Soccer

by Ben Jackson (Author), Sam Lawrence (Author)

Timmy and his best friend the Fart are back again!

If your child loves soccer and playing sport, then you're going to love reading along with Timmy and his best friend the Little Fart!

The Day My Fart Followed Me To Soccer is a beautifully illustrated journey of Timmy and his imaginary best friend the Little Fart as they attend Timmy's soccer match, and meet his new friend Sophie. Chaos and laughter ensue as the Little Fart tries to help Timmy and Sophie the only way he knows how!

If you enjoy reading funny books with beautiful illustrations and love having your child read along with you, then make sure you grab The Day My Fart Followed Me To Soccer!

Discover and giggle along with Timmy, Sophie and the Little Fart on their exciting day at the soccer field!

by Chest Dugger (Author)

'You speak bad of me, I score goals, '

This was a famous line of soccer Italian bad boy, Mario Balotelli.

There's two minutes to go. The scores are level. We must win. The chance falls, the goal is scored. Is there a greater thrill in the whole of sport? It doesn't matter whether we have just won the World Cup, avoided relegation, advanced to the next round of the local pub trophy or our Under Twelves have secured their first win of the season.

Scoring goals is what soccer is a about. The finisher is the most prized asset of any team. Clinical finishing is a skill every single outfield player needs. That ability to put the ball in the net. To sieze the chance. To score.

Chest Dugger's book will help us to impove our finishing as players, and provide us with enjoyable, practical, simple and effective drills as coaches. Ones we can take straight from the page, or adapt to our own team's needs. It will focus on the mental coolness needed to keep adrenalin under control as the goal beckons. It will look at the essentials - shooting, being comfortable with both feet and heading. It will examine dribbling skills and one on one finishes against the keeper. It will look at set pieces.

This book is based not just on Chest Dugger's experience as a former pro, with years of coaching behind him. It will also look at statistical evidence, using this to offer helpful tips for set pieces. Corners, inswinger or outswinger? Free kicks - shoot or cross? And penalties. It will explain the best spot in which to place a penalty, the best power with which to hit the shot, the best way to stay cool as the temperature rises inside a striker's head.

Plus, the book never forgets that soccer is fun. There are chapters on special finishes, on volleys, scissor kicks and overhead kicks. The sort of finishes that come along only rarely, but once made are never forgotten.

For players, coaches and those of us who are simply massive fans of the game, and want to understand it better, Soccer Finishing Book will offer us strategies, tactics, techniques and drills to enhance our love of this beautiful game, and make us better proponents of it. It will give us extra insight and skill at the most important aspect of soccer. Putting the ball into the back of the net.

And many more....

by Chest Dugger (Author)

'You speak bad of me, I score goals, '

This was a famous line of soccer Italian bad boy, Mario Balotelli.

There's two minutes to go. The scores are level. We must win. The chance falls, the goal is scored. Is there a greater thrill in the whole of sport? It doesn't matter whether we have just won the World Cup, avoided relegation, advanced to the next round of the local pub trophy or our Under Twelves have secured their first win of the season.

Scoring goals is what soccer is a about. The finisher is the most prized asset of any team. Clinical finishing is a skill every single outfield player needs. That ability to put the ball in the net. To sieze the chance. To score.

Chest Dugger's book will help us to impove our finishing as players, and provide us with enjoyable, practical, simple and effective drills as coaches. Ones we can take straight from the page, or adapt to our own team's needs. It will focus on the mental coolness needed to keep adrenalin under control as the goal beckons. It will look at the essentials - shooting, being comfortable with both feet and heading. It will examine dribbling skills and one on one finishes against the keeper. It will look at set pieces.

This book is based not just on Chest Dugger's experience as a former pro, with years of coaching behind him. It will also look at statistical evidence, using this to offer helpful tips for set pieces. Corners, inswinger or outswinger? Free kicks - shoot or cross? And penalties. It will explain the best spot in which to place a penalty, the best power with which to hit the shot, the best way to stay cool as the temperature rises inside a striker's head.

Plus, the book never forgets that soccer is fun. There are chapters on special finishes, on volleys, scissor kicks and overhead kicks. The sort of finishes that come along only rarely, but once made are never forgotten.

