In essence, we want them to be… a fictional person.

Sports owners today are not who we want them to be because such a person is not practical. The people who can afford to own soccer clubs do not get the wealth they need from acting and being who we, the fans, want. Even Mark Cuban, who has styled himself as a fan owner, just sold his basketball team to casino owners. The question for fans is this: What level of uncomfortable can you be with your owner while still rooting for the team?

Journalist Chris Blackhurst takes an example of one of soccer’s most hated ownership groups in his new book. The World’s Biggest Cash Machine: Manchester United, the Glazers, and the Struggle for Football’s Soul, is a book that dives into a review of the Glazers and their impact on Manchester United. The book shines a light on not only the club but on the sport. Blackhurst’s work intends to share the whole story of how the Glazers took over the club. Since doing that in the 2000s, the American family used it for financial gain above all. While doing this he shows how modern fans have to either question or ignore the men and women who finance the club.

Book Review: Glazers adding problems to United

Blackhurst does not start with the Glazers slowly taking control. He goes back to the beginning of the club. When the Glazers enter the picture, we see that shady board members and owners are common in the club’s history. What he does show is that the Glazers’ majority control was not pre-ordained. Rather, he points to Sir Alex Ferguson’s row over his share of the racehorse Rock of Gibraltar. In many ways, Ferguson’s battle with the owners of the club, John Magnier and his partner J.P. McManus, allowed the Glazers to be seen as the preferred alternative. Blackhurst walks readers through the Glazers’ history and business practices before showing how they slowly and seemingly innocently became the owners Manchester United needed.

As many of us know, the Glazers used debt to finance their purchase of United shares. Rather than buy down the debt, the American family used the prodigious income to benefit their portfolios. Since the family is notoriously publicity adverse, Blackhurst cannot rely on their own words to understand their business decisions. Instead, he pulls from his sources, media reports, fans and people in the business. The book ends with the final three chapters looking at the modern owner, including how Chelsea’s sale potentially impacts the Glazers future decision about Manchester United.

Modern-day United

It also talks about the recently reported interested investors in Manchester United. Blackhurst compares them based on their history. In reality, none are the perfect owners for fans, and in the modern billion-dollar ownership game, it may never be. Chelsea traded an ally of Vladimir Putin for an American who wants to Americanize the sport in ways that, as Blackhurst notes, could be incredibly lucrative to the game. At the same time, these changes require making the sport look more like American football than English football.

This book is a great read for people who want to see just how Manchester United’s fan/ownership feud came about, but it also forces us to ask ourselves some tough questions. How offensive can our owners be to our sensibilities as fans before we become hypocrites? And if they are good at business – like the Glazers are – do wins justify the other side of how they operate?

PHOTOS: IMAGO

Until the past few decades, that success was a tribute to the domestic growth of the sport within Brazil. Even today, when European clubs sign Brazilian teenagers, the club system is integral to the Seleção’s success. It is the clubs that grow the players, teach them the style and play to the standard of Brazilian players. Then, they integrate into the significance of that famous yellow kit. Because Brazil is so large, only a tiny percentage of its soccer players will ever wear the iconic shirt. The clubs were – and to a limited extent still are – the groups that start winnowing the player pool.

Flamengo: Winning All the Cups

The domestic system to see how it influences the Brazilian style. The best place to get a deep dive into that is with its richest club, CR Flamengo. Longtime soccer writer and podcaster Stephen Brandt takes a fresh look at this club in his new book. Flamengo: Winning All the Cups not only goes through the history of the club through the COVID era. It provides social and sporting context to Flamengo. That illustrates what this club is and how it came to be one of South America’s most successful sides.

In the interest of full disclosure, I have collaborated with Brandt on projects in the past. Also, I wrote the foreward for his last book.

This book on Flamengo has elements of a traditional club narrative. To start, readers learn about the club’s founding. That touches upon high points like major trophies won and key players. In this case, Brandt spends time talking about the impact Zico has on Flamengo and its fans. Brandt provides background and context on the 1981 Intercontinental Cup victory over Liverpool.

A changing modern era

New to this book is the impact of the COVID pandemic on the club and Brazilian soccer While the long-term implications of the COVID pandemic in Brazil are still to be seen, he does a good job describing how the shutdowns impacted even the rich Flamengo.

If you have read Brandt’s other books or followed his other soccer media, you know that his writings routinely incorporate historical and cultural elements into the main subject. Flamengo: Winning All the Cups is no different. Interspersed between stories about trophies won by various Flamengo sides are descriptions of things like how Brazil’s culture influences its soccer, how European soccer sides approached the Intercontinental Cup, and why military governments in Brazil changed how clubs like Flamengo operated. At times some of this background color can be a little too long, but again, if you know Brandt you know this is how he operates.

As someone with admittedly and ashamedly little knowledge of Brazilian club soccer, I found this book to be an interesting read. I walked away knowing more not only about Flamengo but Fla-Flu, Vasco, and Brazil’s soccer organization. The book could have used more on the Flamengo-Atletico Mineiro rivalry but covered the others well. I recommend this book to those truly unaware of Brazilian club soccer and the country’s soccer culture. It can be a good primer for many of us on the hotbed of the beautiful game.

Stephen Brandt perfectly captures the history of the club and the impact of wealth on Brazilian soccer.

Flamengo: Winning All The Cups is available via Amazon and all fine booksellers.

PHOTO: IMAGO / Fotoarena

For the third time this season, Chelsea is going through a familiar ritual. Executives are contacting the agents for high-profile managers like Julian Nagelsmann, Mauricio Pochettino, Carlo Ancelotti and more.

The club needs a major reworking, that much is clear. This is not just in players but in almost everything. Attitude, culture, you name it. It all needs a rethinking. The best way to kickstart this process is to do something different with your managerial hire. Skip the usual process and bring in a smart manager who knows how to win. Yet, this manager comes from a different pedigree than the usual suspects.

Fortunately for Chelsea, that person has an office across the hall.

Could Chelsea take on Emma Hayes as its men’s manager?

Emma Hayes would be a bold hire for Chelsea as manager. Hiring the first woman manager in the Premier League alone takes vision. Then, you would also be hiring someone who lacks the experience and prowess of many of the men in talks for the job. Her experience as a manager is exclusive to the women’s game. Regardless, Hayes has two major advantages that make her a legitimate candidate for the job.

First, her record at Chelsea on the women’s side is undeniably good. She has had success both domestically and in Europe. The past few seasons saw both her and the club win numerous awards. For example, Chelsea is a five-time winner of the Women’s Super League, including the last three. This season could be the fourth. Also, Hayes led Chelsea to four Women’s FA Cups, including the last two. Yet again, Chelsea is still in the running to win a successive title in that competition.

Hayes is aggressive in the transfer market. Then, she integrates talent into her system and transitions those who are no longer a fit out of the squad.

Philosophy

The second advantage is her training. She was mentored by Vic Akers, one of the best managers in women’s soccer. Hayes spent time in the United States building clubs and learning how to run a club in the early days of women’s professional soccer in the States. Finally, her career includes time working in currency exchange, a practical business knowledge many managers lack but has skills that translate well to aspects of being a modern manager.

We could talk tactics and how, based on her past management, she would use various people on the current roster. Truthfully, she would be a good fit because she knows the game and her hiring would send a message that Chelsea is going about things in a new, more creative way. The Blues could do what they are doing now, but it’s obviously not working. They might as well look in-house where they have one of the country’s best managers already under contract.

PHOTO: IMAGO / Pressinphoto

We are three years from a North American World Cup. Yet, US Soccer has no plan for how to maximize the opportunity in front of it.

The US Soccer Federation has no problem coming up with arbitrary deadlines for projects. Some of us older fans remember when the Bradenton Academy would win us a World Cup by 2010. We are not hearing firmly from the Federation, though, that 2026 is our goal to win a World Cup. Some of that may be lessons learned from 2010. Some may be fear of being too aggressive.

The problem is there will never be a better chance at winning a World Cup than the one you are hosting, or co-hosting such as in 2026. We tend to think nations having a “golden generation” or strong youth programs always have a chance to win a World Cup. In a sense, yes, the Englands and Spains of the world are always competitive. But, outside of Brazil, no nation is a favorite in every World Cup. In reality, you need a confluence of factors to truly compete. The next World Cup in 2026 brings those factors together for the United States.

Why 2026 is the best opportunity for the United States

The US finally has a pool of talent both domestically and internationally that allows competition at every position. The 2022 squad showed we Americans have a player pool diverse enough to fill out a competitive squad. It should be deeper and more experienced in 2026.

The second biggest factor is location. Hosting a World Cup does not guarantee success. Still, history shows it definitely helps. Whether its comfort with surroundings or home crowds, hosting tough international matches gives a team an advantage.

The Federation, however, is treating this like just another World Cup cycle. While Berhalter is taking in Premier Leagues matches and current players are opining on the controversy, US Soccer is saying the plan is to hire a GM first before turning to the head coaching position. While that may make sense in another cycle, your priority now is positioning yourself to win. Not hiring a manager until you’re three years out. Doing so deprives the senior squad time to change if you make the wrong first hire.

What should the Federation be doing if it was serious about winning a World Cup in 2026?

The potential plan for US Soccer ahead of 2026

1. Say it publicly.

The CEO and President should hold a joint press conference to announce a new initiative, slogan and logo showing publicly their commitment to winning the men’s World Cup. Make it clear to everyone how important this is and how you realize you have been given an opportunity you may not get for decades to come.

2. Publicly end the Berhalter saga.

Is it fair he loses a chance at the job based on what’s happened? In any other situation, absolutely. But in an “all in” situation, his presence is a distraction. If he’s rehired, every time he and Gio Reyna are on the pitch together is a distraction. You need to minimize distractions. Distractions lose World Cups. USSF should thank him and say they will serve as a job reference for a professional club, but he should not be a candidate for the job until after 2026.

3. Interview now for coaching candidates and do it loudly.

Federations love to do things quietly, to avoid any blowback. In this case, you want to air everything to avoid distractions (again) after the hire. Leak every interview. Forget to redirect photographers standing outside interview rooms. Be blunt you will not hide anything because you want your eventual candidate to have been unofficially vetted by fans and the media.

4. Hire the coach you feel will win you a World Cup regardless of their background or experience.

Don’t put qualifiers on your candidates like they need to have MLS experience or speak Spanish. Let them hire a staff to fill in any gaps. Interview many candidates and spend time using preset, honest criteria finding the person who is the best for the men’s national team from 2023-2026. Don’t worry about 2027 or 2013, worry about 2023-2026. And make sure the people advising you or running the search have diverse perspectives and backgrounds.

5. Every decision on the men’s side is focused on winning a World Cup.

Be bold, be brutal, and be controversial. But make every decision as a federation with one question in mind: “does this win us the 2026 World Cup?” If the answer is no, go another way or choose another course.

The Federation needs to move past this drama now and set their sights on the obvious goal. It may not be fair to all involved and it may be tough to do, but it’s the smart and right plan for US Soccer.

PHOTO: IMAGO / ZUMA Wire

To many fans, especially those supporting Leeds United, Revie is a legend. Revie is the man who put their club’s name in British soccer history. He modernized the game, in some cases forcing it to adapt to the times in positive ways, he made the tough transition from star player to star manager, he invested time and energy into the game in the Middle East.

Yet, for all of these positives, there were the scandals, real and perceived. To many he was a match fixer (or attempted match fixer). He quit on his clubs when times got tough, he was in it for the money, he introduced a cynical, dirty style of play that defined the English game in the 1960s and 1970s, he truly was the foil for better, more progressive managers like Brian Clough and Bill Shankly.

So who is the real Revie, or is he a combination of both narratives? A newly available biography on Don Revie tries to answer this question. Written by Christopher Evans, Don Revie: The Biography draws on new interviews and diverse source material to try and present a more complete version of the man.

Don Revie biography laid out

Many times with biographies, the writer presents the subject in a certain light. I often say biographers take their subjects and write a story to make a point. Rarely do you get a biography that is a straightforward life story but instead draws elements of a person’s life to make a larger point.

Evans tries to stay away from this, for which he deserves credit. The book’s prologue starts with Revie taking in a West Germany match soon after his appointment as England manager, arguably the high point of his managerial career. It then swings back to 1944 and the beginning of his career as a player. From this point forward, Evans takes us almost year-by-year, or team by team, through the rest of his life. We do not deviate from the narrative like we would in a movie. Rather, readers watch as Evans builds upon each life chapter to show the type of man Revie is to become.

For those unaware, Revie was a good player. He had a few caps with England at a time when call-ups to see players was not as common. For a time, fans considered him one of the game’s rising stars. But, he had two knocks on him as a player not uncommon in the game – he had injury troubles and he wanted moves regularly to improve his pay. In 2023, wanting a transfer to make more money is nothing special. In 1950, that labels a player a certain way.

Revie and Leeds United

Eventually he ends up at Leeds United, a club with little history and mounds of financial issues. Unable to pay top dollar for a manager after a vacancy arises, the Board hires Revie as a player-manager based on recommendations from his teammates. His playing career ends soon after, but his managerial career takes off. Revie leads Leeds United from the second division to not just promotion, but regularly challenging for domestic and European trophies. His core Leeds players were capped regularly and became stars, with many moving on to managing in their later lives. What Wrexham claims to want to do today, Leeds did in the 1960s.

It was not without cost, however, Revie early in his career played with a defensive, aggressive style that earned his club the nickname Dirty Leeds. There were rumors of attempted matching fixing at times that were boosted with disgruntled keeper Gary Sprake’s tell-all interviews in later years. And, in something that would make Antonio Conte shrug, Revie was accused of constantly playing other clubs with vacancies off of Leeds to boost his pay and contract.

However, success comes with consequences. The opportunity to coach England was too tempting for Revie to pass up. Revie inherited a team in transition, one with a player pool behind many European top sides and one he was unable to micromanage as he did Leeds. His record looks good but ultimately England was on track to fail to qualify for the 1978 World Cup. Instead, Revie took a lucrative contract with the U.A.E. and left England right before critical World Cup qualifiers, again drawing criticism.

Facts vs. stories

As you can see, a Don Revie biography is full of opportunity to draw a robust portrait of a type of person. Evans’ straight-forward biography, however, fails to do this. What we get with an abundance of fact we lose in exploring the nuance of the man. Rather than chapters detailing every result of the club Revie was leading (and I do believe it was every or close to every result), I would have preferred some exploration and discussion of the different sides of the man.

Evans draws on extensive interviews with players and family members to try and draw this portrait. Yet, he does so in a scattered way. During the narrative, Evans brings up a controversy. A few characters discuss it, and the story moves on. It is only in the Epilogue where explores the full story of the man. Even then, his analysis is too short and constricted. Evans’ ends by listing Revie as one of the top five greatest English managers ever. The argument presented for this, though, is weak.

I struggled with how to recommend this book but came to this conclusion – soccer fans should read this book. Don Revie is too interesting of a person not to learn more about him and the impact he had on the game. Just be prepared for a biased, pro-Revie story that does not do the work of selling that opinion convincingly.

The Don Revie biography is available via Amazon and all fine book sellers.

Photo credit: IMAGO / Colorsport

In the soccer streaming wars, established players dominate the scene. Depending on your preferences, many of us subscribe to a combination of ESPN+, Peacock and Paramount+, among others. Yet, there is a universe of league-based streaming services that are more niche. For example, iFollow exists specifically for fans of lower-league English soccer.

But when it comes to Italian soccer, a name that many of us may be unfamiliar with is Helbiz Live.

Helbiz is an Italian company established in New York in 2015. Readers who live in large cities may have seen their scooters or bikes parked next to sidewalks among the other scooter rental companies. The brand has expanded its footprint. Rather than street bikes and scooters, Helbiz went after a niche audience spending money on loyalty. In this case, it was Italian soccer fans. The service began to offer Serie B (second division) streaming this season for a monthly or yearly subscription price. The CBS deal with Serie A does not cover the lower tiers.

Lower divisions in Italy

Serie B is a valuable investment. I have long been a defender of Italian soccer. Even then, Serie B can sometimes channel the worst stereotypes. Diving and hand gestures are rampant. Like other second divisions, it is overly physical. However, the level of talent in the league is top-notch, leading to a higher quality of play than you may expect from Serie B.

Then, there are the clubs competing. Start with a club like Venezia. One of America’s favorite soccer clubs had a nice run in Serie A. Now, it is battling to survive in the second division. Whether it’s the beautiful waterside stadium, fashionable kits or extreme American influence, Venezia matches are not to miss.

The club is struggling this season. As of early February, Venezia is just a few points above the relegation zone. If they fall out of Serie B this season, you won’t be able to legally stream their matches. Therefore, you will want to watch them this season, just in case.

Serie B also has a number of familiar clubs. Genoa, Bari, Cagliari, Parma and SPAL among others. The last two have an American influence. There are also a number of interesting managers roaming the sidelines. That includes the recently returned Claudio Ranieri at Cagliari, Daniele de Rossi at SPAL and Filippo Inzaghi at Regina. The table is tight throughout and there are a number of recognizable players.

Subscribing to Helbiz Live for Serie B

Now that I convinced you the league is worth your attention, what about the streaming service? Right now, the monthly subscription cost is about $6 per month. Granted this is a little high for receiving one league, even if it is not as high as MLS Season Pass. However, you do have access to every match, including replays.

The stream is from the league but the quality is top-notch. I have watched matches on a computer, phone, tablet and streamed to a TV. Each time, the picture and audio was clear. If you miss a live match, the replay is available without a score spoiler. There are also add-ons like weekend round-ups, interviews, and match summaries. You can identify a favorite team and easily access their schedule and matches. Also, some subscription options come with credits for Helbiz rentals.

There are some key downsides. Helbiz as a company has gone through some growing pains. Consequently, it is not as established a sports provider as ESPN. There are essentially four commercials that run throughout the matches, so you may get tired of beautiful people riding scooters or kids in awe over former Serie B players. There is not a league table built into the app. So, you may need to look elsewhere to see what position each club enters the match. Also, the content is in Italian, and you need to make sure you’re subscribing via the English site which may not be the first one that comes up upon search. If you don’t speak the language or need to hear what’s going on, you may have a tough time following the matches.

