Association football (Soccer) Books

Book SynopsisIn the 1980s Manchester United was the footballing byword for underachievement. The club had struggled to rediscover its identity after the shock dismissal of Tommy Docherty in 1977 and a four-year spell under Dave Sexton, a highly respected coach but the polar opposite of his predecessor. Ron Atkinson brought the thrills back to Old Trafford and won two FA Cups before being dismissed in November 1986. 'Big Ron' was the latest in a long line of managers who tried but failed to win the prize United wanted most - the First Division championship. Yet contrary to his reputation for glorious failure, Que Sera, Sera reveals how Atkinson's footballing ideals made him the perfect man to lead the biggest club in the country. Drawing on meticulous research and exclusive interviews, Wayne Barton shines a guiding light on a greatly neglected period of Manchester United history that was filled with big characters and big controversy. Here, for the first time, are the unbridled views of the players, chairman Martin Edwards and 'Big Ron' himself.

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Book SynopsisFergus McCann Versus David Murray charts the changing fortunes of Glasgow's two great footballing rivals as shaped by two business moguls. Both men came to prominence in the 1990s when new methods of governance and finance were taking hold of football. At the start of the decade, under Murray's chairmanship, Rangers were the dominant force and the club went on to win a record-equalling nine consecutive league titles. Their success, however, was built on an extravagant spending strategy, which caused a financial catastrophe. Celtic, by contrast, were struggling in the early 1990s, thanks to a complacent and nepotistic board of directors. But McCann took charge of the club in 1994 and turned things around. The new owner left Parkhead having won the league, rebuilt the stadium and left his shares in the hands of supporters. It was Murray, however, who was lauded in the media throughout his tenure at Ibrox, while McCann was chastised. Ultimately, though, their legacies would be utterly different from those misleading media portrayals.Trade Review"A thorough and powerful analysis... very well-written." --FootballBookReviews.com; "Thoroughly researched and well-written... a fascinating account, warts and all." --When Saturday Comes; "I remain impressed and even overwhelmed by what is a vivid, readable and informative account on the rather tawdry, sordid and sometimes dishonest world of football economics." --David Potter, The Celtic Star; "What's detailed by O'Donnell in his forensic examination of the financial fortunes of the Glasgow giants, Celtic and Rangers, is the truth. Even if it hurts." --The Irish News

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Book SynopsisArsenal FC Minute by Minute takes you on a fantastic journey through the Gunners' matchday history. Relive all the breathtaking goals, heroic penalty saves, sending offs and other memorable moments in this unique by-the-clock guide. From Arsenal's early beginnings to the days of domestic dominance, the book covers everything from the great Herbert Chapman era to the Tom Whittaker glory years, Bertie Mee's exciting side of the late 1960s and early 1970s, George Graham's Gunners teams and Arsene Wenger's 'Invincibles'. Revisit Arsenal's most spectacular modern feats and learn things you didn't know about the club's glorious past. From goals scored in the opening seconds to those last-gasp extra-time winners that have thrilled generations of fans at Highbury, The Emirates and around the world, Arsenal FC Minute by Minute is packed with memorable moments. With goals from Thierry Henry, Ian Wright, Cliff Bastin, Charlie George and hundreds of others - the book is filled with thrilling memories from kick-off through to the final whistle.

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Book SynopsisWhat would the late, great Bill Shankly have made of the current Liverpool side? There's a great deal he would have hated about the modern game, but there's a lot about today's Liverpool he would have liked. With Jurgen Klopp instilling a team ethic and re-engaging the fans, the Reds have restored something of 'Shanks's Holy Trinity' - that union between players, manager and supporters - at least as much as a 21st-century conglomerate will allow. Although he grew up as a socialist during the Great Depression, Shanks was never shy to spend big and used methods ahead of his time. Shanks, Yanks and Jurgen shows how the values he acquired from his pit-village background formed key elements of the Liverpool way. When wounded by tragedies and tricked by con men, the club briefly lost direction. Recovery was started by Liverpool's astute new owners and completed by an inspirational manager, but also by returning to aspects of Shankly's template - albeit in a modern context. Bob Holmes explains how Shanks's philosophies still resonate today.

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Book SynopsisOrigin Stories: The Pioneers Who Took Football to the World charts the growth of the game in each major footballing country, from the very first kick to the first World Cup in 1930. Football's global spread from muddy playing fields to colossal, purpose-built stadiums is a story of class, race, gender and politics. Along the way, you'll meet the people who established football around the world and discover the challenges they faced. Featuring interviews with leading historians, journalists, club chairmen and descendants of club founders and players, Origin Stories tells the fascinating country-by-country tale of how football put down its roots around the world. The sport's early growth includes a cast of English aristocrats and 'Scotch professors', French tournament pioneers, international merchants, keen students, raucous rebels and more. Origin Stories shows that football's early development was a truly global team effort.

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Book SynopsisDoes the sight of half-scarves enrage you? Does transfer-deadline day make you want to throw a brick through the TV? Do the opening bars of goal music make your ears bleed? If the answer is 'yes', then this could be the book for you. Since English football's very own 'Year Zero' in 1992, the game has changed beyond recognition, rejecting the rough-and-ready days of the past. And like any change, not all of it has been welcome. The quality of the 'football product' might be better but it's come with spiralling levels of debt, yawning inequality and Neymar advertising batteries. These, and many other ills of the modern game, form Jim Keoghan's exploration of the nation's favourite pastime. Navigating a world populated by dodgy owners, celebrity referees and Ray Winstone's floating head, he searches for an answer to the question: Is it Just Me or is Modern Football S**t?