For players, coaches and those of us who are simply massive fans of the game, and want to understand it better, Soccer Finishing Book will offer us strategies, tactics, techniques and drills to enhance our love of this beautiful game, and make us better proponents of it. It will give us extra insight and skill at the most important aspect of soccer. Putting the ball into the back of the net.

And many more....

by Stephen Olasumbo Ademolu (Author)

Have you ever been told you are too small to play a sport? Have you ever not been selected for a team? Have you been doubted by others who told you to give up? Stephen has too!

In The Best Kept Secret, Former Canadian Men's National Team player and professional soccer player Stephen Ademolu walks us through his incredible journey. Hailing from a small city, Stephen did the unimaginable, becoming a pro soccer player, quieting anyone who doubted him. Through his life story, this book shows readers the efforts and sacrifices it took for Stephen to earn two full-ride athletic scholarships and to make it as a professional soccer player.

In both moving and funny anecdotes, Stephen takes readers on an emotional roller coaster. His personal sacrifices, mistakes, hard work, and some risk-taking opened doors and opportunities. In his own inimitable style, Stephen recalls every struggle, adventure, pain, and downfall in his career.

Through his journey, Stephen explains how everything in life comes full. Engaging, endearing, and insightful, this book is where Stephen comes to terms with how his choices as a youth, and later as an adult, resulted in mixed results: devastating disappointments and soaring successes!

This book is both a memoir and a guide for non-athletes, student athletes, future pros, and professional athletes on the importance of believing in yourself.

by Giggles and Kicks (Author)

The Coolest Most Fun Soccer Coloring Book For Kids

Boys And Girls That Enjoy Soccer Will Have Hours Of Fun With This Cool Coloring Book

Large Size 8.5" by 11"

Each Fun Soccer Design Is On One-Sided Paper So there Is No Bleed Through When Coloring

Appropriate For Young Children

What A Great Gift Idea Or Party Favor Idea

Buy One Or More Today!

by Tom Bates (Author)

Successful soccer coaches are constantly seeking new ways to learn, evolve, and improve.

Very often, footballing success is defined by mindset, and the real winners are the coaches, players, and teams who enter the competitive arena best prepared mentally and emotionally. They can perform in the moment, under pressure. Psychology plays a pivotal part in creating and sustaining peak levels of performance. Coaches who cultivate positive, healthy, winning attitudes and build a culture of competitive toughness to be at their best when it matters the most, achieve the highest results. Successful high-performance cultures of tomorrow will be defined by the leaders who think more about the virtues of human development and behaviour than any other aspect. The most forward-thinking soccer coaches want to be ahead of the game.

The Future Coach offers proven principles from soccer psychology for coaches to create winning cultures and re-define coaching excellence. Based around practically applied principles of performance psychology, coaches will gain the opportunity to explore how the values, beliefs, and expectations they hold, shape their coaching behaviour and end up defining the environment they work in and players they work with.

The Future Coach offers simple, fast, hands-on guidance and advice to create confident players who can think independently, co-create and self-manage performances. Coaches will learn new ways to design and implement their playing philosophy, identity, and style of play on and off the field with clarity and confidence.

Drawing on his pitchside and changing room experiences from behind the scenes in the Premier League and English Championship divisions, author - psychologist and UEFA A Coach - Tom Bates invites coaches to journey with him turning optimism, energy, and inspiration into positive performance outcomes and results!

> Learn How to Share your Style of Play for complete buy-in, on and off the field

> Create a team Culture that fosters competitive excellence and mental toughness

> Understand the dynamics of how to create happier, healthier, winning teams

> Build positive and cohesive relationships based on mutual trust and authenticity

> Breed confident players who are driven to challenge themselves and each-other

> Create Forward Thinking, Self-Managing, Independent Learners

> Develop your own inspired leadership techniques to use with your players

by Roger Kittleson (Author)

Soccer is the world's most popular sport, and the Brazilian national team is beloved around the planet for its beautiful playing style, the jogo bonito. With the most successful national soccer team in the history of the World Cup, Brazil is the only country to have played in every competition and the winner of more championships than any other nation. Soccer is perceived, like carnival and samba, to be quintessentially Brazilian and Afro-Brazilian.

