Association football (Soccer) Books

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

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Book SynopsisFootball Kit Italia is the ultimate guide to the players, kits and clubs of the Football Italia era of 1992 to 2002. A season by season and club by club account of the kits and characters that cemented this period as one of the greatest in football history. A must-read for anyone who loved Channel 4's legendary coverage.

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Book SynopsisIs Gascoigne Going to Have a Crack? tells the story of Spurs in the 1990s, expertly guiding you through this exciting but chaotic time.The 1990s are often seen as an era of misery for Tottenham Hotspur. They were undoubtedly that; at the moment that English football became commercially driven and outwardly focused the club fell in relevance from being one of the unofficial ''Big Five'' in the 80s to mid-table also-rans by the start of the 2000s.However, this is not a fair reflection of the fortunes of the club during the decade. The Gascoigne-inspired run to the 1991 FA Cup victory, the Gallic flair of David Ginola and the incredible excitement generated by the signing of Jurgen Klinsmann produced moments of unbridled joy and excitement.From Sheringham to Sugar and Venables to Vega, this book journeys through a fascinating decade with a season-by-season account that incorporates the views of players and supporters who lived through a decade that co

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Book SynopsisEach year, 6. 1 million kids aged 6 to 17 play soccer for more than 25 days a year, and each of their teams needs a coach. In many cases, the coach is a parent or adult volunteer who may not have any previous coaching (or even soccer) experience. This book provides these volunteers with a crash course in soccer and coaching fundamentals.Table of ContentsIntroduction. Part I: Getting Started Coaching Soccer. Chapter 1: Teaching Soccer to Children. Chapter 2: Getting Organized. Chapter 3: Getting Up to Speed with the Basics. Part II: Building Your Coaching Skills. Chapter 4: Meet the Parents. Chapter 5: Getting to Know Your Team. Chapter 6: Running a Great Practice. Chapter 7: Getting Your Game On. Chapter 8: Refining Your Approach at Midseason. Part III: Beginning and Intermediate Soccer. Chapter 9: Teaching the Fundamentals. Chapter 10: Fundamental Drills. Chapter 11: Coaching Offense 101. Chapter 12: Coaching Defense 101. Chapter 13: Coaching Restarts. Chapter 14: Taking Practice Drills to the Next Level. Part IV: Advanced Soccer Strategies. Chapter 15: Coaching Offense 201. Chapter 16: Coaching Defense 201. Chapter 17: Implementing Advanced Drills. Part V: The Extra Points. Chapter 18: Keeping Kids Healthy and Injury Free. Chapter 19: Dealing with Common Coaching Challenges. Chapter 20: Taking Your Show on the Road. Part VI: The Part of Tens. Chapter 21: Ten Ways to Make the Season Memorable. Chapter 22: Ten Ways to End the Season on a High Note. Index.

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

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Book SynopsisTurning Points: Moments that Defined Football History dives into the archives to reveal some of the most important stories from the annals of the beautiful game. From the FA ban of women's football to Marc-Viven Foe's death and Frank Lampard's ghost goal', this book uncovers the moments that shaped the course of football history.

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Book SynopsisPasión explores the rich diversity of Spanish footballing culture and how the game unites the nation. Whether talking to World Cup-winning managers, elite players and journalists or travelling to dozens of cities and grounds, the author sets out to help us understand what has made Spain the greatest continental football power this century.

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Book SynopsisPacked with fun facts, career stats and lots of jokes, the Football Superstars series tells the story of South Korea's talisman and Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-min. The series is aimed at building a love of reading from a young age, especially among football-loving children who are reluctant readers.

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

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

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Book SynopsisPoolies at Heart is a deeply personal and richly varied celebration of Hartlepool United told by players, managers and fans.Looking back across the decades, the book reveals the realities of life at the lower end of football's spectrum at one of the north-east's oldest clubs. Inside you'll discover: Exclusive insider insight from the likes of former managers Danny Wilson, Kevin Phillips and Ronnie Moore, Peter Taylor's daughter Wendy Dickinson, plus Hartlepool United legend Brian Honour The inside story of how Brian Clough came to manage Hartlepool The euphoria surrounding promotion the season after relegation, as remembered by Wilson An epic FA Cup tie against Sir Matt Busby's Manchester United, which Hartlepool almost won Phillips's account of his tenure as manager, interviewed just one week before he was sacked The Egyptian international who turned out for the Pool in the 1920s Insights on how John McGovern was first spotted by Peter Taylor, and given his Hartlepool debut as a teenager Fan memories of the ups and downs of this unique club across the decades In every account, through every high and low, a love of the club shines through. Featuring recollections of favourite moments, memorable games and a plethora of personalities, this is the ultimate celebration of the Pools.