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Book SynopsisThe period leading up to 1999 had been grim for Stoke City fans - relegation, stagnation, embarrassment and board conflicts were commonplace at the club. As the new millennium approached, fans demanded change, but no one could have predicted what would come next. An Icelandic consortium, brought together by Gudjon Thordarson, set sail for the Potteries with the promise of exciting foreign imports and Premier League football. What followed was a mixture of flashy arrivals, cup successes, broken curses, flop signings and plenty of fallouts, with extraordinary on-field moments along the way. Cult heroes and villains were made as Stoke became a living soap opera for seven remarkable years. Twinned with Reykjavik lifts the lid on that rollercoaster ride with the views of the people who experienced the wild journey. Integral players and fans look back on the key moments that defined the era as the book ponders that vital question: was the Icelandic takeover actually a success for Stoke City?

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Book SynopsisSilver Linings examines an historic and unforgettable period in the history of England's national football team. In his eight years as England boss, Bobby Robson was celebrated, derided, Diego-ed, and everything in between. His team missed one European Championship, self-destructed at another, were cheated out of Mexico 86, and then, just before he left, came within two kicks of a World Cup final. On this journey he had managed the good, the bad and sometimes the ugly. But through it all he maintained his belief not only in himself and his team, but in the notion of England. Faced with an unprecedented level of media hostility, Robson's team were inconsistent and frustrating, but at their best few could match them. Alf Ramsey may have won football's greatest prize in 1966 but no other England manager could equal the sheer drama of Robson's eight years in charge. Set against the backdrop of a vicious newspaper circulation war and the rise of hooliganism, this is the story of how Robson managed to deliver the seemingly impossible: hope.

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Book SynopsisThe Miracle is the inside story of how Greece shocked the footballing world by winning the 2004 European Championship. This incredible underdog tale shows how these 150-1 outsiders went from a team given no chance to being crowned kings of Europe, defeating the host nation in the final. Vasilis Sambrakos retraces Greece's journey by meeting most of Otto Rehagel's squad 15 years after their momentous triumph. The book is both an enthralling football story of victory against the odds and an in-depth look at how a winning team is constructed from the bottom up. It examines the values and methods needed to create a sporting unit along with the roles of the team's key players. The Miracle brings you the untold story of one of the greatest sporting achievements in history.

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Book SynopsisBeautiful Bridesmaids Dressed in Oranje: The Unfulfilled Glory of Dutch Football is the story of a dazzling football dream. Built on the club successes of Ajax and Feyenoord, it's a utopian ideal that blazed with a bright but ephemeral Oranje flame, scorching the football pitches of the world in the 1970s. Although Dutch clubs dominated the European Cup from 1969 to 1973, until 1974 the Oranje had failed to qualify for a World Cup for 36 years. Two finals then followed in successive tournaments, as 'totaalvoetbal' burst from its chrysalis, proudly revealing to the world its wings adorned with vivid shades of Oranje. The winners were the brides. It was their day, but the Dutch sides were more beautiful, yet so fragile, and football loved them for it. This isn't merely a tale of bridesmaids who came so close yet failed gloriously. It is the celebration of a footballing counter-culture, a revolution, a flame that burned so brightly, but so briefly. It's the story of those Beautiful Bridesmaids Dressed in Oranje.

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Book SynopsisGenerazione Wunderteam is the enthralling story of the Austrian national football team of the 1930s, an innovative side that dazzled Viennese crowds and sparked a new-found passion for football both at local and international level. Although the Wunderteam was short-lived, this squad led by Hugo Meisl, one of the most prominent figures in European football, proved hugely influential. Vienna quickly became - along with Budapest and Prague - one of the world's football capitals and the birthplace of some of the greatest players of the era, including Matthias Sindelar, a centre-forward whose fame transcended football, and who was often compared to Mozart and other Viennese celebrities. Sindelar died in suspicious circumstances at age 35, after defying the Nazis. The book takes the reader on a journey through that forgotten era, examining the genesis of Hugo Meisl's side, its key figures, the historical vicissitudes of the inter-war years and the most important Viennese teams of the period.

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Book SynopsisHis Name is McNamara is the riveting story of the life and career of football manager and former player Jackie McNamara. Jackie played for a series of clubs but is best known for the trophy-laden decade he spent at Celtic, culminating in a spell as club captain and a Scottish international career. His departure from Celtic in 2005 was controversial and abrupt, taking the football world by surprise when he signed for Wolves despite a last-minute attempt by the club to keep him in Glasgow. After spells at Aberdeen, Falkirk and Partick Thistle, he finished playing and moved into management with Thistle, Dundee United and York City. Jackie pulls no punches as he gives us the inside track on a career at the highest level of the game and the battling qualities he needed to succeed. It was those qualities that he drew on when his life was threatened by a brain aneurism in early 2020. His Name is McNamara is a story of success and survival.

