Compelling, entertaining and refreshingly honest, One in a Million is the autobiography of Trevor Francis, the subject of the first GBP1 million transfer fee in football history - a record for all time. As a 16-year-old, Francis set a record as the youngest player to score four goals in a match, an early indication of an exceptional talent. And so his unique career journey would continue to unfold, encountering a seemingly endless succession of superlatives, larger-than-life characters and astonishing events. Trevor played professionally not only in England but also in the USA and Scotland, in Italy and Australia. He gained 52 England caps, and won the European Cup on his debut in the competition. He played his part in the English revolution at Glasgow Rangers and managed QPR, Crystal Palace, Sheffield Wednesday and Birmingham City. Thrillingly, Trevor takes the reader with him into dressing rooms, into boardrooms and on to the field of play. He has a true gift for memorable detail, providing a wealth of revelations and remarkable stories.

This extraordinary book charts David Beckham's rise to celebrity during his years in Manchester.

At the age of 3 David Beckham's parents gave him a Manchester United shirt as a Christmas present, beginning a relationship with the club that was to last a quarter of a century. He signed schoolboy terms in May 1988, eventually joining United as a trainee in July 1991 and moving up to Manchester to begin what was to become an extraordinary story.

From relatively early days, right up to his departure for Real Madrid, Eamonn and James Clarke, the Manchester paparrazi, have recorded his unofficial story--even before he came to prominence as a player and well before his meteoric rise to iconic status.

They were there when he was a young player finding his feet at the club, there to see him out and about with girlfriends or team colleagues, there when "Posh Spice" arrived on the scene, and there to see him becoming a proud father and family man.

And they were the first to photograph him, with the cut above his eye, walking in Manchester after the boot-kicking incident with Sir Alex Ferguson, when it began to dawn on everyone that David Beckham's time at Manchester United was almost over.

In an introductory text, and through extended captions, Eamonn and James Clarke describe their work and encounters with David Beckham. The two brothers have worked as the Manchester paparrazi for the last 10 years. Their images appear regularly on the front pages of the press in the UK as well as internationally in magazines.

Rangers Minute By Minute takes you on a fantastic journey through the Gers' matchday history. Relive all the breathtaking goals, heroic penalty saves, sending offs and other memorable moments in this unique by-the-clock guide. From Rangers' early years and successes to the days of domestic dominance and a European triumph, the book covers everything from the Jock Wallace and John Greig eras through to the days of Ally McCoist and Steven Gerrard. Revisit Rangers' most spectacular modern feats and learn things you didn't know about the club's proud history. From goals scored in the opening seconds to those last-gasp extra-time winners and Old Firm deciders that have thrilled generations of fans at Ibrox and around the world, Rangers Minute By Minute is packed with memorable moments. Read about the goals that secured many of the 54 SPL titles. From McCoist to Baxter and from Gascoigne to Cooper - all the club legends are here, with thrilling memories from kick-off to the final whistle.

Sixty Years a Red... and Counting! is a unique, affectionate, fun and frank account of Liverpool FC over 60 years from the perspective of a dedicated fan and informed observer of Anfield life. From attending his first game at Anfield in 1961, to watching the Kop sing and sway as the Reds plotted a triumphant course through the 1960s and early 70s under Bill Shankly, to league title glory with Bob Paisley and lifting the European Cup three times, Brian Barwick saw it all. In his role as the FA's chief executive, he was in Istanbul for that unforgettable Champions League final. And like thousands of others he punched the air in his front room when the Reds finally lifted the Premier League trophy in 2020. As a journalist and broadcaster, he gained special insight into Liverpool's triumphs while building a rapport with some of the club's top personalities. This book takes you behind the scenes at Anfield to tell the story of Liverpool's rise from Second Division mediocrity to becoming one of the most recognisable names in world sport.

In many parts of the world, football (soccer) represents a way of life. An estimated 150 million players register for professional or amateur leagues and roughly two billion people of all ages across the globe enjoy football recreationally. Few people, however, know the origins of the game or understand how its tactics evolved. This informative work traces the historical development of football and its team tactics from 1863-- the year the English Football Association was founded--to the present. It describes significant formations and trends, identifies the major reasons for tactical changes, and introduces the most influential leaders in the sport. Also included are a glossary of relevant terms, a history of the World Cup, and a biographical list of famous players of the past. This essential resource for coaches, players, and fans will foster a greater understanding of and appreciation for the world's most popular team sport.