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Book SynopsisThe Twentieth Anniversary Edition*WINNER OF THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR* Fever Pitch is Nick Hornby's million-copy-selling, award-winnning football classic'A spanking 7-0 away win of a football book. . . inventive, honest, funny, heroic, charming' IndependentFor many people watching football is mere entertainment, to some it's more like a ritual; but to others, its highs and lows provide a narrative to life itself. But, for Nick Hornby, his devotion to the game has provided one of few constants in a life where the meaningful things - like growing up, leaving home and forming relationships, both parental and romantic - have rarely been as simple or as uncomplicated as his love for Arsenal.'Hornby has put his finger on truths that have been unspoken for generations' Irish TimesBrimming with wit and honesty, Fever Pitch, catches perfectly what it really means to be a football fan - and in doinTrade ReviewFunny, wise and true -- Roddy Doyle

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Book SynopsisA pocket biography of George Best

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Book SynopsisBirmingham City On This Day revisits the most magical and memorable moments from the club's distinguished history, mixing in a maelstrom of anecdotes and characters to produce an irresistibly dippable Blues diary - with an entry for every day of the year. From its beginnings as Small Heath Alliance in 1875 right through to the modern era and golden goals at Wembley, here are all the rollercoaster highs and lows. The club won the first ever Second Division title in 1893; Blues were the first English team to compete in European competition and the first to reach a European final. Birmingham City have twice won the League Cup and twice reached the FA Cup final. Relive the day in 1963 when Blues beat Villa to win a first major trophy, remember when Darren Carter's penalty clinched promotion in Cardiff, and when Obafemi Martins shocked Arsenal to recapture the League Cup. Recall the exploits of legends such as Joe Bradford, Gil Merrick and Bob Latchford, Trevor Francis, Michael Johnson and Christophe Dugarry.

