Soccer History

This pioneering soccer book chronicles the evolution of the sport and how it has affected the lives of players, coaches, and fans–perfect for those who adore the timeless game.

In this extraordinary tour de force, David Goldblatt tells the full story of soccer's rise from chaotic folk ritual to the world's most popular sport - now poised to fully establish itself in the USA. Already celebrated internationally, The Ball Is Round illuminates soccer's role in the political and social histories of modern societies, but never loses sight of the beauty, joy, and excitement of the game itself.

No one knew it when their experiment began, but without any particular genius or acumen, the motley cast of billionaires and hucksters behind the modern Premier League struck gold. Pretty soon, everyone wanted to try their luck, from Russian oligarchs to Emirati sheikhs, American tycoons, and Asian Tiger titans. Some succeeded beyond their wildest dreams. Some lost everything. Today, players are sold for tens of millions, clubs are valued in the billions, and games are beamed out to nearly 200 countries, all while the league struggles to preserve its English soul.

In a world saturated with books about how to coach soccer, Dan Blank finally gives players a book on how to think it. Standing on two decades of collegiate coaching experience, Blank has cataloged soccer’s most common mistakes and provides simple, connect-the-dots solutions to help players solve their soccer problems. Soccer IQ is soccer’s first textbook for players; an almanac of smarter soccer decisions intended to flatten out the learning curve. It covers everything from hunting rebounds to the value of the toe-ball; from playing in the rain to the world’s dumbest foul.

The Modern Creation Story American Soccer Didn't Know It Had By the late 1980s, U.S. soccer had solidified its reputation as a global laughingstock, a sporting oxymoron akin to Jamaican bobsledding: • Starting in 1950, the richest, most powerful nation on Earth had gone 0 for 9 trying to qualify for the World Cup. • Once the North American Soccer League petered out, U.S. sporting culture proved unable/unwilling to replace it. • Soccer on TV? Post-1984, only the odd indoor match might be found there — late at night, on content-starved cable outlets, after competitive lumberjacking. ...

In this fascinating and exhaustively researched book, the first of its kind in the English language, Tom Williams brings to life French football’s chequered coming of age over the last 40 years. Featuring exclusive interviews with great figures of the French game such as Alain Giresse, Jean-Pierre Papin, Emmanuel Petit and Blaise Matuidi, and with a cast of characters that also includes Michel Platini, Thierry Henry, Karim Benzema, Chris Waddle and Lionel Messi, it's a book no football fan will want to miss.

Real Madrid is the most successful sports team on the planet. The soccer club has more trophies than any other sports team, including 11 UEFA Champions League trophies. However, the story behind the triumph goes beyond the players and coaches. Generally unnoticed, a management team consisting mostly of outsiders took the team from near bankruptcy to the most valuable sports organization in the world. How did Real Madrid achieve such extraordinary success? Columbia Business School adjunct professor Steven G. Mandis investigates.

Few people know the answers better than Emma Hayes. As the coach of Chelsea FC Women, she has led the club to 14 major trophies. She is a widely celebrated figure in sports media as a woman starting to get equal recognition in this space, and has been named TV pundit of the year by both Broadcast Magazine and the Sports Journalists Association. In this book, Emma shares her experience of managing a high-performance football team to draw out life lessons and techniques that listeners can apply to their own professional and personal circumstances.

Mastering the Pitch: A History of Soccer in America offers an in-depth analysis of the growth and development of soccer in the United States. The narrative begins with the first instances of soccer-like games played by Native American tribes, then traces the sport's journey as it was introduced by immigrants and gradually took root in the nation. The book delves into the establishment of the United States Football Association (now U.S. Soccer Federation) and explores the country's participation in the first FIFA World Cup. The readers are guided through the ups and downs of soccer in ...

Want to learn about one of soccer history’s greatest clubs? Want a concise book with Key moments, notable Players and Managers? Don’t want to wade through pages and pages of boring detail? This is the book for you! This book chronicles the club's remarkable ascent to soccer stardom, capturing the trials, triumphs, and iconic moments that define their illustrious history, including: Birth of the club Significant periods in its history, broken into six easy reading chapters Historical challenges and achievements Owners, Managers and Players who served the club Fast Facts on club records, ...