Author Biography

Roger Kittleson is Professor of History at Williams College and the author of The Practice of Politics in Postcolonial Brazil: Porto Alegre, 1845-1895.

by John Maynard (Author), Leslie Priestley (Cover Design by)

This second, updated and revised edition of John Maynard's original version from 2011 is a celebration of the journey taken by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sportsmen and women who forged the way for the current crop of talented players, and which details the previously untold history of Indigenous involvement with the 'world game'.

The multicultural environment of Australian soccer after World War II provided Aboriginal players with a haven from the prejudice and racism of wider Australian society. This wonderful book interweaves John's personal narrative and expert historical and cultural understanding with links to the broader Indigenous world community.

by Donald T. KirKendall (Author), William E. Jr. Garrett (Contribution by)

What are the best fuel foods for soccer players? What training regimen will best prepare young soccer players and improve their resistance to injuries? This comprehensive guide to health and fitness for soccer players offers expert advice for soccer teams at all levels.

With decades of combined experience treating and training elite soccer players, exercise physiologist Donald Kirkendall and orthopedic specialist William E. Garrett Jr. present complex issues in an easy-to-understand format. The book addresses the physical and mental demands of the game, including the differences between boys' and girls' games and the differences in the levels of play in youth, college, and professional leagues; nutrition fundamentals, including food, drink, and vitamin supplements; physiology and training methods, with an emphasis on the basic elements of flexibility, speed, strength, and conditioning; and injury treatment and prevention.

For players looking to step up their game, for parents who want to keep their kids healthy, and for coaches seeking the advice of the pros, this guide is an indispensable reference to keep handy on the sidelines.

Author Biography

Donald T. Kirkendall is a lifelong soccer player, experienced coach, and member of both the FIFA Medical Assessment and Research Centre and the U.S. Soccer Sports Medicine Committee. William E. Garrett Jr., M.D., professor of orthopedic surgery at Duke University Medical Center, is chair of the U.S. Soccer Sports Medicine Committee and has served as team doctor for U.S. Soccer and the Duke University and University of North Carolina soccer teams. Kirkendall and Garrett have collaborated on six previous books, including Exercise and Sport Science and the ##U.S. Soccer Sports Medicine Book#.

by Stephen Olasumbo Ademolu (Author)

Have you ever been told you are too small to play a sport? Have you ever not been selected for a team? Have you been doubted by others who told you to give up? Stephen has too!

In The Best Kept Secret, Former Canadian Men's National Team player and professional soccer player Stephen Ademolu walks us through his incredible journey. Hailing from a small city, Stephen did the unimaginable, becoming a pro soccer player, quieting anyone who doubted him. Through his life story, this book shows readers the efforts and sacrifices it took for Stephen to earn two full-ride athletic scholarships and to make it as a professional soccer player.

In both moving and funny anecdotes, Stephen takes readers on an emotional roller coaster. His personal sacrifices, mistakes, hard work, and some risk-taking opened doors and opportunities. In his own inimitable style, Stephen recalls every struggle, adventure, pain, and downfall in his career.

Through his journey, Stephen explains how everything in life comes full. Engaging, endearing, and insightful, this book is where Stephen comes to terms with how his choices as a youth, and later as an adult, resulted in mixed results: devastating disappointments and soaring successes!

This book is both a memoir and a guide for non-athletes, student athletes, future pros, and professional athletes on the importance of believing in yourself.

by David Goldblatt (Author)

The definitive book about soccer, from the author of The Games: A Global History of the Olympics.

There may be no cultural practice more global than soccer. Rites of birth and marriage are infinitely diverse, but the rules of soccer are universal. No world religion can match its geographical scope. The single greatest simultaneous human collective experience is the World Cup final.

Author Biography

Among many other things, David Goldblatt is the author of The Games: A Global History of the Olympics, and the writer and compiler of Dorling Kindersley's World Football Yearbook. Born in London in 1965, he now lives in Bristol, England.

by Tim Bascom (Author)

A lifelong soccer player and award-winning author shows us how the sport transcends races, ethnicities, cultures, and experiences and brings us all closer together.

Tim Bascom spent half his childhood in Kansas and the other half in East Africa. Living and traveling around the world, the game of soccer proved a constant truth. Through storytelling that effortlessly flows between poignant and funny, sobering and charming, Bascom explores why soccer matters so much in our common, everyday lives, and how this ordinary yet extraordinary game can bring us all a little closer together.