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Book SynopsisBrimming with Blues trivia, facts and stats, The Top Ten of Everything Chelsea covers every aspect of the club's long and colourful history in dozens of ranked lists. A star cast features the best of the British, European and South American players who have worn the blue shirt with pride, the great managers who have led the club to silverware and the inspirational skippers, from Ron 'Chopper' Harris to John Terry. The book revisits the club's greatest triumphs, its most cherished London derby wins, the biggest thrashings handed out by the Blues, the finest goals scored by the likes of Drogba, Lampard and Zola, and the most gratefully received own goals gifted by the opposition. There's also a host of miscellaneous categories to rank the club's best (and worst!) kits, the most popular terrace chants, the most striking Chelsea player tattoos and the most bizarre moments on and off the pitch. Fun, informative, witty and thought-provoking, The Top Ten of Everything Chelsea is guaranteed to spark lively debate among Blues fans everywhere.

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Book SynopsisIn the third volume of the acclaimed Turf Wars series, journalist and broadcaster Steve Tongue looks at the history of football in the West Midlands, where the world's first Football League was dreamed up and administered more than 130 years ago. Fierce rivalries had already emerged by then, and have remained as strong as anywhere. Aston Villa and Birmingham City (as Small Heath Alliance) were founded within a year of each other, only a few miles apart, as were equally bitter neighbours West Bromwich Albion and Wolves. And just as in London and Lancashire, turf wars were fought off the pitch too. In Burton and Walsall, the biggest local clubs once amalgamated to carry the name of their town forward. But what an outcry there was in the Potteries when Stoke City and Port Vale almost did the same. This is the story of them all, large and small, and non-league too with a colourful cast of characters - Stanley Matthews and Billy Wright, Major Frank Buckley and Ron Atkinson, William McGregor, Jimmy Hill and 'Deadly' Doug Ellis among them.

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Book SynopsisThe Forgotten Champions recounts Everton's remarkable 1986/87 title win - a feat that tested Howard Kendall's managerial skills to the limit. The previous season, the club were runners-up to rivals Liverpool in the league and FA Cup. Top scorer Gary Lineker left for Barcelona with no replacement in sight and the arrival of several inexperienced players worried the fans. An injury crisis deprived Kendall of key stars such as Neville Southall and Peter Reid, forcing him to field a makeshift team at the start of the season. Optimism was in short supply at Goodison as by November the team were in eighth place and struggling to stay in contention. Further injuries to Graeme Sharp and Kevin Sheedy threatened to derail Everton's title bid, but the astute purchase of Wayne Clarke proved crucial as the Toffees strung together a winning sequence. Against all odds, a patchwork, injury-ravaged Everton were crowned league champions, ahead of Liverpool. It was a magnificent achievement. To date, it is the club's last ever title.

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Book SynopsisThere was a season when the world's greatest footballers were all on show at British grounds. Best, Keegan, Charlton and Moore were joined by Pele, Cruyff, Beckenbauer and Eusebio, while in the dugouts Clough, Shankly, Revie and Allison duked it out in the closest ever Championship title race. That season was 1971/72. Britain's footballing culture was simpler - purer - than the one we know today, with the game played for the public, not for TV companies. It was a time when players shared pints with fans, A&BC football cards were schoolyard currency, Roy Race ruled the comic world and teleprinters saw footy devotees hold their collective breath every weekend. As well as covering the superstars, '71/'72 is a treasure trove of tales of lesser-known names who added to that extraordinary season. Read about the Aldo Poy goal that is still fanatically celebrated today, Toni Fritsch revolutionising the NFL, cricketing footballers and the OAP ball boy who rowed the River Severn. '71/'72 is a compelling and fast-paced account of a season like no other, and as John Motson labelled it: 'glorious'.

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Book SynopsisLiddell at One Hundred celebrates the life of Liverpool and Scotland legend Billy Liddell. Born in Fife in 1922, Billy made the move from Scotland to Liverpool at 16, but the Second World War delayed his debut. After serving in the RAF as a navigator, he returned to football and won the league with Liverpool in his first full season with the club after the war. A diehard Red, Billy spent his whole career with the club, scoring 228 times in 534 appearances between 1938 and 1961. He remains the oldest goalscorer in Liverpool's history and their fourth-highest scorer of all time. Liddell spent a decade playing for Scotland and has the honour - alongside Stanley Matthews - of being one of only two men to represent a Great Britain XI more than once. A true sportsman and consummate professional, he was never booked or sent off in his entire footballing career. Liddell at One Hundred brings you the inside story of his life from those who knew him best - friends, supporters, family members and former team-mates.

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Book SynopsisShow Me The Way To Plough Lane is the ultimate story of football fan power. It is the story of how Wimbledon reclaimed its football club and brought it back to the heart of its community after years of nomadic existence. It retraces the club's history from its genesis on Wimbledon Common to Plough Lane, the place Wimbledon FC called home for the best part of a century. After rumours of mergers and relocations, the club ground-shared after the Taylor Report. A decade passed with the fans sold lie after lie until the club was ripped from its community and re-sited many miles away. Not only was the club homeless, it was now dead. A group of fans who were at the heart of protests against the move decided to start again - from the very bottom if necessary. And they vowed to bring football back to Wimbledon, to where it all started. After an absence of almost 30 years, the side finally returned home - just a long ball away from where the original ground sat, in Plough Lane.