I purchased a full-season subscription in September to watch my favorite club, and I have not regretted it. The streaming service is good and presents the league well, with both passion in the stands and quality on the pitch. However, I hope to not have to purchase it again next season as my favorite club hopefully continues to fight for promotion.

At least I know Helbiz Live will allow me to legally enjoy the atmosphere and experience if they stay in Serie B.

PHOTO: IMAGO / LaPresse

In some ways, yes, but it took the controversies and moral dilemmas to truly tell the tale. The oppression of certain people for the gain of others is as much a part of soccer tradition in the region as the sport serving as a source of pride. Ironically, Saudi Arabia being the region’s most successful team is itself an interesting twist considering geopolitical tension only five years ago threatened this very tournament from occurring.

Football in the Middle East

Professor Abdullah Al-Arian of Georgetown University in Qatar tries to tell this story in his collection of articles entitled, Football in the Middle East: State, Society, and the Beautiful Game. The book contains twelve articles on various elements of soccer in the Middle East and Northern Africa, written by different academics in different countries. From a hundred years ago up to the present day, the collection aims to give the reader a sense of how soccer has influenced society in this region of the world as well as address ongoing controversies. 

The book jumps into various topics but tends to be heavy on a few topics. Palestinians and their exclusion from much of the organized soccer world has two articles, one about Lebanon and another about the BDS movement. Qatar, for obvious reasons, is another focus, with an article exclusively about the use of migrant labor and another about beIN SPORTS, its export to the soccer world and for a time a major player in the region for sports.

The book, however, also has some more niche topic articles that reveal much about societies in this region. Yagmar Nurat’s article on women’s soccer in Turkey is not surprising – discrimination is rampant worldwide – but the depth of research into the game and its impact on society is interesting. Similarly, Maher Mezahi’s article on the use of chants in the Algerian Hirak rings eerily similar to stories in Franklin Foer’s or David Goldblatt’s books on how the sport is an avenue for social change and protest.

Academic in presentation

What makes this book different from Foer’s, however, is how utterly dry it is. Each article is written by an academic so instead of a compelling narrative, we jump from one academic paper to another. Some, like Craig LaMay’s article on beIN SPORTS, was a compelling look at how a network we tend to forget in the West is a massive influence in Asia and Africa. Conversely, articles like Thomas Ross Griffin’s on national identity for Qatar’s national team is boring and beset with questionable benchmarks for making his argument.

Al-Arian might say that a book about the Middle East and soccer cannot be written by journalists because few journalists come from and live in the region, and those that do are usually dismissed by publishers. He says as much for the lack of research on the game by locals now. Whether this is true – and I suspect there’s definite truth there – does not take away from the fact that this book is slow and thick with academic talk.

If you can make it through it, you’ll learn much and realize there is a rich soccer history in the region, one that should be better explored and publicized. Making it through is a challenge, however, and only those soccer fans who are looking for something a little different than the usual and can handle pages of academic writing will benefit from this book.

Photo: Imago

Whether it’s Aggggueeeeeeerrrrrooooooo or “your boys took a hell of a beating,” the famous calls of soccer history become as famous as the moment itself. It should not be a surprise why. The ability to “sum it all up” (to borrow another Martin Tyler phrase) and capture the moment is not easy for many of the reasons we outlined. For many US fans, for example, “go go USA!” still brings up emotions of watching Landon Donovan score even just hearing Ian Darke’s exclamation. 

Veteran journalist Charlie Eccleshare collects some of the most famous soccer calls and puts them together in a tight anthology entitled, The Beautiful Poetry of Football Commentary. Much like the broadcasters he highlights, his prose is brief and to the point. The book takes a famous call and he gives a few sentences explaining why that call is famous. 

At around 150 pages, you can pick up this book and read it in about an hour. But if you witnessed many of these matches or are familiar with the calls, it may take a while longer as you relive the memory of the match in your head. With the Martin Tyler “Aguero” call, I paused for a few minutes replaying in my mind where I was when the goal happened and how I felt as an interested neutral. 

Similarly, I did the same for another Martin Tyler call – my favorite – from Tony Adams’ 1998 goal. Eccleshare explains why this brief call was so appropriate – the wording reflected the change from “boring boring Arsenal” to the culmination of Arsene Wenger’s stylish play, using two players epitomizing the change. His final line – that sums it all up – really means both the goal, season, and Wenger renaissance.

The Beautiful Poetry of Football Commentary: In depth

The book covers a long time period, going as far back as 1938. As someone not as football experienced as others, I got to learn about some calls I had never heard or seen. A few favorites I discovered included John Motson’s call of Wimbledon’s upset of Liverpool (Crazy Gang v. Culture Club), Kenneth Wolstenholme’s call of England’s 1966 World Cup victory (They think it’s all over… it is now), and Barry Davies’ call of that Maradona goal against England (He won’t need any of them).

Much like the players they are describing, these broadcasters all rose to the moment to perfectly capture what a fan of the game should feel.

As mentioned, The Beautiful Poetry of Football Commentary is a short book but a fun read.

I recommend this for fans who appreciate the coverage of matches and want something on their shelf as a fun soccer book palate cleanser. Eccleshare did a great job of capturing why the broadcaster is important and how they add to those famous moments. And he did it without extraneous wording – just like his subjects.

Photo: Imago

How does mural painting interact with soccer fandom? In his new book, Football Murals: A Celebration of Soccer’s Greatest Street Art, journalist and broadcaster Andy Brassell presents examples of how this art form celebrates soccer and soccer fandom in a variety of ways and countries. Brassell combines beautiful pictures and reflections. In doing so, he offers readers justification for why this seldom-discussed celebration of sport deserves attention.

The book, which runs under 200 pages, has a series of short chapters mostly organized around players. The majority of chapters talk about a player and their impact on fans and the sport. Brassell then presents the street art of the player as an example of this. Some chapters organize around themes; “Murals Memorials” and its focus on Hillsborough is particularly poignant. Of course, no book on soccer would be complete without the chapters on managers and management. This allows readers to see amazing Roman street art of Jose Mourinho, the current manager of Roma.

Book review of Football Murals

The best thing about this book is how unique it is. There are other books about the visuals of soccer. Yet, this one, I believe, is unique in its particular focus on street art. I had little knowledge of street art before reading this book. After putting it down, I still had little knowledge of the performance or commission of street art. But, I developed an appreciation for why artists do it. Plus, I have a few pictures that I would like to add as a phone or computer background.

There is not much to say about the book because it is short and straightforward. It has beautiful pictures and some explanatory text. Reading it, you will not learn much about the subject. Still, there is too much text for this to be a coffee table book or straight picture book. I think it would have been better served being more of a picture book. Still, the author even acknowledges at the end that the book is not comprehensive. Therefore, he asks readers to send good examples of other or new street art. This makes sense as this is a newer subject which is increasingly mainstream.

This is the type of book that a true soccer fan who collects various books about the sport would buy. If you want something different about soccer fandom or want something not too taxing with good pictures, Football Murals is a good book for you to review. But, if you think Inverting the Pyramid is the only type of soccer book worth reading (i.e., tactics and history), you’ll want to skip this one.

Football Murals is available from Amazon and all fine booksellers.

To help the casual soccer fan navigate the Qatar World Cup, I compiled a reading list of current and past books. This selection is not just a list of the best recently released books about World Cup 2022, although there are many of those. Rather, think of it as the book version of a carefully curated wine and cheese pairing, with each book a flavor designed to entice a reaction or understanding based on its pairing.

World Cup 2022 reading list

World Cup history important to know for 2022

• How to Win the World Cup by Chris Evans.

This new book released in time for Qatar 2022 examines the role of the manager in the World Cup. What makes a successful World Cup manager? Of course the answer is, “it depends” but Evans does a good job explaining how managers can find success in the weird set-up that is international soccer.

• Soccer Travels: One Man. One Journal. One Beautiful Game by Drew Farmer.

The author writes a travel journal about his visits to different cities and his reflection on how modern society impacts soccer today. His descriptions about getting around Qatar – pre-build up – is definitely worth a read.

• Dark Goals by Luciano Wernicke.

The World Cup and FIFA are corrupt, this is nothing shocking. What may be shocking is just how corrupt. Wernicke’s new book details the history of government interference in the world’s biggest event from the beginning with a level of research impressive and scary.

• Soccernomics (2022 edition) by Simon Kuper and Stefan Syzmanski.

This book is like The Emerging Majority for soccer fans – read it at a surface level and it is easy to nitpick the conclusions of the authors. Read it and consider it and you’ll understand more deeply why the World Cup (and modern soccer) is what it is today.

Learning about specific Qatar controversies

• The Ugly Game: The Corruption at FIFA and the Qatari Plot to Buy the World Cup by Heidi Blake and Jonathan Culvert.

Written seven years ago, this book is still one of the best deep dives into Qatar’s bid for 2022. The book is based on articles in The Sunday Times shedding a light on the corruption with the bidding process and expanded to book form.

• The Away Game: The Epic Search for Soccer’s Next Superstars by Sebastian Abbot.

One of the most important soccer books written in the past decade, Abbot’s book focuses primarily on the impact of mining African soccer clubs for talent to exploit in Europe. The role of Qatar, however, is critical to see how the kingdom tried to boost its team ahead of 2022.

• Football in the Middle East by Abdullah Al-Arian.

This collection of essays is a little more academic than most of these books but it is a good book to have if you want a very deep dive into the culture and history of soccer in the Middle East.

US fan specific reading

• New Kids in the World Cup by Adam Elder.

I just wrote a review of this new book and it is essential reading for U.S. soccer fans to see how far we’ve come as a soccer nation in 30 years.

• My Journey So Far by Christian Pulisic.

You can question the wisdom of publishing an autobiography in your 20s, but if you want to understand America’s biggest name, this is your book. An added bonus is beautiful photos and some controversial statements about Thomas Tuchel.

PHOTO: IMAGO / Action Plus

The “kids” playing in Qatar in the red, white, and blue are part of a new generation of soccer players. Top clubs covet these names with contributions pouring in for both club and country.

As the US looks ahead in four years to hosting a second World Cup, it can be easy to forget that the US is still a relatively young soccer power. Certain things fell in the correct order, both good and bad, for the USMNT to get to this current spot. More bad breaks could have further delayed the outbreak of the US.

Adam Elder’s new book, New Kids in the World Cup: The Totally Late ’80s and Early 90s Tale of the Team That Changed American Soccer Forever, looks at this formative period. Many older soccer fans remember Paul Caligiuri’s goal at Trinidad & Tobago. Or, they recall the USMNT’s impressive performance to hold Italy at Rome in 1990 to just one goal. The story of how fraught this period was for US Soccer needs retelling. Elder’s writing style and in-depth knowledge gives this story the attention and attitude needed to do it justice. 

New Kids in the World Cup book by Adam Elder

The story begins in 1988. The US advanced past Jamaica to make the round-robin phase for the 1990 World Cup. This US team is not like the totally professional one today. Instead, the roster had a mix of indoor soccer players, part-timers, a few pros in Europe and others known by the Federation. The coach was a part-time coach, full-time maître d’. But the stakes could not be higher.

The US failing to qualify could mean losing hosting rights to the 1994 World Cup and the millions of dollars that came with it.

The book takes the reader through qualification and the subsequent World Cup. Elder looks at not just the performance on the field, but how the Federation evolved and built the roster to reflect the goals of a more modern, more professional system. Of course like any good story there were numerous times the US could have tripped up and fallen short, but they dramatically reached their goal.

Narrative of the story

The difference between this book and other ‘this is where they came from’ type books is the narrative style. The book reads like a novel. The scenes are full of emotionally-loaded descriptive words and the chapters include cliff-hangers and dramatic narrative pauses. Considering the personalities on the team and the late ’80s and early ’90s timeframe, the stylistic choice is a good one.

Even if you know how the story ends, and acknowledge there may be some overdramatization at times, this is a very good read. Elder did his homework either through superior memory or re-watching these games and interviewing the participants. I recommend this book as some enjoyable reading between stressful US Group B matches as a way to recognize just how good we have it as US soccer fans.

PHOTO: IMAGO / WEREK

Now, with the release of the full book, readers get the full context of what Pulisic says. And, having read and reviewed the full book, the quotes not only stand out for their content but also for their departure from the rest of the book’s themes. The autobiography is actually a little dry and what you’d expect a star athlete to say, except for the small quotes already released.

Christian Pulisic book

My Journey So Far is an interview style book with Daniel Melamud, a noted author and editor. The book is a transcript of a series of conversations. These conversations took place during COVID and run through the present day. Melamud pulls no punches and asks Pulisic about a number of areas, not just who he has played for but everything about his current and past life. Supplementing the text are a number of Pulisic pictures throughout his life. Thankfully we live in an age of photographic brilliance because the pictures alone would make this a beautiful book.

The depth of what we learn about Pulisic is impressive, as Melamud is not afraid to ask any question. We learn about Pulisic’s life, current lifestyle, interactions with teammates, and reflections on stardom. Initially, the detail impressed me. Yet, readers only get this interaction and depth because Pulisic is only 24. His professional career lasted six years and two clubs. Therefore, a lengthy tell-all about his career is impossible. The book itself is not terribly long. Photos of the star man boost the page total. The title, My Life So Far is accurate because his career is conceivable (hopefully) still in the first half.

As for the content, we learn much about the player but also not much at all. For many of the more probing questions, Pulisic resorts to his media training when answering. This is why the Tuchel quotes were so noteworthy – they’re unique in his perspective. I was reminded while reading that while Pulisic is an incredibly accomplished 24-year old, he’s still a 24 year old. We learn about his love of chess and how he spends his downtime, but it’s not terribly self-reflective or deep.

World Cup 2022

If the U.S. makes a run in the World Cup, this book will be invaluable. You can impress your friends at parties with your knowledge of “Captain America.” To be fair, he does not like that nickname. As I stated earlier, the photos also make this an interesting book. But the content itself is interesting in a trivia way, not a deeper philosophical way. You can pick up this book if you want to learn a little more about the most hyped U.S. player in the world currently, but if you want deeper reflections on the bigger questions you’ll be sorely disappointed.

Editor’s note: Christian Pulisic’s book is available via Amazon and all other fine booksellers.

Brentford FC is trying to do things a different way. As fans of the Premier League saw last year, the club operates a little differently than others. Despite 2021/22 being the club’s first top-flight season in decades, the club stuck to its scout-and-develop system. The other option tends to be spend freely to build up the squad, like Nottingham Forest in 2022/23.

That meant the Bees entered last season with very little Premier League experience on their roster. Despite that, the club did more than just avoid relegation, a fate reserved for the other two teams to come up with Brentford. In fact, Brentford finished a cool 11 points from the drop in 2021/22.

Ahead of Brentford’s second Premier League campaign, Just a Bus Stop in Hounslow arrives in bookstores. This book serves as an excellent primer if your desire is to learn how the Bees can stay up in year two. Author Greville Waterman is a long-time fan of Brentford. He followed the London side through both its recent and fruitful successes and its mistakes over the years. He crafted a book written like a blog. Just a Bus Stop in Hounslow walks readers through Brentford’s EPL debut as if they are a fan.

Background on Brentford

For those unfamiliar with Brentford, the club calls West London home. The book’s title comes from a taunt allegedly first used by QPR fans that, eventually, Brentford fans adopted as a cheer of support. It emphasizes the club’s space in the English soccer landscape – just an out-of-the-way destination.

The lower-level club’s fortunes turned when Matthew Benham began his involvement in the club. What started as simple investment into Brentford FC evolved into controlling ownership of the club. Brentford pioneered the use of analytics and player development to use undervalued assets in its system. Partnering with a club in Denmark, Brentford climbed the professional ranks quickly without spending large transfer sums. Two seasons ago, Brentford clinched a Premier League spot via the Championship playoffs. Conveniently, the book also covers Brentford’s new stadium and its impact on the club.

Just a Bus Stop in Hounslow

Waterman’s book reads like a series of blog posts published over the course of the season. Almost every chapter is about a game or week in the season. Reflections detail what happens both on and off the field. Occasionally, Waterman sprinkles in interviews with club officials, albeit not with the media averse Benham. The anecdotes provide first-hand accounts of how the club navigates through the campaign. Also, Waterman attended post-game press conferences with manager Thomas Frank, a candidate for that season’s Premier League Manager of the Season.

The book gets particularly interesting when Christian Eriksen signs with the club. At the time, Brentford followed a stretch of poor results due to schedule issues, injuries and COVID-19. Frank and club officials are upfront that they convinced Eriksen to join the Bees due to the club’s numerous Scandinavian connections and lower-stress atmosphere. As we saw last season, the former Spurs star was a spark propelling Brentford to safety. However, the end is sour, as the author and club officials express hope that the Danish international can stay with the club.

A special club

The book is another addition to the fan’s view genre of soccer books. What makes this book interesting versus some others is the subject. Brentford is a fascinating story and Waterman’s passionate perspective allows him access to more information than a neutral journalist may have received. My favorite parts of the book, though, are his interviews with his friends. For example, there is a chapter on Brentford’s rivalry with QPR. Waterman asks his QPR fan friend for his view on the rivalry, and the friend absolutely rips the idea that QPR cares about Brentford. This kind of narrative lends itself to these kinds of funny asides.

This type of book is not original, but Brentford is. Waterman put in the work for this manuscript, and it shows. Readers who enjoy fan perspective books will enjoy this, as well as fans who want to know exactly why this team that’s a bus stop in Hounslow continues to find success.

I remember the first time I played futsal. I joined an adult league for exercise and fun, and thought trying indoor soccer would be a good idea. Watching the Continental Indoor Soccer League allowed me to know, more or less, what to expect.

