Association football (Soccer) Books

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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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 Liverpool quiz book. It s not often that books on football make reference to the Beatles, Napoleon, Roald Dahl, Moby Dick, 'The Big Bang Theory', Pete Townshend, Dylan Thomas and The Band, but this one does! Try these for size: add one letter to a Liverpool and England international from the 1960s and produce another Liverpool and England international from this century. Which Liverpool manager shares his name with a five-time Open golf champion? The first names of three 21st-century Liverpool players have won The Derby in 1972, the King George at Ascot in 2011 and the St. Leger in 2001, who are the three players? You will struggle to find anything as comprehensive as this eclectic collection. It s a must for Liverpool fans of all ages and you might not see anything quite like it again.

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Book SynopsisRinascimento tells the tale of Napoli''s first Serie A title in 33 years, an achievement that saw the football-mad city celebrate like never before.Before the 2022/23 season, SSC Napoli and Luciano Spalletti were considered two of Italy''s great underachievers. The club had not won a league title since Diego Maradona led them to glory in 1990. Spalletti had won respect across a three-decade managerial career but did not have a Serie A winner''s medal to his name. These perennial bridesmaids came together in 2021, and two years later changed the narrative with a campaign that will live long in the memory.Napoli''s first Maradona-less Serie A triumph came out of the blue, having experienced near-misses and significant squad turnover in the years beforehand. A largely unknown and unfancied group of players adopted Spalletti''s tactical blueprint and delivered beautiful, winning football - the kind of football that its passionate fanbase could attach itself t

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Book SynopsisOver Land and Sea is the story of West Ham United in Europe, exploring the rich history of the Hammers'' European fixtures dating back more than a century.Aside from winning two major trophies 58 years apart - the European Cup Winners'' Cup in 1965 and the UEFA Conference League in 2023 - West Ham have not exactly blazed a trail through Europe. But there''s more to the club''s connection with the continent than first meets the eye.The Hammers have a rich tradition of playing friendlies against continental opponents, having travelled to Spain as long ago as 1921; while in the 1950s top European sides played under the new floodlights at Upton Park.Although West Ham''s success in Europe has largely been in competitions that no longer exist, there''s a great deal to discover about their wider European story, as captured in this immersive book.Short description (max 350 characters; actual = 325 characters)About the author (max 450 characters;

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Book SynopsisLondon's Fields: An Intimate History of London Football Fandom celebrates the turbulent rivalries, local antagonisms and even, on occasion, the fraternal harmonies held in common by the supporters of the capital's many professional football teams. The us and them dichotomy of a local derby is told here through the voices of us, the fans. In a one-club town or city your choice of team would appear to be simple. However, in a city with a dozen clubs the choice is less straightforward. London is a place of constant flux and change; it's diasporic nature may have taken people far from their ancestral heartlands but the football clubs that remain there have, in a sense, travelled with them - local bragging rights and capital gains remain just as important. The author's upbringing was steeped in football, he has played and coached the game; written on it and worked in it. His less than conventional path to choosing his own team forms the foundation upon which the stories of other fans are richly rendered.

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Book Synopsis'This terrific biography...well-researched, well written' David Winner '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 in creating the modern footballing phenomenon tTrade Review'This terrific biography... Since his death, [Cruyff's] status had grown to that of a demi-god in both Amsterdam and Barcelona, but as Auke Kok’s well-researched, well-written book reveals, he was troubled and sulphurous, too. Kok is one of the Netherlands’ most respected journalists, and his Cruyff emerges as a vulnerable, isolated and often tragic figure... Kok provides any number of revealing insights into his original thinking and methods.' -- David Winner, author of Brilliant Orange * Irish Independent *'Deeply researched...nicely written, and manages to get inside Cruyff's very bizarre head' -- Simon Kuper, author of Football Against the Enemy and Barca

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Book Synopsis Inside the Academy tells the stories of a talented set of footballers spanning a quarter-century, exploring childhood aspirations and what became of them. It lifts the lid on teenage training grounds and what it takes to even come close to being a Premier League player.From Bobby Moore to Declan Rice, West Ham United has a proud history of cultivating young talent. Yet their 2023 FA Youth Cup triumph came against a backdrop of complaints about congested pathways to first-team football and inflated pay packets quelling ambition. These concerns are not unique to West Ham; they are symptomatic of the modern game.This book offers an insight into what life as a young footballer is really like, via interviews with people who''ve lived and breathed the game over the past 25 years. It''s a must-read for anyone who wonders why child prodigies don''t always become professionals and what happens to those who don''t make it to the top.

