Sports Biographies Football

Upton Bell grew up at the knee of the NFL's first great commissioner, his father, the legendary Bert Bell, who not only saved the game from financial ruin after World War II but was one of its greatest innovators. Present at the Creation details Bell’s firsthand experiences. Over the past 53 years, Bell has been an owner, a general manager, a personnel executive, a scouting director for two Super Bowl teams, a television commentator and analyst, and a talk-radio host. He has seen the NFL from the inside and has experienced many of the most important moments in NFL history.

Misconceptions have stalked Andrew Cole like a hatchet-man defender determined to cut him down to size. In the world of modern-day football, his reserved demeanour was often interpreted as surly intransigence. Alongside an aptitude for goalscoring, it was widely believed, ran an attitude problem. In Fast Forward, a candid and inspirational autobiography, Cole finally presents his side of the story.

Marion Motley was recognized as one of the gridiron's most outstanding players when he was enshrined into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1968. His legacy as one of four Black players to reintegrate pro football in 1946 helped blaze a path for Black athletes in the highest echelons of professional sports. This book tells Motley's story of adversity, personal tragedy, and triumphs using archival interviews and new interviews with historians, friends, and descendants.

Parlare di sport significa prima di tutto raccontare di persone. Ognuna di queste, sia che abbia vinto le olimpiadi o perso all’ultimo secondo, ha una propria storia. Vergari ha raccontato le sfide più epiche, contrapponendo – divisi da una rete, dal colore di una maglia, di una bandiera o da una corsia – i più grandi dello sport italiano e dei loro avversari.

Sporting Kansas City captain Matt Besler has achieved something extraordinary in the least extraordinary way. At every level of his athletic career, Besler has heard the same questions and initial dismissal of his talent. How does a normal guy like Matt Besler end up playing in the World Cup, one of the most exclusive competitions in international sports? If it’s true that he’s a rather typical Midwestern guy, it’s also true that Matt happens to be one of the best soccer players in the country.

«Quando sono in campo, sentire di essere amato mi dà una carica impressionante. Ma anche l’odio mi trasmette tanto. Quando mi fanno incazzare, vado a un livello superiore: sono più attento, più concentrato, più forte, più desideroso di dimostrare qualcosa. Se mi odiano, mi migliorano. Per questo, partite come i derby mi caricano a mille e mi riempiono di una rabbia speciale che mi porta più in alto. Ma oggi ho molto più controllo di un tempo, quand’ero giovane.»

In Soccer Grannies, Jean Duffy, a soccer-playing mom herself, recounts how she and her team set to work to bring the Soccer Grannies to the U.S. after hearing their incredible story. Despite many obstacles that stand in their way, the Soccer Grannies finally arrive, and Jean describes the wonderful friendships and cultural exchanges that follow. But Soccer Grannies tells more than just the physical journey of the South African women; it also details the Grannies’ personal journeys, sharing poignant insights into the realities of women living in South Africa.

This enlightening biography – the first for 30 years – follows Gary Lineker’s career, from the school report which said, 'He concentrates too much on football’ to his phenomenal goalscoring record and development as a media personality. Through meticulous research and interviews with teammates and opponents, coaches, journalists and commentators, journalist Chris Evans reveals the inside stories and backroom anecdotes from his early days at Leicester City; the big-money moves to Everton and Tottenham Hotspur; and the highs and lows of spells at Barcelona and Nagoya Grampus Eight in Japan.

Drew Brees’ 15-year run in New Orleans is known for what he did for both a city and a franchise. He provided leadership in several ways—The Brees Way. Mike Nabors delves into Drew’s career in a unique fashion, going behind the scenes to learn how he approached the game and ultimately left his legendary legacy. Nabors interviewed Brees more than any media member in his Hall of Fame career. Together, they conducted nearly 300 one-on-one interviews following every game for 14 seasons. The best of those conversations are showcased in this book.

Andy Bernal's incredible life journey has spanned three continents—Australia, Europe, and South America—and some of the world's biggest names in football. A graduate of the AIS, he was the first Australian to play in La Liga. He went on to play with Ipswich Town, six seasons with Reading, five seasons with Sydney Olympic in the NSL, and 21 games with the Socceroos from 1989 to 1996.