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

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Book SynopsisA Financial Times Sports book of the Year 2018 pickWho's better: Ronaldo or Messi? Ask any football fan and they'll have an opinion. For the best part of the last decade football has seen a personal rivalry unlike any seen before. Cristiano and Leo. This is their definitive story, from children kicking a ball halfway around the world from each other to their era-defining battle to be number one. One the preening adonis, a precision physical machine who blows teams away with his pace and power. The other a shuffling genius, able to do things with a football that seem other-worldly. Their differences seem to tap into something fundamental about football and indeed life.Between them they have scored over a thousand goals, won the Ballon d'Or nine times and redefined modern football. For the past eight seasons they have shared the accolade of best footballer in the world and arguments rage over which one deserves the title of greatest player of all time. Cristiano and Leo by Spanish and South American football expert and journalist Jimmy Burns is the essential book to understand the defining players of a generation.'Burns is incapable of writing a boring sentence.' - Irish TimesTrade ReviewA thoroughly researched dual biography by the great Jimmy Burns -- Simon Kuper, author of The Football MenI am eating up this book. The verve with which Burns writes about the power politics and rich supporting characters like Florentino and Ferguson makes it a captivating read. -- Richard Fitzpatrick, author of El Clásico: Barcelona v Real Madrid, Football’s Greatest RivalryPraise for La Roja: There is so much people don’t know about Spain and Spanish football, and that is not a bad thing for as long as a complete writer like Jimmy Burns brings his unique vision to it. La Roja fills a hole in the knowledge of both Spain and Spanish football, as it goes beyond the football to explain a country, a society and its transformation through, thanks to and despite the beautiful game. -- Guillem Balague, author of Brave New World: Inside Pochettino’s Spurs Praise for Maradona: The Hand of God: Those who have an interest in the sociology of football, in modern Argentina and in the “story behind the headlines” will admire Burns’ disturbing book which easily transcends the normal confines of sports journalism. * The Economist *Praise for Barcelona: A People's Passion: Burns’ strength lies not just in his compulsive, well-told story of the club’s evolution, but his notable grasp of Catalan history. * Sunday Times *Table of ContentsSection - i: Prologue Chapter - 1: Madeira Chapter - 2: Rosario Chapter - 3: Rites of Passage: Ronaldo Chapter - 4: Little Big Man: Messi Chapter - 5: Lisbon Star: Ronaldo Chapter - 6: Growing Pains: Messi Chapter - 7: Into the Market: Ronaldo Chapter - 8: The Dwarf: Messi Chapter - 9: The Red Legacy: Ronaldo Chapter - 10: International Break – Euro Blues: Ronaldo Chapter - 11: First Team Calling: Messi Chapter - 12: Manchester Days: Ronaldo Chapter - 13: The Rise of the Hobbit: Messi Chapter - 14: International Break – Diego’s Shadow: Messi Chapter - 15: World Cup Trauma: Ronaldo the Winker Chapter - 16: Kicking On: Ronaldo Chapter - 17: The New Maradona: Messi Chapter - 18: Close Encounters: Messi vs Ronaldo Chapter - 19: Ronaldinho’s Farewell: Messi Chapter - 20: Euro 2008: Ronaldo Under Pressure Chapter - 21: International Break – The Beijing Olympics and Maradona Chapter - 22: Centre Stage: Ronaldo Chapter - 23: The Guardiola Revolution: Messi Chapter - 24: Goodbye Old Trafford, Hello Bernabéu: Ronaldo Chapter - 25: Untouchable: Messi Chapter - 26: International Break – World Cup 2010: Messi Chapter - 27: World Cup 2010: Ronaldo Chapter - 28: Enter Mourinho Chapter - 29: Clásicos: Ronaldo and Messi Chapter - 30: Mourinho Strikes Back Chapter - 31: International Break – Euro 2012: Ronaldo Chapter - 32: Life after Pep and with Mourinho: Messi and Ronaldo Chapter - 33: King Cristiano; Black Dog Messi Chapter - 34: International Break – World Cup Disappointment, National Embarrassment: Messi and Ronaldo Chapter - 35: Enrique vs Ancelotti Chapter - 36: International Break – The 2016 Copa América: Messi Chapter - 37: Rebuilding: Messi and Ronaldo Chapter - 38: International Break – Euro 2016: Ronaldo the Manager Chapter - 39: On Trial: Messi Chapter - 40: Legends: Messi and Ronaldo Chapter - 41: Conclusion Acknowledgements - ii: Acknowledgements Section - iii: Bibliography Section - iv: Notes Index - v: Index

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Book SynopsisEverything you ever needed to know about Leicester City.

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Book SynopsisMeet the UK's most notorious football hooligans. Author Andrew Woods has come face-to-face with Millwall's most famous firm and now, for the first time, the Bushwackers reveal all about their bloodiest battles and fiercest rivalries - in their own words. But among the camaraderie, the battles of wits with the police and the exhilarating toe-to-toe run-ins with the opposition, this book also examines the history of hooliganism and why measures brought in to combat violence have failed. Packed with hilarious characters. shocking tales and plenty of excitement, no stone is left unturned in this journey into the dark side of football. With stories from the 1960s to the present day - including the infamous Luton riot of 1985, the 'Mad Season' of 2001/02 and the ongoing war with West Ham's ICF - No-one Likes Us, We Don't Care is the ultimate collection of tales from the terraces.

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

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Book SynopsisThe Untouchables: Anfield's Band of Brothers chronicles the rise and fall of one of the greatest Liverpool teams ever. In 1918 an enlisted man, Tom Bromilow, stepped off the streets of Liverpool and straight into the team. Still in uniform, he was one of tens of thousands of Liverpudlians who fought in World War One. His signing completed a jigsaw that eventually revealed an image of footballing perfection, a team so great they were called 'The Untouchables'. The book brings to life a host of incredible characters, uncovers friendships and rivalries and reveals amazing backstories. Meet men like Bootle-born Walter Wadsworth, tough-talking Irishman Elisha Scott, champion boxer Jock McNab and many other fascinating figures. The Untouchables reveals previously unknown detail and sheds new light on old controversies, including the real reason behind the departure of the club's manager, Dave Ashworth. Meticulously researched and lovingly told, the book breathes new life into a fascinating and long-forgotten story.Trade Review"Almost exactly a century ago, on Saturday 21 April 1923, a Liverpool side managed by Matt McQueen clinched the top-flight title for the second successive season, with a 1-1 draw against Huddersfield Town at Anfield. Today the club is marking the anniversary of that great team’s achievements with a half-time tribute, and there’ll be a special banner on the Kop. The story is brilliantly chronicled in the 2021 book The Untouchables: Anfield’s Band of Brothers, by Jeff Gouding and Kieran Smith." * Liverpool FC Match Programme *