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Book SynopsisOutsiders takes you on a whirlwind away-day' footballing tour across 46 stadiums in 29 cities. It provides a critical portrait of contemporary South American football, revealing how the experience of being a fan has changed over the last three decades and presenting a unique perspective on a continent that is crazy about football.

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Book SynopsisTo celebrate 50 years of watching Manchester City, Steve Mingle presents an array of memories spanning the whole period. Heroes and villains, triumphs and disasters, moments of genius and heinous cock-ups - they're all here as Steve describes his most memorable games, players and incidents in a weird and wonderful range of categories.

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Book SynopsisFootball is more than just a game. Over the past 150 years it has become a source of identity, conflict and debate for all who follow and play it. It has reached the farthest corners of the globe and boasts more players and supporters than any other sport. Football's Fifty Most Important Moments charts the illustrious, colourful and often tragic history of football, uncovering the sport's most significant and staggering moments. Starting in Victorian England with the 1857 introduction of modern football, we journey through 160 years of incredible events to the modern day, where new and innovative ideas are changing the game. Since its creation, football has been shaped by the actions of teams, supporters and of course remarkable individuals on and off the pitch. Whether through mass spectatorship at the 1923 'White Horse Final' or the infamous 'Hand of God' in 1986, football has never failed to amaze and inspire. Learn about its evolution from its modest 19th-century roots to the modern age of nine-figure transfer fees and billionaire investors.

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Book SynopsisOriginally published in 1939, this book gives the inside story of the club from its formation in 1888 right through to 1939. As this book is virtually impossible to locate in its original hardback format without spending a small fortune, we have decided to make it available as part of our 'Classic Reprint' series of titles.

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Book SynopsisHe may live in Madrid but he continues to make front-page headlines. This is David Beckham''s own story of his career to date, for Manchester United, Real Madrid and England, and of his childhood, family and private life. Featuring David''s first full account of a turbulent year in Spain, on and off the field, and England''s fortunes in Euro 2004.This is Beckham''s fascinating life story in his own words. His rise through the ranks at the biggest club side in the world. His complex relationship with United boss Alex Ferguson. The England story, from being vilified by the nation before returning as the prodigal son to eventually captaining his country. His acrimonious falling-out with his manager and departure from Old Trafford in June 2003. And starting a new chapter of his life on foreign soil in the glare of the world's press.Now from Beckham himself, we gain a vivid and eye-opening insight into the family man behind the famous footballer, the international model and fashion leader. He describes how he first met and then married ex-Spice girl Victoria Adams, and the upbringing of their two children Brooklyn and Romeo. How his family''s every step is monitored by a posse of newshounds and paparazzi. Also, the influence of his parents, growing up as a shy youngster in the family home, and how their subsequent split affected him.Intimate and soul-searching, this is the real David Beckham like we have never seen before.NEW FOR THIS PAPERBACK EDITION:- Beckham's first season with Real Madrid from within the dressing room, with key stories on the likes of Figo, Roberto Carlos and Zidane.- His exclusive reaction to the sensational allegations about his private life; their effect on his relationship with Victoria and a reappraisal of their living arrangements.- England and Euro 2004: the players' threatened strike in support of Rio Ferdinand; Eriksson as England boss; and all the behind the scenes stories leading up to and including the Finals in Portugal.- One year down the line, does Beckham have any regrets about leaving Manchester United? And is there any truth in the rumours that he is unsettled in Madrid?Trade Review'The confrontations between Beckham and Ferguson have the acid marks of authenticity' Mail on Sunday 'Utterly fascinating' Heat magazine 'A sensational story' The Sun 'This book sings' Daily Telegraph

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Book SynopsisIn this unique book, one of football's greatest cult players reflects on the travails of the sport and draws upon his own experience to offer an honest assessment on one of its final remaining taboos: mental health.The most difficult position in football? Being a goalkeeper. That's what they say, right? You must be mad to stand between those posts and bat away shots and crosses all game long.Neville Southall should know. He was the goalkeeper for one of the best teams of the 1980s and became an icon of the game during his 20-year career between the sticks. But what did it take to prepare himself mentally for the difficulties of the position? How did he dig so deep on the biggest occasions and in the highest-pressured moments? What scars were left at the end of his long career a tenure that saw the highs of winning trophies, but also the lows of losing games, making mistakes and feeling the full weight of club and country on your shoulders. And how has he used his post-playing career t

