This follow-up to Brilliant Orange: The Neurotic Genius of Dutch Soccer is "an enchanting love letter to English football" ( The Daily Telegraph).In this playful, witty, and highly original look at English soccer, David Winner, author of the acclaimed Brilliant Orange, journeys to the heart of an essential English pastime and sheds new light on the true nature of a rapidly changing game that was never really meant to be beautiful....

SHORTLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARDThe Netherlands has one of the world's most distinctive and sophisticated football cultures. From the birth of Total Football in the sixties, through two decades of World Cup near misses to the exiles who remade clubs like AC Milan, Barcelona, Arsenal and Chelsea in their own image, the Dutch have often been dazzlingly original and influential.The elements of their style (exquisite skills, adventurous attacking t...

Rio Ferdinand is one of the finest footballers of his generation - a born winner and one of the game's greatest stoppers. Full of outstanding stories and forthright opinions, #2Sides sees Rio reflect on his unique rise to the top of the game:- Cutting his teeth in the West Ham youth teams and becoming captain of Leeds United at the age of 22- His record-breaking transfer to Manchester United that made him one of the most revered centre-backs in world football...

Imagine the River Tiber as an alimentary tract. Picture a hungry saint. Think of erotic Renaissance fruit paintings, transubstantiation and a tiramisu café where magic issurelyon the menu... This highly original interpretation of Rome's history, culture, art and religion takes the form of a book about food that's not really about food at all.During his first two years in Rome, David Winner found himself in turn amazed and overwhelmed by its physical, historical and cultural vastnes...

'ABSORBING' Guardian'ENTHRALLING' New Statesman'EPIC' Evening Standard'INESCAPABLE' The Sunday Times'MAGISTERIAL' Irish ExaminerFully revised and updated, the definitive history of Argentinian football from the award-winning author of Inverting the PyramidAlfredo Di Stefano, Diego Mar...

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER**'Outrageous, audacious, jaw-dropping' SUNDAY TIMES'An essential read' DAILY MAIL**'Utterly captivating' DAILY TELEGRAPH**'Hugely entertaining' GUARDIANThe fascinating life story of professional cricketer Kevin Pietersen, MBE, from his childhood in South Africa to his experiences as one of the leading lights in the world of international cricket.**Kevin was dropped from th...

'Access inside the changing room and behind the scenes that any journalist or writer would kill for - Perarnau's insights are astonishing' - Graham Hunter'Write about everything you see. Be as critical as you like' - Pep Guardiola to Marti Perarnau, summer 2013Marti Perarnau was given total access to Bayern Munich during season 2013-14. This book represents the first time in the modern era that a writer has got this close to one of the elite teams ...

In Stillness and Speed, one of football's most enigmatic stars finally opens up about his life and career, revealing the things that motivate and inspire him. Viewed by many as one of the most influential figures in Premier League history, and scorer of the goal that Arsenal fans voted the best in the club's history, Dennis Bergkamp is a true giant of the game.As a youngster, Bergkamp learned from the Dutch master Johan Cruyff. By the time the pupil was ready to graduate f...

Bryan Robson is widely remembered as a fearless and inspirational player and captain, both for club and country, whose presence lifted team-mates and intimidated opponents. At his peak, he was acknowledged as the most complete midfield player in the country, and played at the highest level despite a series of devastating injuries. He began his playing career at West Bromwich Albion, then moved to Manchester United in 1981 for a then record British transfer fee of £1.5 million. He soon bec...

Ollie is more than just a football book - this is a story of personal grit and determination. Ian Holloway is one of football's most fascinating characters as well as being a highly respected football coach. He controversially moved from Plymouth Argyle, whilst seventh from top in the Championship and with a real chance of making the play-offs, to relegation-threatened Leicester City, a club in freefall who had already had four managers in the previous 12 months. Why did he really quit Arg...

An anecdote-driven narrative of the classic footballer's ‘DOs and DO NOTs’ from the ever-popular Arsenal legend and football pundit Paul Merson, aka ‘The Merse’.When it comes to advice on the pitfalls of life as a professional footballer, Paul Merson can pretty much write the manual. In fact, that's exactly what he's done in this hilarious new book which manages to be simultaneously poignant and gloriously funny.Merson was a prodigiously talented footballer in the 80s and 9...

The most high-profile referee this country has ever seen, the controversial and opinionated Graham Poll exposes the myth that referees are the game’s silent men, and opens the lid on the shocking and often unbelievable world of football that few outsiders get to see.Seeing Red is Graham Poll’s incisive insight into football from his prime position as the man in black, the one in control, the eye that sees all. A Premier League referee since 1991 and ten years as an international re...