When Argentinian World Cup winners Ricky Villa and Ossie Ardiles were unveiled as Tottenham Hotspur's new signings in the summer of 1978 it was one of the most sensational transfer coups English football had ever seen. The pair were an instant success. Ossie claimed the limelight with his wonderful control and comedy English, but when Ricky dribbled his way round half the Manchester City team to score the greatest FA Cup final goal ever in 1981 he swerved his way into the hearts of the nation and a permanent place in English football folklore. Never truly comfortable speaking in English, for the first time - with the help of co-author and translator Federico Ardiles (Ossie's son) - Ricky Villa is able to tell his story. From his childhood growing up on a farm in rural Argentina, playing alongside teenage sensation Diego Maradona for Argentina, to the dark early days after arriving in London when he was unable to communicate and suffered serious depression, through to the elation of scoring that wonder goal at Wembley. Ricky also talks about the pain of being caught between two countries he loved during the Falklands conflict as well as his experiences as a member of Argentina's 1978 World Cup squad which won a tournament tainted ever since with allegations of bribery and intimidation by Argentina's ruling military Junta.

Pulisic s rise from his childhood in Hershey, PA, to captain of the US national team and Champions League glory is ultimately a story about a life-long determination to realise a dream. Growing up in an area without role models Pulisic would look to Portuguese midfielder Figo for inspiration and European soccer as his ultimate goal. He talks candidly about his journey so far sharing experiences from behind the scenes playing for club and country; his most memorable career moments; the challenges of moving to a new country (without knowing the language); training drills he s used over the years to hone his skills; and his daily life as a soccer player. Photographs from his family albums and from some of the world s best sports photographers document Pulisic s path from his first visit to Chelsea at age 7 to signing for the club for a record transfer fee when he turned 20 to his defence of the Champions League title and preparation for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. Featuring dressing room anecdotes and heart-warming stories, this fascinating look into the world of a quiet American turned soccer star is the perfect book for anyone with a passion for the beautiful game.

On 15 April 1989, ninety-six spectators lost their lives at Sheffield's Hillsborough Stadium as they gathered for an FA Cup semi-final match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. The events of that spring afternoon sparked a controversy that continues to reverberate through British football and policing to this day.Norman Bettison, a Chief Inspector in the South Yorkshire Police at the time of the Hillsborough disaster, witnessed the tragedy as a spectator at the match. Since then, he has found himself one of the focal points of outrage over the actions of the police. Comments he made in the wake of the Hillsborough Independent Panel in 2012 stoked further criticism in the press and in Parliament and, in October 2012, he resigned from his job as Chief Constable of West Yorkshire Police.This personal account describes how the Hillsborough disaster unfolded, provides an insight into what was happening at South Yorkshire Police headquarters in the aftermath, and gives an objective and compassionate account of the bereaved families' long struggle for justice, all the while charting the author's journey from innocent bystander to a symbol of a perceived criminal conspiracy.

Walter Smith was one of the most respected managers in British football. This insightful biography casts a reflective and analytical eye over his life and career, examining this shrewd professional through the many highs and lows that he has experienced as a player and manager. He enjoyed an illustrious career in management at Rangers, joining the Souness revolution in 1987, winning nine successive league titles, a domestic treble in the 1992-93 season and winning both the Scottish Cup and League Cup three times. In 1998, Smith accepted a position in England with Everton, where he was the manager until 2002, before being reunited with Ferguson at Old Trafford in 2004. In December of that year, Smith was appointed as Scotland manager and his effort subsequently earned him the title of 'Scot of the Year' at the prestigious Glenfiddich 'Spirit of Scotland' awards in 2006. Midway through the qualifying rounds for Euro 2008, however, and with the Scots leading their group, he controversially accepted an offer to return to Ibrox in January 2007. Upon returning to Glasgow, Smith led Rangers to the UEFA Cup Final and triumph in the Scottish Cup in 2008, a domestic League and Cup double in 2009 and another double - this time in the domestic League and League Cup - in 2010. He retired from management in 2011 and died in October 2021.

The issue of ownership within Scottish football is a rapdily changing landscape. Through a series of adventures, Paul Goodwin has found himself to be Scotland’s expert in buying and running football clubs. Filled with interesting stories, knowledge and insight this book is easily accesible to football fans and, indeed, future club owners. From exploring the history of club ownership, to the worldwide examples with examples from South America, Sweden and more, and an insight into the future of the Scottish football landscape this is a must read for not only Scottish fans but of fans of the game worldwide.

Success, failure, heroism, stupidity, talent, skulduggery - Upton Park has seen it all. If supporting his club for fifty years has taught Brian Williams one thing it's that football fans defi nitely need a sense of humour - how else would they cope with the trials and tribulations that are part and parcel of cheering on their team? In this frank and funny take on the travails of a die-hard football supporter, Williams takes a nostalgic look back at some of the great players, great triumphs and great calamities that have marked West Ham's time at Upton Park, exploring the club's influence on its fans, the East End and football as a whole over the course of a lifetime. A Fever Pitch for the Premier League generation, Nearly Reach the Sky is an anecdotal journey through the seminal goals, games, fouls and finals, told with all the comedy, tragedy and irrationality fans of any team will recognise. This is a witty, fond, passionate and poignant tribute to the end of an era at Upton Park, as well as a universal meditation on the perks and perils of football fandom.

The Masterful, Definitive History of Argentinian Soccer Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, Alfredo Di Stefano: in every generation Argentina has uncovered a uniquely brilliant soccer talent. Perhaps it's because the country lives and breathes the game, its theories, and its myths. Argentina's rich, volatile history-by turns sublime and ruthlessly pragmatic-is mirrored in the style and swagger of its national and club sides. In Angels with Dirty Faces, Jonathan Wilson chronicles the operatic drama of Argentinian soccer: the appropriation of the British game, the golden age of la nuestra, the exuberant style of playing that developed as Juan Peron led the country, a hardening into the brutal methods of anti-futbol, the fusion of beauty and efficacy under Cesar Luis Menotti, and the emergence of all-time greats. Praise for Inverting the Pyramid "Here, for the first time in decades, is a top-notch soccer book on how soccer is actually played on the field." -Simon Kuper "An outstanding work...The soccer book of the decade." -Sunday Business Post