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Book SynopsisPlaying for the Shirt is a stunning showcase of the greatest known collection of match-worn West Ham United shirts.The book features a beautiful array of match-worn shirts from 1951 to the present day, from the old heavy cotton shirts of yesteryear to the high-tech shirts made of lightweight, breathable fibres for today’s athletes. In hunting down these precious cotton and polyester gems, lifelong Hammers fan Mick Clifford embarked on a journey to preserve the club’s past for fans of all ages.This eye-catching book is filled with superb photographs of worn shirts from the most famous players ever to don the celebrated East London club’s claret and blue colours – legends such as Bobby Moore, Billy Bonds, Trevor Brooking, Tony Cottee, Frank McAvennie, Paolo Di Canio, Julian Dicks, Dimitri Payet and Mark Noble.Playing for the Shirt captures moments in time, with a fascinating insight into how the West Ham shirt evolved. Each match-worn shirt tells a different story.Trade Review"It really is a super coffee-table type book of real quality writing and photography. Massive thought has gone into the presentation and layout… Rating: 10/10 (as I can’t give 11/10!)" -- Mark Watkins * Dare Radio *

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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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Book SynopsisThe greatest moments in sporting history in inglorious technicolour, from the artists' known as NO SCORE DRAWSGenuinely upsetting.' David SquiresRepulsively ugly.' Séamas O''ReillyAn Unofficial World Cup Hall of Infamy, featuring the worst fouls, best goals, most questionable refereeing decisions, dodgiest barnets, mintest kits and a host of Where were you when?' moments.This is the first (and, let's face it, probably only) book from the multi-untalented team behind moderately successful Twitter account @CheapPanini, bringing mild bemusement to the world through the medium of wonky hand-drawn stickers.You can't fault them for effort, even if they still can't do hands, so dive into these pages like Roy Keane into a tackle.Trade Review‘As someone who has spent/wasted years drawing wonky likenesses of footballers, this book really speaks to me. Sure, one of Mandor Hidegkuti’s eyes has dropped deep and their Mark Van Bommel is genuinely upsetting, but this is a funny and loving collection, as fans of No Score Draws have come to expect.’ David Squires, Guardian cartoonist and author of The Illustrated History of Football ‘An exquisitely beautiful book of repulsively ugly drawings. Come for the terrifying gallery of disgusting freaks, but stay for the humour, nostalgia and sheer unbridled joy it shares for the game, and for sticker books; the holy texts of any football-mad childhood. Essential reading for anyone who's ever picked up a ball, a book, or a marker pen, and thought: "why not?" Well, it replies, this is why…’ Séamas O'Reilly, author of Did Ye Hear Mammy Died? Praise for the work of ‘No Score Draws’: ‘It’s absolutely awful and I love it.’ ‘Will absolutely ruin my partner’s Christmas.’ ‘Splendid and horrid at the same time.’ ‘Were my expectations met? Sadly, yes.’

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Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE NEW WRITER AWARD AT THE CROSS SPORTS BOOK AWARDSSHORTLISTED FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE, THE GORDON BURN PRIZE AND FOOTBALL BOOK OF THE YEAR AT THE CROSS SPORTS BOOK AWARDSFEATURED IN THE OBSERVER''S SPORTS WRITERS'' BOOKS OF THE YEARAnd the Sun Shines Now is a book about why Hillsborough happened, and how the flawed response to the disaster created a ''whole new ball game'' but destroyed a culture. The Taylor Report. All-seater stadia. Police lies. Political neglect. Murdoch. The oligarchs. And an FA plan to gentrify football. But what happens when you take the people''s game away from the people? What happens to the game, and what happens to the people? Powerful, funny, soulful and brutal, Adrian Tempany''s acclaimed book exposes the real cost of the modern game . . . and the forces that shaped it.