What I experienced was completely different than what I had in mind. Even though it was a casual league with rudimentary tactics, the speed and intensity of the game meant I got a workout I never expected. And it was an absolute blast to play.

In the U.S., we think of futsal as one of two things. For one, it is the game our kids play between fall and spring soccer seasons. On the other hand, it is the type of soccer that made Christian Pulisic so good. Unsurprisingly, the game has a much deeper history and infrastructure than that.

Veteran journalist Jamie Fahey tries to summarize the sport in his new book, Futsal. Drawing from his own experiences in the game plus unparalleled interviews, Fahey offers readers a glimpse into a game revolutionizing the game of soccer.

Jamie Fahey’s Futsal book and the fast-paced sport

When looking at the table of contents, the book seems structured in a traditional way. Like many books, there is an element of personal narrative. Following that is a history lesson before a world overview. Instead, the book veers from perspective to perspective with little transition, almost as if it is comprised a series of articles on the subject. We begin with Fahey establishing his credentials. This includes growing up playing soccer in the streets of his neighborhood in small teams. His stories of wildly careening balls connects him to the game. Many play a version of futsal without even realizing it.

We move to the history of the sport. Admittedly, this was a confusing part. With multiple claims to authentic futsal, it is hard to track which clubs and movements represented which. At a few points, I could not follow countries’ achievements at different tournaments, but that may have been on the reviewer, and not the author. We then proceed into a tactics discussion that also veers into stories about the coaches and players who shaped futsal. The book concludes with reviews of where futsal is around the world, including the “coming nations” of the U.S. and France.

One critique I hinted at above what how hard it is to summarize the book because it changes so quickly. For example, the chapter on Brazil (the true parent of the sport) ends with a discussion of the Oriundi. In both soccer and futsal, this is a major issue, particularly in Italy’s history. For reference, this is players born in other countries but used their parentage to declare for a different nationality. While it makes sense to include a mention of Brazil (in a sense) exporting players to other countries, the topic is probably important enough for its own chapter or focus, especially most of the conversation is on Italy’s futsal culture.

Formatting tells a story

At first, the rapid transitions bothered me at first. Then, realized it was kind of appropriate. Futsal is a game for quick thinking and quick reacting. After all, the keeper in futsal only has 4 seconds to possess the ball before passing! The book unintentionally or intentionally mirrors the game with the switching from topic to topic. Consequently, it ties together to create something interesting.

And this book is interesting. I found myself struggling to put it down at times because of how well Fahey knows futsal. He can dial up some of the biggest names in soccer and futsal and get their thoughts on the game, including Roberto Martinez. His global view also presents a sport that is mature in many places (Portugal, Brazil, Russia) but emerging in unexpected places (England). As someone with passing knowledge of futsal and its importance to the world game, this book was eye opening. At under 300 pages, it is the right size for a solid read to catch up on why you need to pay attention to futsal now.

Futsal: The Indoor Game That Is Revolutionizing World Soccer is available via Amazon and all fine booksellers.

Review: World Soccer Talk’s Robert Hay Jr. details the autobiography of Paul Mariner, My Rock and Roll Football Story.

Universal shock and dismay in the soccer world came in response to the passing of Paul Mariner this summer.

Mariner was the epitome of a ‘jack-of-all-trades’. Mariner won near universal praise for his larger-than-life personality and kindness to different people. It did not matter whether that was as a player, scout, coach, businessman or media personality.

His various career paths spanned decades. Soccer fans of different ages saw the different iterations of the man. Yet, all of them built upon the same fundamental personality.

My Rock and Roll Football Story

Mariner’s posthumous autobiography, My Rock and Roll Football Story, gives fans a glimpse into the thoughts of this man.

ESPN’s Mark Donaldson helped write the book and filled in gaps after Mariner passed away, shepherding it to publication. Quotes from newspapers, interviews, and websites about Mariner and various incidents throughout his life supplement the narrative. Most noteworthy is the introduction done by famous rock musician Ian Gillan of Deep Purple fame, which is not something you expect to see in soccer autobiographies.

Paul Mariner is a throwback to an era where soccer players started transitioning into true professionals. Growing up in a working class neighborhood, he almost went into an apprenticeship. Back then, his early physical advantage over his peers dwindled away as a teen. A diligent local coach convinced him to remain with the game.

Mariner is not shy about talking about his rise to fame. Similarly, he does not back down from describing some of more difficult behavior. The book does not dwell on the more negative aspects of his life. This includes his time away from his family or his youthful hubris. But, conversely, My Rock and Roll Football Story does not boast excessively on his skills. What you get across his life and career is someone who is not a saint. Still, Mariner is someone who lived life for fun. He wanted to take people along with him instead of running over them. Fair representation or not, this is the way of autobiographies.

Breaking down the book

The majority of the book focuses on his time with Ipswich, which makes sense considering his time and achievements there. His time as a coach in MLS gets a very brief mention, with most of the focus being on his relationship with Steve Nicol, who wrote a poignant epilogue. ESPN gets maybe a few sentences, but that may have been more of a reflection of Mariner’s declining condition and his interest in reflecting on “better times”.

It is impossible to not read this book without a tinge of sadness. Mariner’s death so close to publication and the book’s acknowledgement of his passing makes this a different type of autobiography. Rather than an author’s attempt to write history in real time, this book feels more like a series of eulogies for a life well lived. Donaldson’s inclusion of other voices in snippets throughout was a necessary but smart choice, allowing Mariner to react to others’ versions of events as well as fill gaps in stories.

My Rock and Roll Football Story is relatively short, but is not a quick read. As someone who did not live through Mariner’s playing days and knew him mostly as an ESPN voice and MLS coach, I was interested in his stories about his playing days. For a “rock and roll” story, there was little scandal but lots of evidence of his amazing personality.

I recommend this book especially for newer fans because it is a good example of how charismatic stars existed before Instagram, before constant media attention to their every action. It also shows why Mariner was so widely mourned, because his personality was almost fictional in its size. His death robbed the soccer world of one of its more interesting people, but this book is a good testament to his impact.

In 2021, we are witnessing a change in U.S. women’s soccer. As the national team prepares for the 2023 World Cup, a number of players head to camp to form the next generation of American stars.

The task in front of these young women is tall. They must replace the on-field production of Carli Lloyd or other players nearing the end of their careers. But, it is not just their on-the-pitch production needed.

Equally if not more so, their off-the-field leadership to push for equality and respect in the boardroom of U.S. Soccer and even sports as a whole is key. The outgoing generation worked tirelessly outside of the game for changes in favor of equality. In fact, only the 99ers rival the current core’s progressive actions.

Rob Goldman’s well-timed new book The Sisterhood: The 99ers and the Rise of U.S. Women’s Soccer to coincides with this current generational change.

The Sisterhood

Goldman’s book is an oral history of the rise of women’s soccer in the U.S.

The book starts in 1985 with the creation of a women’s soccer team to play in the Italian Mundialito Cup. It builds on that experience to show how the soccer team grew from that tournament and the ones following.

Using interviews with famous players like Michelle Akers plus quotes from Anson Dorrance and Tony DiCicco, the book builds a narrative to show how U.S. women’s soccer got to 1999. For example, the 1985 Mundialito Cup introduced the team to European-style soccer. Also, it began OOSSAAA chant that became a player tradition.

Their next trip to Italy showed they could compete with European powers, and they used that to build confidence to actually win a tournament in China.

The major takeaway from these narratives and anecdotes in The Sisterhood is that 1999 did not happen in a void. Key players like Mia Hamm, Brandi Chastain, and others were nurtured by older national team players who had learned from their peers. This of course happens to all national teams. Yet, not all national teams see a jump in 25 years from existing to the best team in the world. As the book shows, the 99ers are actually the 85ers-99ers, a composite experience that changed the sport.

Anecdotes and Evidence

The Sisterhood is heavy on interviews, forgoing a list of historical details covered in other books. Goldman tends to focus on the managers and star players as his sources. Therefore, we do not read too many earth-shattering details about the national team between 1985 and 1999. By not talking to as many fringe players or U.S. Soccer sources, the book misses some details or parts of the story that may make it more complete.

However, this book is not a complete telling. Rather, it is a timeline of events building up to the 1999 World Cup. Essentially, Goldman writes to focus readers on the why, not as much the what. This is what makes this book different from others about the early women’s national teams. From the perspectives of those who were most critical in forming it, you hear a narrative about what things, experiences and conflicts got the U.S. to the celebration at the Rose Bowl in 1999.

When reading the description on the book jacket, Goldman and the editors do not claim this is a “definitive” story or a “tell all”. It promises to take you “onto the pitch and into the minds” of key figures in the team. That is what I respected about this book – it does not overpromise, it over-delvers.

In this relatively short read, you walk away with a good understanding of how the U.S. got to where it is in women’s soccer and why that was not a guaranteed outcome. The 1999 experience did not spontaneously happen. This book is not the first to tell how and why, but its laser focus on why through the perspective of the key figures to get it there makes this a good read.

As we celebrate a new generation of savvy U.S. women’s soccer players who will succeed on the pitch and off, The Sisterhood is a good reference point (and a very good read) on how the first generation to achieve such success did it.

How did you learn soccer? If you ask a child today, they will likely say it’s through playing with a friend/family member, watching highlights online, or playing video games. Probably none will say they learned by reading a book, which is how some of us learned about the game especially if we grew up without it on TV. As kids spend more time than ever in front of screens, a non-screen resource on the game is a nice resource.

The Everything Kids’ series has been around for a while and is written on a number of topics. Simon and Schuster recently released a fifth edition of their soccer version updated through the pandemic. The authors, Carlos Folgar and Deborah Crisfield, are both experienced soccer writers and coaches. Their book, The Everything Kids’ Soccer Book, is a short teaching guide for children just entering the travel path of youth soccer.

Like all good children’s books, The Everything Guide is brief with short chapters designed to keep kids’ attention. The chapters highlight the basics of playing the game, starting with footwork and physical training before moving to the different parts of the game. There is a chapter on playing keeper – to not leave out those inclined to that position! – but also focuses on attacking and defending, rather than playing midfielder versus attacker. The book ends with discussing the different levels of soccer plus my favorite section, which is advice for soccer tryouts. The fifth edition also includes references to COVID changes, like not being able to form a shoulder-to-shoulder wall in some places and leagues.

The book is not strictly narrative, although it is text heavy. It includes lots of drawings, written games, and small quizzes designed to help small readers remain engaged in the topic. Take the “In The Net” chapter for example. In the section discussing how a keeper catches the ball, and what she does with it, there are a number of side-bar items. One is a brief tip on a clipboard on getting used to diving saves. Another is a tip on a soccer ball on where to watch when doing goal kicks. Another soccer ball is a brief tip that keepers should play the field. The final sidebar is a picture game asking where a keeper can handle the ball, with a picture of a cardboard box. There are a number of sidebars designed to teach without saying, which is a nice touch.

While some of the text is more advanced, this is a great book for a kid 7-9 years old that is looking to become a travel soccer player. The style of writing and design is great for engaging them and helping them learn. This is a great summer gift for a young player, so they can prepare for the upcoming fall season.

Editor’s note: The Everything Kids’ Soccer Book is available via all fine booksellers including Amazon.

The 2022 Men’s World Cup is a fraught time for the United States. We are almost certain to automatically qualify for 2026, but the upcoming tournament is a building block to actually competing in the 2026 edition. With a number of very young stars expected to feature, the U.S. men’s team is under extraordinary pressure not only to qualify, but to compete in CONCACAF qualifying and in Qatar.

In that sense, a new book — What Happened to the USMNT: The Ugly Truth About the Beautiful Game — is well timed. Written by Steven Mandis and Sarah Parsons Wolter, the book aims to outline a successful strategy for the men’s team in international competition. Mandis is the author of The Real Madrid Way and (with Parsons Wolter) What Happened to Serie A. Admittedly, this writer has read neither, so I came to this book without preconceived notions about the authors and what they would say.

The authors examine the (recent) history of the men’s national team and use their results and some statistics to create a general plan for success for the men’s team. That plan focuses on the “why, how, and who” of the men’s national team, and if their goals in those three areas are in alignment, the team will find success. Without ruining too much of the book, the idea essentially is that the U.S. plays best not as supremely skilled technicians but gritty, determined players who thrive on counterattacks and opportunistic soccer. The authors call this the “Spirit of ’76” or the team channeling the underdog mentality that drove the men’s team in the 1990s and has driven the women’s team for decades.

The authors structure the book first by examining each World Cup for the men’s team since 1990. They review the matches and frame each match within their Spirit of 76 argument, that is if the team succeeds how it matches the why, how, and who principles. The book ends with a discussion of the major arguments around the success of the program, like pay-to-play, foreign-born players, and MLS’s role in player development.

That’s the concept, but the execution is poor. The authors spend about 60% of the book reviewing the previous World Cups. Notice I use the word “review” rather than “analyze” because a lot of page space is spent discussing what happened in the World Cup. Much of it is not even germane. For example, the book includes brief histories of Sam’s Army and the American Outlaws. I assume this is to show the U.S. soccer culture, but it is not presented that way. It comes across as filler. In other cases, the text included facts that served no real purpose to the narrative. Summarizing the 2010 World Cup, the authors note the U.S. “settled into their three-star hotel in Pretoria… a one hour drive north of Johannesburg.” The subsequent footnote points out FIFA was monitoring a global swine flu outbreak before the tournament. Completely irrelevant to the point.

It was hard to tell what annoyed me most when reading the book: pointless unrelated factoids, incredibly long footnotes with minimal relevance, or recapping past games in stilted language. There is a lot of filler in this book and content that barely touches on the main point. At times I struggled to make it through, especially as someone who has more experience watching and analyzing the game. The first half is certainly for newer or less experienced soccer fans.

Despite all that, there were genuine gems in this book. The authors do an excellent job at times contrasting the why, how, and who of the U.S. women’s and men’s teams, and show that over the years the USWNT has been successful by evolving, but not totally changing, their why and how. In addition, Mandis and Parsons Wolter do an excellent analysis of the major controversies around building the men’s team, and use understandable numbers to draw common-sense conclusions.

The last few chapters of this book left me feeling more positive towards it but it is hard to overcome the majority of the book being poorly constructed. I wish both authors would have focused more on their own why and how analysis, rather than the what. That would have made this a much better read and one I could have strongly recommended.

Editor’s note: What Happened to the USMNT: The Ugly Truth About the Beautiful Game is available from all fine booksellers, including Amazon.

When was the last time a soccer book began with a quote from the Pope?

One of the newest and best genres of sports writing is how sports intersects with society. Going beyond the bounds of a game’s rules and tactics, this genre shows (and in many ways justifies) our passion for a sport. If soccer can help you better understand social injustice or ties into the meaning of the greater good, then that justifies watching multiple matches for hours on a 70 degree weekend with yard work, significant others, and kids demanding attention.

Edward Akinyemi, a longtime soccer writer, decided to take this approach with his second book, You Say Soccer, I Say Football. The book delves into a number of timely topics and how soccer better shapes our understanding of them. He begins with understanding an individual, exploring how topics like outcome bias can be understood in our daily life through the beautiful game. For example, we often think of “playing out of the back” as a riskier strategy versus clearing the ball, but statistics show an emotional bias on outcomes misleads us, as happens often in life.

After touching on team dynamics and the oversized role of the manager, Akinyemi delves into societal topics. For many soccer fans, the topics generally are familiar with details that may be surprising to newer fans. Here he draws a tight line between the societal issues of racism, discrimination, autocracy, and brutality on and off the pitch. The final section touches on more philosophical topics that could be considered separately from the others.

The most impressive thing about this book is the wide variety of sources used in the discussions. Akinyemi not only uses Michael Cox and Steven Goff material, but books written by Navy Seals and Nobel laureates in economics. He seamlessly weaves together academic and pop culture sources into the soccer sources to illustrate why soccer concepts appeal to a wider discussion, and vice versa. A perfect example is the chapter on fairness. When discussing why teams on the back foot sometimes walk away with the full three points and it seems unfair, Akinyemi cites, among other sources, a speech by Chief Justice John Roberts and a book by Navy Seals discussing intentional cheating during training. It is these kinds of connections that will thrill soccer fans that like to take a wider view of the game.

READ MORE: The ultimate guide to the best soccer books

This book is relatively short and a fast read, and it is apparent the author poured a lot of passion into his writing. The majority of the book is an engaging read, with the only real lag coming in the final section. At times, the writing deviates too much from soccer to be as well written as the rest, but it is still not bad. You Say Soccer is a nice gift for a soccer fan with wider interests. It may not wow them with facts like a Soccernomics, but it deserves a spot on the shelf among your soccer books you’ll loan out (and require the person to return).

You Say Soccer, I Say Football is available via Amazon as well as directly via the author’s website.

All sports have their myths, and soccer is no different. Fans will passionately argue that England/Italy/Uruguay cheated to win the 1966/1934/1950 World Cup. Or that England/Italy/Germany/Scotland is the parent of modern soccer. The game thrives on myths especially when its margins are so thin; one goal scored is often enough to change the history of the game in ways not found in other sports.

Recently authors and scientists have used statistics and numerical methodology found in other sports to justify their positions. Soccernomics was a best seller twice using this new way of settling old debates. Dr. Kevin Moore takes a new approach. He addresses the debates with science and knowledge, but doesn’t show his work. The result is a delightful, entertaining and easy read that can add new elements to old soccer debates.

Dr. Moore’s bona fides to write a book about soccer controversies are inarguable, which allows him to write a book like this. He is the founding director of the National Football Museum, and spent 19 years as its director until stepping down in 2017. That position has given him access to the materials and experts on a wide range of soccer topics.

What You Think You Know About Football Is Wrong is a brief 240 pages, and covers about 50 myths of the soccer world. Moore flashes his knowledge early on when discussing the controversial third goal in the England-Germany match in 1966. He goes through what the still photographs, media recordings, and other recordings show to prove that the shot did cross the line. Why it is still controversial is because the limitation of technology at the time only permitted certain, rigid camera views that make the goal look short.