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Book SynopsisBob Bond takes us on a nostalgic journey through football history, from the first FA Cup Final played at Wembley Stadium in 1923 through to the modern era. This captivating collection of match cartoons will evoke fond and light-hearted memories of a time when football cartoons were a feature in most newspapers. Readers will see how the game evolved through almost a century of Wembley cartoons, with each illustration contextualised with memories or explanations and a concise match report. Every era has its famous players, and the book also holds over 100 caricatures of footballers and managers who made Wembley a special place. Home of English Football is guaranteed to delight parents and grandparents with a yearning for days of yore, but it will also fascinate younger fans who were raised in the digital age. Take a trip down memory lane with the history of England's most esteemed football ground elegantly depicted in illustrated form.

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Book SynopsisRecord Breakers: The Tactics Behind Liverpool and Manchester City's Title Triumphs and Record Points Totals lifts the lid on Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola's tactical systems and strategies. Written by a Premier League analyst, the book focuses on the seasons when these two footballing giants registered the highest points totals in Premier League history. It compares their styles and principles of play both with and without the ball, analyses the differences in the positioning of their players and outlines their specific movement patterns, all in the context of how opposition teams attempted to defend against them. Learn how Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling were used very differently from Mo Salah and Sadio Mane, how City's system got the best out of Kevin De Bruyne, and how Trent Alexander-Arnold became a unique playmaker from full-back. From 'inverted full-backs' to 'false 9s' via 'free 8s', discover how City and Liverpool's tactics reflect modern football's evolution.

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Book SynopsisMarcelo Bielsa vs The Damned United is a fan's account of two extraordinary seasons at Leeds United, which culminated in the club's return to the Premier League after a 16-year exile. Bielsa, one of the most revered managers in world football, quickly transformed a mediocre group of players into would-be title winners and raced to the top of the Championship.But his biggest foe was the very club he had come to save, a club where controversy and calamity are never far away. The controversial 'Spygate' saga derailed the seasonand the team collapsed at the finish line in heartbreaking and calamitous fashion. The following season Bielsa faced more controversy, more chaos, and just as his team reached the finish line again, along came a global pandemic.This book captures the essence of a unique football genius, and the trials and tribulations of a long-suffering fan base - in love with their manager, electrified by his football and often deranged by a rollercoaster two-year promotion race.Trade Review"What makes this book come to life is the passion and commitment Dean feels for his lifelong club." * Goodreads *"Remind yourself of the great man's genius by getting this excellent book. Brilliant read!" * LUFC Mad *"A pretty effortless read and nicely sums up the excitement, despair and unfathomable joy of the 2018-2020 period." -- Jon How * Leeds United author *"This tale is given a different spin by the writer where the hurt and humour comes to the fore - and it is therefore an extremely entertaining artefact." * World of Words *

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Book Synopsis**THE FANS. THE PLAYERS. THE POMPEY FAMILY. YOU KNOW THEIR NAMES, NOW IT'S TIME FOR THEIR STORY** At the start of the 2019-20 League One season, award-winning sports reporter Neil Allen set out to follow the fortunes of a team in the hunt for promotion. By the time it came to an end, the football almost felt like an afterthought. Covering the highs and lows of a season like no other, Allen offers an exclusive insight into a club and a fanbase that has known more hardship than most, exploring the vital role a football club plays when the football is taken away. Given unparalleled access, Allen interviews current players and club legends, the fans who saved the club in 2013 and those now tasked with ensuring its survival. The essential profile of Portsmouth Football Club, its fans and its recent history.

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Book Synopsis'A man who had such a huge impact on my career and so many other young players at West Ham United. I highly recommend this fantastic read.' FRANK LAMPARD JR'This man passed on the West Ham DNA to the best generation of academy graduates to come through the West Ham system.' RIO FERDINAND'A West Ham United man, a must read for every West Ham United fan.' MARK NOBLEThe autobiography of a West Ham legend - including exclusive interviews with Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole and Mark Noble.Tony Carr is one of the most influential coaches of all time. Having achieved his boyhood dream of signing with West Ham United in 1966 and training alongside the inimitable Bobby Moore, a leg break forced Carr to end his playing career before it had even begun. Not to be deterred, he decided to forge himself a new path and was appointed director of youth football at West Ham in 1973, aged just 23.As Carr tells in this book the very first time, over the next 43 years he honed his craft, becoming hugely admired for identifying and nurturing young talent, guiding multiple generations of international starlets through the ranks at The Academy of Football.In his brilliant, understated style, Tony tells the incredible story of his footballing life. He recounts the highs and lows of his time with West Ham, with tales of the twelve managers he coached under. This unique evocation of a coach's craft includes exclusive interviews with Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Michael Carrick, Joe Cole and current West Ham captain Mark Noble as they talk frankly about football and their place within it.Trade ReviewA man who had such a huge impact on my career and so many other young players at West Ham United. I highly recommend this fantastic read. -- FRANK LAMPARD JRThis man passed on the West Ham DNA to the best generation of academy graduates to come through the West Ham system. -- RIO FERDINANDA West Ham United man, a must read for every West Ham United fan. -- MARK NOBLE

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Book SynopsisImagine Pep Guardiola quitting Manchester City to take over at Rochdale. Or Jose Mourinho walking out on United to join Southend. That sort of thing just wouldn't happen, would it? Except that in 1973, it did. At that time Brian Clough was managerial gold dust, having taken Derby County to the Football League title and to the semi-finals of the European Cup. After those feats, he and his sidekick Peter Taylor could have managed anywhere. And yet the most famous men in British football decided to take the reins at Brighton & Hove Albion, sixth bottom of the old Third Division, for what would prove a controversial and ultimately unsuccessful spell that would test their friendship to breaking point. The move to a sleepy backwater football club made little sense then and, forty years on, it remains a mystery. It seems especially odd considering Clough's aversion to the south and refusal to relocate his home from Derby. Featuring candid interviews with the men who played under Clough and Taylor at Brighton, Bloody Southerners attempts to make sense of the strangest managerial appointment in English post-war football. What shines through in page after page of never-before-heard stories is the profound complexity of both characters.

