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...

AS A HOMEGROWN PLAYER with a taste for spectacular goals, Clayton Blackmore was a fan favourite for Manchester United long before he secured cult status with his tremendous form in the club's famous 1990/91 season. His clearance off the line in the Cup Winners' Cup Final against Barcelona being just as crucial as his long range efforts which helped to get United there.After becoming one of the few remaining players from the entertaining sides of the 80s to get his hands on a League winner'...

In 1946, England rejoined FIFA and Stanley Rous, secretary of the Football Association, persuaded the FA to appoint Walter Winterbottom as the FA's first Director of Coaching, and the first England team manager. Over the next four years, before the 1950 World Cup in Brazil, Winterbottom assembled the first squad to compete for the Jules Rimet Trophy. The England national football team is now one of the oldest in the world. They have competed in the FIFA World Cup thirteen times since 1950,...

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 fascinating, insightful and at times hilarious memoirs of one of the most gifted and enigmatic British footballers of the last 25 years.Nicknamed "Le God" by the Southampton faithful, Matt Le Tissier was not cast from the same mould as 99% of other professional footballers. A real "one-off" if ever there was one, he was a one-club man in a 16-year career that brought little in the way of trophies but countless plaudits from footballs fans and commentators alike.To the o...

Paul Scholes is one of the most revered footballers of the modern era, both at home and internationally. A one-club player, he has served Manchester United for more than sixteen years, making over 600 appearances in that time -- the fourth highest number of appearances by any player for the club. He also represented the England national team for seven years, winning 66 caps including two World Cup and two European Cup campaigns. Throughout this time, Scholes has always played a decisive ro...

Have you ever wondered what happened to all of those players that you have seen come and go over the years? The heroes and villains, the saints and sinners, the stars that you talked about for years after they retired and those who you instantly forgot? WHERE ARE THEY NOW?The old belief was that ex-footballers became publicans or TV pundits. However, we hope that you will be interested, and in some cases amused, to find out that this is no longer the case.The characters fea...

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...

After a playing career that spanned more than 15 years, and took in golden spells in the sixties with Chelsea and Spurs, it was almost inevitable that Terry Venables would move into management. Following early success with Crystal Palace and Queens Park Rangers, he was appointed to the plum job of managing Barcelona, one of the biggest clubs in Europe. The Spanish giants had been struggling, but he soon turned them around and brought them trophy success, which inevitably earned him the nic...

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...

'ENDLESSLY ABSORBING' Mail on Sunday'MASTERPIECE' The Times'RUTHLESS' Daily Telegraph'INCOMPARABLE' Sunday Mirror'SEARINGLY HONEST' The SunThe No.1 bestselling memoir of Roy Keane, former captain of Manchester United and IrelandIn a stunning collaboration with Booker Prize-winning author Roddy Doyle, R...

FOOTBALL'S BIGGEST CHARACTERS TELL IT LIKE IT ISWho is the Secret Footballer? Well he's back and this time his mates speak out too.Players, agents, coaches and managers give you access to all areas of the Premier League. From deal-making to play-making, from dodgy tactics to drunken antics, they reveal the unforgettable highs and the unforgivable lows.This is football as you've never seen it before.'What happens behind closed doors at Premiership clubs usual...