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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 Synopsis*WINNER OF THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR*Fever Pitch is Nick Hornby''s million-copy-selling, award-winnning football classic''A spanking 7-0 away win of a football book. . . inventive, honest, funny, heroic, charming'' IndependentFor many people watching football is mere entertainment, to some it''s more like a ritual; but to others, its highs and lows provide a narrative to life itself. But, for Nick Hornby, his devotion to the game has provided one of few constants in a life where the meaningful things - like growing up, leaving home and forming relationships, both parental and romantic - have rarely been as simple or as uncomplicated as his love for Arsenal.Brimming with wit and honesty, Fever Pitch, catches perfectly what it really means to be a football fan - and in doing so, what it means to be a man.''Hornby has put his finger on truths that have been unspoken for geTrade ReviewFunny, wise and true—Roddy Doyle

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Book SynopsisAndrew Jennings, an award-winning investigative sports reporter, spent four years delving into the dark side of ''the beautiful game''. The result is this explosive and damning exposé of the officials that run football''s world governing body, FIFA .No individual has managed to penetrate the sanctified domain of FIFA and probed successfully into its often criticized yet unproven corruption of the world game. Until now.Author Andrew Jennings argues how FIFA President Sepp Blatter and his associates have misappropriated their position at the head of the world game in their desire for power, control, and a lucrative pay-off. How did these bizarre characters manage to take such control? Foul! is the explosive story.Jennings has undertaken unprecedented research in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas, interviewing hundreds of officials and amassing an extraordinary library of damning documents.He tells how Blatter and his cronies built an invincible electoral machine to keep him in power Trade Review'Award-winning reporter Andrew Jennings has led the way investigating corruption in world football' Daily Mail ‘A meticulously researched and detailed dossier into the inner workings of FIFA’ Sunday Business Post ‘In Foul!, Jennings has turned his unerring attention to the bun fight that masquerades as the global governance of football’ Independent 'The appalling Sepp Blatter and his cronies' activities are laid bare in a mind-boggling web of deceit. Essential reading for cynical football fans.' Evening Herald Dublin

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Book SynopsisA League of Their Own provides readers with a closer look at the FIFA Club World Champions, such as FC Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Manchester City. Readers will catch a glimpse into the history of these clubs while also learning about the individual philosophies of some of the top coaches. This book discusses different tactical philosophies as well as how these tactical approaches have been adjusted by some of soccer's greatest coaches, such as Pep Guardiola, Jose Mourinho, Luis Enrique, and Louis van Gaal. Finally, readers will be taken through case studies of each individual team with a step-by-step analysis of how these tactical setups are successful and how they can be exploited. Each case study will provide a discussion of how each team sets up when in attack, defending, and in transition.Not only addressing how and why these tactical setups are powerful, this book also breaks down and specifies just how lesser teams can exploit the subtle weaknesses by adjusting their attacking, defending, and transition strategies. Winning the tactical battle on the pitch creates endless possibilities, and perhaps evens the playing field to continue intrigue of the game.

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Book SynopsisThis unique and magnificent collection of photographs of Manchester City FC, from the early 1900s up until just before the Millennium, selected from the Daily Mirror's extensive archive, captures the very essence of this famous old club and its supporters.

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Book Synopsis''Steeped in glory, loved by players for his light touch, he is probably the most coveted coach in the world.'' - Financial Times''a treasury of anecdote and insight'' - The Guardian ''Quiet Leadership contains page upon page of insight into his methods from Cristiano Ronaldo, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, John Terry and more''. - Sport MagazineCarlo Ancelotti is one of the greatest managers of all time, with five Champions League titles to his name. Yet his approach could not be further from the aggressive theatricals favoured by many of his rivals. His understated style has earned him the fierce loyalty of players like David Beckham, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Cristiano Ronaldo. In Quiet Leadership, Ancelotti reveals the full, riveting story of his managerial career - his methods, mentors, mistakes and triumphs - and takes us inside the dressing room to trace the characters, challenges and decisions that have shaped him. The result is both a scintillating memoir and a rare insight into the business of leadership.Trade ReviewA treasury of anecdote and insight * The Guardian *He's a great coach and an amazing person -- Cristiano RonaldoThere is nobody better than this international crisis manager to explain how to handle superstar players (Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale), difficult club presidents (Silvio Berlusconi and Roman Abramovich) and hysterical media -- Simon Kuper * Financial Times *Ancelotti is Europe's greatest manager -- Paul Hayward * Telegraph *enjoyable and insightful * Financial Times Review *Steeped in glory, loved by players for his light touch, he is probably the most coveted coach in the world. * Lunch with the FT *Page upon page of insight * Sport *

