Robert Hay

In compiling this feature on the top 20 soccer book recommendations, I realized that one of the privileges I’ve had over the years is to review books for World Soccer Talk. And the number of books I’ve read has shown me that the market for really good soccer reading has increased. I've created my list […]

When I looked at the background of author Matt Christopher, what struck me was the depth of his work. He published over 100 books, almost entirely on sports. Some of his previous books were on athletes I admired when I was growing up, so I immediately appreciated where his new book focuses and why. While […]

When we think of great books about soccer fans, we think of the fanatics. Fever Pitch – which spawned a soccer AND baseball movie – tells the story of a fan so passionate about Arsenal it almost ends his romantic relationship. A Season with Verona is about an American writer following his adopted Italian team […]

When reading about the global history of soccer, inevitably the Hungarian national teams of the 1950s comes up. One of the greatest soccer teams ever, the post-WWII Hungarians humbled the English and taught the world a new way to play soccer. Yet so little is known about how the Hungarians became so good at soccer […]

In life, it takes time to create successful ideas and concepts. Scientists and researchers spend years, even decades, analyzing and studying data to create trials or a study before publishing the results to the world. Making bold claims like a certain food additive can cause cancer or the trickle of water in the Arctic is […]

The 2015 World Cup validated the idea that the Women's World Cup was a must-see event in the United States. The U.S. team became stars, TV ratings were through the roof, and not since 1999 had women's soccer been a cultural phenomenon. Since then, women's soccer has maintained a presence if at times uneven, and […]

Stanley Matthews is a legend of the game of soccer. That is not up for debate. However, there is a debate as to whether his greatest impact on the game is on the pitch or off. Most people know him for wearing the England shirt or his FA Cup medal or winning the first Ballon […]

In the U.S. soccer world, the women’s game has more success than the men’s game, but rarely does it receive more attention than the men’s. This month and the months to come may change that. As the men’s team transitions to another coach and generation of players, the women’s team prepares for what may its […]

Jonathan Wilson has established himself as one of soccer journalism’s most knowledgeable tacticians. Inverting the Pyramid made his already sterling reputation as a tactical analyst firm, and even if there are other writers whose knowledge of modern soccer tactics is better, Wilson writes in a way that is relatable and marketable. His new book is […]

Maybe the only thing that drives more debate in the soccer world than the dreaded “p/r” words is Men in Blazers. Roger Bennett and Michael Davies have a passionate fanbase that has followed them through multiple networks and iterations. They also have a number of detractors who view their schtick as tired analysis and infantile. […]

There seemingly is a coffee book for everything, the kind of book you display that people can flip through to admire great pictures and learn a bit more about a subject. With the World Cup around the corner, soccer fans finally have a book they can display as a conversation starter about their own favorite […]