First and Last: How I Made European History With Hibs is the fascinating autobiography of Jackie Plenderleith, the only surviving player from the first British side to compete in the European Cup. A graceful yet tough-tackling defender, Jackie takes us back to 1955 and describes what it was like for a 17-year-old coal miner's son to witness first-hand the awkward birth of the global phenomenon now known as the Champions League and his role in helping Hibernian reach the semi-finals. The former Scotland international relives his time playing alongside the Edinburgh club's legendary 'Famous Five' forward line, and reveals how it felt to line up against the incomparable Ferenc Puskas twice in the space of two days while in South Africa. Captain of the British Army team during his national service, a team-mate to Denis Law at Manchester City and the proud possessor of international caps from schoolboy to senior level, Jackie played an important part in football's past and, with typical good humour, he has plenty to say about its future.

In The World at Your Feet: One Man's Search for the Soul of the Beautiful Game, Tim Hartley takes us on a footballing world tour. We meet fans in Hong Kong who refuse to bow to China, help clear the goats off a pitch in Africa and kick off the chanting at a bizarre game in North Korea. Back home, Hartley visits all 92 Premier and Football League grounds and watches a prisoners' team desperate to play a competitive match. Using wry observation and detailed research, The World at Your Feet unfurls the good, the bad and the ugly of football. It is brutally honest, informative and often very funny. This is a rough guide with a difference. The power of football across the world is put in the balance and measured, its successes raised up, its failings laid bare. Hartley rails against the excesses of professional football but he never loses faith and through his travels he finds the soul of the game is still alive and kicking. If you want a global health check of the game we sometimes struggle to love, then you really need The World at Your Feet.

Made in Europe is a glorious celebration of Europe's greatest and most remarkable football talent. From the first European Championship in 1960 through to the modern day, it features a smorgasbord of unforgettable players - each one commemorated in stunning photographs and expertly profiled by a skilled team of writers. The book includes 250 favourites - not just the best footballers, but also the craziest and most colourful, the most stylish and the coolest. Each player is honoured with a mini-biography, interspersed with little-known anecdotes that are sure to come in handy at any football quiz night. The selection features players from all the top European football nations, and six greats (Van Basten, Gascoigne, Beckenbauer, Zidane, Iniesta and De Bruyne) are given full-length profiles. You'll learn things you didn't know about your heroes, and perhaps discover some new ones who until now have slipped under the radar, in this beautifully illustrated book.

Stoke City: Minute by Minute takes you on a tumultuous journey through the Potters' remarkable history. Relive all the breathtaking goals, heroic penalty saves, Wembley wins, game-changing incidents, sending offs and other memorable moments in this unique by-the-clock guide. From the glory days of Stanley Matthews, the celebrated Tony Waddington era, Lou Macari's beloved team, Tony Pulis's promotion to the Premier League and Mark Hughes's 'Stokealona' side, this book covers everything. Featuring goals from Freddie Steele, Jimmy Greenhoff, John Ritchie, Mark Chamberlain, Mark Stein, Mike Sheron, Peter Thorne, Ricardo Fuller and Peter Crouch, plus countless others - the book is crammed with thrilling memories from kick-off through to the final whistle. Revisit the Potters' most spectacular modern feats and learn things you didn't know about the club's incredible past - from goals scored in the opening seconds to those last-gasp, extra-time winners that have thrilled generations of fans at the Victoria Ground and Bet365 Stadium.

On a July afternoon in 1999, this country's proudest moment in soccer occurred in Pasadena, California. In the presence of more than 90,000 fans and viewed by another 40 million watching on television, the United States women outlasted China to win the World Cup. Though it has lagged far behind in regard to the men's game, the United States was at the forefront when it came to women's soccer. In The U.S. Women's Soccer Team: An American Success Story, Clemente A. Lisi looks at how the sport has gained popularity over the last couple of decades. While other books have written about the team during a specific year, such as those focused solely on the World Cup win on U.S. soil, Lisi looks beyond this event, detailing the program's infancy and how it steadily became a model for women's teams around the globe. Beginning with the start of the U.S. program in 1985, Clemente Lisi recounts the development of the women's team, highlighted by their two first place finishes in the Women's World Cups (1991 and 1999) and three Olympic Women's Gold Medals (1996, 2004, and 2008). In addition to chronicling the history of the team as a whole, this book offers mini profiles, as well as photographs, of some of the best players over the years, including Julie Foudy, Amy Rodriguez, Hope Solo, and Mia Hamm.