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Book SynopsisWinner of The Times British Sports Book Award 2014. A fascinating insight into the enclosed world of football scouts in the UKA teenaged boy plays football in a suburban park. His name is Raheem Sterling. The call is made: Get down here quick. This is something special.Another boy is 8, going on 28. His name is Jack Wilshere. The referee, an Arsenal scout, spirits him away from Luton Town.A young goalkeeper struggles on loan at Cheltenham Town in League Two. His name is Jack Butland. Within months he will be playing for England.Welcome to football's hidden tribe. Scouts are everywhere yet nowhere, faceless and nameless, despite making the informed decisions worth millions. Award-winning sportswriter Michael Calvin opens up their hidden world, examining their disconnected lifestyles, petty betrayals and unconsidered professionalism of men who spend long, lonely hours on the road.Trade ReviewMichael Calvin charts the evolution of the sports’ scouts from chaotic beginnings to Moneyball-inspired analysis, and is enough to make you pay close attention when you next pass a kids’ kickabout in the park * Shortlist *‘Calvin’s book is excellent, a highly readable insight into the slog and grind of assessing talent.’ * Tottenham On My Mind *One of the ‘50 Best Sports Books Ever WrittenIn The Nowhere Men, Mike Calvin somehow manages to make the job of football scout sound like the most romantic existence imaginable. It also sounds bleak and deeply lonely. It is a fascinating insight into an often misunderstood and under-represented part of the sport, revealing the hours, dedication and struggles of men who love football and don’t know what they’d do without it. * Daily Telegraph *A magnificent book, full of extraordinary characters and beautifully told -- Rob Bagchi * Guardian *There’s a strong contender for the William Hill Sports Book Prize in Michael Calvin’s The Nowhere Men, a book revealing the hidden lives of football scouts. * The Bookseller *

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE BRITISH SPORTS BOOK AWARDS Sir Alex Ferguson is the most controversial and compelling figure in football. For many he ranks as the greatest manager of all time. He is certainly the most successful.It''s been more than ten years since Ferguson''s Manchester United triumphed over Bayern Munich in the dying seconds of the Champions League final. Since then he has presided over the rise and fall and rise again of José Mourinho; the arrival and departure of the world''s best player, Ronaldo; the removal of one English talisman - Beckham - and the irresistible instalment of another - Rooney. Ferguson has been instrumental in making the Premier League the most successful competition in football, and he has endured while the mountains of cash have turned to valleys of debt. Throughout, award-winning journalist Patrick Barclay has been pitch-side and spoken to all those who know Ferguson best - fellow managers, former players, colleaTrade ReviewCompelling -- Simon Kuper * Financial Times *Patrick Barclay traces the arc of the Scot's Govan youth to his Old Trafford supremacy with insight, sensitivity and poise -- Sports Book of the Year * Sunday Telegraph *Thorough of research, rich of detail -- Book of the Week, Richard Williams * Guardian *Stylishly written, admirably well-researched * Scotsman *Wonderful. Captures the contradictions of this complex personality as eloquentlyas it elucidates his genius * Irish Independent *

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Book SynopsisWembley, 1966. England wins the World Cup to roars of a euphoric home crowd.Sir Bobby Charlton, England's greatest ever player, was there on the pitch. In 1966, he looks back on the most glorious moment of his life and England''s greatest sporting achievement.He takes us through the build-up to the tournament and to the final itself - what he saw, what he heard, what he felt. He tells us what it was like to be part of Sir Alf Ramsey's team, his memories of his teammates, the matches, the atmosphere; the emotion of being carried on the wave of a nation's euphoria and how it felt to go toe-to-toe with some of the foremost footballers to ever play the game.His life was forever defined by a single moment: one day when a man stood side-by-side with his best friends, united in a single aim in front of a watching nation. This is his story.It's gripping stuff This is a mellow book, the product of many years' contemplation, and eTrade ReviewCarefully and lovingly told with deeper layers of reflection and wistfulness. -- Giles Smith * The Times *It’s gripping stuff… This is a mellow book, the product of many years’ contemplation, and emotional in a way that may surprise you…He has a wonderful story to tell -- Markus Berkmann * Daily Mail *Breathtakingly lucid, insistently informative and deeply affecting... It owes much to the presence of that most benign of ghosts, the wonderful James Lawton, who imbues his books not only with an authentic, clear-eyed love of the game but with his gift, spectacular in this particular instance, to bring historic moments into a focus so immediate that one is almost forced to blink * Herald *Thoughtful and reflective...full of fascinating detail. * Mail On Sunday *[A] fascinating inside account of what remains the nation’s greatest sporting achievement. * Choice Magazine *