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Book Synopsis'The Fever Pitch of five-a-side' TONY PARSONSA must-have for anyone who has ever played and enjoyed amateur football.James Brown has been playing football since growing up in the backstreets of Leeds. The sudden death of one of his long-standing team mates made James ponder the unique bond between men who meet each other once a week for years, but don't know any personal details beyond pitch prowess.Five-a-Side football is where you play the beautiful game for love, not money. You play it for life and you play it everywhere. Your kit is damp and your legs are a leopard's back of bruises. Shirts are often tight around the belly, with your hero's name plastered across your shoulder blades. The showers are too cold in winter and too hot in summer. Your used sports bag stays unpacked in the hall, and your water bottles are under the kitchen sink. The post-match warm down takes place in the pub. As does the match analysis. By contrast the warm up is non-existent. Your performance is patchy and maybe not what it used to be. But we all still think we played great. Five-a-Side is sporting Karaoke - a time and place to live out our dreams.This is a book for all of us - school mates, work colleagues, total strangers - bonded by the desire to blast one into the net from two feet away.

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Book SynopsisWelcome to the obsessive world of Fantasy Football, where managers will do anything to succeed.Every Saturday afternoon, 5.8 million people around the world settle down to see how their team will get on.But this isn't the team they support. It's THEIR team.They have spent hour after hour assessing injuries, swapping subs and tweaking formations. Because when the day is done and the scores are in, they want to be able to look in the mirror and say, 'THAT TRIPLE CAPTAIN CALL WAS AN ACT OF GENIUS!'David Wardale - writer for the UK's number one Fantasy Football site, Fantasy Football Scout - meets previous winners to discover how they beat millions to the crown. He reveals the leagues where failure involves outright humiliation and discovers just how low some managers will go to claim a psychological advantage.Along the way, he finds Saudi sheikhs, stats professors, most of Norway and a member of one of the biggest pop bands of all time, all of them united by their unflinching desire for Fantasy Football greatness.Trade ReviewFever Pitch for the fantasy football crowd. Everything a hardcore fantasy manager wants to read. * Always Cheating podcast *Even better than I expected. 10/10. * FPL General *A must-read for all FPL enthusiasts. * James Egersdorff *Mrs Coach said I look like a kid at Christmas with this in my hands. * FPL Coach *Fascinating and humorous insights into the world of fantasy football. * FPL Sombrero *

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Book Synopsis1980s Rio de Janeiro.There’s only one king in this city and he’s got the mullet, swagger and fake ID to prove it.Introducing Carlos Henrique Raposo, known to all as KAISER.This guy’s got more front than Copacabana beach. He’s the most loveable of rogues with the most common of dreams: to become a professional footballer. And he isn’t about to let trivial details like talent and achievement stand in his way. . . not when he has so many other ways to get what he wants.In one of the most remarkable football stories ever told, Kaiser graduates from abandoned slumdog to star striker, dressing-room fixer, superstar party host and inexhaustible lover. And all without kicking a ball. He’s not just the king… he’s the Kaiser.Trade ReviewRaposo's story is brought to life in Rob Smyth's brilliant Kaiser!…a book that exhibits all the verve and skill that its subject never could -- Nooruddean Choudry * Joe.co.uk *[An] almost unbelievable biography -- Ben East * Observer *Both hilarious and unbelievable, Kaiser! is a preposterously good football read * FourFourTwo *Smyth does a solid job of showing how Raposo’s unlikely path might have been smoothed by the chaotic nature of Brazillian football at the time…and the vagaries of the pre-social media world -- Paul Rees * When Saturday Comes *

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Book SynopsisDiscover the hectic behind-the-scenes drama of transfer deadlines through the players, managers, chairmen, agents, scouts, analysts, fans, journalists, broadcasters and bookmakers.For football fans who hungrily feed on gossip and rumour, Christmas comes twice a year - once in August and again in January. These are the months when the transfer window dominates thoughts, when the prospect of a new signing or two reinvigorates the hopes and dreams of the hopelessly devoted.Nige Tassell goes behind the scenes to observe the workings of the transfer window and to examine why it continues to hold such fascination for a nation of football lovers. He speaks to players, managers, chairmen, agents, scouts, analysts, fans, journalists, broadcasters and even bookmakers to hear how they survive - and possibly prosper from - these red-letter months in the football calendar.Nobody writes about football like Nige Tassell: poignant, funny, nostalgic and reminds us why we love the game.