• How can the skills of the sport psychologist be put to best use within a football club?
• How can a sport psychologist help elite footballers perform at their maximum level?

In this groundbreaking guide to the role of the sport psychologist within elite and professional football, leading sport psychologist Mark Nesti argues that working closely with coaches and players to create a receptive environment is vital if psychologists are to add maximum value to team and individual performances.

Drawing on a decade's professional experience working at the top level of English football, Nesti offers a detailed guide to delivering sport psychology in an elite team sport environment, from practical drills on the training field to shaping organizational behaviour at club level. The book explores the full range of issues and themes that define the role of the professional sport psychologist working in football today, including:

• mental skills training
• group cohesion and team dynamics
• counselling, trust and confidentiality
• transitions in football
• managerial and coaching philosophies
• structure, communication and organizational psychology.

The book is illustrated throughout with real-world case studies, drawing on research into sixteen professional clubs across five European countries, and concludes by suggesting how other elite team sports can learn from the experiences of professional football. This is the only book to outline a holistic approach to psychology in football and the to offer such a rich combination of theory and practice. It is therefore essential reading for all students of sport psychology and all psychologists and coaches working in elite team sport.

Stuck On You charts the history of football stickers in the UK - those little bundles of self-adhesive joy that have given so much to so many since Panini burst on to the scene in the late 1970s. Immerse yourself in a story of bitter rivalry, media moguls and the seedy underbelly of what can be a surprisingly murky business. Discover how upstarts Merlin took on the might of Panini and beat them at their own game - only for the Italian giants to hit back with the weight of nostalgia behind them. But ultimately you're invited to wallow in wistful memories of swapping in the school playground, shinies and recurring doubles. Featuring interviews with many of the industry's leading historical players and images from some familiar and lesser-known collections, Stuck On You is a must-read for anyone who has ever spent months, if not years, hankering after the St Mirren badge.

'Folklore and Fables' is a collection of articles on his beloved Blades, by Sheffield United supporters' liaison officer, club historian and 'encyclopedia of Blades knowledge', John Garrett. A lifelong Blade, whose grandfather first watched the Blades in 1892, John has worked at Bramall Lane for over two decades and began writing his popular, and award-winning, 'Folklore and Fables' feature for United's matchday programme almost 10 years ago. This book is a compilation of his best work, giving his inimitable take on life at Bramall Lane - featuring his family history, music, holidays abroad, club legends and, rather occasionally, football...

Sir Alex Ferguson was one of the greatest managers to grace the stadiums of the world. He announced his retirement as manager of Manchester United in 2013 after 27 years in the role. He went out in a blaze of glory, with United winning the Premier League for the 13th time and he is widely considered to be the greatest manager in the history of English football. A constant element has been the quality of Alex Ferguson's league-winning squads and United's run of success, which included winning the Champions League twice in 1999 and 2008. This lavishly illustrated hardback book charts the enormous success of the club during Sir Alex Ferguson's 27-year reign at Manchester United with profiles of all the big matches and players that guided the Club to its myriad of trophies.

"The Legends of Aston Villa" will delight all true supporters of the club and many followers of the game in general. Stories of many Villa players are covered in detail in this book, which is illustrated with some high-quality photographs. Aston Villa, founded in 1874 and one of the great clubs in world football, were giants in the game long before the introduction of League football in 1888. Throughout their history, the name of Aston Villa has never been far away from the honours, and over the years some brilliant players have worn the famous claret-and-blue strip, many helping them win the Football League title, the FA Cup, the League Cup, the coveted European Cup and the European Super Cup as well as a handful of other competitions. Now the team is playing with the elite in the Premiership, where they have been since its introduction in 1992, and one feels there could be a few more prizes to be won in the very near future. Around 1,000 players have represented the club at various levels since 1874, but only 100 have been chosen after great deliberation, and their Villa stories are covered in detail in this book, which is illustrated with some high-quality photographs. "The Legends of Aston Villa" is an important addition to the bookshelves of anyone with an interest in this proud club and is sure to appeal to Villa supporters of all ages.