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Book SynopsisRyan Giggs first played for Manchester United in the season before the Premiership began; back when Bryan Robson was still captain. He took possession of United''s left wing and never loosened his grip. Over a fourteen year career so far, he''s seen them all come and go: Cantona, Schmeichel, Beckham and the rest. Sir Alex Ferguson said of Giggs ''I knew we had an outstanding talent when we gave him his debut.'' That was back in 1991, but it remains as true in 2005 as it ever was. Giggs has been a pivotal figure in United''s dominance of the Premiership. There have been rivals but no other team can match the their sustained record of success over recent years. And Giggs is the only player to have played in all eight of those title winning campaigns. Off the pitch, Ryan Giggs has always closely guarded his private life. But here he opens up for the first time, sharing details of the sometimes turbulent childhood that shaped him and the relationships that have mattered to him to reveal the man behind the famous number 11 red shirt. One thing seems clear: the Old Trafford crowd will be singing ''Giggs will tear you apart again!'' for a few years yet ...Trade ReviewA testament to fourteen brilliant years in the game * Independent *

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Book SynopsisSoccer is the worldâs most valuable sport, generating bigger revenues, as well as being watched and played by more people, than any other. It is virtually impossible to understand the business of sport without understanding the football industry. This book surveys contemporary football in unparalleled breadth and depth.Presenting critical insights from world-leading football scholars and introducing footballâs key organisations, leagues and emerging nations, it explores key themes from governance and law to strategy and finance, as well as cutting edge topics such as analytics, digital media and the womenâs game.This is essential reading for all students, researchers and practitioners working in football, sport business, sport management or mainstream business and management.Trade Review"This handbook - which could be used as a primary textbook for a football-specific course or as supplemental reading for a wide variety of sport management courses - provides expert and casual readers an abundance of content that can be used to engage in any discussion involving the game or business of football." – Braden Norris, Indiana University, International Journal of Sport CommunicationTable of Contents1. Introduction to the Handbook of Football Business and Management, 2. A Framework for Diversification Decisions in Professional Football, 3. Global Football: Defining the rules of the changing game, 4. Structures and Policies at the main European football leagues: Evolution and Recent Changes, 5. Points, Pounds and Politics in the Governance of Football, 6. Contemporary Issues in the Management of Grassroots Football, 7. Football Law, 8. Football and Marketing, 9. Digital and Social Media, 10. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Football: Exploring Modes of CSR Implementation, 11. Agents and Intermediaries, 12. Managing Performance in Elite Professional Football, 13. The Sporting Director: Exploring Current Practice and Challenges within Elite Football, 14. Strategic Management in Football Organisations, 15. Finance and Accounting in Football, 16. Sponsorships, Stadia and Naming Rights, 17. Venue Management in Football, 18. Human Resource Management in Football, 19. Fans, Spectators, Consumers in Football, 20. Sports Business Analytics: the past, the present and the future, 21. Leagues, Tournaments and Competitions, 22. Football, Networks and Relationships, 23. Leveraging Football Events, 24. The labour markets of professional football players, 25. Value Management in Football: A Framework to Develop and Analyse Competitive Advantage, 26. Supply Chain Management in Professional Football, 27. Risk and Crisis Management, 28. Women and Football, 29. Managing match officials: The influence of business and the impact of finance in an era of Premier League dominance, 30. Perspectives on Ethics and Integrity in Football, 31. Talent Management, 32. Retailing in the Football Industry, 33. Sport Licensed Products in the Football Industry, 34. FIFA, 35. UEFA, 36. CONMEBOL: South American Confederation of Football, 37. Asian Football Confederation (AFC), 38. Confederation of African Football (CAF), 39. CONCACAF, 40. Oceania Football Confederation, 41. Football in China, 42. Business and Governance of Football in Qatar, 43. Football in Brazil, 44. Football in Turkey, 45. Management of Football in India, 46. Soccer in the United States, 47. The Rise and Rise of the World’s Favourite Sport