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Book Synopsis** AS SEEN ON BBC FOOTBALL FOCUS AND BT SPORT **** 'Excellent and thoroughly enjoyable' Sunday Sport **** 'Informative and eye-opening . . . an inspirational and motivational book' footballbookreviews.com **'ONE MAN AND HIS QUEST TO SEE A GAME IN EVERY UEFA NATION IN ONE SEASON' Paul Doyle, GuardianIn June 2017, Matt said farewell to his job, surrendered his Fulham FC season ticket and set off for Georgia, the first stop on his mission. He would end his adventure eleven months later in Montenegro, having conquered the continent and captured the imagination of its sporting media.His epic journey would pose its challenges. Yet no amount of airport confusion in Iceland, unusual betting activity in Latvia, spectator bans in Albania or ropey breakfast buffets in Moldova would make Matt miss a matchday. And then there were the games themselves: showcasing the full spectrum of footballing theatre, from the truly sublime to the utterly ridiculous.This is the story of one fan on a once-in-a-lifetime experience: travelling to Europe's unseen corners, talking with its unsung supporters, and tracing the beautiful game across the breadth of our brilliant, bizarre continent.Trade ReviewExcellent and thoroughly enjoyable. - Sunday SportInformative and eye-opening . . . an inspirational and motivational book.

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Book Synopsis***'Footie book of the year.' - The SunTROY DEENEY is best known as Watford FC's former captain and a thorn in Arsenal's side. But behind the successful and gritty football persona is a remarkable story of resilience.In this brutally honest and inspirational memoir, Troy shares what it was like to grow up on Europe's largest council estate, where his mum worked three jobs and his father, a notorious drug dealer, was frequently in and out of prison.He shares stories of self-sabotage, from simply not turning up to Aston Villa's football trials as a teenager, playing while drunk to being imprisoned for affray at the height of his career.But Troy never gave up, even when it meant playing professional football with an ankle tag. He went on to score 20+ goals in three successive seasons and became the Club Captain, an FA Cup finalist, promotion winner and Watford's record scorer. He also became an outspoken player advocate and - in an age of bland footballer interviews - is a sought after voice on football and footballers today.Engaging, endearing and insightful, this book is where Troy comes to terms with his turbulent past.

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Book SynopsisDo you remember John Giles and Eamon Dunphy when they lit up the pitch, and not just the TV studio? Or Jack's Army beating Italy in Giants Stadium? Or Siapan? Ray McManus and his team at Sportsfile were there, passionately following the boys in green and capturing the essence of this physical, punishing sport and those who play it. With reminiscences from photographers and players alike, this book is a look back over the decades at the legendary players, matches and moments that have contributed to the narrative of our contribution to one of the world's most exciting sports. A must for soccer and sport fans wherever they are.Trade Reviewone great book * Irish Daily Mail *

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Book SynopsisThe inspiration behind many of Ireland's greatest days, Shay Given earned 134 caps for his country and played in goal for Ireland for 20 years! Follow Shay Given through the highs and lows of a football career, playing in the Premier League, European Championships and the World Cup. The story of one of Ireland's greatest ever footballers.

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Book SynopsisEngland manager Gareth Southgate's decision to appoint Kane, still just twenty-three years old, as the team captain in 2017 could have been seen as premature, bringing with it pressure that could damage a young player's career. However, he knew that Kane, a modest, humble and inspiring figure was up to the task.Having lost faith in the national team, English fans weren't sure the players would even make it out of their group. No one could have predicted that this young and relatively inexperienced side would achieve their best result since 1990, or that their captain would win the tournament's Golden Boot with six goals. Perhaps most importantly for the team and their manager, they brought the country together to make for an unforgettable summer.While their eventual semi-final loss to Croatia came as a stinging disappointment, this is just the start for the team and their skipper, one of our most exciting players for a generation and a truly world-class English star.In this in-depth biography, bestselling sports writer Frank Worrall traces Kane's journey from an ordinary childhood in north London, growing up just a few miles from White Hart Lane, to the most remarkable tournament of his career.

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Book SynopsisAre you ready for the World Cup? It’s time to warm up for another roller coaster ride… Calling all footie fanatics! Put your knowledge of the beautiful game to the test with this quiz book, packed full of puzzles, stats and little-known facts. Whether it’s chatting to a mate on a pre-match pub trip or to keep calm during a tense half time in front of the TV, every football fan loves a bit of trivia. Use this fact-packed quiz and puzzle book to gen up on World Cup legends such as Ronaldo and Messi and prepare to impress your friends with your fantastic football knowledge. Featuring brain-teasing puzzles, tricky true-or-false questions and hilarious “what happened next?” scenarios, this quiz book is guaranteed to keep you entertained until the final whistle. Have a go at guessing the top ten most expensive football players Discover who scored the worst-ever World Cup own goal Find out which World Cup match saw the same player booked three times Prepare yourself for penalties with stats on perfect shootouts and miserable misses

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Book SynopsisTest your football knowledge with this exciting collection of puzzles and trivia Discover word searches, riddles, crosswords, spot-the-differences and much more in this fun-filled activity book for football lovers. Whether you're diving through a maze to make an incredible save or trying to match the pairs of football boots, this book is guaranteed to be a favourite for all who enjoy the game. Football fans love a bit of trivia, and this entertaining puzzle book is filled with all kinds of exciting facts, games and activities to whet your quizzing appetite. Put your knowledge to the test and wow your friends with your expertise. Hone your puzzling skills by pitting your wits against challenges such as:- Helping the ball find the goal in a puzzling maze - Locating the names of European clubs hidden in a word search - Unscrambling the names of iconic international players - Spotting the differences between two scenes as a crowd of fans celebrates a winning goal

