Soccer History

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

The World Cup is the largest sports event outside the summer Olympics: the progress of the 32 countries which qualify for the finals is watched by billions all over the globe. Since the very first World Cup in Uruguay in 1930, there have been 18 finals, held every four years (with a 12-year break over the World War II period). The World Cup in South Africa will be the 19th. Brian Glanville, the distinguished journalist and World Cup historian, has written a fascinating history of the event.

Technique, speed, and tactical execution are crucial components of winning soccer, but it is mental toughness that marks out the very best players - the ability to play when pressure is highest, the opposition is strongest, and fear is greatest. Top players and coaches understand the importance of sport psychology in soccer but how do you train your mind to become the best player you can be? Soccer Tough demystifies this crucial side of the game and offers practical techniques that will enable soccer players of all abilities to actively develop focus, energy, and confidence.

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

This action-packed trivia book is your ultimate challenge—featuring brain-teasing quizzes, fun facts, and iconic moments from 11 major sports including rugby, cricket, basketball, and the NFL.

'Magnificent . . . Goldblatt is the doyen of sports historians and brings to this account his forensic and telling eye for detail' - Mail on Sunday A Sunday Times Best Sports Book of the Year The epic exploration of society, politics, and economics in the twenty-first century through the prism...

Are you searching for the perfect book to ignite your child’s love for soccer, even if they’ve never kicked a ball before? Look no further than A Kid’s Guide to Soccer Legends! This engaging, fun-filled guide is packed with captivating stories, powerful lessons in perseverance, and motivational heroes both on and off the pitch.

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

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

From its early amateur days played in the Corinthian Spirit, Preston North End's "Invincibles" of 1888 and great players like Stanley Matthews and Pelé, to the Premier League glory days of Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsène Wenger, A History of Football is the story of the dominant teams, memorable occasions, and larger-than-life characters that shaped the game throughout its development. For all lovers of the beautiful game, this is an essential reference to its 150-year history.

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

The use of analytics in sport is now well embedded. Marginal gains, the bedrock upon which the cycling coach Dave Brailsford built his greatest successes, are cornerstones of most sports nowadays. But, until recently, that did not apply to the biggest sport in the world. Not in soccer. It was as though this simplest of sports is too complicated for statistics. Or that only one statistic counts, the number of times the ball hits the back of the net. "The only statistic that counts", there’s an often used and annoying stock term.

De esporte de elite a entretenimento das massas; do amadorismo ao profissionalismo; dos salários modestos à globalização-exportação; o uso político do esporte e o uso da política pelo esporte. Quando se estuda futebol no Brasil, não se fala "só" de um jogo, mas da própria história do país, emaranhada com a evolução nas quatro linhas do campo. O jornalista e historiador Marcos Guterman mostra a trajetória do futebol no país desde sua chegada da Inglaterra, a formação dos primeiros clubes, os craques, os grandes fracassos, as peculiaridades.

FC Barcelona er en legende. Som fodboldinteresseret kan man ikke være ligeglad med FC Barcelona. Klubben er der altid, og er altid garant for underholdning, både på og udenfor banen. "Futbol Club Barcelona - på sporet af klubbens DNA", henvender sig ikke kun til fodboldentusiaster, men til alle som ønsker at vide, hvorfor FC Barcelona er més que un club. Bogen er struktureret omkring fem faste dele: Ejerskab, Strategier, Organisation, Taktik og Resultater samt klubbens kultur og ånd.

Are you searching for a book that will inspire and empower the young women in your life? Look no further than "The Most Inspirational Women's Soccer Stories Of All Time". This collection of over 30 captivating stories is the perfect way to celebrate the power of women in sports and fuel their passion for soccer.

Inspire the Next Generation of Soccer Stars! Do your kids dream of scoring the winning goal? Are they passionate about soccer and love hearing stories of real-life heroes who never gave up? This book is the perfect fuel for their fire. Inspirational Soccer Stories for Young Readers brings to life the extraordinary journeys of the world’s most iconic soccer legends—told in a way that young listeners can connect with, learn from, and be inspired by.

Soccer is the most popular game in the world, but does it truly belong in the heart of American sports culture? The answer is a resounding yes—and the 150-year journey of elite men’s soccer in the US is filled with drama, surprises, reversals, and triumphs that rival any world-class match.

A global soccer star’s epic ride to the 1950 World Cup places him in shooting distance of his dreams and his own death. This program is read by actor Jamie Hector, who played Marlo Stanfield in the HBO series The Wire. Gilbert Chevalier’s life is a mid-century miracle: wealthy, handsome...

El mundo como una pelota, la historia como un partido de fútbol. Leyendo Futbolítica descubriremos que no hay ningún episodio histórico contemporáneo relevante que no se vea reflejado en la trayectoria de algún club de fútbol, hasta el punto de que, a través de sus historias, es posible revivir la mayoría de los acontecimientos que han marcado el último siglo: las rebeliones anticoloniales y la lucha de clases, el nazismo y el comunismo, la Guerra Fría y la de los Balcanes, los conflictos nacionales y la lucha contra las dictaduras…

Selecting the beautiful game's greatest moments isn't easy. Everyone has their own favorites - moments that made them scream for joy, moments that made them howl in frustration, moments that made them laugh or even made them weep. Here are our choices: from moments of majestic skill to moments of madness, great matches, and golden goals - 100 magic moments that will forever stand the test of time.