READ MORE: Top 20 soccer book recommendations

Each topic is only a few pages, and unlike Soccernomics, Moore doesn’t flash mathematical formulas, pictures, and proof of his arguments. He just makes them and tells the reader why. It is effective because, again, he has the work background to be trustworthy and he states upfront the reasons for his arguments. Rugby could have been what soccer is today if in the early years of both sports certain amateurism had not been sacrosanct to rugby’s organizers. Dynamo Kiev players were not executed by the Stasi in 1941 after defeating their team because the history of the players is known, and only a few were executed by the Nazis well after the match was played. Hooliganism was a problem in England, but not because fans’ lives were in danger. It was because most violence was decided prior to the match between the ultras (and Italy is just as bad if not worse).

The book lacks the depth and arguments of other “myth-busting” soccer books so some readers will be disappointed to see how brief and straight-forward this book is. I however rather enjoyed how easy of a read it was. It was a good change of pace to not have an author bend over backwards to justify a position. Dr. Moore’s style of making his argument and succinctly explaining why made for a quick, good read. While this is not one of my favorite books – and likely will not be yours – you’ll undoubtedly learn at least one or two fun facts and not dedicate a lot of time to it. If there could be a soccer book that’s a “beach read,” this is it.

‘What You Think You Know About Football Is Wrong’ is available via Amazon in hardcover, Kindle and Audible formats.

The cliche is that a picture is worth a thousand words. Often we rely on biography and narrative to convey how important an idea is but sometimes a perfectly taken picture does the job better. Think of the famous image from 1982 of a young Diego Maradona facing six Belgian defenders. I can spend paragraphs describing how perfectly the image captures a young superstar or the fear of facing him, but the picture does better than even the best writer could in showing that this man will run rampant through soccer royalty soon.

The Game attempts to do just that with one of the game’s best photographers. Stuart Roy Clarke is a long-time sports photographer famous for his “Homes of Football” photography series. Paired with sociologist and soccer fan John Williams, Clarke takes his favorite and fan favorite photographs and creates a book that illustrates why soccer is a passion for U.K. fans. The first half of the book is conversational text between the two on the major themes of the game, like globalization and non-local owners. They use contemporary and historical pictures to illustrate their conversations, but this section is text heavy. The second half is Clarke’s photos which were featured in his exhibits in the U.K., so they may be familiar to U.K. readers.

The intent of the book is to convey why soccer holds a special place in U.K. fans’ lives, and the pictures included certainly do that. Rather than glamor shots of famous players, the pictures primarily are of fans and fields. You feel inserted into various scenes of soccer, even things such as an empty food vendor outside Highbury (RIP) or fans walking back to a parking lot post-match. Flipping through the book you certainly see some beautiful pictures that make me jealous I have not seen them at an exhibit live.

However the first half falls a little short. While the conversational text is interesting, it does not fit with the rest of the book. Rather than use the favorite pictures to illustrate the concepts, various historical photos and other Clarke pictures are interspersed. The authors try at times to link the photos to their conversation but it feels like a publisher told them they needed more text to make their photography book into a mass market product. If the textual part were pulled out and made into a different book, it may be more effective.

Undeniably the photographs in this book are beautiful and for a North American audience not as familiar with UK soccer culture, the pictures convey a message better than words could. That said, I hesitate to recommend purchasing at full price since half of the book is at best decent text divorced from the main content.

The Game is available via Amazon, Relegation Books and all fine booksellers.
Release Date: July 31, 2020
Hardcover / 264 pages / $50.00

For some reason, there is a lack of quality fictional literature centered around soccer. As the top 20 soccer books list shows, the overwhelming majority of the best soccer books are nonfiction, and even the best one (The Damned United, don’t @ me) is heavily reliant on an actual event. As the World Soccer Talk Podcast shows, that extends to films and TV shows as well.

Keep Possession: A World Cup Fictional Thriller by Drew Leiden attempts to elevate the soccer fictional genre to a new level. Rather than focus the action on the pitch, he makes world soccer (specifically FIFA and the World Cup) characters in a geopolitical drama. Instead of writing a soccer book, he writes a drama that you would find among other reads in an airport bookstore.

Our main character is Jack McDonald, a former hooligan who ends up working in the White House (yes that one). Via a few high profile screw ups that end up not being what they seem, Jack is assigned to work on an undercover mission to help recover the Jules Rimet trophy. A fictional Middle Eastern country won the rights to the World Cup, but when their corruption is uncovered, the bid is reopened. The U.S. and U.K. governments think that the Middle Eastern country will use the Jules Rimet trophy – stolen decades ago but somehow secretly recovered – to bribe a key FIFA delegation to help them re-win the bid. Jack goes undercover as an aide to the English FA President, where he reunites with a former lover and gets much deeper into a global conspiracy than he ever thought. The narrative splits between the modern day and specific events throughout soccer history.

While I said the book is more a thriller than soccer fiction, Leiden tries to educate the reader about soccer history. His historical soccer cutaways are the best parts of the book, and they illustrate otherwise dry history by animating the key characters. I would read an entire book of fictional accounts of World Cup moments by Leiden.

The main story however is a bit lacking. The plot is definitely what I’d consider a beach read – highly unrealistic, exaggerated action, predictable plot, but still engaging enough to leave the reader wanting to read more. Where the book really fails is the dialogue. To make it more of a soccer book, Leiden inserts explanatory dialogue throughout the book on soccer topics or history. It leads to long monologues by characters explaining their actions because of some historical event or soccer phrase that the characters, for the most part, would know already. In addition, the ending takes a few leaps that, again, only work in a beach read but fail to stand up to closer examination.

There are some excellent passages in this book, but overall this is the type of book you’d read on vacation or when you want a mindless escape. During a time of enforced social distancing, there is a certain value to this book. I’d welcome a second book from Leiden that builds on some of the finer qualities of this effort.

Keep Possession: A World Cup Fictional Thriller is available via Amazon and all fine booksellers.

I’ve created my list of my top 20 soccer book recommendations, or a list of those books you must read if you have the time. The list below is subjective, admittedly, but as someone who has read A LOT of different types of books over the years, I feel confident that it is an appropriate list that covers the basics. The depth of soccer literature now is so great that you’ll notice a number of famous books are not on this list. That may be due to the fact that (1) your choice is overrated, (2) there just wasn’t room in a top 20 list, or (3) we can agree to disagree.

With all that, here are my top 20 soccer book recommendations:

I wanted to include a child-focused book in this list but, when I must admit that when I was first reading this book to my daughter, I was hooked. Crowley, an Irish author, weaves a fictional world around a gifted soccer player with powerful enemies. The protagonist uses a loophole in school rules to make new friends, compete at soccer’s highest levels in Ireland, and discovers himself in the process. All of that sounds immensely corny, but for a kids’ book, its plot and character building is better than many “adult” books.

• Buy the book
• Read the book review

Like many soccer books, this one is in the Fever Pitch-esque category. What I liked best was that Nipper was a soccer fan but not a MLS fan, but decided he wants to experience the local game. The book’s perspective is through the lens of a soccer fan who experiences 2013 MLS by trying to support the local club.

It’s an interesting look at the beginning of modern MLS in an analytical and experienced view without an agenda. Some of the passages in the book are eternally quotable about MLS and soccer in general.

• Buy the book
• Read the book review

The book is now a go-to in every soccer fan’s bookshelf. What makes this book even more outstanding is the authors released a second edition that updated their research, challenged their assertions, and course corrected some of their predictions. Yet the 2018 edition makes the original even more interesting of a read. This is one book I always ensure gets returned when I loan it to people.

• Buy the book
• Read the book review
• Read the review of the first edition

Drew is a past WST contributor, but I added this book to the list because it truly deserves to be on any soccer fan’s list. The breath of soccer experiences would make any fan jealous, and any WST reader knows Farmer has a way with words. Especially now with so many travel restrictions, the descriptions of the locations and experiences can almost serve as a virtual trip to these locations.

• Buy the book
• Read the book review

It’s easy to forget in the era of MLS-owner David Beckham how monumental this book was. Wahl’s reporting gave soccer fans a glimpse at the terrible conditions of many MLS players, the absolute circus Beckham’s first season was, and how MLS now is so shaped by this major move. It’s even more intriguing reading it now with the other LA team outshining the MLS team that first learned how to wow the soccer media worldwide. The book’s inclusion in the top 20 soccer book recommendations is well deserved.

• Buy the book
• Read the book review

This was one of the first soccer books I ever read, and while some aspects have not aged as well, it is still a fascinating read. These two knowledgeable soccer minds compare Italy and England at a time when the latter was overtaking the former as a hub of soccer knowledge. Similar to what you’d hear at a ritzy soccer pub, VIalli and Marcotti have so much knowledge about the game that even now this book is captivating.

• Buy the book
• Read the book review

Continuing our run of Italian books, John Foot gives us a brutally honest take on Italian soccer. A country with an incredible history where the game and culture can rarely be separated, Foot shows the ways that shortcuts are used and ethics compromised to make the Italian game the beautiful game. There are few better storytellers than John Foot and few more conflicted stories than the Italian game.

• Buy the book
• Read the book review

Often The Miracle of Castel di Sangro is regarded as the best book on an Italian club but Tim Park’s love letter to Verona is much better. Parks integrates himself with the fan culture of Hellas Verona and tells an entertaining story of, essentially, living a foreign fan’s dream. Unlike Joe McGinniss, he’s not naive to the game and that helps write a better story. For example, he admits some of the Italians who attend Hellas Verona games are absolute racists, but he uses information like that to paint a complete, conflicted view of rooting for Verona or really any Italian soccer club during this time.

• Buy the book
• Read the book review

No list can be complete without at least one Wilson book. This one may be his most famous for good reason. Wilson gives a detailed description of the history of soccer tactics in a way that does not sound as boring as the first half of this sentence. Few people can take such dry, complex topics and make them absolutely engaging. Honorable mention goes to his newer book on Hungarian soccer.

• Buy the book
• Listen to our interview with Jonathan Wilson

Soccer is a secondary topic to culture in this book, but that’s where Foer excels. The book examines how soccer defines different geopolitical situations like the Balkan Wars and world trade. While this book deals with complex topics, it is relatively short and condensed. It helps if you have a center-left political leaning to accept some of his hypotheses.

• Buy the book
• Read the book review

I remember when I first read this book and was shocked by how much I enjoyed it. One of three fiction books on this list, the story takes place in Argentina. Three friends leave the wake of “Mono”, a failed soccer player turned capitalist who invested his savings in owning the rights to a young soccer prodigy. The friends must decide how to offload the ownership of the young player to raise money to care for Mono’s daughter. The author had written the script for an Academy Award-winning film and his talent for fiction shows in this book. This book is not philosophical about Argentine soccer, but it is just beautiful.

• Buy the book
• Read the book review

You can argue this is not the best book about the life of a manager. Michael Calvin can certainly claim that title (see next). What Ronay’s book does best is show the evolution of the manager’s role and who the key players were in that evolution. Just think – at the turn of the 20th century a manager was essentially a caretaker. He would run out a lineup selected by the Board, take care of the pitch, and sit back and watch the game. Compare that with the role of a Jurgen Klopp today, and this book shows how that drastic change occurred.

• Buy the book
• Watch our interview with Barney Ronay

While Ronay’s book shows the timeline, Calvin’s book zooms in on the then-modern day. With unparalleled access to a variety of managers, Calvin shows the undeniable stress the modern manager faces every day. The book’s title comes from a quote from Arsene Wenger describing the life of the manager, and Calvin’s interviews aptly justify the analogy. What he does best is follow managers at various professional levels, so you see the whole gamut of experiences.

• Buy the book
• Listen to our interview with Mike Calvin

The Qatar 2022 bid was from the start suspicious. Blake and Calvert took that suspicion and started digging. Then dug more. Then locked themselves in secure rooms and kept digging through confidential documents. The result is a book that is incredibly troubling, damning, and descriptive of FIFA’s corruption. At times the story reads like a fictional account but sadly for all of us is all too real.

• Buy the book
• Read the book review

The soccer industry can be brutal to young players. Sebastian Abbot takes a hard look at the journey a group of young African players take to the professional ranks. Complicating this journey is the financial support provided by Arabian sheiks looking to rebuild their country’s youth ranks. While Abbot does not cast definitive judgment, he shines a harsh light on international youth soccer practices. A must read for anyone wanting to learn more about how young soccer players can be exploited so easily.

• Buy the book
• Read the book review

This is the book that spoiled the game of soccer for many people. Like the previous two authors, Hill dives into corruption in soccer with such vigor and relentlessness that the results are shocking. It is impossible to read this book and not watch soccer in a different way. It also shows how a dedicated journalist can make a difference when he throws himself into a topic without hesitation.

• Buy the book
• Listen to our interview with Declan Hill

I will admit a bias in that I do not know how a non-Arsenal fan would appreciate this book. I will say that the book has born an industry of first-person perspective books on soccer fandom, but none can truly compare to the original. Hornby is nuts and his love for soccer (primarily Arsenal) affects his life in a way that is not healthy for most people. However, Hornby is a writer so being nuts helps him write an engaging narrative of fandom that is not realistic for most people but is still an amazing read.

• Buy the book
• Read the review of the film based on the book

Every top 20 list should have a Honigstein book but the question is which one. I have Das Reboot because (1) it is a good read and (2) it has quickly become the handbook for how to rebuild a country’s soccer program. Honigstein is so well connected that he is able to mine information from the most important decision-makers in Germany. Rarely do you get such honest thoughts from key decision-makers.

• Buy the book
• Read the book review

This is the perfect book for a shelter-in-place situation. Goldblatt is such an interesting person, although like Foer it helps if you share his political persuasion. A non-soccer fan friend of mine once asked me for books to understand the sport, and I sent him this one. Despite being about 1,000 pages, he could not put it down. Goldblatt is able to take the whole of soccer history and create a narrative that ties culture, politics, and society into the game’s development. It is also a darn good read. Once you decide to read it, it is a commitment but it is well worth the time.

• Buy the book
• Listen to our interview with David Goldblatt

I daresay any serious top soccer book list will have this in its top ten, if not top five. Peace takes a fascinating person in Brian Clough, takes a moment of his life when he joins his most hated rival, and from Clough’s POV weaves a narrative of why this nonsensical decision makes sense. The account is technically fictional, but well researched enough that it is more factual than many journalist soccer books. This is the one book in my library I will never lend.

• Buy the book
• Read the book review

Honorary Mention

It felt a little self-serving to include a book by a World Soccer Talk podcast co-host in this top 20 soccer book recommendations list especially with WST as a publisher. Yet the list felt incomplete without it. Kartik’s story of his love of a club across the ocean and how he followed Manchester City from Florida is an incredible story of how soccer fandom was before the glut of streaming services showing leagues around the world. I cannot highly recommend the book high enough.

• Buy the book
• Listen to an interview with the author

If you have any questions about the top 20 soccer book recommendations, let us know in the comments section below.

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 I may have missed it in his massive catalog, this is the first time a nonfiction book in his series focused on multiple athletes. That decision raised in my mind a question.

On the Field with Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd and Mallory Pugh gives the stories of four stars of the 2019 World Cup winning team. Three of the names are obvious choices for a book like this: Carli Lloyd, Alex Morgan, and Megan Rapinoe. Each gets a biographical sketch colored with quotes from the players themselves, coaches, and other players. The fourth player is Mallory Pugh. Her inclusion is interesting since she barely featured in the World Cup and recently was not invited to the Olympic training camp due to performance. The book includes post-France updates, so the inclusion is even more confusing.

The book is written for a younger audience, and is meant to inspire young soccer players to keep practicing and playing despite adversity. The language at times is very stilted, splicing soccer terms with language that sounds like someone trying to describe a match who has never watched one. In addition, quotes from announcers and journalists go unsourced, which is not a major omission but an odd omission. Based on the writing, the book is really aimed for a 4th to 5th grade reading level so the language used is not a deal breaker.

This book would be a good gift for a younger child who needs a boost of inspiration to work harder to succeed. Any adult reading the book is likely to be bored and unimpressed. But knowing Matt Christopher books, this should not be a surprise.

On The Field With Megan Rapinoe, Alex Morgan, Carli Lloyd, and Mallory Pugh is available via Amazon and all fine booksellers.

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 around Italy. The greatest books about soccer fans are about those who live the Shankly quote about soccer being much more than life or death.

Ian Plenderleith takes a different and honest approach in his newest book. The Quiet Fan does tell the story of how soccer influences a fan’s life, but the reality is soccer is a bit player in where his life has taken him. That may seem surprising from the author of the quality Rock and Roll Soccer and longtime internet scribe. The reality is that even though soccer has been a source of financial support and joy for decades, he is like many of his readers where the sport is a factor is our lives, but not a controlling or dominant one.

Like much of his writing, Plenderleith does not give you a straight narrative of his life and how A turned to B which became C. Instead, the narrative is divided into themes which is a semi-straightforward biographical narrative. Themes of his life like trying to navigate romantic relationships as a teen, fighting aimlessness in a career, or calling out his hypocrisy in life choices make this a refreshing read. Woven throughout are stories about soccer and his experience with it, but they are not glowing portraits of how players or a match changed his life forever. Rather, they are a supporting player in a (usually sad) story. For example, the chapter “Despair” centers on the author attending an Aberdeen v. Celtic match… with a stranger… who is morally offensive… as a Rangers fan. The match illustrates a larger point, but is not definitive. It’s just a mile marker in his life.

Despite the more unique take, the book does not really grip the reader until about 70 pages in. There the book finds its voice and the author really drives home his points. For example, it takes until the ninth chapter (“Love and Birmingham”) to hit his main point:

When I lived in Walthamstow, in East London, I more or less supported and cheered for Leyton Orient for five years, although for some reason that attachment didn’t last. When I return to watch them now, as I usually do when I’m in London, I spectate with the cold-headedness of the neutral, finding it hard to believe that I’ve paid more than 20 quid to watch this crap.