His passionate vision for this most global game leads Bascom to describe how soccer brought him sanity in the middle of a brutal revolution in Ethiopia and how bridging divisions of race and culture was key to success for teams he joined in Chicago and Kansas. From watching Arsenal's energetic rise in the Premier League to the bravery of a besieged Afghanistan Women's National Team, and from pickup games in the Midwest and the Middle East, Bascom finds universal truths and deeply human meaning in the beautiful game of soccer.

by Bobby Clark (Author)

Written by soccer great and championship Stanford coach Bobby Clark, COACHING YOUTH SOCCER: THE BAFFLED PARENT'S GUIDE tells you how, starting at point zero, an uninitiated coach can meld kids into a team and help them enjoy one of the most rewarding experiences of their youth. (In the end, you may be the one who reaps the biggest reward, as you watch kids learn and grow in an experience they'll treasure for a lifetime.)

Back Jacket

"Whether you are baffled or not, you'll find this book essential reading."----Jim Sheldon, Executive Director, National Soccer Coaches Association of America

Coaching is simply another word for teaching."--Bobby Clark

Coach. You thought you were just going to sign up your child for the youth league. Now here you are a newly appointed coach. You didn't ask for it, but it happened anyway. Now you need help.

Don't despair. This complete guidebook will not only get you through it but will help you become the coach you'd like to be----the coach who can give those kids the sports experience they deserve. You've already taken a big step: you said "yes" to this important commitment. Congratulations. You'll have a great time, and Bobby Clark is here to help.

• Survive your first practice and first game
• Win over problem players--and parents
• Know what to do in game situations
• Reach all your players
• Work with girls and boys
• Match your drills and strategies to age and ability
• Make it fun and rewarding
• Be the coach you never had
• Generate enthusiasm
• Improve your players and your team

"Few people can compare to Bobby Clark as a player and a teacher of the game. It only makes sense that few books on coaching can compare to this book."----Mike Berticelli, Head Coach, University of Notre Dame Men's Soccer Team

"A valuable read for developing the next generation of American soccer stars."----Dr. Doug Semark, American Youth Soccer Organization

Author Biography

Bobby Clark is director of men's and women's soccer at Stanford University, where he coached the men's varsity team to national runner-up in the NCAA Division I for 1998. A former coach of the New Zealand national team and for Dartmouth College, he began his coaching career while playing championship soccer in the Scottish professional league, when he served as youth coach for the Aberdeen Football Club. He honed his positive, teach-through-games approach to coaching soccer over a career that spans nearly 40 years. Bobby now lives on the Stanford campus with his wife, Betty. Their three children, Tommy, Jamie, and Jennifer, have all played or coached soccer professionally.

by Carline Constant (Author), Gregory Constant (Author), Leena Shariq (Illustrator)

The Champ captures the relationship between a boy with his grandpa in sports. Let's follow Amari on his journey to become the next soccer champion! Join Amari, his sister Aida, and Grandpa on their quest to turn Amari into a soccer champion who embraces the value of teamwork.

by Carline Constant (Author), Gregory Constant (Author), Leena Shariq (Illustrator)

The Champ captures the relationship between a boy with his grandpa in sports. Let's follow Amari on his journey to become the next soccer champion! Join Amari, his sister Aida, and Grandpa on their quest to turn Amari into a soccer champion who embraces the value of teamwork.

by Preston Goldfarb (Author), Scott Adamson (Contribution by)

This fascinating sports-oriented memoir tells of Coach Preston Goldfarb's life growing up during the 1950s and 1960s in Birmingham, Alabama, and his journey to become one of the most celebrated soccer coaches in this country.

In 1983 he was tasked with transforming a fledgling soccer team into an intercollegiate power force. His motto: "It's not what you do every day in training to become better, but rather what you do when no one is watching that makes you the best." Family first, then school, then soccer. Goldfarb also brought soccer to a new level in the state of Alabama by being the driving force behind the city of Birmingham hosting Olympic soccer for the 1996 Atlanta Summer Games and BSC's campus serving as the Olympic Village. He recently came out of retirement to start coaching a new semi-professional team, FC Birmingham.

by Michael Langdon (Author)

Do you think you know everything there is to know about soccer?

