Soccer History

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. ...

The classic history of soccer tactics— “masterful” and “deliciously nerdy” (Time Out) In this modern classic, soccer journalist Jonathan Wilson pulls apart the finer details of the world’s game, tracing the global history of tactics from modern pioneers right back to the beginning...

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 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.

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.

A definitive new history of the world’s most watched sporting event—just in time for the 2026 tournament​ "Wilson is the game’s pre-eminent popular historian."—Observer (UK) An Irish Times Best Sports Book of the Year Since 1930, the World Cup has become a truly global obsession. It is...

In a tiny, decaying aluminum smelting town in southern Tajikistan, a short drive from a raging war zone, Afghanistan take on Palestine in the first Asian qualifier for 2014's World Cup in Brazil. Every player on both teams is risking something by playing: Their careers, their families, even their lives. Thirty-One Nil is the story of how footballers from all corners of the globe begin their journey chasing a place at the World Cup Finals.

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, ...

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 ...

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 ...

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.

From the author of the #1 New York Times bestseller (RE)BORN IN THE USA and face of the wildly successful soccer media platform MEN IN BLAZERS, Roger Bennett, comes a joyous, big-hearted celebration of the World Cup from the 1970s onward, published in the ramp up to the 2026 tournament. Every...

Soccer has been America's Sport of the Future since 1972. Propelled by the rise of the World Cup, Premier League, the glory of the United States Women's National Team, Lionel Messi's DemiGod-esque talent and repeat exposure to Cristiano Ronaldo's preening abs, that Future has finally arrived...

In 2008, Dave Bidini accompanies Homeless Team Canada to the Homeless World Cup in Melbourne, Australia. Home and Away offers a powerful look at the poor and dispossessed, from the barrios of Mexico City and the shanties of West Africa, to the streets of North America and Europe, and illuminates the renewed meaning that these homeless players find in the beautiful game.

⭐ 2026 Updated & Illustrated Edition – A Soccer Mystery Kids Won’t Be Able To Put Down! ⭐ ⚽ One Girl. One Mask. One Secret That Could Change Everything ⚽ 🔥 A Soccer Story Packed With Mystery, Heart, And A Secret That Will Leave Kids Gasping 🔥 🎯 Perfect For Readers Ages 8–12 Who Love Sports, Mystery & Heart-Pounding Twists 🎯 Are You Ready To Step Onto The Field… And Into The Mystery? ⚡ When 12-Year-Old Sierra Alvarez Dreams Of Becoming An Unstoppable Goalkeeper, She Knows The Road To The Top Will Be Tough. But Nothing Could Prepare Her For The Biggest Mystery Of...

⭐ 2026 Updated & Illustrated Edition – A Football Story About Integrity, Teamwork & True Leadership ⭐ 🏈 One Team. One Dream. One Season That Will Test Every Ounce Of Courage 🏈 🔥 A High-Stakes Football Story Packed With Action, Strategy & The Toughest Choice A Young Athlete Can Make 🔥 🎯 Perfect For Readers Ages 8–12 Who Love Sports, Strategy & Underdog Heroes 🎯 Are You Ready To Step Onto The Gridiron… And Into A Moral Dilemma Bigger Than The Game? 💥 Dexter Carter Is Used To Being Invisible—QB2, The Kid Who Studies Coverages Like Puzzles And Notices Every “...

Are you looking for the perfect book for the young sports fan in your life? Are you seeking an engaging book of stories that will have your child wanting to read more? Do you want to teach a young sports 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 baseball, soccer, basketball, football, tennis, or another sport? Do you have a child, grandchild, niece, or nephew who plays sports or wants to learn more about them? This is the perfect book for any young sports fan. It’s a...

Arsenal Football Club is more than a name — it is a tradition, a passion, and a story that stretches across generations. From its humble beginnings in Woolwich in 1886, formed by a group of munitions workers, Arsenal grew into one of the most iconic football clubs in the world.

With breathtaking scope and unparalleled knowledge of the game, The Age of Football explores soccer's vital role in our social, political, and economic lives: its connections to social discord in the Middle East and political division in Europe; the reasons behind its surprising surge in popularity in China, India, and the United States; and its use (and misuse) in the global advance of equality and human rights. Goldblatt proves that whether you call it football or soccer, you can't make sense of the modern world without understanding its most popular sport.

Book Two of the Lost Giants Series They helped launch the greatest league in the world—then vanished from its top tier. In this excellent follow-up, second volume of the Lost Giants series, we revisit the clubs that were part of the Bundesliga's historic 1962 inaugural season but are no longer among Germany's elite. Once fixtures in sports highlights and cup upsets, these clubs now fight for recognition in lower divisions, far from the limelight they once basked in. Through detailed storytelling and sharp analysis, Lost Giants: The Original Bundesliga Clubs explores the rise, fall, and ...