The best football books

In an age where you can watch three soccer games at once, enjoy hours of podcasts every day, and catch game highlights from around the world in an instant, there’s often little time to invest in an old hardback.

Reading about the beautiful game now feels like a retro pastime, enjoyed by the few rather than the masses. With a sea of ​​glossy, shiny content flooding us every Premier League weekend, it’s no wonder picking up a book has long been out of style.

However, those glued to a screen, watching football only through the echoes of their social media chamber, are missing out. The most captivating stories in the beautiful game are often found on paper.

Here are the best soccer books out there right now.

Given its relatively new entry into the mainstream, there certainly aren’t many books about women’s soccer. Even fewer touch the subject in the detail it deserves. However, A Women’s Game: The Rise, Fall and Rise of Women’s Football is the best available to the interested public.

written by guardian journalist Suzanne Wrack, the 2023 book delves into the history and origins of women’s football, analyzing its difficult journey from the late 19th century.

Labeled “a really important book” by Megan Rapinoe, winner of the Women’s Ballon d’Or 2019details how the huge popularity of women’s football was followed by a 50-year ban and how the modern game is inspiring a new generation of women’s football fans.

Ultras football culture has long been at the heart of Italian football and the 2019 book Ultra: the underworld of Italian football by journalist Tobias Jones offers an unprecedented examination of the phenomenon within one of football’s most iconic nations.

Analyzing the corruption, violence and far-right politics associated with the Italian ultras, as well as discussing the development and philosophies of the culture with members of these groups, Jones provides a revealing account of the landscape of ultras within Italian football .

Considered the bible of football tactics, systems and formations, Inverting the Pyramid: The History of Soccer Tacticswritten by renowned sports journalist Jonathan Wilson, it is a must-read for those interested in the development of the beautiful game on the pitch over the past century.

Originally published in 2008, the book has received multiple updates and new editions in the years since, most recently revised for its 15th anniversary in 2023.

A deep dive into how our sport has been altered by pioneers, generational thinkers and influential decision-makers, this book is the perfect read for those interested in the intricacies of football.

It’s easy to glorify the riches of the Premier League and Champions League, reveling in £100m signings and the glory of top players lacing up their boots in cup finals, but elite football it makes up a tiny fraction of the actual game. .

The bottom corner: hope, glory and non-league football de Nige Tassell looks towards non-league football and the foot of the pyramid, rather than the bright lights of the top flight. The book takes a journey into the soul of football, analyzing the growing importance of the game’s amateur and semi-professional ecosystem to everyday fans.

Andrea Pirlo remains one of the classiest professionals in football, not to mention a true generational talent. In the memoirs of the great midfielder, I think, then, I playtells the story of a sensational career spanning several decades, full of trophies and memorable moments.

Written as a love letter to football itself, Pirlo, with the help of Italian journalist Alessandro Alciato, details his incredible journey to the top of football, as well as sharing some remarkable stories about his teammates worldwide for club and country.

Nominated for the 2022 William Hill Sports Book of the Year award, Rory Smith’s excellent publication documents how data has transformed football over the past few decades and how the world’s best have embraced it in their pursuit of glory and dominance both on and off the field.

One of the main protagonists of the book is Chris Anderson, an academic who had no previous experience in football, but who saw an opportunity to infiltrate the sport through data analysis to change the way it was perceived and played.

Few know more about Spanish football than renowned journalist Sid Lowe. The London-born writer has extensive experience of the trials and tribulations of La Liga and beyond, and decided to focus his first book on the famous rivalry between the nations’ two biggest sides: Real Madrid and Barcelona

The 2013 book looks at the history of The classic and the ferocious hatred involved in the most influential rivalry in Spanish football – and probably in the world. Written in Lowe’s trademark style and humour, this is a must for the bookshelf, especially for those intrigued by the battle between the Spanish giants.

Typhoon footballa popular branch of The Athleticthey are known for their entertaining and analytical online videos, but for their book 2022 How to watch football delve into the game’s rulebook, looking at the quirks and inconsistencies of the sport.

Perfect for fans and newcomers alike, this is an engaging and manageable read for a wide audience, and even those with extensive soccer knowledge are sure to learn a thing or two about how the game works.

Fever Pitch: The Life of a Fan it was such a popular release in 1992 that it not only sold over a million copies, but was also the inspiration for two movies. Nick Hornby’s book quickly caught the attention of audiences across the UK.

The British author’s autobiographical work followed his journey as a lifelong Arsenal supporter, with each chapter focusing on a different football match attended by Hornby. The book naturally focuses heavily on Arsenal, but it also assesses and questions what it means to be a football fan.

Another fascinating read for those intrigued by football tactics is Michael Cox’s Zone marking: the creation of modern European football takes an intense look at the different systems, teams and nations that have dominated the continent over the past century.

From Real Madrid’s recreation of the 1950s and early 1960s to Ajax’s Total Football in the 1970s and beyond, the book provides an excellent knowledge base for those less familiar with European football, while which looks at how the game has changed dramatically. since the arrival of the Premier League and the Champions League.

READ THE LATEST FEATURES AND ANALYSIS FROM 90 MIN