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Book SynopsisMessi is regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time.The humble and shy youngster from a working-class family in Rosario, Argentina, who was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency at the age of 11, would become one of the most famous footballers of all time and realise a boyhood dream by captaining Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022.Messi's popularity around the globe remains undiminished, adored by millions of football fans who put rivalries aside to salute this incredible footballer. He has won every major honour there is to win, including the coveted Ballon d'Or on a record seven occasions and a record two World Cup Golden Ball awards.His incredible career is mostly centred around his 21-year stay with Barcelona where is revered as a footballing god. Now playing for Paris St Germain, the Argentine genius continues to take the beautiful game to unchartered levels which has spanned a glittering career of more than 20 years – he is, quite simply, a maestro with the gift to do the seemingly impossible."I have fun like a child in the street. When the day comes when I'm not enjoying it, I will leave football." Lionel Messi on retirement"I start early, and I stay late, day after day, year after year. It took me 17 years and 114 days to become an overnight success." Messi on Twitter, 13 August 2018"There is only one Messi." Pep Guardiola, Manchester City manager 2018Table of ContentsA Star is Born • Inspirational Genius • Barca Brilliance • The World at His Feet • Don't Cry For Me Argentina • The Greatest Showman.

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Book SynopsisOn a sweltering day in May 2010, Blackpool achieved the impossible dream. The Seasiders booked their ticket to the Premier League in a thrilling play-off final win, with all the riches that came with it. Twenty-four hours later, while everybody else was celebrating, the Oystons were meeting to plan how they would take it. Ian Holloway and his side fought bravely for survival, becoming the nation's second team with their swashbuckling style. Behind the scenes, the club was falling apart. Buckets collected rain leaking through the training ground roof. The manager's office could have the heat or lights on, just not at the same time. The Oystons paid themselves nearly GBP30m. It took five years for Blackpool to suffer three relegations back to the basement of the Football League. When fans hit back, they were sued. Chairman Karl Oyston told a fan he was on a 'never ending revenge mission'. How Not to Run a Football Club is the inside story of how one family nearly ran a football club to its death. And how a community brought it back.

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Book SynopsisThe Undisputed Champions of Europe is a trilogy-ending homage to the golden era of the European Cup. A place where the gods of the game battled for the biggest prize in club football; a place where the likes of Di Stefano, Eusebio, Best, Cruyff, Beckenbauer, Dalglish, Gullit and so many others became legends, as they skated across thin ice to glory, in the colours of clubs that are now considered European royalty. An entirely different beast than the Champions League, it was a competition where you had to win your domestic league title to gain entry. With no safety net of group stages, one bad night of football was enough to send you back to square one. In contrast to today's Champions League winners - whose status as Europe's best team is regularly disputed - the winners of the European Cup truly were the undisputed kings of Europe. These are the stories and glories of football's highest achievers.

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Book SynopsisHow much do you really know about Arsenal? Put your Gunners 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 Arsenal sides and players - from Chapman's champions to Mee's double winners and Wenger's 'invincibles', from Adams, Wright, Bergkamp and Henry to Pepe and Partey - providing hours of highly dippable fun and entertainment. Which player was nicknamed 'The Little Mozart'? Which England international appeared with Diana Dors and Thora Hird in a 1953 film? Who is the only World Cup Golden Shoe-winner to have played for Arsenal? Who was the only Arsenal player in the GB football squad at the 2012 Olympics? Which player fronted a worldwide ad campaign as a Calvin Klein underwear model? Trivquiz Arsenal holds the answers to all these questions and hundreds more.

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Book SynopsisHow much do you really know about Manchester City? Put your Blues 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 Man City greats - from Meredith and Trautmann to Summerbee and Bell, from Mercer to Mancini and on to the Guardiola glory years - providing hours of highly dippable fun and entertainment. Mike Summerbee once owned a fashion boutique with which Manchester United star? Can you name City's first Ukrainian-born player? Which former City striker voiced an ugly sister in Spanish versions of the Shrek movies? Whose '23' City squad number was retired following his death on international duty? Which goalkeeper broke a finger in a game against Bury, played on at centre-forward and scored? Trivquiz Manchester City holds the answers to all these questions and hundreds more.

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Book SynopsisThe O'Leary Years charts the rise and fall of Leeds United at the turn of the 21st century. When David O'Leary took the managerial reins from taskmaster George Graham, he promoted a gifted crop of youngsters into the first team, transforming a well-oiled machine into a free-flowing bundle of joy. This often-scorned club enjoyed popularity like never before, but things are never straightforward at Elland Road. Criminal charges against star players, the tragic murders of fans, a perpetual injury curse and a 'spend, spend, spend' attitude eventually brought the club to its knees - but not before it was one match from reaching its holy grail: a European Cup final rematch with Bayern Munich. The journey lasted four seasons, each one a rollercoaster, and the story is told through the memories and match reports of the author, from a 14-year-old travelling the country with his dad, to an 18-year-old on the bus with his mates, with nostalgic tales of the good old days along the way.Trade Review"The personal stain and the joy of following a football team, lies at the heart of Rocco Dean's The O'Leary Years." * Football Book Reviews *"Dean's personal anecdotes enhance LUFC's incredible story. 9/10." * The Football Library *"An excellent account told through the memories and match reports of the author." -- Gary Edwards * Leeds United author *"A powerful piece of literature that any aficionado of the round ball can appreciate and realise that being a devoted fan is not an easy process, and yet those embroiled in that world never depart as the players, managers and club owners come and go." -- Rob Jones * Rhondda Cynon Taff Gazette *