Have you heard of:

• The referee who lost his teeth mid-game?
• The player who got injured playing scrabble?
• The ladies who changed a nation?
• The one-armed goalkeeper?
• The game of three halves?
• The World Cup team that smuggled Rohypnol onto the pitch?
• The craziest superstitions in the sport?
• The seagull that scored a goal?

DISCOVER THE STORIES OF SOME OF SOCCER'S MOST ICONIC MOMENTS - From the heart-warming story of a player whose dying daughter asked him to leave the cancer ward to play in a European final, to the hilarious tale of a national team almost getting arrested for misunderstanding a word in English.

Whether you're a die-hard soccer fan or just enjoy a good story, The Beautiful Game is sure to keep you entertained. From Maradona's hand goal to Zidane's headbutt, and a lot more lesser-known stories in between, there's something for everyone in this book.

With 90 fascinating stories, you'll relive the most humorous and inspirational anecdotes to have come out from the Beautiful Game, and in the process you will learn more about the sport than you ever thought!

So, if you're prepared to be left in awe by some of the craziest tales to have emerged from the sport, scroll up and click the Add to Cart button.

by Clive Gifford (Author)

Fully updated ahead of EURO 2024 and with a fill-in results wallchart to accompany the tournament, The Soccer Encyclopedia brings you all the latest information, stats, and facts from the world of soccer.

Author Biography

Clive Gifford is an award-winning author who has written hundreds of articles and over eighty non-fiction books. For Kingfisher, Clive's titles include Football --The ultimate guide to the beautiful game, Football Skills, Olympics, 10 Explorers Who Changed the World, How the World Works and Think Again! He has received commendations from the Smithsonian Museum in the US and received a Times Educational Supplement Information Book of the Year award. A life-long supporter of the London team Queens Park Rangers, he has also been a football coach and contributed to various football fanzines. Clive lives in Manchester.

by Brandi Konopinski (Author), Mike Konopinski (Author), Kelly Kincaid (Illustrator)

Follow along on this exciting adventure as our soccer loving hero chases her out of this world dream!

Amazing illustrations and an engaging rhyming story are highlights in this empowering book. Fun rhymes like the following sample:

She kept on practicing to improve her skills

Doing pull backs, dribbling, and other drills

Days and weeks and months went by

Her kicks went higher and grazed the sky

We hope you enjoy sharing our fun story with your young readers.

by Mike Berenstain (Author), Mike Berenstain (Illustrator)

The Berenstain Bears win big for their family in this exciting addition to the classic New York Times bestselling series.

From passing the ball to scoring goals, there's enough excitement on the soccer field to fill a sunny afternoon! But when Mama starts getting too involved, it's up to the cubs to remind her what playing soccer is really all about.

The Berenstain Bears: We Love Soccer! is a Level One I Can Read book, which means it's perfect for children learning to sound out words and sentences. Whether shared at home or in a classroom, the short sentences, familiar words, and simple concepts of Level One books support success for children eager to start reading on their own.

Back Jacket

The Berenstain Bears run, kick, and score goals as they share their love of soccer.

by David Conn (Author)

In 2015, FIFA-the multibillion dollar governing body of the world's most-loved sport-was brought down by allegations of industrial-scale bribes, kickbacks, money laundering, racketeering and tax evasion. Beginning with early morning raids in Zurich and the indictment of twenty-seven executives by the US Department of Justice, the rottenness at the core of FIFA seemed to extend throughout all of soccer, from the decision to send the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar to lesser known cases of embezzlement from Trinidad to South Africa.

Author Biography

David Conn is the author of The Beautiful Game and an award-winning journalist for the Guardian where he has been a key part of the coverage of the FIFA crisis.

by Scott Riley (Author), Kim Lien (Illustrator), Nguyen Quang (Illustrator)

On the island of Koh Panyee, in a village built on stilts, there is no open space. How will a group of Thai boys play soccer?

After watching the World Cup on television, a group of Thai boys is inspired to form their own team. But on the island of Koh Panyee, in a village built on stilts, there is no open space. The boys can play only twice a month on a sandbar when the tide is low enough. Everything changes when the teens join together to build their very own floating soccer field.

This inspiring true story by debut author Scott Riley is gorgeously illustrated by Nguyen Quang and Kim Lien. Perfect for fans of stories about sports, beating seemingly impossible odds, and places and cultures not often shown in picture books.