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Book SynopsisPlymouth Argyle Miscellany collects together all the vital information you never knew you needed to know about the Pilgrims. In these pages you will find irresistible anecdotes and the most mindblowing stats and facts. Heard the one about the 90-year-old director who was registered as a squad member? How about the two London-born midfielders called Lee Hodges who both played for the club? Or the penalty kick that ended up in the hippo pen at Plymouth Zoo, Home Park's 70s neighbour? Do you know which Greens forward let young children swing from his outstretched arms? Which Pilgrim became a saint by saving a baby from drowning? Or how long Sean McCarthy wore his undergarments before celebrating his 200th goal? All these stories and hundreds more appear in a brilliantly researched collection of trivia - essential for any fan who holds the riches of green-and-white history close to their heart.

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Book SynopsisA dozen Sunderland legends come together to tell the stories behind their favourite ever games for the club - enabling Black Cats fans of all ages to relive these magic moments through the eyes and emotions of the men who were there, playing their hearts out for the red-and-white stripes...Niall Quinn relives the rollercoaster 1998 League Division Two play-off final which went to 4-4 before Charlton pinched it 7-6 on penalties; Jim Montgomery recounts heroic tales of the landmark 1973 FA Cup Final. Ever the crowd pleaser, Gary Rowell waxes lyrical about a 4-1 defeat of Newcastle at St James' Park, while the club's all-time record scorer Bobby Gurney remembers a ten-goal thriller back in 1935! Sunderland greats Marco Gabbiadini, Len Ashurst and Charlie Hurley also turn in characteristic star performances, winding back the clock to relive treasured memories of the Match of Their Lives for the Black Cats.

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Book SynopsisIrresistible anecdotes, irrepressible characters, mindblowing stats and facts. Here's all the vital information you never knew you needed to know about Portsmouth FC, coupled with a day-by-day diary of magical and memorable moments from Pompey's rollercoaster history. Heard the one about the Fratton Park cleaner who claimed she was the holder of the FA Cup? How about the full-back who could throw the ball 37 yards? Or the bedridden invalid cured by Pompey's winning goal in the 1939 Cup Final? Turn back the clock to 17 May 2008, when Kanu's strike against Cardiff saw Portsmouth lift the FA Cup. Revisit 23 April 1949 when the lads were crowned Football League champions. Or 31 August 1946, when club legends Jimmy Dickinson and Peter Harris both made their debuts against Blackburn! A brilliantly researched collection of trivia - essential for any fan who holds the riches of blue-and-white history close to their heart.

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Book SynopsisA collection of short biographies on the great Sunderland players named as Player of the Year who helped to define the club's image and set the standard for its future stars. It is suitable for any true fan interested in the history of their beloved club. Each chapter is illustrated and gives season by season stats and total appearances.

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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 SynopsisTrade Review"[E]njoyably accessible to nonspecialists, especially sports enthusiasts, who will learn a great deal about soccer, economics, and human behavior more generally."--Foreign Affairs "Beautiful Game Theory shows what it is like to think deeply about a sport and to test your ideas with data... [I]t is a book I recommend unconditionally to those economists with even a passing sport."--John Considine, Sportseconomics.orgTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 FIRST HALF 1.Pele Meets John von Neumann in the Penalty Area 9 2.Vernon Smith Meets Messi in the Laboratory 31 3.Lessons for Experimental Design 45 4.Mapping Minimax in the Brain (with Antonio Olivero, Sven Bestmann, Jose Florensa Vila, and Jose Apesteguia) 58 5.Psychological Pressure on the Field and Elsewhere 68 HALFTIME 6.Scoring at Halftime 89 SECOND HALF 7.Favoritism under Social Pressure 107 8.Making the Beautiful Game a Bit Less Beautiful (with Luis Garicano) 124 9.Fear Pitch 151 10.From Argentina without Emotions 164 11.Discrimination: From the Makana Football Association to Europe 174 Acknowledgments 193 References 195 Index 205

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