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Book SynopsisGerrard's Blueprint provides an in-depth analysis of Rangers' tactical evolution over three years under Steven Gerrard, culminating in a league title win that saw them crowned kings of Scotland for the 55th time. In May 2018, Rangers appointed Liverpool legend Gerrard as the 16th permanent manager in the club's long history. A megastar player but untested as a coach, many wondered how Gerrard would fare at a club like Rangers, especially in light of the team's struggles in the past six seasons. Fast forward to 7 March 2021 and Gerrard's Rangers clinched the club's 55th title in record time, staying unbeaten in all 32 league games to that point. This book delves into the tactical approach used by Gerrard and his coaching team and shines a light on the key principles of their footballing philosophy. Adam Thornton picks out key games and players that have shaped the tactical evolution of the side and helped them become title winners.

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Book SynopsisA Director's Tale is the story of Burnley Football Club in the early 1980s, a time of short-lived success and then turmoil. With special access to the diaries of director Derek Gill, Dave Thomas brings you the unvarnished inside story, revealing what went on behind the scenes amid conflict with chairman John Jackson and manager John Bond. These were torrid times involving, at first, a surprise promotion, then a relegation, then John Bond's departure and another relegation. This was a group of men who were all competent and professional in their own fields - Jackson was a barrister, Gill an accountant - but they became a toxic mix in the boardroom. The Bond season has gone into the Turf Moor history books as one of the most damaging. His name is much derided in Burnley today, but he was only a part of a bigger problem. The Gill diaries provide a unique opportunity to see - warts and all - the workings and machinations of boardroom politics. This is a story of failure and acrimony.

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Book SynopsisSammy McIlroy experienced one of the most memorable careers in football. After all, who else can say they played with George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton, experienced relegation, won trophies and played under six different managers at Manchester United? With more than 400 appearances, McIlroy - the last player signed by the legendary Sir Matt Busby - is a bona fide Old Trafford legend, and is an intrinsic part of the fabric of its illustrious history. One of the few footballers to have played in two international tournaments for Northern Ireland (and been captain in one), 'Super' Sam went on to manage his country after a successful spell in charge of Macclesfield Town. He tells his extraordinary story with remarkable candour and emotion, pulling no punches. From the anxiety of his homesickness to the exhilaration of his club debut, from the lows of his heartbreaking exit from United to the highs of leading his country out in a World Cup, The Last Busby Babe finally puts on record one of the greatest careers in football history.

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Book SynopsisBy the early months of 2012, it was clear that the appointment of Andre Villas-Boas as head coach at Chelsea wasn't delivering the required success. Instead, the club was spiralling towards its worst season of the Roman Abramovich era. On 4 March, Villas-Boas was dismissed, with his former assistant Roberto Di Matteo made interim head coach until the end of the season. Struggling in the league and with their place in the Champions League in peril, it was an appointment designed to make the best of things until a permanent replacement could be sought in the summer. Instead, under Di Matteo's guidance, Chelsea embarked on a run of performances that not only led to an FA Cup triumph, but resurrected their European hopes with improbable victories over Napoli, Benfica and Guardiola's all-conquering Barcelona before, against all odds, winning the Champions League by defeating Bayern Munich in their own stadium. This is the story of a triumph that came out of the blue.

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Book SynopsisNewcastle United are a team that really should do better. They have a football-mad city all to themselves and fans as numerous and passionate as you will find anywhere. Yet their recent record is mediocre at best and poor at worst, with every fan painfully aware that 1955 was the last time they won a major English trophy. But it wasn't always like that. In the Magpies' glory days of well over 100 years ago, they were considered the best team in the world. They won the English league three times in five years, the English cup once and had several near misses, while supplying many players for the England and Scotland national teams. In this fascinating book, David Potter recreates the atmosphere of 'the Toon' in those distant days when men like McWilliam, Veitch, Higgins and Shepherd walked tall. Above all, that great era is a potent reminder to the current generation of Newcastle fans that 'it doesn't need to be like this'.

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Book SynopsisThe Nearly Men tells the fascinating stories of some of the most revered international football teams of all time. Through the history of the World Cup there are many sides who thrilled us all with their elegance and style, or who revolutionised the game, only to fail when it mattered most. They are the teams that could, and in some cases perhaps should, have won the World Cup, yet remain memorable for what they did achieve as well as what they didn't. They all left a lasting legacy, be that of unfulfilled potential, crushed dreams or the artistry they produced that could have seen them prevail. Their exploits and accomplishments are frequently hailed more than those of the winners. The Nearly Men celebrates these teams: what made them great, what saw them fail, the legacy they left and why onlookers remember them so fondly. It is a tale of frustration and disappointment, but also of footballing beauty and lasting legacy, in homage to the kind of greatness that isn't defined by victory.

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