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Book SynopsisOn 6 February 1958, British European Airways flight 609 crashed in a blizzard on its third attempt to take off from an icy runaway in Munich. On board were the Manchester United football team as well as a number of journalists and other passengers. News of the disaster sent shockwaves around the world. For people who lived in Manchester at the time and for football fans throughout Britain it was one of those moments when everybody remembers exactly where they were and how they heard the terrible news. Manchester United, nicknamed the Busby Babes after their manager, Matt Busby, who had created the world-beating side, were the leading team of the day. Seven of their players were killed instantly in the crash. Three weeks later Duncan Edwards, one of the most promising players ever to come out of England, lost his battle for life. Two other players, Jackie Blanchflower and Johnny Berry, were so severely injured that they were never able to play again.Manchester''s FTrade ReviewNot only the best book on Munich, but one of the very best books on the United. I presumed there was nothing new to say on the crash, but David Hall proved me completely wrong. It's a totally refreshing account, and Hall captures brilliantly the atmosphere of Manchester in those winter days of 1958. -- Michael CrickAlmost everything we've ever read about Munich has been from the point of view of the victims and the survivors - so David Hall's book is a welcome and fascinating record of what it was like to be an 11-year-old Mancunian whose team had its heart ripped out on a foreign airfield. It is the mass of telling detail which makes this book so interesting... intimate and personal. -- Chris Maume * The Independent *Where David Hall's deeply humbling book differs, is that he offers a supporter's perspective of one of the most intimate tragedies of post-war Britain, one which united an entire nation, irrespective of one's club loyalties, in grief. [A] heart-rending tribute to a side that had become great ambassadors for club and country - both on and off the pitch. -- Tom Richmond * Yorkshire Post *Fitting tribute to a sport's tragic loss * Coventry Telegraph *Excellent -- Steve Simpson * Blackpool Gazette *

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Book SynopsisAll Kelly Smith ever wanted to be was a footballer. Blessed with brilliant talent which she honed with hours of practice, it was soon clear to all who saw her that Kelly was the best women's footballer that this country had ever produced. Yet for this shy girl from Watford, it would be a long and difficult journey to the pinnacle of the world game, and one which would involve the hardest of challenges.After starting drinking to mask her loneliness thousands of miles from home in the United States, a series of career-threatening injuries led to severe depression and a battle with alcoholism. But with the fighting spirit that was so essential on her path to be Britain's first women's professional player, Kelly bounced back to inspire Arsenal to countless trophies and become England's record goalscorer.Footballer: My Story is the inspirational tale of a woman with a drive to succeed. It is the unique inside story of a star in a sport enjoyed by millions yet oftenTrade ReviewKelly Smith's life is film-script material * Henry Winter *A great read but so very sad in parts * Jacqui Oatley *An entertaining read... It is Smith the footballer that resonates - her achievements and disappointments, the graft, the hunger, the esteem for rivals, the battles to overcome injuries that would have finished a lesser player, the strongly held beliefs about the game. -- Catherine Etoe * Camden New Journal *

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Book SynopsisFollowing the success of Simon Hughes’ Red Machine and Men in White Suits, books which depicted Liverpool FC’s domination during the 1980s and its subsequent fall in the 1990s, Ring of Fire focuses on the 2000s and the primary characters who propelled Liverpool to the forefront of European football once again.

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Book SynopsisHe''s back - and this time he''s got company. The Secret Footballer has teamed up with one of the most highly respected physios in the game to bring you the stories of a football season through the eyes of someone who has covered over 1000 games in his career and who knows the most intimate details about every player he treats.From the pre-season pressures of a new manager and players who have overindulged on their summer breaks, to witnessing some truly horrific (and sometimes career-ending) injuries; from star players who think nothing of using him as their personal family doctor to revealing some of the more unconventional treatments players choose to experiment with, the physio has truly seen it all.Alongside this privileged glimpse into the physio''s world, The Secret Footballer will be telling his own tales of injury, pain and perseverance with his trademark insight and wit.

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