Soccer Memoir

Jimmy Bullard may not have had the perfect hair-do, his Granada Ghia may not have been the flashiest of cars, and he definitely didn't have a string of Page 3 girls trying to sell kiss and tell stories about him to the tabloids. But what he has in spades is a genuine love for The Beautiful Game that few of his peers can match. One of the last graduates from football's old school, Jimmy actually worked in the real world - including as a painter and decorator - before turning pro. Maybe that's why he played football with a smile on his face, always says what's on his mind, and is no stranger to a spot of mischief.

In 2014, the conflict in the Donbas region of Ukraine began - and top football club Shakhtar Donetsk has since been in exile. This book tells their story; inevitably a story of the conflict and the recent Russian invasion but also a testament to the power of the game and the will of the players. It is ultimately a footballing story, exploring the experience and meaning of being a Shakhtar player through the lens of a country in the shadow of a huge aggressive neighbour.

Paul Lake was Manchester born, a City fan from birth. His footballing talent was spotted at a young age and, in 1983, he signed coveted schoolboy forms for City. Only a short time later he was handed the team captaincy. An international career soon beckoned and, after turning out for the England under-21 and B teams, he received a call-up to the England training camp for Italia '90.

'Immaculate footballer. Imperial defender. Immortal hero of 1966. Master of Wembley. Captain extraordinary. Gentleman of all time.’ These are some of the words inscribed beneath the statue of England’s World Cup-winning captain, Bobby Moore, at Wembley stadium. Since Moore’s death, of bowel cancer at just 51, these accolades represent the accepted view of this national treasure. But what do we actually know about Bobby Moore as a person? What about the grit alongside the glory?

You're about to discover the incredibly inspirational story of soccer superstar Lionel Messi. If you're listening to this then you must be a fan of Lionel, like so many others. As a fan, you must wonder how this man is so talented and want to know more about him. Lionel is considered to be one of the greatest soccer players ever, and it's been an honor to be able to watch him compete throughout his career. This book will reveal to you much about Lionel's story and the many accomplishments throughout his career.

At last, the most talked about footballer of his generation does his own talking. It's heartfelt, it's raw, it's one hell of a story. Every football fan has an opinion on Rio Ferdinand. He is one of the most gifted footballers the UK has ever produced, twice breaking the British transfer record, but he courts controversy in equal measure. Most famously, he was dropped by England for missing a drugs test, and his subsequent eight-month ban made front-page news.

DeRo is the life story of one of the greatest athletes Canada has ever produced. Born and raised in Scarborough, Ontario, Dwayne De Rosario wasn’t expected to make it out of high school, let alone to the top of soccer world. As part of a family of five, growing up in a one-bedroom apartment, he had to work for everything he had and sometimes that meant doing things he realized he didn’t want to do. It was soccer that saved him from a life on the street.

Zur FUSSBALL-WM in BRASILIEN: Gibt es einen Fußball-Gott? Weiß man nicht so recht. Aber sicher gibt es Fußball- Legenden. Jene Spieler, die Fußballgeschichte geschrieben haben. Christian Bämann und Martin Maria Schwarz stellen sie vor und erzählen von ihren Wegen vom Kindertalent zum Fußballstar: von Beckham, dem Sohn eines Kücheninstallateurs, Maradona, dem Sohn eines Fabrikarbeiters.

This book is not a revelation of Messi’s championships or a report on his football achievements. It is a stunning and realistic portrayal of his private life and of Argentine society in the period before and during his birth.

"A 10 ans, on aurait payé pour le voir jouer. Les recruteurs se pressaient autour des terrains." Dès ses débuts à l'AS Bondy, le talent de Kylian Mbappé a fait l'unanimité. Son avenir était tout tracé dans les plus grands clubs européens. De nombreux témoignages dévoilent les secrets de sa formation à l'INF Clairefontaine, puis à l'AS Monaco. "Mbappé, Le Petit Prince" raconte aussi son éclosion en Ligue des champions jusqu'à son transfert colossal au PSG durant l'été 2017.

"Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them." This famous quote by William Shakespeare reveals the mindset of strong achievers. But how does this apply to the all time soccer greats? Are they born great? Do they come with magical powers? Superior coaching? Crazy life experiences? To answer this question, we looked at the life history and autobiographies of 10 of the best soccer players of all time. These players have outclassed and outplayed their opponents, rose to the top, and have their names etched into soccer folklore.

In 2015 former England football star Rio Ferdinand suddenly and tragically lost his wife and soul mate, Rebecca, age 34, to cancer. It was a profound shock, and Rio found himself struggling to cope not just with the pain of his grief but also with his new role as both mum and dad to their three young children. Rio's BBC1 documentary Being Mum and Dad touched everyone who watched it and won huge praise for the honesty and bravery he showed in talking about his emotions and experiences.

En la línea de Soy Zlatan Ibrahimović y Open de Andre Agassi, Frágil es una autobiografía cruda, honesta y reveladora sobre la vida de uno de los grandes futbolistas de todos los tiempos.

En 1995 Marco Van Basten dijo adiós oficialmente como jugador de fútbol a la edad de treinta años. No había podido jugar en el AC Milan los dos últimos años debido a una persistente lesión en el tobillo producida diez años atrás. Tras su despedida, Van Basten se tomó varios años de descanso, retirándose como figura pública para concentrarse principalmente en el golf...

Paul Davis's story takes us on a journey through almost 50 years at the very top in football: a leading player's take on an extraordinary and memorable period in Arsenal's history, during which the club and football changed radically and forever around him.

Roberto Baggio non è una figura scontata: come il protagonista di un romanzo, è un groviglio di volontà e caso, un uomo incredibilmente determinato e allo stesso tempo in balìa degli eventi. Come se tutti i suoi sforzi servissero a opporsi al destino e allo stesso tempo a compierlo (uno dei tanti paradossi con cui probabilmente il buddismo lo ha aiutato a convivere). Stefano Piri ripercorre la vita e la carriera di Baggio a partire dalla sua magica apparizione a Vicenza, quando non ha ancora vent'anni e sembra un angelo spietato che inchioda gli avversari a terra.

In a frenetic seven-year spell at the outset of his senior managerial career, Mickey Harte led Tyrone to four Ulster Championships and three All-Irelands. It was a run that shifted football’s balance of power, changed the way the game would be played for more than a generation and cemented his reputation as one of the most transformative figures in GAA history. Then, in January 2011, the visitation of a shocking tragedy changed everything: Mickey’s daughter, Michaela, was murdered while on honeymoon in Mauritius.

There are just a handful of people that have been ever present for the thirty years of the Premier League, but only one person has been at the very epicentre for the entire period: Geoff Shreeves. Packed full of hilarious stories on and off the pitch—including trying to teach Sir Michael Caine how to act, a frightening encounter with Mike Tyson, as well as getting a lift home from the World Cup with Mick Jagger—Cheers Geoff is a must-listen for any fan of the beautiful game.

A massive audience in sitting rooms, parks and pubs watched England in the 2018 World Cup. Yet as Duncan Hamilton demonstrates with style, insight and wit in Going to the Match, watching on TV is no substitute for being there. Hamilton embarks on a richly entertaining, exquisitely crafted journey through football. Glory game or grass roots, England v Slovenia or Guiseley v Hartlepool, he delves beneath the action to illuminate the stories which make the sport endlessly compelling.

My Story in Black and White is the fascinating story of Newcastle United's head physio, Derek Wright, and his time at the club from the early 1980s to 2022. Growing up on a tough council estate in a County Durham mining town, Derek's footballing ability was discovered by Arsenal, who signed him as an apprentice at 16. Injury ended his playing career but he remained in football, becoming the youngest physio in the Football League at Malcolm Macdonald's Fulham.

The brutal 2010 murders of promising footballer Eddie Moussa and his brother were a harbinger of the gang violence now laying siege to Sweden. Written by crime reporter Ann Törnkvist, Follow F--king Orders captures the freefall of a quaint town, known for its sports-crazed community and top-league football team, into a bloody turf war. After the biggest police investigation into organized crime in Swedish history, the local mob boss was sentenced to life for ordering the hit on Eddie.