The point is that while soccer is important, it is not as important as human relationships. Soccer is a fun distraction, even source of revenue at times, but nothing more, to the point where the local club you support can be discarded.

The disorienting story will drive away some readers, and others will be put off by sections that do not fit the point of the book. However, it’s different than most books of this type, and that’s not necessarily bad. If you enjoyed his book on the NASL, or his writing on various websites throughout the years, this book will appeal to you. If you are not, then you still may enjoy the book but there is no guarantee. That said, Plenderleith deserves plaudits writing an open and honest account of his life when playing up his fandom would have been more understandable.

The Quiet Fan is available via Kindle.

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 besides the generally incorrect assumption that the English and Scots taught them the game. The truth is more complicated and deep, and acclaimed journalist Jonathan Wilson reveals why in-depth studies of the Hungarian soccer revolution are not common.

The Names Heard Long Ago: How the Golden Age of Hungarian Soccer Shaped the Modern Game is sort of a spin-off of Wilson’s earlier book Behind the Curtain: Travels in Eastern European Football. In fact, that book he admits piqued his interest in studying more about Hungarian soccer and how they became a “game changing” national side. The Names Heard Long Ago begins at what some argue is the beginning of the nation’s soccer culture, which is pre-World War I Austro-Hungarians Empire Hungary. The main drivers were, as any whose read David Goldblatt know, Jimmy Hogan and coffeehouses. Moving past the First World War the soccer seed planted in Hungary really germinates as a non-English centric thinking about the game develops. Not coincidentally, that soccer culture grows up along side a cultural revolution in society. The culmination is of course the post World War II thrashing of England and Olympic glory.

A journalist of Wilson’s stature can get away with sometimes publishing a book with just enough research to make it credible. Some authors of his ilk simply rely on reputation to publish on a topic with just enough endnotes and references to not call their thesis into question. To his credit Jonathan Wilson put in the work to write this book. Throughout are footnotes (and more footnotes) which reference journals, newspapers, and academic tomes that are undeniably near impossible for most writers to access. This is true for soccer sources and cultural sources. While we have to assume he had a research team assisting, the depth of work put into this book years in the making is impressive.

SEE MORE: The Ultimate Guide To the Best Soccer Books

It is even more impressive considering how hard it is to write a history of Hungary. While it is not a developing nation, national records and reliable sources even from 100 years ago are sometimes hard to find. Consider the fact that many birth records are tied to Christian baptismal records, so Jewish players and coaches may not have government data about their actual birthplace available! In addition, two major wars and multiple chaotic government changes mean records have been purged or lost, making the information presented even more impressive.

Ultimately, is this book revolutionary? No. If you read The Ball is Round or even Behind the Curtain you get enough background on Hungarian soccer history to speak intelligently about it. However, I recommend this book simply because it is an informative, fascinating read. As I’ve mentioned with previous book releases this summer, this is not a book for a new soccer fan or even someone with casual knowledge of the game. If this book were a high school course, it would be an Advanced Placement course. That said, it is a good holiday or birthday gift for the big soccer fan in your life, and a great addition to the growing library of good soccer reads available commercially.

The Names Heard Long Ago: How the Golden Age of Hungarian Soccer Shaped the Modern Game
by Jonathan Wilson
Bold Type Books
400 pages
Available through Amazon and other booksellers beginning September 17

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 a precursor to global warming is not something that can be thought, tested, and announced definitively in a matter of months. Soccer managers, however, cannot rely on thorough trial and error to change. With an average tenure of about one year, depending on the league, managers have a narrow window to get their tactics right, then a small window to constantly prove themselves again and again.

I mention this because it may seem odd at first to take a 17-year period and be able to identify seven overarching and different tactical revolutions in soccer in Europe. However, Michael Cox has long established himself as a tactical observer par excellence and his new book argues that the dominant soccer cultures in Europe in the recent past have existed for merely 2-4 years. Zonal Marking: From Ajax to Zidane, the Making of Modern Soccer makes the claim that we have seen six dominant styles of soccer in Europe since 1992 with each based around a national soccer culture. A seventh, emerging culture he claims is the culmination of the sixteen years of rapid change.

Cox starts the narrative with Holland in the early 1990s, an obvious place due to Ajax’s last gasp of dominance until recent years as well as the success of the national team. Similar to The Barcelona Inheritance, Cox focuses on the Dutch managers of the time, how Cruyff and the Dutch way influenced their thinking, and how van Gaal deviated from Cruyff to create his own coaching tree. Unlike Jonathan Wilson’s book, however, Cox next shifts to Italy, which was undergoing its own soccer renaissance. Again, drawing from both the domestic league and national team, he weaves a narrative of Italy trying to escape a catenaccio reputation but still being reliant on a strong defensive backbone to its tactical thinking. The first two chapters are by far the strongest arguments in the book and I daresay some of the best tactical analysis in print.

From there, the book begins to weaken simply due to its premise. The reality is in the modern game of soccer, there is not a national style of play because often there is a divide between club and country. A great example is his chapter on France, which focuses on the successes and tactics of the national side. Unlike Italy and the Dutch, however, the French domestic league was lacking at the highest level (although not at the developmental level). It’s hard to say that there was a French revolution, but more of a French national side revolution. The same can be said for the Portuguese chapter, which focused on Jose Mourinho and the moderate success of the national team. These success of this manager and national team was influenced by traditional Portuguese soccer thought, but in The Special One’s case we know how much Van Gaal and the Dutch/Spanish tradition also impacted his management.

It’s hard to quibble too much with the book’s overall premise, however, because the writing is vintage Cox. He brings a tactical insight and strategic thought to the game that only a handful of other writers can approach, and his take on the past almost 20 years of European soccer and the constant adjustments made is wonderful to read. His structure also highlights the essential nature of the modern soccer manager – adjust or be fired. Pep Guardiola spans three eras in this book because he constantly adjusts his tactics but not his style. In that way, he stands in contrast to many of the other greats named in the book who tweak and change but cannot consistently do so. The greatest value in this book (besides the usually excellent writing) is the point that soccer is an ever changing sport.

SEE MORE: Detailing The Pyramid, Looking at the Current Role of Tactical Analysis in Football Coverage

Zonal Marking is a valuable read for the more savvy soccer fan, one who enjoys a good tactical discussion or just reliving the recent soccer past in Europe. The only caution I give is to not get too caught up in the book’s overall premise of nationalistic changes to the game – enjoy each chapter as its own vignette or article and there is how you will get the most out of Michael Cox’s latest book.

Zonal Marking: From Ajax to Zidane, the Making of Modern Soccer is available via Amazon and all fine booksellers.

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 the popularity of girl’s soccer rises.

But like 1999, 2015 did not happen in a vacuum. We know how the women’s team did in the Olympics and World Cup, yet the behind-the-scenes machinations were just as important to the long-term success of this team as what happened on the field.

Veteran journalist Caitlin Murray details how the modern U.S. women’s team came to be in The National Team: The Inside Story of the Women Who Changed Soccer. Her writing style makes it feel like you’re reading a documentary but in a way that keeps you reading to know what happened next in the story. Starting in the 1990s, she walks the reader through the development of the national team in tournaments and off-the-field in negotiations. Her unparalleled access to the biggest names in soccer means we hear from the key players from each era, including the team’s coaches, USSF officials, and of course the players.

Earlier this year, the book SoccerWomen told the story of women’s soccer across the world from the perspective of the players, primarily in their own words. Murray also uses direct quotes from players and other interviews but instead weaves a narrative focused on the team and the landscape. It is not the players who are characters but the USWNT, the USSF, and tournament opponents. The books seeks to educate more than inspire, but does so in a narrative way that lays out the progress the women’s national team has made. In doing so, it does not shy away from controversy; familiar “villains” like Hope Solo and USSF officials are castigated for their behavior at understandable points in the book.

And yet, Murray does not take the next step in her narrative of being critical of the team itself. Throughout the book a theme is seen where national team players are unafraid to turn on their coaches. Almost no coach leaves without having at least a group of players stabbing them in the back. Yet Murray does not castigate players for these actions, but simply notes where the dissension seemed to be coming. The main character, the USWNT, is too important to impugn when it does wrong.

Caitlin Murray has a reputation for her excellent reporting, and it shows here. Her investigative work to write a comprehensive narrative on how the U.S. women’s team changed on and off the field is unparalleled and a must-read for a serious fan of the sport. Yet the book lacks a critical element that fails to hold the team and its players as a unit accountable for its failures. While a small item, it prevents this from being one of the best soccer books ever rather than a really great read.

The National Team: The Inside Story of the Women Who Changed Soccer
By Caitlin Murray
Abrams
352 pages

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 d’Or. Yet his history of teaching the game, even today, presents a legacy that alone would place him among the greats.

Veteran Hollywood producer Ryan Scott Warren cuts no corners in putting together the documentary Matthews: The Original No. 7 for Amazon and DVD. The 78-minute documentary spans the life of Sir Matthews both on and off the pitch and calls upon diverse voices to tell a compelling story.

Documentary filmmakers can fall into lazy habits. When there is a lull, they sometimes call upon a historian who has a general knowledge of the subject. This is not slander of historians on film, but in a documentary, they can be a crutch. Warren almost never calls upon historians but uses celebrities, writers, reporters and the people at key moments of his life to tell the story of Sir Stanley. There are no voiceovers from a narrator, so Warren had to take hours of interviews and weave together the best parts for a compelling film. He even goes to people like the rector at Matthews’ funeral to add 20 seconds on the logistical nightmare of planning the funeral of the great man. The closest we have on film to a historian is David Goldblatt, who as many people know is far from a traditional historian.

The documentary begins in an odd place – Africa. A young African boy sneaks into a professional club locker room and stares at the number seven jersey. Of course, the coach comes in (we find out his identity later) and sets up the story of “number 7.” We hear Matthews’ soccer story with time spent on his FA Cup victory and his move to Blackpool. Oddly, Warren uses his children and grandchildren to talk about how great of a family man Matthews was, but leaves it to Goldblatt to explain why his divorce and remarriage made sense in his character.

The final third of the movie is where it takes a turn. Rather than focusing on his playing career exclusively, Warren spends time sharing the story of Matthews’ “Sir Stan’s Men” and his sharing the sport in Africa. Warren even gathered together a handful of the original Sir Stan’s Men – his touring team – to explain their experience learning from the legend. Again, it would be easy to get a historian or journalist to cover this period, but Warren actually works to weave a first-person narrative.

Like many documentaries, The Wizard’s story glosses over any warts in his life. The bookend scenes in Africa with the current Sir Stan’s Men is also a little cheesy.

Yet this is a worthwhile addition to a now-growing library of quality soccer documentaries, especially since it is available on Amazon Prime in the United States. Especially for a younger generation or newer soccer fans, watching footage of Matthews and his moves will remind them of some current superstars as well as hopefully give them an appreciation of a legend.

Matthews is available on iTunes, Amazon Prime Video and DVD.

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 most challenging World Cup ever. This month is also Women’s History Month and the month the USWNT players decided to file suit against their own federation for pay discrimination. All of that is to say now is a great time to relearn how far women’s soccer has come internationally and how we got to this moment.

Veteran journalist Gemma Clarke’s new book SoccerWomen: The Icons, Rebels, Stars, and Trailblazers Who Transformed the Beautiful Game tries to do just that. Drawing on her international journalistic experience and lengthy connections, Clarke weaves a narrative of the game’s history based largely on interviews with participants and players. What we get is a book that tells more of a first-person story with some historical observations woven in, especially for the more recent decades.

Clarke begins by reminding us that in the beginning women’s soccer was primarily a mating ritual. Specifically, women in Scotland in the 19th century played the game to show potential suitors their physical fitness. That is just one of the many changes in the game in the past 100 years, and Clarke skims through them with little discussion of the majority of the 20th century. Part of this is of course the lack of women to interview involved in these matches, but it also feels like a conscious decision to emphasize where the game is now. The book really begins to hit its stride with the Coca-Cola sponsored, faux-World Cup in China in the late 1980s where women’s teams gathered to show FIFA and the sports world they too could participate in a World Cup.

The book hits its stride here because we hear from participants a holistic view of being pioneers in the women’s game. We hear about the locker rooms that being called rooms is a stretch as well as fans forced to attend matches that still inspired participants. The narrative then shifts into more familiar territory for soccer fans, hitting highlights from the 1999 World Cup/” sports bra seen ‘round the world” to Japan’s upset of the U.S. after the tsunami.

SEE MORE: Schedule of Women’s World Cup games on US TV and streaming

Maybe because Clarke herself was born in England that the book is not strictly U.S. personalities. In fact, we get diverse perspectives including a few players from the Middle East and nations where women’s soccer is not just denigrated, but the players themselves reviled. This is the strength of the book, seeing different perspectives from our own privileged perspective. While there is certainly a disturbing imbalance between the genders in our sport in the U.S., we are miles ahead of many other nations.

The interviews themselves are also at times the weakest part of the book. It is obvious where Clarke could speak with certain players more than others, and she has some good “gets” with lengthy chapters for players like Brandi Chastain, Mia Hamm, Hope Solo, and Alex Morgan. However, there are some glaring absences like Julie Johnson Ertz and Sydney Leroux who have different stories and are key women soccer leaders. In addition, another weakness is something parents can appreciate. Some of the quotes and stories contain choice language that parents like me would not feel comfortable sharing with younger children. It does not detract from the experience for adult readers, but I did not feel comfortable giving it to my young daughter due to some of the quotes and language used. Teens probably would not flinch at some things said, however.

Despite some of these absences, this is a solid read for adults who want to prepare for the 2019 World Cup and NWSL season. It will not be the only major release on women’s soccer to come out this year, but it is a good starter to ready yourself to appreciate the World Cup in France.

SoccerWomen: The Icons, Rebels, Stars, and Trailblazers Who Transformed the Beautiful Game is available via all fine booksellers, including Amazon.

The book is available to pre-order, and will be released on April 16, 2019.

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 The Barcelona Inheritance: The Evolution of Winning Soccer Tactics from Cruyff to Guardiola. Wilson takes his tactical knowledge and applies it to a specific coaching tree, albeit one that is quite famous. Johan Cruyff has traditionally been attributed with creating the modern Barcelona style of play. Even today, with every new manager, the questions are asked whether the new man can keep Barcelona playing the same tika taka style while churning out the next great generation of soccer talent every year.

Wilson explores Cruff’s legacy through the men who succeeded him at Barcelona and in the Netherlands. He focuses primarily on Pep Guardiola, who many call his tactical heir, but also looks at his contemporaries with Barca connections like Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, and Ronald Koeman. He uses these men to explain how Cruyff’s vision of perfect soccer has been modified, or adapted depending, in the modern game. Wilson uses his ability to explain tactics in layman’s terms to show how Guardiola modified the possession style of his Dutch predecessor and how van Gaal showed how it could be used pragmatically. Conversely he draws parallels to Mourinho, who spurned by Barcelona early in his career has shaped himself and his tactics to be almost anti-Cruyff.

The scope of this book is ambitious, as it seeks to explain a branch of a coaching tree in detail that shows the differences between managers. Drawing parallels between Pep and Mourinho is easy, but showing why van Gaal both represents and turns away from the Barcelona style simultaneously is a tougher job. In fact, when I first read the description of the book, I had no idea what to expect. It’s own description on its cover and online really doesn’t get to the core of what this book is.

SEE MORE: Schedule of Barcelona games on US TV and streaming

More honestly, this book is about tactical evolution. A manager famous as a player creates a style of play renowned worldwide, and his former players and assistants take that style and adopt it for their uses. This book is a study on tactical psychology, which to be honest isn’t the most interesting description to put on a back flap. That’s also why I have a hard time recommending this book to everyone, because it’s topic is not universally interesting to every soccer fan. Fans of tactical analysis can go to other authors or Inverting the Pyramid, and fans of the stories behind some of recent soccer history’s greatest clubs will find this book very limiting. Instead, The Barcelona Inheritance is a case study limited to one of the most successful managerial stories in history, and how that spawned its own successes. Those readers looking for something different than the usual soccer book will enjoy this one, but I envision it may have a hard time becoming the success his previous books were.

Written like a long-form Blizzard article, The Barcelona Inheritance is a good edition to soccer canon. As long as the reader comes in with an open mind not preset to expect Inverting the Pyramid or The Manager, they likely will enjoy this book. Not having that preconception though may be hard to achieve based on how this book is presented.

Editor’s note: The Barcelona Inheritance is available from all fine booksellers including Amazon.

As one of the few people squarely in the middle of the debate, I had the opportunity to review their new book, Men in Blazers Present Encyclopedia Blaazertannica: A Suboptimal Guide to Soccer, America’s ‘Sport of the Future’ Since 1972. Not surprisingly, like any good political hot button issue, the book will strongly appeal to one side but alienate the other.

The 224-page book is written as an old-fashioned encyclopedia, if that old-fashioned volume had a faux-tweed cover. The two hosts alternate writing entries in alphabetical order with most including their initials so you know from whose perspective the entry is written. The book contains expected soccer entries about events, players, and managers that from the perspective of the authors the audience should know more about. It also includes entries on sayings and clichés they use on their podcast and show, as a way of explaining to readers why they say what they say. If you have ever wondered what a GFOP is or why they have a George Michaels Sports Machine sign in their studio, this is the place to explain it.

My favorite part of the book was their few entries that took you behind the scenes of their television show recording. The book has numerous pictures of the subjects of the entries, and the sections detailing their recording have pictures of their set from the front and back. If you ever wondered why they record from the “crap part of Soho”, their tiny yet effective set-up may explain why.

While MiB are undoubtedly shills for their corporate overlords, and are unabashed about it, their consistency to their schtick is notable. This book reads like their podcast sounds and their show looks. The language, pacing, and style is exactly the same, full of their catch-phrases and self-deprecating humor. Regardless of how you feel about them, this book is honestly them.

That is why this book review may be the easiest I have ever written. Normally I angst over recommending things because different people have different tastes, so I spend much time thinking through how to best describe a book to make sure you, the reader, understands whether it would appeal to you. This book is much simpler – if you like Men in Blazers, you’ll love this book. If you don’t, you’ll hate it.