"A compelling book for football [soccer] fans and readers seeking examples of ingenuity."--starred, Publishers Weekly

by Alice Rose (Author), Nati Vale (Author), Pedro A. Cabral (Author)

Learn to speak like a local before you hit the streets of Sao Paulo or beaches of Rio de Janeiro with this pocket-sized Brazilian Portuguese-English phrasebook.

With this book in hand you can get off the sideline and join the local Brazilians as they party from the pitch to the beach. Chock-full of up-to-date slang phrases, after-hours expressions and insider information on futebol, this book will have you cheering, dancing, drinking and celebrating with the die-hard fans of the beautiful game.

What's up, man?
Iaí, cara?

Can I join your pickup game?
Posso bater uma pelada com vocês?

Where is a cool bar to watch the game?
Onde tem um barzinho legal pra assitir o jogo?

Next round's on me.
A proxima rodada é minha.

We're all going to an underground dance club, wanna join?
A gente vai pra um baile funk, tá afim?

That girl in the VIP section is super hot.
Aquela mina no camarote é muito gostosa.

Let's sleep off our hangovers at the beach.
Vamos curar a ressaca na praia.

Author Biography

Alice Rose is an editor and writer who has studied and lived in Bahia. She has been practicing capoeira for 14 years and assists her husband and coauthor, Jadson Caçador, teach the martial art in Oakland, California. Alice also practices Brazilian jiu-jitsu, loves to cook, and occasionally teaches kids about the wonders of paleontology.
Nati Vale is an educator and writer with a Ph.D. in Latin American Literature. She has studied and traveled in Brazil and Portugal, and has played capoeira for 14 years. If she is not at school or at capoeira, you can find her in the kitchen, at the ballet studio, or hiding behind a book.
Jadson Caçador was born and raised in the land of futebol, and through his passion for his state team, Bahia, he learned how to love the beautiful game of soccer. He currently lives in Berkeley, California, where he dedicates most of his time to the art of capoeira with his wife, Piu Piu.

by Jere Longman (Author)

Now with a new afterword, The Girls of Summer, by the award- winning New York Times sportswriter Jere Longman, takes a serious, compelling look at the women who won the 1999 World Cup and brings to life the skills and victories of the American team. Longman explores the issues this unprecedented achievement has raised: the importance of the players as role models; the significance of race and class; the sexualization of the team members; and the differences between men and women's sports. Provocative and insightful, this book reminds us that the real struggles are off the field -- and some remain to be won.

Back Jacket

Now with a new afterword, The Girls of Summer, by the award- winning New York Times sportswriter Jere Longman, takes a serious, compelling look at the women who won the 1999 World Cup and brings to life the skills and victories of the American team. Longman explores the issues this unprecedented achievement has raised: the importance of the players as role models; the significance of race and class; the sexualization of the team members; and the differences between men and women's sports. Provocative and insightful, this book reminds us that the real struggles are off the field -- and some remain to be won.

by Vincent Marcotrigiano (Author), Ariane Elsammak (Illustrator)

His classmates think he's too slow. They say he doesn't have the skill. They believe he's just too small to play soccer.

What they don't know about Little Marco, though, is his passion for soccer--it's gigantic, humongous, super-sized!

Determined to prove himself, he makes a wish under a shooting star one night to become the best soccer player he can be. What happens next is a World Cup-worthy adventure full of challenges, friendship and fun. Little Marco soon discovers size doesn't matter if you have heart and that with practice anything is possible.

Along the way he'll make a new friend who becomes his greatest teacher and Buddy for life.

Join Little Marco today to learn that you too have hidden gems that will help you along the way!

by Levi Asafo-Adjei (Author)

There are five boys that love playing soccer. They go against one of the best teams in a local league in Canada. The good thing is, the five boys have good chemistry! Will it help them win?
LET'S FIND OUT!
Levi, the author,
was 10 years old when he wrote this book

by John C. Turnbull (Editor), Alon Raab (Editor), Thom Satterlee (Editor)

Includes "The Empty Pleasure" by 2010 Nobel Prize in Literature Winner Mario Vargas Llosa