Alfredo Di Stéfano, Diego Maradona, Gabriel Batistuta, Juan Román Riquelme, Lionel Messi...Argentina has produced some of the greatest footballers of all time. But the rich, volatile history of Argentinian football is made up of both the sublime and the ruthlessly pragmatic. Jonathan Wilson, having lived there on and off during the last decade, is ideally placed to chart the sport's development in a country that, perhaps more than any other, lives and breathes football, its theories and its myths.

Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them. This famous quote, by William Shakespeare, reveals the mindset of strong achievers. But how does this apply to the all time soccer greats? ⭐️ 1st BONUS: SOCCER TRACKER AND TRAINING SHEET ⭐️ 2nd BONUS: MESSI VS RONALDO PRINTABLE INFOGRAPHIC SHEET ⭐️ 3rd BONUS: MENTAL TOUGHNESS GUIDE TO THINK LIKE THE GREATS ⭐️ 4th BONUS: QUIZ ABOUT THE GREATS Are they born great? Do they come with magical powers? Superior coaching? Crazy life experiences? To answer this question, we looked at the life ...

Welcome to the School of Soccer! Dive into a world where soccer is more than a game—it's a lesson in dreams, perseverance, and triumph. "Inspiring Soccer Stories for Kids" invites young readers to discover the lives of 28 soccer legends who exemplify resilience and success. From Pelé and Ronaldinho’s iconic moves to Messi and Ronaldo’s relentless drive, these stories go beyond the pitch, offering lessons every child can apply to their life.

Five soccer training books in one. Includes the books: Practice Soccer at Home, Soccer Mastery, Basic Soccer Drills for Kids, Soccer Numbers, and Soccer Defensive Drills.

Set against the backdrop of an American town that without its consent had become a vast social experiment, Outcasts United follows a pivotal season in the life of the Fugees and their charismatic coach. Warren St. John documents the lives of a diverse group of young people as they miraculously coalesce into a band of brothers, while also drawing a fascinating portrait of a fading American town struggling to accommodate its new arrivals.

Journeying from Abu Dhabi to Newcastle, and onto London, Paris, Moscow and New York in search of the answers, Miguel Delaney follows the threads that surround the allegations of sportswashing and misconduct in the beautiful game. The result is an exploration of how European football clubs have been bought by some of the world's wealthiest businessmen and state-backed corporations. Drawing on exclusive interviews and unprecedented access to key stakeholders, Miguel has produced an all-encompassing exposé of modern footballs highest echelons.

It was the biggest event in the history of women's sports. And for the Americans, it came down to five kicks. After regulation play and two overtimes in the final game of the 1999 women's World Cup soccer match, the score was 0-0. Penalty kicks would decide the world champion. The Chinese and the Americans would each pick five players. One kick per player. With the score tied 4-4, the Americans had one more chance to win it all.

Are you looking for the perfect book for the young soccer fan in your life? Are you seeking an engaging book of stories that will have your child feeling inspired and wanting to read more? Do you want to teach a young soccer fan about all of the legends of the past so that they can appreciate what their forefathers have done for the sport? Do you need a gift for a kid who’s crazy about soccer? Do you have a son, grandson, niece, or nephew who plays soccer, watches soccer, or wants to learn more about the sport? This book is a collection of some of the greatest and most inspiring stories ...

The contrast is striking. As the United States Women’s National soccer team has long dominated the sport—winners of four World Cups and four Olympic gold medals—the men’s team has floundered. They failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup and three consecutive Olympics, and have long struggled when facing the world’s best teams. How could a country so dominant in other men’s team sports—and such a global powerhouse in women’s soccer—be so far behind the rest of the world in men’s soccer?

A heart-wrenching new novel from best-selling author Rebecca Yarros that examines the risks we take for love, the scars too deep to heal, and the endings we can't bring ourselves to see coming.