MiB start the introduction with three descriptions of their book. Two are “the final nail in the coffin of the long-floundering publishing industry” and “an ill-advised attempt to journey into the inky dark, unexplored depths of the Men in Blazers universe.” From the beginning, Davo and Rog lay out what the book is and how it will be received, so the potential reader will have no surprises on if they will enjoy it.

Men in Blazers Present Encyclopedia Blazertannica: A Suboptimal Guide to Soccer, America’s “Sport of the Future” Since 1972

Author: Roger Bennett, Michael Davies
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Knopf (May 15, 2018)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1101875984

The Official History of the FIFA World Cup is sanctioned by the FIFA World Football Museum, so the photos and details are what you would expect from a museum book.

Rather than a narrative structure, the book outlines the beginning of organized soccer and then moves into discussions of each World Cup through 2014.

Each World Cup chapter begins with a brief history of why the host city was chosen then moves into facts and figures about the tournament. Then comes the meat of the chapter – the most famous or noteworthy matches have a few paragraph write-ups accompanied by photos from the match and quotes from the participants.

In the later World Cups, when there were more group stage matches, some of the matches were skipped over with the score mentioned but essentially the round of 16 forward has a write-up in every World Cup. Sprinkled throughout are pictures of museum pieces and bios of important participants in that World Cup.

Besides myself and the author, no one will read this book cover to cover, and that is fine.

It is a perfect book to sit out and use as a reference for a discussion or learn more. For example, if during Sweden’s group stage match this year the commentators reference the 1974 Sweden team, you can quickly look up the background of that club and see some facts and pictures about the tournament.

If you are a national team fan, this is also a fun way to relive your nation’s highs and lows; as a U.S. fan, the book certainly spotlighted the 1950 victory over England as well as some recent lowlights.

What this book isn’t is an unbiased analysis of each World Cup.

While it does not shy away from using the political backdrop to set the stage for each World Cup (think Italy under Mussolini or even Brazil’s protests in 2014), the controversies in FIFA are less pronounced. In a more unbiased book you would have more analysis of why FIFA chose some sites in a, shall we say, frank way but this book does not let any whiff of impropriety through.

The more famous refereeing controversies (Maradona’s Hand of God, for example) make an appearance but oddly the Nigel de Jong cleat in 2010 is glossed over as just another questionable call.

This book, like many coffee books, is not inexpensive. But if you are looking for a nice gift for a soccer fan that needs a prestige piece for their bookshelf (Father’s Day is coming up in the States), this would make a good choice.

Please note its availability in the U.S. is much more limited, so be prepared to see pricing in Euros or British Pounds.

The Official History of the FIFA World Cup
Author: FIFA World Football Museum, Gianni Infantino (forward)
Publication Date: April 3, 2018
Price: $30.94
Pages: 304

There is much discussion about the best way to develop youth players in America and Europe. Often we forget that Africa and Asia are a growing source of players for European clubs.

Consequently, we do not realize that there is a battle for talent in these countries. The result can make even the most dedicated fan uncomfortable talking about. Enter Sebastian Abbot with a must-read addition to any soccer fan’s library. His new book is about developing young talent in world football today.

The Away Game: The Epic Search for Soccer’s Next Superstars is the story of African soccer players struggling to escape the continent in search of a career in European football.

Abbot focuses on the Aspire Football Dreams program. An initiative from Qatar that aims to find the best young talent in Africa and develop it for eventual sale to European clubs.

The book highlights how the program hired Josep Colomer, former youth director for Barcelona who helped guide a young Lionel Messi to stardom. It is clear Colomer seeks to make his mark in the sport by discovering the next Messi, as the final goal of a storied career. He views Africa as an untapped resource for the next superstar.

The book charts the program. In particular, Abbot focuses on five players who find various degrees of success.

On one end is Diawandou Diagne, a natural leader and defender who uses the program to launch a pro career in football. On the other end is Bernard, a smooth playmaker who Colomer compares to Messi. Throughout the book we discover the players’ issues and the struggles of the Football Dreams program. It is alleged to have recruited African players to naturalize and play for Qatar.

There is much to praise about this book. The key element I want to highlight is how even-handed Abbot is in his treatment of his subjects.

There are many moral and ethical issues that pop up in this book. For example, African players lying about their ages, Qatar potentially exploiting poor Africans. And lastly, the shady underbelly of European clubs signing underaged African players.

A lesser writer would be derailed by these controversies or rant about them in a way that biases the story. Abbot instead treats them all with a journalistic detachment that allows the reader to understand the enormity of the issue but not take the focus off the personalities that make this book so rich. Over 300 pages, the reader learns so much and becomes aware of some of the biggest ethical issues facing soccer today.

Not since The Fix has a book become a must-read for soccer fans who are concerned about the business model of the game. Sebastian Abbot has written a classic that rightfully earns all the praise it is receiving.

The Away Game: The Epic Search for Soccer’s Next Superstars

AUTHOR: Sebastian Abbot

ISBN: 978-0-393-29220-6

PUBLICATION DATE: March 6, 2018

PRICE: $26.95

PAGES: 336 pages

As regular readers of World Soccer Talk know, there is an absolute glut of soccer available to fans every week on television and the Internet. It has never been easier to watch your favorite club or catch a match when you have some free time. It was not too long ago, however, that seeing ANY soccer in the U.S. required major sacrifice. For those who may not remember or have experienced those days, Gary France’s memoir of his early years in the U.S. is a history lesson for you.

The author is from northern England and fell in love with Manchester United at a young age. When his soccer career ended at 18, he became a physiotherapist in England. In search of a more rewarding job – both spiritually and financially – he accepted a physical therapy job in Michigan and left the U.K. for the States. Like any relocated Englishman, he struggled with the usual differences for ex-pats such as adjusting to a different English, learning to love the driving culture, and in the case of Michigan adjusting to quickly changing weather.

There was one other adjustment that the author soon realized could be tougher – adjusting to not having the Manchester United matches available on television or radio. Thus begins his journey to experience as many matches as possible at a time in the late 1990s when the Red Devils were ascendant. The United supporter caught matches on shortwave radio and at two different bars. Along the way, we see how he created in Michigan a community of English soccer fans from around the world, brought together by love of the game.

As someone who really began to get into soccer when it was available on television, this was an eye-opening book for me. Some of the names were familiar of course – Tommy Smyth is a legend for a reason – but many of the references who covered the game were unknown to me. You can tell France had planned for a while to write this book; in an interview on the book site he mentions he wanted to write about his experience mere months upon arriving in Michigan. That foresight allowed him to really chat with members of his soccer community in the moment and write about the people with whom he experienced the matches.

The book is far from perfect. Some of the non-soccer material could be eliminated or shortened, and at times the writing is rather amateurish. From an emotional perspective, however, you do find yourself relating to France and his experiences, even if (like me) you are not a Manchester United fan or know the outcome of the matches. The crescendo when Manchester United won the historic treble in 1999 was not nearly as annoying as I thought it would be, and likely that is the author ensuring he mentions how tracking United despite the distance allowed him to bond with his father.

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of United is a few rungs below better soccer autobiographies such as Fever Pitch and Bloody Confused, and could be a little shorter, but overall is an enjoyable read. This is a great gift for a soccer fan with a birthday coming up.

Book: Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of United
Author: Gary B. France
Publisher: Fish Out ot Water Books
Pages: 416 (paperback)
Available March 10 from Amazon and other online booksellers.

Author Alejandro Perez has long been an observer of the European club game. Currently he works for Telemundo, the Spanish language right-holders to the World Cup in the U.S., but he is also a long-time blogger and former ESPN employee. He sees the games millions of us watch every weekend and applies a keen strategic eye to what the men on the sideline are doing and why they are doing it.

For this book, Perez takes a number of modern examples of European club managers and breaks down why they have either found success or failed at a position (although, as he shows with Mourinho, both could be an option). The book begins with a more general tactical principle, that many times the best defense is an effective offense. He uses real-life examples of why managers successfully swap attacking players for attacking players late in a game and still hold a lead, when we often think the opposite is true and more defensive minded players are needed to kill a tie. He then goes into famous managers from Europe to explain their tactical mindset at various places, with a special focus on Pep Guardiola’s three stops as a manager.

As someone who fancies himself knowledgeable in tactics, I found some interesting tidbits in these chapters. In particular, Chapter 4 on Manchester City pre-Guardiola and their struggles in the midfield were an interesting look at why a team with so much talent could be inconsistent, and why they now compete in everything with much ease. Despite using the first two chapters to lay the tactical groundwork for the rest of the book, I found the beginning two chapters to be the weakest parts overall. The writing is too choppy to make a smooth read and some of the examples used were not illustrative of the overall plot. The book really finds its footing however in Chapter 3 (entitled “Concerning E(in)volution”) where Perez breaks down the modern Arsene Wenger and tactically why he has failed where he found so much success before. It’s not simply the transfer policy!

This book is not for the new soccer fan, but for the type whose read Jonathan Wilson and enjoys the tactical games managers play with each other and the leagues throughout the season. While the overall book is not as polished as a Wilson book, it is informative and interesting, and is a definite must-read for those fans who enjoying knowing a little bit more of what is going through a famous manager’s mind during a match.

Book: More Than 90 Minutes: Analyzing Success in European Club Soccer
Author: Alejandro Perez
Publisher: Meyer & Meyer Sport
Pages: 300 (paperback)
Available now via Amazon in paperback and Kindle, as well as Barnes and Noble and Books-a-million.

When we see Christian Pulisic score a stoppage time goal for Borussia Dortmund, we have a general sense of how special he is and how hard he has to work to reach this level. Academically, we know he didn’t walk off the street and start for a major Bundesliga club. But we really don’t have a sense of the long hours and small breaks he had to achieve this level. The Arsenal Yankee, a book by former Arsenal player and current scout Danny Karbassiyoon, lays out this narrow path in vivid and engaging detail.

Karbassiyoon, the pride of Roanoke, catapulted through the youth of U.S. soccer before being noticed by an Arsenal scout as a high schooler. Choosing a possible professional career over a safer college scholarship, Danny flew to London as a trialist for one of the world’s largest clubs and eventually signed a contract with Arsenal. His brief career with the Gunners featured a game-winning League Cup goal against Manchester City and playing against some of the biggest names in the world. Even a brief loan spell to Ipswich Town was a notable experience that showed him the passion of a club fighting for promotion into the Premier League.

However, reoccurring knee injuries derailed his Arsenal dream and, after the team released him in 2005, he signed with Burnley. Another major knee injury and trouble with the club’s management led to Karbassiyoon making the tough decision to retire from playing professional soccer at age 22. It was then he reconnected with Arsenal and ended up continuing with the club as a scout, where he is credited with discovering and signing Joel Campbell and Gedion Zelalem.

What makes this autobiography different than many other former footballer autobiographies is Karbassiyoon’s ability to capture the sheer wonder at his journey. When we spend enough time in our careers we tend to forget how amazing some aspects of it are to outsiders. For example, I’ve spent years working in DC and I am often unimpressed by walking into some places and buildings that should always awe me; I’ve been to them enough times that the luster has worn off. The author seems to suffer no similar fault. When he writes about his Arsenal career, the sense of respect and wonder for the people and places he sees comes through clearly on the page. The reader feels this same sense of amazement at the Arsenal training ground and the sheer unlikeliness of playing Everton in a cup match. It is not so much humility as it is thankfulness, a recognition that as a soccer player from small Roanoke, Virginia, the ability to put on an Arsenal shirt and train with Thierry Henry is in many ways miraculous.

As a parent, I had another perspective on this story, and it is the one referenced in the beginning. The author spares no details on his rise through the ranks of U.S. youth soccer to even be seen by an English scout. He tells of his relentless work ethic, the disappointment of not making certain squads or achieving different markers to a professional career, and how he adjusted his training to achieve goals like making regional select squads. One part of his journey was the ability to spend a few months with a host family in Germany, and briefly learn the game in their youth system. This is a rare opportunity not afforded to every soccer player. In addition, the Arsenal dream could have been ended before it began, as Karbassiyoon was initially wait listed for the select Adidas Elite Soccer Program. He barely made the program right before it began and it was there that Arsenal scouted him for the first time.

SEE MORE: Schedule of Arsenal games on US TV and streaming

Great soccer players don’t just happen; they don’t position themselves in front of scouts and get signed based on what decisions they make. It’s more complicated than that, and that is the greatest value of this book, even more so than the details of training with the Invincibles. For parents like me or even just fans of youth soccer development, this book spells out in stark terms how narrow the line of luck can be between utter success and failing to reach the highest possible goal. That’s a scary thought, but again the author’s respectful description of where his career took him also shows the importance of maintaining the right perspective on a career.

All of this does not mean this is a perfect book. Undoubtedly some of the accounts are whitewashed, and the book severely lacks in information about his post-playing career as a scout. I think a book about 50 pages longer with some information of life as a scout for Arsenal would have made a fuller, more rounded autobiography of an Arsenal Yankee. Despite these critiques, this was one of the best soccer books I have read in a while, and certainly one of the best autobiographies, and should be added to any soccer fans’ reading list.

The Arsenal Yankee is available from Amazon and the book website.

Covering a team over the course of a soccer season is tough, in the sense that you see your team in a different way than a fan who attends the same games. Despite rules against cheering and journalistic standards that demand an air of neutrality when writing about the squad, you cannot help but grow closer to the players and staff as the long year continues. While you do not go through the same travails as a player, you see them at their best and at their worst. You see them after a fight with the girlfriend or the birth of a child, and so you can get to know them better than any fan whose interactions are limited to what they see on the pitch. Thus, it is these people’s perspectives that can be most enlightening after a miraculous championship, like Leicester City’s.

Unlike a national journalist who joined the coverage late, Rob Tanner has covered the Foxes since their promotion to the Premier League and was on the City beat from the preseason until the inexplicable end. His book, 5,000-1: The Leicester City Story, is his monthly account of the moments, players, and people who defined the improbable title run. Mixing new writing in with columns from the time, Tanner does not claim to have foreseen this outcome or even predicted that Leicester would surprise people. Instead, he takes his reader into the season through the lens of the betting odds, which started as the season as 5,000-1 and decreased as the season went along until bookmakers tried to cash out bets before losing too much money.

Tanner begins with a moment in which potentially the whole season turned: the hiring of Claudio Ranieri. His book does a good job describing the uncertainty around the hire as well as the pressure on the ownership group to get the right person for a club that had talent but barely stayed up the season before. Tanner immediately identifies the traits that would help Ranieri excel as the club’s manager and, while post-event editing could have helped make his perspective look better in hindsight, the author deserves a lot of credit for at least noticing that something was different and noteworthy in this hire.

As the book goes along the season, it does not delve deeply into the season or the players, but relies rather on stories told throughout the season to provide snapshots of how the team stood at that moment. Because of his time spent with the players prior to the season, you can tell Tanner received some insight and access other journalists could not get. But rather than go deep into different players and topics to try and discern how or why they were part of this miraculous season, he presents the players as they are. That is another way of saying this book is not an academic treatise or something in the realm of Soccernomics; it is simply a beat reporter gathering his season of facts and stories to weave an improbable narrative that even Hollywood would have troubles crafting.

Going back to the emotion, while Tanner is undoubtedly a professional, it is impossible not to read some of his own emotions in what he writes. It is subtle at times but there, and many times it comes through as he tells the stories of the players, many of whom are simply trying to keep playing at the highest level. There is an affinity for the characters in this story, and it is refreshing how it is shown without being insufferable or coming across as fake. And there is the key to why this is a interesting read: it’s a book that doesn’t try to Hollywood up a fairy tale. It lets the results speak for themselves and frames it in numbers that show how unlikely the result is, filling in the gaps with game stories and background on the key characters.

In the coming years, many books will be written about Leicester and their impact on soccer. This book does none of that but rather just puts into perspective the amazing season the Foxes had from the eyes of a person who, better than anyone, can appreciate the miracle.

5000-1: The Leicester City Story is available in paperback from Amazon and other fine booksellers.

It has been hard to determine how the U.S. Soccer Federation is using the Copa America Centenario to grade its men’s team’s progress leading up to the 2018 World Cup. Depending on who you ask and when, the measuring stick was reaching the semifinals, or simply playing the games, or the even more ambiguous total body of work. From a casual fan perspective, it has been harder to select a single game that best serves as a way to measure the progress of the U.S.    The Colombia match, depending on your perspective, was either an unmitigated disaster or two small mistakes away from being at worst a draw. Subsequent group stage matches saw the U.S. as the favorite, and a deflated or uninspired Ecuador only really pushed the U.S. in the final 20 minutes of their match. No one seriously took the Argentina match as a true measurement of the U.S.’s progress, just a way to see how the team matched up with the world’s best.

Saturday’s rematch against Colombia, however, is the first match that gives the USMNT a true measuring stick to determine where this team is for the 2018 World Cup. Going back to the first match, most neutral observers saw Colombia as the better team, as they jumped on a U.S. team playing its full compliment of starters. Colombia scored early and then forced a penalty on a handball in the box, before killing off the game in the second half. The U.S. team and its defenders, however, saw the game differently. They saw one defensive mistake by a team playing its first competitive match together in almost a year, then a poor call by a referee. After that, Colombia was able to sit back and defend, thwarting the U.S. attack.

Regardless of your interpretation, this match has some major advantages for the host nation. The Americans now have a starting XI that, while not having played every match together, is in a comfortable rotation. This allows the players to better anticipate teammate’s reactions and cut down on careless mistakes, as well as implement Jurgen Klinsmann tactical plan more seamlessly (stop snickering). In addition, having played Argentina and thinking they should have beaten Colombia, the U.S. comes into the match knowing that it has faced the worst outcome it could and now has a chance at avenging a loss. That alone should inspire its confidence.