Author Biography

John Turnbull is a freelance writer on soccer and an editorial consultant. He maintains www.theglobalgame.com, a soccer Web site with an accent on women's soccer, media, and culture. Translator and author Thom Satterlee is associate professor of English at Taylor University. Alon Raab is a lecturer in the Department of Religious Studies at the University of California, Davis, and the author of articles, reviews, and interviews. Contributors: Rafael Alberti, Eduard Bass, Nalinaksha Bhattacharya, Hebe de Bonafini, Lawrence Cann, Bridget Carson, Hernán Casciari, Elvis Costello, Edilberto Coutinho, Erik Eggers, Friedrich Christian Delius, György Dragomán, Philippe Dubath, Álvaro Enrigue, Eduardo Galeano, Günter Grass, Einar Már Guðmundsson, William Heyen, Miroslav Holub, Ted Hughes, Ian Jack, Elísabet Jökulsdóttir, Ephraim Kishon, Simon Kuper, Anatoly Kuznetsov, Driton Latifi, Donna J. Gelagotis Lee, Mario Vargas Llosa, Subcomandante Marcos, Javier Marías, Andrew Marshall, Stanley Matthews, Christopher Merrill, Mássimo Moratti, Lady Murasaki, Mark Nuttall, Giovanna Pollarolo, Julio Ramón Ribeyro, Paul Richards, Klaus Rifbjerg, Nelson Rodrigues, María Graciela Rodríguez, Umberto Saba, Matilde Sánchez, Thom Satterlee, Rogelio Ramos Signes, Charles Simic, Antonio Skármeta, Osvaldo Soriano, David Starkey, Gay Talese, Crispin Thomas, Bea Vidacs, Luiz Vilela, Sarah Wardle, Ch'ao Yueh-chih, and Uros Zupan.

by Michael Langdon (Author)

Do you think you know everything there is to know about football?

• The referee who lost his teeth mid-game?
• The player who got injured playing scrabble?
• The ladies who changed a nation?
• The one-armed goalkeeper?
• The game of three halves?
• The World Cup team that smuggled Rohypnol onto the pitch?
• The craziest superstitions in the sport?
• The seagull that scored a goal?

DISCOVER THE STORIES OF SOME OF FOOTBALL'S MOST ICONIC MOMENTS - From the heart-warming story of a player whose dying daughter asked him to leave the cancer ward to play in a European final, to the hilarious tale of a national team almost getting arrested for misunderstanding a word in English.

Whether you're a die-hard football fan or just enjoy a good story, The Beautiful Game is sure to keep you entertained. From Maradona's hand goal to Zidane's headbutt, and a whole lot of lesser-known stories in between, there's something for everyone in this book.

So, if you're prepared to be left in awe by some of the craziest tales to have emerged from the sport, get stuck into this brilliant book!

by Paul Murphy (Author)

Socceroos in Scotland is a fascinating dive into the close footballing relationship between Australia and Scotland.

While Scots had a significant impact on the development of the game Down Under, roles started to be reversed from the 1980s, when the first Aussies tried their luck in the Scottish game. From Davie Mitchell at Rangers to Ange Postecoglou at Celtic, the influence of Australians in Scottish football has grown steadily over four decades. Finding a Socceroo in a Scottish squad has gone from being a novelty to a staple.

From Gretna in the south to Ross County in the far north, clubs all over the country have benefited from recruiting an Aussie.

This book features exclusive interviews with several of the key protagonists in this growth, including Tony Vidmar, Scott McDonald, Danny Invincibile, Erik Paartalu and Dave McPherson. There are also chapters looking at the impact of the likes of Craig Moore, Mark Viduka, Jackson Irvine, and Tom Rogic.

There are insights from some of the Socceroos' former teammates and coaches, in addition to the thoughts of some of the journalists who have observed the players involved at close quarters.

by Ian Thomson (Author)