Zlatan Ibrahimović mit seinem neuen und bisher persönlichsten Hörbuch. Was macht den Fallrückzieher für einen Fußballspieler so besonders? Welche Bedeutung haben Tore für einen Stürmer, der auch mit vierzig noch auf Weltklasseniveau kickt? Und welche Rolle spielen Trainer und Teamkollegen, Elfmeter und Verletzungen für jemanden, der sich schon so lange im Profisport behauptet? Zlatan Ibrahimović muss sich und den anderen auf dem Platz nichts mehr beweisen.

Rivellino, a Patada Atômica, o campeão do mundo pela seleção brasileira de 1970. Ídolo de ontem e das novas gerações - de torcedores e de jogadores. Como não lembrar seus dribles e a potência daquela canhota? Conhecido até hoje como Reizinho do Parque - por suas proezas como atleta do Corinthians - Rivellino brilhou também do outro lado da ponte aérea: até hoje é considerado o maior jogador da história do Fluminense.

"Quiero compartir lo que sé, lo que aprendí del juego y del deporte en general, y hacerlo no solo con los que aman el fútbol, sino también con aquellos a los que este maravilloso deporte no les es familiar, pero que también se preguntan cómo triunfar en la vida, cómo guiar y liderar un equipo hacia la victoria y de las lecciones que se aprenden de la derrota."

American Football gilt als eine der härtesten Sportarten der Welt, ihre Athleten als Mindsetmonster - zu Recht. Das Spiel kombiniert physische Härte mit mentaler Stärke wie kein anderes. Der zweimalige Super-Bowl-Champion Sebastian Vollmer weiß, worauf es ankommt, um sich in der NFL durchzusetzen. In diesem inspirierenden Buch gewährt er tiefe Einblicke in sein Mindset.

Sir Alex Ferguson CBE, born 31st December 1941, is a former Scottish football player and was manager of Manchester United from 1986 to 2013. During his 26 years in charge of United, he won more trophies than any other manager in the history of football. Packed with nearly 80 entertaining and exclusive interviews from those who know Ferguson best - friends, colleagues, associates and those who worked with him at both Aberdeen and Manchester United share their unique insight into the innermost secrets of Ferguson’s fascinating life and hugely successful career.

Era un semplice esperimento, una prova in vista delle Olimpiadi di Roma del 1960, eppure il programma radiofonico Tutto il calcio, minuto per minuto ha rivoluzionato il modo di vivere le partite. Ezio Luzzi, una delle voci storiche di quella trasmissione, ha raccontato praticamente tutto il calcio italiano: dalle serie minori alla Nazionale. È stato il primo a regalare scoop come l'arrivo di Maradona al Napoli e il primo a informare il mondo sull'attentato alle Olimpiadi di Atlanta nel 1996.

Cristiano Ronaldo overcame poverty and childhood illness to become one of the best football players ever. Escaping the hot streets of Madeira, Ronaldo first proved himself as a wonder-kid at Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson, before becoming a legend for Real Madrid and Portugal. This is the story of how the gifted boy became a man, a team player and a legend.

Per quello che fece in campo la sentenza è già stata emessa dal tribunale degli dèi, il solo competente: fu il più grande di tutti, capace di entrare perfino nel cuore di chi voleva e doveva odiarlo. Ben più severo il verdetto dei mortali, mai propensi a valutare con il giusto distacco le contraddizioni di un uomo che, prima di ogni altra cosa, è stato uno straordinario moltiplicatore di sogni ed esistenze, tanto che chi ha voluto raccontarne i fantasmi presto o tardi ha dovuto fare i conti con i propri.

True Genius is the definitive family-backed account of his remarkable career published to coincide with what would have been his 75th birthday. The games, the goals, the glory. This is the untold story. Written by celebrated Manchester United author Wayne Barton, this biography goes into unparalleled depth to tell the complete story for the first time of how the lad from Cregagh, Northern Ireland, became the game's first superstar. Barton has trawled the archives and spoken to a host of former team-mates, managers, friends and close family to tell his story.

Troy Deeney is best known as Watford FC's captain and a thorn in Arsenal's side. But behind the successful and gritty football persona is a remarkable story of resilience. In this brutally honest and inspirational memoir, Troy shares what it was like to grow up on Europe's largest council estate, where his mum worked three jobs and his father, a notorious drug dealer, was frequently in and out of prison.