On the other side of the pitch, Colombia still has world class talent like James Rodriguez. However, the upside to trying for a win is not quite as there as it is for the U.S. They have already beaten the host nation once, and winning a third-place game doesn’t exactly shower a team in glory. Unlike the U.S., they figured to have a legitimate chance at winning their semifinal game, but the ruthless nature Chile pounced on them and put the match away has to have a psychological effect. In addition, the extended rain delay and traveling a day later than the Yanks means they could have tired legs, again advantaging the U.S. This is a team that has been ranked in the top 5 in the world, but the environment is such that the U.S. should not only be competitive, but can certainly win.

One of the advantages of playing in CONCACAF is that rarely are there win-or-be fired matches. In World Cup qualifying, for every shock loss to a Guatamala there is a Trinidad match waiting to right the ship. Excuses for competing in other tournaments like the World Cup or Gold Cup seem ready made – the groups are impossible, conditions are not right. Saturday night is the perfect chance for the U.S. to make a statement about where they stand in world soccer, and unless something truly bizarre happens, this is the best chance to measure this team and see where it sits in the world. A loss should not be followed by excuses; it should be followed by action.

While much has been written about the flag-waving, delusional broadcast of the United States v. Argentina Copa America semi-final, one part of the broadcast that was a pleasant surprise was the color commentary by USMNT legend Landon Donovan. This was not Donovan’s first match; he had called the U.S.’s victory over Ecuador and has been a contributor to past FOX Sports broadcasts, as well as the LA Galaxy in addition to Spanish-language work for Univision. However, he was still a very inexperienced choice for this match when FOX could have chosen a more veteran analyst like Brad Friedel.

Donovan brings a few obvious advantages: He has years of experience playing for the national team and in various professional leagues, he had a high-profile dust-up with Jurgen Klinsmann that gives him a profile as more than a U.S. cheerleader, and he is well connected to the current team, which allows him to share insights other broadcasters cannot. Prior to this tournament, Donovan had been an awkward studio host on FOX Sports and showed what he was – a former player struggling to vocalize aspects of the game he knew instinctually to an audience that likely does not. His place in the commentary booth, however, is perfect.

While Donovan had been pretty good in the Ecuador match, he really came into his own in the game against Argentina where simply being a cheerleader for the U.S. would have been a strained and forced presentation (see Alexi Lalas). The best thing the producers did was pair him with veteran broadcaster J.P. Dellacamera, a man who has called high profile games, leans pro-America in his calls, but yet is underwhelming enough in his presentation to not automatically overshadow his partner. With Dellacamera in the booth, this freed Donovan to mix serious commentary with an emotional edge.

SEE MORE: ESPN provides FOX Sports a blueprint for World Cup 2018 with strong Euro coverage

From the start, Donovan did a good job balancing optimism for the U.S. with a stark realism. He noted prior to the first goal that the U.S. had to weather the first 15 minutes, and when that did not happen, he didn’t simply shake it off but noted that the U.S. needed to adjust its strategy. Later in the first half, when Dellacamera pressed him about whether pressure was getting to the players about the importance of the match, Donovan was frank that, when he was a player, he and his teammates simply focused on the game. Whether that was an accurate memory or not, it showed Donovan’s style of more straight-forward analysis based on his experience without falling too much into talking points or analyst-speak. The aspect people most wanted to hear – his criticisms of his one-time nemesis Klinsmann – for the most part failed to appear in the blowout, maybe due to the fact that he and Klinsmann had a reconciliation prior to the Ecuador match.

The experience was far from perfect, though. A major issue Donovan needs to work on is his cadence and volume; too often during the broadcast he sounded like he was about to scream into the microphone, which was unsettling to the listener. Listening to how his partner moderates his voice during a broadcast would help, and that will come with more practice. In addition, Donovan tends to lean too hard on his U.S.-soccer experience and knowledge during broadcasts, which limits what games he could work to just U.S. games and sometimes makes him stumble into homerism. Both things, however, can be fixed with time and practice, and if FOX Sports wants him to be more than just a foil to pro-Klinsmann voices, then he could develop into a good color commentator.

If FOX Sports is going to improve its soccer product, it needs to work to develop people like Donovan as a way to rival ESPN’s superior coverage.

In 2012, I attended the Wales vs. Scotland World Cup qualifier in Cardiff. Both Wales and Scotland were towards the bottom of the group and not expected to advance, but because they were both towards the bottom points taken by either could boost a surprise run towards Brazil. As such, it was a competitive match with both teams needing to win the match. I have many memories from that night: the pouring rain, seeing one of my favorite club players in action, Gareth Bale’s timely dive/foul. What struck me almost immediately though were the fans; even though they had plenty of verbal ammunition to hurl at each other and chants that would fit perfectly for the match, the game started with both Scotland and Wales supporters joining together and chanting, “stand up if you hate England.”

I share this story to set the stage for the passions that will be flowing through the stands and on the field when Wales and England clash in their pivotal Euros group stage match. Even though “England” were not on the field that night (they were thumping San Marino at Wembley miles away) the idea of England was enough to unite opposing supporters’ groups in a World Cup qualifier. It’s not necessary to go through the geopolitical history of Wales and England but, today, the Wales national team may be better than its English neighbors for the first time ever. For a nation rediscovering its language and history, the prospect of defeating England in a major soccer tournament is undoubtedly exciting.

In other words, this will not be a repeat of Ireland and Sweden fans singing Abba during the match.

If the rivalry between the fans were not enough to ratchet up the pressure on the players, the group standings will. After taking three points against Slovakia, Wales is in control of their destiny in advancing to the knock-out stage. Defeat England or even take a point, and they worry about who their next opponent is after Russia. For England, the opposite is true. A questionable performance against Russia which saw they snatch a draw from the jaws of victory means there is little room for error against Wales – a loss could well doom them to elimination even in the expanded field. One team on the pitch is playing with the pressure of expectations, the other playing with the failure to meet expectations so far. Chris Coleman this week rightly pointed out that the pressure is on England.

SEE MORE: England vs. Wales preview: Wales can expose frailties of under-pressure Three Lions

There is, however, a curve ball to what should be a match where the passion in the stands should outpace the passion on the field. The (alleged) attacks by the Russian ultras against English fans have led to a cooling between the Wales and England fans onsite in France. In interviews on the BBC, Wales fans in Lille ahead of the match aid they have “united” with their English brethren in the face of attacks by Russian ultras, with fans from both nations chanting together in the streets. The “enemy of my enemy is my friend” mantra could cool some of the passion in the stands during the match and reduce some of the cheers to playful taunts rather than mean-spirited barbs. Yet as the game goes on and the stakes rise, inevitably that veneer of common good will fall away.

The days of Phil Bennett before a Wales rugby match saying, “they’ve taken our coal, our water, our steel… what have they given us? Absolutely nothing” are gone. In soccer, a Wales golden generation are ascendant and England are trying to see what they have in their current crop. Yet even though current events may have cooled the passions against the two “brothers”, there is no doubt that under every challenge, every foul, there will be a reaction built up by events both present and past. Wales v. England is the type of match that is a must-see and, regardless of what plays out on the field, the stands will be a source of entertainment.

You can pardon Antonio Conte for not focusing all of his attention on Italy’s Euro 2016 campaign. With his Chelsea position made even more challenging by having Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho joining the Premier League, his new job would require full time attention in any situation. Yet the manager who theoretically should have nothing to prove now has to justify his controversial selections for an Italian squad that, on paper, should challenge for a Euro title.

The best thing about being the manager of Italy is that one third of the field is likely set at all times, and this squad is no different. The ageless Gigi Buffon mans the net while the Juventus backline switches black and white for azzurri. If Conte sticks with a variation of the 3-5-2 that he used at Juventus, and the team avoids injuries, the Italian defense could be the best in the tournament.

The rest of the squad is the question mark, and here is where Italy is going through the most transition. Gone is the aging Andrea Pirlo and his loss is compounded by injuries to Claudio Marchisio and Marco Verratti. Thiago Motte and Daniele De Rossi are cleared to play, so there will be a veteran defensive presence in the midfield.

SEE MORE: Preview of Italy’s Euro 2016 squad, predictions and more.

After these names, however, the Italian squad is full of names known to fans of various clubs but not as revered as the names of Italy’s past, much less some of the other teams in the tournament. Their inclusion, as expected, as invited controversy but not just the usual griping in Italy. The Giovinco exclusion has been covered ad naseum but, as Kris Heneage pointed out on the EuroCopa podcast, Conte did call up Lorenzo Insigne who not only has a similar skill set, but is younger and has performed well for Napoli, a top club in Serie A. In his last 34 starts in the league, he has 12 goals and 11 assists. He excels as a playmaker who can play on the left or middle and set up the attack or score himself.

The real controversy comes with the forwards and attacking midfielders called into the squad. Leonardo Pavoletti, the surprise of the 2015-2016 season, was left off the roster despite scoring 14 goals in just 25 appearances. Added instead were players like Simone Zaza, a supersub from Juventus whose statistics were lackluster, Stephan El Shaarawy, who has failed to live up to his potential at any level, and Eder from Inter Milan. As noted here, Conte stated that he “picked the best at his disposal” but statistics refute this statement.

Why has Conte gone to these names from the larger clubs? The obvious answer is he is leaning upon the big clubs (ala Roy Hodgson) but for a man who has never been afraid to challenge convention, this would seem an odd departure from his usual tactical approach.

SEE MORE: Schedule of Euro 2016 games on US TV and streaming

When you look at the included players, you see a common thread. Italy as always will rely on its strong defense to get results, but when the opportunity presents itself it will rely on veteran players with international experience to steal a goal. Take for example Simone Zaza, who by all measures should not have made this team. His defining moment of the season was his goal off the bench in Juventus’ win over Napoli that vaulted them to the top of Serie A for good. Expect him to play the same role for Italy. How Italy will play was shown in their 1-0 victory over Scotland; in that match, the goal was scored by Graziano Pelle off of build-up play begun by de Rossi. This is a team that will play stout defense and when they have possession, they will build up the attack and need players who can create opportunities on their feet to snatch goals.

The second aspect is the experience on this team. For a normal Italian squad, it is inexperienced; besides de Rossi, the average number of caps by midfielders and forwards is 15. Contrast that with France, where the average number of caps by midfielders/forwards is 26. But while many of these players do not have an extensive number of caps, they have played under Conte for Italy and they know what to expect. In a tournament where the coach has limited time to experiment and a need to advance from a tough group, he has chosen to rely on players he knows on the national level and who know his system to win.

The Italy Euro 2016 roster is a bit of a gamble, relying on known commodities rather than in some cases players who have produced over the past 6 months. But with Conte, you have a coach who has succeeded throughout his career, and one more time he is asking Italian fans to trust him.

On Friday, the US Men’s National Team kicks off one of the world’s most prestigious soccer tournaments against a dark horse favorite on home soil. The enormity of the US hosting the Copa America Centenario – especially with the controversy over its selection as the host – cannot be understated. Much like the 1994 World Cup, this tournament is the US’s opportunity to show the soccer world that it is a soccer nation. In terms of hosting, there will likely be little drama. The stadiums will be full and the matchday experience for fans and teams alike should be smooth, while sponsors and networks will rake in money.

That leaves the one entity that has the most to benefit from a successful Copa America, the US team. Since the final whistle blew against Belgium in 2014, the team has had a series of ups and downs, with controversies real and manufactured seemingly threatening the job security of Jurgen Klinsmann. Almost two years after the World Cup, the US still lacks a firm depth chart for the back four, the next great American striker has yet to truly emerge, and the coming crop of young talent has yet to overwhelmingly impress at the international level. While there is talent in the US pool and some young stars in the making, the US Soccer Federation is looking at a senior team with too many questions and a youth system that have provided too few answers, considering the rhetoric and resources placed in it.

With all these questions surrounding the team, and the 2018 World Cup just 24 months away, what should be our expectations for this team in this tournament? The answer will probably differ from what many predict the US will do, especially since a prediction may depend on how the person feels about Klinsmann. Looking at this team and this tournament in the abstract, what should be “success” for a team like the US, a country trying to break into the upper echelon of international soccer and the host of the tournament?

SEE MORE: Copa America TV schedule on English and Spanish-language TV

Looking at the field, there is definite depth in this tournament. The usual powers like Brazil and Argentina will be strong, but up-and-coming countries like Colombia also have the ability in this smaller field to get hot and win the tournament. The marketing of the tournament is spot on – a ton of big names will be coming to US soil representing their country. However, we have already seen Luis Suarez and Keylor Navas drop out due to injuries, and as with the World Cup having the tournament so close to the end of many soccer seasons could lead to injuries for key players during the Copa.

Having the tournament in the US also cannot be overstated. Even though some crowds may be a majority of your opponent’s fans, the ease of travel, the quality of the facilities, and the overall fan conduct removes an advantage opponents have when hosting the US in CONCACAF or other major tournaments. Traveling to the US for matches is now common, so the advantage cannot be oversold, but this is a factor is how we should judge this team’s success in the tournament.

SEE MORE: Browse the official USA home and away jerseys for Copa America

Finally, we have to look at where the US is and where it is going. No doubt, qualifying for and preparing for a good run at World Cup 2018 is critical, and this tournament could help with that. Yet the US team has seemingly hit few major milestones under Klinsmann, besides one-off victories over big names. Looking at his record, the German coach has one eerily similar to Bob Bradley, and he is not being paid millions more to be Bob Bradley 2.0. This tournament would have a different feeling if the youth teams were qualifying or competing for championships at their level, but few if any are. Thus the pressure is on the more visible senior team to show the progress promised by Klinsmann upon his hiring.

Considering all of these factors, it is clear the US is not a favorite nor should be judged to be one. However, the team also is beyond the point of moral victories. In a group with one very good team and two with major questions, advancing to the knockout round is a must. When there, the big names come into play and the US should not only be competitive, but actually advance to the semi-finals. Then, and only then, should we judge this tournament a success, because reaching that level means the US had defeated at least one world class team. That kind of victory, and being close to a trophy in a tournament, goes beyond a moral victory and should help compel the US forward into qualifying and Russia.

FIFA has a money problem. After years of scandals coming to the forefront of people’s attentions and assets being seized in criminal investigations, the organization is finally being hit where it hurts. According to the Associated Press, FIFA’s latest financials showed a loss of $122 million last year, and the organization now has had trouble finding new sponsors in the wake of seemingly repeated misappropriation of funds. While FIFA is still sitting on reserves of over $1 billion, losing this much money (and for the first time losing money in a fiscal year since 2002) is a major cause for concern. Even more concerning are that the next two World Cups are mired in controversy and, with both Russia and Qatar’s spotty human rights’ records, corporate money may be even harder to come by.

The United States has a World Cup problem. The US, despite not being an elite or even great soccer power, is a soccer cash cow. The growing passion for the sport – predicted for years – is finally taking in this country, as shown by TV ratings for foreign matches, sell outs for men’s and women’s national team games, and the sport entering the mainstream sports media conversation. Yet despite hosting the most successful World Cup ever in 1994, according to some financial metrics, the country has had issues winning a second bid to host the world’s most prestigious sporting event. Partly due to playing politics poorly, partly due to perceptions of the US politically, and partly due to alleged shady deals, the US lost out to tiny Qatar for the 2022 games. While some consider the US to be a favorite to land the 2026 games, other geopolitical factors such as a rising Chinese FA and even their neighbors to the north could complicate this calculus.

SEE MORE: Copa America Centenario: Team previews, TV schedules and tickets

These factors are the only reasons why I can fathom the report coming from ESPN FC that US Soccer and Mexico FA officials are negotiating a joint bid for the 2026 World Cup, and FIFA is blessing these discussions.

A joint World Cup between the two countries overwhelmingly favors Mexico and is unnecessary for both FIFA and USSF to achieve their goals.

Mexico is a two-time World Cup host, so another successful bid would make them the only three-time tournament host. That alone may make many FIFA nations reticent to vote for any 2026 bid from Mexico, but a joint bid would likely lessen the discomfort with Mexico being preeminent among World Cup hosts. While soccer is king in Mexico – more so than the U.S. – the federation has seen its share of issues the past few years, including barely qualifying for the most recent World Cup. By attaching itself to a US bid, Mexico can benefit from the allure of US-based sponsors to co-host the event, then reap the financial rewards. In a sense, the US would be boosting its biggest CONCACAF rival; no doubt the Mexico FA will be able to build its program using the tons of World Cup money coming in. It may be harsh to say, but a Mexico World Cup could help the US remain behind Mexico for even more years to come if it allows El Tri to financially stimulate its soccer system.

A joint bid is also unnecessary. Yes, there are a number of factors that could prevent the US from winning the 2026 bid but if FIFA is as desperate to begin raising more money as it seems, the US has a major advantage. Even though China could be more alluring for its new sponsors and market, the fact the US has successfully hosted the event – something China cannot claim – gives the US a major advantage to now skiddish FIFA financial folks. A joint bid is unnecessarily conservative, a hedging bets when there is no need to. The end result would be a slashing of money to US markets and the USSF in half, and a significant decrease in the spotlight on soccer in the US. A final in Mexico City – the most likely scenario – rather than a US stadium would project to the world that the US is a money pot and still not a serious soccer nation. Would Germany host a joint bid with Italy?

If the US Soccer Federation is truly serious about moving American soccer into the upper echelon of the world sport, it should stop this negotiation foolishness and concentrate on the politics of landing a bid for a US-only 2026 World Cup.

As a soccer fan, you have the advantage of being able to see any number of game day experiences at any number of stadiums and leagues. As a worldwide game, almost any location theoretically has a soccer field you can visit hopefully on a game day and have a game day experience unlike one you may have the next week in a different country. The downside, however, is that there are a wide variety of soccer experiences you can have but probably never will. For example, I have never attended a professional soccer match in England and, although I am not a Liverpool fan, I’d love to sit in the stands at Anfield and hear the crowd sing “You’ll Never Walk Alone.” Similarly, one of my goals is to attend a soccer match in Italy, but the best I can settle for is reading books like The Miracle of Castel di Sangro.

