and the FIFA World Cup: Privatisation and Technology, 16. Digital and Social Media in the Business of the FIFA World Cup, 17. Culture and the World Cup: The Case of Qatar, 18. Afterword…

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Book SynopsisSimon Hughes is a journalist and author. He writes for the Daily Telegraph, Sunday Telegraph and The Independent, as well as Liverpool Football Club's official magazine. Red Machine won the Antonio Ghirelli prize for Italian soccer foreign book of the year in 2014. His other titles include Secret Diary of a Liverpool Scout and The Torres Story. Simon's latest book, Men in White Suits: Liverpool in the 1990s, the Players' Stories is the inside story behind the decline of Liverpool FC, as told by a host of influential characters associated with the team during this tumultuous period in the club's history.Trade ReviewThe best Liverpool author around, investigating one of the most enduring questions in British club football: why Liverpool, imperious for so long, so abruptly and completely stopped winning titles from the 1990s. That is some combination. A captivating book which is essential reading for all fans of the game, whether Liverpool supporters or not. * Ian Herbert, Chief Sportswriter, The Independent *

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Book Synopsis''The only book that will give you a hangover'' Chris Evans Breakfast Show---The hilarious, no holds barred autobiography from sporting legend and broadcaster Alan Brazil.As Alan recounts tales from his extraordinary life, he relives the sporting occasions, radio broadcasts and famously long drinking sessions that have defined his career. He takes readers inside the talkSPORT studio for a behind-the-scenes view of his most memorable interviews, and talks for the first time about the on-pitch rivalries and dressing room debriefs of his footballing career.With his typically outspoken and irreverent delivery, Alan shares everything from his thoughts on how the sports he loves have changed to his top tips for picking winners (and many losers) at Cheltenham. And he revels in wine-soaked jaunts in the South of France and late-night supermarket sweeps with Ray Parlour - if you can keep up.Packed full of never-before-told stories, Trade ReviewThe only book that will give you a hangover. * Chris Evans Breakfast Show *Brazil is a natural raconteur. * The Times *A breathless romp, a highlights reel of Men Behaving Badly with a bit of football and broadcasting sandwiched between boozing sessions. * Mail on Sunday *It's fantastic! * Chris Evans *A snapshot of a life well lived. * Daily Telegraph *

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Book Synopsis One of the greatest players of all time, Duncan Edwards's story is one of tragic heroism, brilliantly and movingly told in this superb biography. From a working-class Dudley upbringing, Edwards rose to great heights at Manchester United. In only five years, he helped United to win two league championships and to reach the semi-finals of the European Cup. Among the Busby Babes - United's young, homegrown team - he was the player they all looked to, someone who could (and did) play in any position and still be the best on the pitch. Edwards made his England debut in a game against Scotland at the age of 18 years and 183 days, becoming his country's youngest international since the Second World War - a record which stood until Michael Owen's debut over forty years later. He went on to play 18 games for his country, including all four of the qualifying matched for the 1958 World Cup, in which he was expected to

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Book Synopsis''If we can sell Newcastle Brown to Japan, and if Wimbledon can make it to the First Division, there is surely no achievement beyond our reach.'' Margaret ThatcherThe Crazy Gang is the story of a football miracle. Promoted to the Football League in 1977, Wimbledon FC was a small team from south London that against the odds went all the way to the top of the First Division, then to win the FA Cup, in only just over a decade. With no money, scant resources and a blend of youth players and offcuts from other clubs, they were christened ''Rag-Arse Rovers''. They played hard on the pitch and partied hard off it.Dave ''Harry'' Bassett was the manager who drilled a fierce fighting spirit into his players, an unbreakable team ethos, but he was also an underrated master tactician and pioneer of innovative training methods. Wally Downes was the midfield fulcrum of the Dons, but also the ringleader for the various acts of debauchery and general silliness that earned the club thTrade ReviewA barrel of laughs. * The Sun *As you'd expect, it's warts and all, muck and bullets and any other cliché you care to mention. Don't dare miss it! * Sheffield Star *

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisShortlisted for Football Book of the Year (Sports Book Awards)''Gripping'' Daily Mail''Moving... chronicles two remarkable lives'' Guardian''Razor-sharp tactical analysis'' Irish Independent''Wilson is a fine, nuanced writer'' Times Literary SupplementThe story of Jack and Bobby Charlton, and a family that characterised English football for decadesIn later life Jack and Bobby didn''t get on and barely spoke but the lives of these very different brothers from the coalfield tell the story 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.Jack was open, charismatic, selfish and pig-headed; Bobby was guarded, shy, polite and reserved to the point of reclusiveness. They were very different Trade 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 SynopsisA complete history of the Tigers, from the author of the acclaimed Look Back in Amber.

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Book SynopsisSo you thought you knew everything about Manchester City, did you? Well, think again.

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