Football is big business - the biggest sport on the planet, it has seen a massive commercial boom over the last twenty years which has resulted in it being worth $12 billion per annum, globally.
Managing Football is the first book to respond to the growing professionalisation of the sport and the need for a text which both students on sport management courses and practitioners in the field can use. Expertly edited by two well known specialists in football management, it draws together the work of a world-class contributor team to form a comprehensive diagnosis of the most important issues facing football managers across the world, providing the reader with:
* Cutting edge analysis of all the important issues in the football industry and the management of football
* A clear and structured presentation and examination of key issues in football internationally
* A strong balance of academic and practitioner analysis and comment
* A strong pedagogy and structure allowing the material to be navigated easily by the reader
* Global coverage of the football markets including England, Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Australia, North America, United Arab Emirates, China, South Africa, Argentina, Netherlands, Mexico, South America, Russia.
Managing Football is simply a must-read for anyone studying or working in football management and is set to be an important landmark in this rapidly moving and globally expansive field.
* Contributed to by a world-class team of experts and well edited by two specialists in football management
* Comprehensive coverage of all key issues in football internationally, with a strong balance of academic and practitioner analysis andcomment
* Presented in a clear and structured format, easy-to-use for readers with clear signposts throughout the text and online resources for lecturers

One of the most talked about stars in the world of soccer, Wayne Rooney now talks about . . . Wayne Rooney--no-holds-barred.

Wayne Rooney is barely twenty-two years old, and he's already one of the finest soccer players in the world. Colorful and controversial, he plays--and lives--with an intensity that's unmatched on and off the field. With remarkable candor, he now tells the true story of his life.

From his working-class upbringing on the back streets of Liverpool and his Premiership debut as a sixteen-year-old phenom to his ebullient entrance on the international scene in the 2004 European tournament and the raw drama of the 2006 World Cup, Wayne Rooney: My Story is an honest and inspiring account of a prodigiously gifted youngster and his meteoric rise to fame and fortune. It is a riveting tale of adversity and triumph, of champions and championships, of a private life that never could escape the headlines . . . and of a remarkable athlete whose destiny was forever altered when Manchester United came calling in the summer of 2004.

The Soccer Games and Drills Compendium is a comprehensive compilation of 350 realistic drills and games that facilitate high-quality design and quick implementation of modern soccer training. The many drills are divided into technical, tactical, and fitness-based focus areas. Individual focus areas cover basic training content, such as passing, dribbling, shots on goal, feints, juggling, and 1-on-1 situations, followed by focus areas with differentiated and advanced content, such as transitioning and reacting, chaos and action, game start variations, active defense, tournaments, and topics on tactical training. In addition, this book includes exercises for soccer-specific speed training, athletic and endurance training, indoor training, goalkeeper training, and team building.In this compendium you will find a wide variety of soccer-specific training exercises, and the graphics and practice-oriented design make it an optimal resource for taking effective training content and implementing it on the field. The many variations included with the drills and games make this compilation ideal for training players at all performance levels and age groups.

This updated edition of the bestselling and wildly popular I Am the Secret Footballer features a new introduction and an additional chapter. The anonymous writer of the Guardian's 'Secret Footballer' column gives Premier League fans an insider's look into the unseen world of professional football. 'It is often said that 95% of what happens in football takes place behind closed doors. Many of these stories I shouldn't be telling you. But I will.' Who is The Secret Footballer? Only a few people know the true identity of the man inside the game. Whoever he is-and whatever team he plays for - TSF is always honest, fearless and opinionated. Here he takes readers past the locker-room door and reveals the inner workings of a professional club, the exhilarating highs and crushing lows, and what it's really like to do the job most of us can only dream of doing. TFS chronicles the exploits of his Premiership colleagues with a gimlet eye and frank humour. Managers, agents and players are not spared from his observations - their mindsets, their relationships with those outside the sport, their behaviour good and bad. In his inimitable style, TSF recounts entertaining and eyebrow-raising vignettes, naming names and dropping colourful details along the way.

Over the last two decades soccer has become a major institution within the popular culture of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel. They have attained disproportionate success in this field. Given their marginalization from many areas of Israeli society as well as the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, such a prominent Arab presence highlights the tension between their Israeli citizenship and their belonging to the Palestinian people. Bringing together sociological, anthropological and historical approaches, Sorek examines how soccer can potentially be utilized by ethnic and national minorities as a field of social protest, a stage for demonstrating distinctive identity, or as a channel for social and political integration. Relying on a rich combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, he argues that equality in the soccer sphere legitimizes contemporary inequality between Jews and Arabs in Israel and pursues wider arguments about the role of sport in ethno-national conflicts. Ideal for researchers and graduate students.