Drew Farmer is a soccer journalist I have long admired. For the record, I have worked “with him” at World Soccer Talk and Forza Italian Football, so I have a familiarity with his work and am a long-time fan. I share that as a way to set-up that when I received a copy of his new book Soccer Travels: One Man, One Journal, One Beautiful Game, my expectation of enjoying it was sky-high. And, as happens too little in life, my incredibly high expectations were met.

One of the advantages of being a long-time soccer journalist is that you travel to a number of interesting stadiums and games. Farmer decided to take his recollections and articles from a few of those games and publish them as a soccer journal. His journeys take him through three continents and numerous leagues, from as big as Liverpool at home in the FA Cup to as small as semi-pro FC Manchester in their temporary home, American soccer fans will also appreciate his two visits to Kansas City MLS games — the first beginning the book at Arrowhead Stadium and the second in the new then-Livestrong Park. These two chapters are telling stories of the growth of MLS with Farmer adding his own commentary on the league growth to color the stories.

I enjoyed the diversity of stadiums and teams Farmer chose to cover, with my favorite story being his trip to watch a match in Qatar. The match was a friendly arranged between Brazil and Egypt designed to show that the country was able to host high-profile matches in advance of the World Cup. Farmer’s story of his interminable trip towards the stadium and then, in frustration, turning around was telling. That plus his first-hand description of the labor situation in the country gave depth to the news stories we are beginning to hear more constantly about Qatar.

This book is a simple read, full of personal narrative and point-of-view observations about a number of teams and soccer experiences. For someone like myself who does not have many such experiences, I was unable to put the book down. The book – a short read at less than 150 pages – allows the reader to get a glimpse of different teams and leagues from a knowledgeable source. Consider this a must read if you are a soccer fan, or at the very least if you are attending a party with soccer fans and want to hold intelligent conversation.

Soccer Travels: One Man. One Journal. One Beautiful Game is available via Amazon.

About a year ago, I attended a convention in downtown Detroit. This meeting of about 5,000 professionals took place at various sites throughout the city and was designed to show that Detroit was back. A city of great history, musical tradition, and sporting prowess was being revitalized by aggressive private sector investment and smart government spending, shedding its old stereotypes and taking its place as a cosmopolitan gem near the Canadian border.

Yet over the four days I spent in the city, I noticed a few things. First, on weekdays, there were no people on the streets. For a major US city, the daytime atmosphere was more The Walking Dead than Wall Street. Second, almost everyone in Detroit I talked to who worked in the city lived in the suburbs. This is not unusual for a city but, regardless of where they worked or their background, they all commuted in to work and left right after. Third, while there were popular blocks of hangout spots that resembled the hipster corridors of Anytown USA, they were sprinkled throughout streets that visitors were told to avoid where clumps of city police kept an eye on the random people still left after work hours.

I share this not to disparage Detroit. I actually liked many aspects of the city, but I want to give a different side to the recent press conference by Dan Gilbert and MLS on the possibility of a Detroit MLS franchise launching in the coming years.

Detroit may be on its way back, but it is not close to being a Toledo, much less a new Chicago. Massive portions of the city are dilapidated. Transportation is a mess, and city residents are unfortunately mostly limited to those who cannot or do not want to live elsewhere.

Yet the idea of MLS investing in a city is not a bad one. Twenty years into the newest American professional soccer experiment, a successful league like MLS can gamble on a lesser of a safe bet city such as Detroit, one that could yield great results if the Detroit revitalization is as successful as many people are hoping. But for the Detroit scenario, there are two major red flags that should make anyone pause before assuming the automatic success of MLS Detroit.

The first is that the great revitalization plan could fail. While the press coverage is positive about the new restaurants and investment coming in, there are a number of ways The D could falter in its rebuilding. Residents could stay away, the car industry could again falter if a younger generation shuns cars or new models fail, or the new industries that are trying to establish Detroit as a base fail to take off. Instead of an economic power like a new Chicago, Detroit could end up as a smaller Cleveland, and no one is clamoring for that city to have an MLS team.

But more importantly to the city and to MLS as a whole, the process to this point stinks. Consider that the announcement did not involve the professional soccer team already in the city, Detroit City FC. This is a team that has an admired fan base and literally contributes back to revitalizing the city, however one that is too far down the US Soccer professional league ladder to make a splash at a press conference.

SEE MORE: Review of the new book “Soccerwarz: Inside America’s soccer feud between MLS, NASL and USL”

Instead, Don Garber lined up next to Dan Gilbert and Tom Gores to make the announcement, and then out comes a glamorous stadium rendering to distract from the many unanswered questions. For example, why does the stadium need to be built on land currently occupied by a penitentiary project that was the site of alleged government graft in the building process and is now a priority for city officials to get done as a way to not waste precious taxpayer money? Interestingly, according to the Detroit News, Gilbert has been pressuring the city to sell him this “prime real estate” for three years, and possibly an MLS team offers him a new chance to pressure the city to sell him the penitentiary land to get the development possibilities he seeks. MLS seems not to question this.

Herein lies the problem with the MLS expansion. Rather than layout a well-thought out plan for expanding MLS, Garber loves hopping from city to city and playing the bids off of each other, trying to drive up the entry bid cost. Every time there is a rumor of potential interest in an MLS franchise (Sacramento! Minneapolis!), a league official is lending support to the potential of the market and the city’s ideas make league news. The proposed Detroit stadium, which at upwards of a billion dollars to build could be an absolute fantasy, was being tweeted by the official MLS account and featured prominently on the league site. Is Detroit a realistic possibility? It doesn’t matter because that stadium rendering now turns up the heat on Sacramento, San Antonio and all the other owners and cities wanting a piece of the MLS pie.

At twenty-one years old, MLS now should begin thinking long-term about the shape of the league and how it fits into the American soccer pyramid. Instead, it continues to chase dollars and promote possible fantasies of a perfect MLS franchise in every possible city. Let’s hope the league can prove me wrong and has a strategic plan for smart growth of the league, lest we see bids like Detroit’s end up in seemingly permanent limbo like David Beckham’s Miami franchise. Unlike Miami, however, the inability to deliver a promised MLS team could have more disastrous effects on a city like Detroit.

Writing a children’s book is difficult. You have a delicate balancing act when you are writing it to appeal to the right age of children, and stick to that age range throughout. Not only do you have to appeal to kids, but you have to make it interesting, which is extra hard for an adult. And, since kids usually do not make purchase decisions, your content has to at least catch an adult’s eye and make them chuckle enough to think their kid will like it. This is a lengthy way of saying reviewing a book for kids is tough because I know I am completely unable to write one.

The new children’s book Messi, Superstar tries to walk this fine line but too often ends up falling to far to one side or the other. Published by duopress, a company that aims to create “innovative children’s books and gifts,” the book deviates from the traditional biography and instead breaks up the story of Messi into chunks of why he is amazing. At 141 pages in the book, this is a rather long kids book but, sprinkled with quality illustrations, the length does not feel tedious, although I suspect that might not be the case if this were a child’s nighttime story.

The first chapter establishes why Messi is a superstar, using some beautiful illustrated graphics to put into plain context the outrageous numbers in Messi’s career, before moving on to talk about his life, his impact on his teams, and eventually his future. This is an example of where the book wobbles in finding that balance; some of the stats seem better suited for a book aimed at the pre-teen set but would be incomprehensible to younger children. The authors do an excellent job of describing why Messi is great, and they use appealing graphics and pictures to do it, but it comes across to the adult reader as overkill.

Here is where the book’s greatest failing is. In trying to tell the story of Lionel Messi and why he is great, the authors hammer home using statistics and graphics data points about his career. None of that matters to kids; kids find their heroes through watching them and then comparing with their friends. As a child of the 1980s, my heroes came from other sports, like baseball. I didn’t admire Nolan Ryan because he ranked at number whatever on the all-time strikeouts list or led the league in some statistic. I liked him because he threw fast, struck out a lot of people, and was a winner. Many of you reading this have a similar story I suspect – your heroes growing up were athletes you watched on TV or in person, and did something you and your friends admired. You might know how many goals they scored or some other impressive stats, but you liked them because they transcended that.

While my review has been mainly negative, I think my overall feeling towards this book was more positive. The illustrations are top-notch; they aim to be childish and detailed in a way that bring across the statistics and information. As an adult reader, I myself grew more impressed with Messi and his accomplishments, even learning somethings along the way about him. One day, I will ask my kids if they want to listen to this story, and I suspect they might. Will it make them love Lionel Messi? No, because while they may be in awe of him (or at least what they understand about him) he will not replace the players they’ve seen on the pitch or rooted for on TV. Yet with all the terrible kids’ books out there about lesser subjects, this one is one of the better ones. I simply regret their decision to not write a compelling narrative that focuses on a younger audience (with some winks to the adults) instead of a book selling an already legendary player that has something for everyone.

Messi, Superstar: His Records, His Life, His Epic Awesomeness is available via Amazon and all fine booksellers.

Soccer is an outlier in the landscape of American sports in that the major debates shaping the sport are about the leagues themselves. In the other sports leagues, the debates are about the rules of the game or how players are perceived, but only among American soccer fans are the major debates about the competence of the divisions. Clear fault lines are developing between MLS zealots, NASL defenders and those who disregard all American leagues in favor of a foreign league or two. While this may be an over-simplification, for an outsider who happens to casually check Twitter or Reddit, this description seems rather realistic.

How is it that this is the state of play? World Soccer Talk Senior Writer and podcast co-host Kartik Krishnaiyer pulls back the curtain to reveal the battle inside US Soccer between MLS and the new NASL, and how that is holding back the development of soccer in this country. Unlike other writers, Krishnaiyer has actual sources and experiences in both leagues, having worked for NASL during its reestablishment as a rival to MLS, so his narrative has a more authentic feel than another account where the author may be fed talking points to fill their lack of knowledge.

Soccerwarz is short, about 33 digital pages, and thus reads more like a long magazine article than a traditional book. Yet I cannot imagine how much longer it could be simply because Krishnaiyer’s style is direct. His book outlines the development of the new NASL and how it began as the vision of one man and his company to expand soccer in the US. Along the way, the league became part of a vendetta against the seemingly corporate marriage between MLS and the US Soccer Federation, and now has established itself as a competitor for players, money, and attention. However, as the author clearly establishes, NASL has built its challenge on a shaky foundation that may actually be creating its own undoing.

Unlike his first book on Manchester City, this book tends more towards factual accounts than personal feelings of major events. That said, he does sprinkle opinions on American soccer into the story and comes across as even-handed, probably due to the fact that his contacts are spread throughout American soccer. The book ends with criticisms of both leagues’ business practices.

This book is not for a soccer novice. Someone just learning the game or even American professional soccer would be lost amidst the names that are more familiar to people who have followed the development of MLS over the past two decades. For those of us who have more knowledge of each league’s business practices, some of the information is new and interesting, but overall is nothing shocking. Where this book fits best in the growing collection of American soccer books is a historical record of an important moment in the development of professional soccer in the US. Ten years from now, when MLS has grown or collapsed, this book will be a snapshot in time when the league’s fate was ultimately determined. That sentence may not seem a ringing endorsement, but when you consider how little behind-the-scenes writing there is from the original NASL, you realize how valuable this little book is for our knowledge of how our favorite leagues actually operate.

Soccerwarz: Inside America’s soccer feud between MLS, NASL and USL is available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple iTunes and other fine online booksellers.

In recruiting and signing manager Antonio Conte, Chelsea has hired the one man that can single-handedly bring the club back to the heights Jose Mourinho 2.0 aspired. At only 46 years old, Conte has the resume, coaching acumen, and man-management style that fits Chelsea’s goals as a top club internationally.

This offseason was one of the most important Chelsea has faced in years. After the failure of the Jose Mourinho return, the fall from top four contention in the Premier League, and an exit from the Round 16 in the Champions League, the club was lacking a vision. With a mix of players whose age means they need to move on, high-priced players that had failed to live up to their wage bill, and a vast network of loaned players of all ages from which to draw talent, Chelsea needed to find someone with a sense of ability to balance a roster as well as squeeze every last ounce of talent from the players given.

In addition, the moves of Chelsea’s rivals increased the pressure on the club to not only make a splash but to make the right move. Undoubtedly, Manchester City’s hiring of Pep Guardiola and opening its wallet even wider to the players of his choosing makes Manchester City, on paper, the power going into new season of the Premier League. Manchester United, while still floundering with decisions to make on a post-Ferguson direction, could choose the former Chelsea man Mourinho to return the Red Devils to glory in the short term. Having both these men, as well as a rising Tottenham and an rejuvenated Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp, means a Chelsea poor hire could mean even fewer Champions League matches and a harder time cracking the top four, much less winning the Premier League.

How does Conte fit these needs? The legendary Juve player always seemed to manage with a goal in mind: to manage his former club. While learning the trade with Bari and Siena, Conte was able to take sides with some resources but a history of underachievement and bring both to Serie A. When he finally got the call to Turin, he did not disappoint, kicking off the run of scudetti that Juventus’ is still on. His 2011-2012 Juventus team finished the season undefeated – a first in modern Serie A – and two years later The Old Gray Lady finished top of the table with a record 102 points.

How can his past success point to future success with Chelsea?

Player management

While Conte had no lack of resources as Juventus, he did have a deft ability to manage both egos and players for the betterment of the team. As Paolo Bandini noted in The Guardian, Conte has a nasty anger streak that, rather than alienate his players, seems to inspire even the most course veterans. Partly that is because he stands up for them, even changing his favored 4-2-4 formation used successfully in Serie B to accommodate the legendary Andrea Pirlo. Even with John Terry moving on, Conte should be able to not only handle but inspire players like Cesc Fabregas who have talent but are seemingly uninspired in the current squad.

Tactical smarts

Tactical innovation and Italian soccer do not usually go together, but Conte has an eye for how his players move on the field. At Bari and Siena, he modified the traditional 4-4-2 by moving his wingers farther up the field, overwhelming the opponent’s midfield and defense on the attack. This tactic, unusual in football, worked with these lower-sided clubs but he was not wedded to them when he was hired by Juventus.

Recognizing what Pirlo brought, as well as what he had, Conte settled in the now famous 3-5-2. In his five-man midfield, Pirlo was the creative pivot while one or two other central midfielders provided either defensive balance or the occasional forward run, and the active wingers were retained. To make it work, Conte leaned heavily on his veteran keeper and three smart, well trained defenders (including one from his time in Bari) to give his attack a steel backbone. While undoubtedly he will have to go shopping to strengthen Chelsea’s backline, we also could see another new formation in response to his roster, or simply what is given to him by the more tactically diverse opponents.

Conte is not without his faults. His Juventus teams never won the UEFA Champions League. His Italian national team legacy is unwritten, and he has been followed by scandal his entire career. But if Chelsea wanted someone with the temperament, tactical smarts, and top-flight success of the other big-named managers Chelsea will be competing with for trophies, then they could not have hired anyone better.

The United States Men’s National Team loss to Guatemala in World Cup qualifying was a disaster. The lack of cohesive play, the poor coaching choices and the overall product on the field was an embarrassment to a nation that considers itself an elite in CONCACAF. Much is being written today about the consequences, short- and long-term, to the US’s qualification chances and the job security of Jurgen Klinsmann.

But with every rain cloud, there is a rainbow even though it may be hard to see there were some positives from the match for the US. With a line-up of veterans and younger players, the US had the opportunity to see the consequences of its youth development program and how some of its veterans can fit into the team long-term. Again, many of the consequences were negative but let’s pause from reading panicked stories about the team and look at four positive consequences of yesterday’s match.

SEE MORE: It isn’t time to panic but USA’s woeful performance against Guatemala won’t be forgotten

1, Some young players learned how to play away in CONCACAF

For players like DeAndre Yedlin, Darlington Nagbe, and Bobby Wood, their time on the pitch in a competitive game (or, more accurately, a non-blow out) allowed these critical players of the future to see exactly what a World Cup qualifier is all about. For these players, a tough away match with their clubs is staying in a fairly posh hotel with fans who are vocal but do not have an intense hatred of you and what your team stands for. They know now, and while the end result was a loss, the experience will hopefully allow them to handle the pressure better in the next rounds, assuming the US advances.

2. Bobby Wood showed he could push Altidore and Dempsey for playing time

The US striker conundrum continues as Klinsmann continues to need to rely on an aging Dempsey and inconsistent Altidore up top. Many young options or uncapped MLS veterans have been brought in to find a solution but they all have flaws (age, experience, talent, consistency) that have kept the Sounders and Toronto FC players in their starting roles. While he did not score, Wood showed enough skill and smarts to challenge the two-player hierarchy at the US striker spot. Better midfield play would have given him better chances, but he showed enough that he should be a starter for this team in the near future.

3. The US squad has a resilience that at least allows them to stay competitive

Yes, they failed to score and grab a result from this match, but the best play from the US came when they were down 2-0. At the beginning of the second half, when Klinsmann started making his substitutions, the Americans finally began to gel on the attack and actually posed a threat. Their poor finishing doomed that, but we have seen last cycle what happens when a team quits under adversity. Mexico barely qualified for the 2014 World Cup and only with US help when they wilted under adversity. At least the US won’t be quitting in the competition.

4. The result forces US Soccer to have a tough conversation

There is no sugarcoating it. This was the worst result for the US men under Klinsmann. The US will have to face the embarrassment of losing to an inferior opponent by playing poorly in every phase of the game. Sunil Gulati has said in the past he will hold his hand-picked coach accountable for his results, but no disaster like this has been seen when the stakes have been so high. All of the criticisms of Klinsmann – unable to develop new talent, reliance on older out-of-form players, tactical naiveté – were on display. If Gulati wanted to ignore the criticism, it will be impossible now with specter of the team missing the Hex. The time until the next match will not allow much time to think through the future of a Klinsmann regime but it will also present another test soon after he failed the last one. It is inevitable that the USSF will have to decide whether Klinsmann is its man regardless or if a change needs to be made now, before the next qualifier.