On July 30, 1966, nine million American viewers tuned in to watch the FIFA World Cup Final on the NBC channel. It was the first stand-alone broadcast of a soccer game on U.S. network television, and England's pulsating extra-time win over West Germany left the audience enthralled.Within weeks, two groups of North American sports promoters were seeking to tap into soccer's newfound popularity by launching rival professional leagues - the National Professional Soccer League and the United Soccer Association.The inaugural USA tournament featured 10 European teams and two from South America jetting across the continent from the end of May to mid-July. Aberdeen, Dundee United and Hibernian arrived from Scotland. Stoke City, Sunderland and Wolverhampton Wanderers represented England. Top Serie A side Cagliari came from Italy boasting Italian national team forwards Roberto Boninsegna and Luigi Riva. ADO Den Haag traveled from the Netherlands, Rio state champions Bangu from Brazil and Cerro from Uruguay. Glentoran and Shamrock Rovers, two semi-professional clubs from north and south of the Irish border, completed the line-up.Legendary Wolves striker Derek Dougan led his team to the Western Division crown under the guise of the Los Angeles Wolves. Aberdeen, representing the Washington Whips and boasting U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson as a season ticket holder, won the Eastern Division with a young team including future Manchester United captain Martin Buchan and American college soccer coaching guru Bobby Clark.The Wolves and the Whips produced an epic encounter at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on July 14, 1967 to determine who would become the first, and ultimately only, United Soccer Association champions. It was the greatest soccer final played on American soil."Summer Of '67" charts the story of the tournament's creation and demise, and recalls the experiences of its participants including Buchan, Clark, former Hibernian and Liverpool midfielder Peter Cormack, Stoke legend Terry Conroy and ex-Wolves winger Terry Wharton.Sixteen players from eight clubs share their memories of the capers, the gimmicks, the celebrity brushes and the games that combined to provide them with the trip of a lifetime.

Author Biography

Ian Thomson is a freelance journalist and founder of The Soccer Observer website. He is a contributor to Aberdeen Football Club's Red Matchday Magazine and his soccer writing has appeared in the New York Times, New York Daily News, Houston Chronicle, Scottish Daily Express and Press & Journal (Aberdeen, Scotland). He lives in West Virginia.

by Quentin Holmes (Author)

The Sporty Lou series is for kids 3-to-6-years old who LOVE sports!

-A Multicultural Children's Books by Quentin Holmes
-Easy-to-read, empowering and entertaining stories for young children (3-to-6-years old)
-Picture Books & Coloring Books
-Available in hardcover, softcover

Sporty Lou is a spunky determined kid with a big heart and bigger imagination. At the feet of his 'mighty dad', Sporty Lou is taught the basics of soccer. He struggles and falters, but his little body holds a giant heart that won't back down from a challenge! Cheer along as Sporty Lou's imagination turns his backyard into a stadium full of roaring fans. Will he ultimately give in or take his first steps towards becoming a true sports legend?

by Jonathan Brammer (Author), Darren Laver (Author)

This booklet helps coaches to seek out the best talent and select the right athletes. It describes some of the pitfalls of over-valuing certificates and under-valuing potential. The booklet acts as a good mindset framework for effective talent scouting. What you see today may not necessarily indicate accurately what you might see in the future. Unfortunately many sports development programs today are based on performance at a given test within a given environment. Those that are unable to make the cut are discarded as being unsuitable. That is why experts like Fred Engh (The Coach Who Became 'Best Man', 2015) discuss that a lot more time is required to understand the player and their abilities before a judgement can be made about their abilities. Worse still there are selection programs that look at the results of an 11 year all-star program and then use it to make recruitment decisions. This is a very wrongheaded approach that does not account for the intangibles that may have gone into producing those results. For example the athlete may have been sick during the events thus undermining their normally stellar results. It seems that the critical difference is that between identifying talent and selecting talent.

by Joseph Luxbacher (Author)

For more than 50 years America's children and adults have been embracing the"world's game." As children develop more interest in playing the game, youth teaching and coaching become ever more important. In the family yard, onthe school playground, and on the youth league practice fields-competentteachers and coaches are needed.This book explains and illustrates the fundamentals of the game and the basicsof team play. But it goes well beyond what any other printed book delivers-includes videos of fundamental skills and useful drills. These can be viewed onyour tablet, computer or smartphone.

by Simon Alder (Author)

Don't get mad. Get even. No longer underdogs, Malcolm and the Animals' are back together for another round of soccer action But this season's rivals, the Hellhounds, are even meaner than last season. They play dirty-they kick, trip, elbow and sucker-punch. And their sneaky tricks rarely get caught. Malcolm is fed up! Coach Harris wants them to win the league finals with skill and fair play. But Nick and the new kid have a better idea-one last prank to end all pranks. Only the Hellhounds stand between the Animals and total victory. So, what will the Animals do? Play fair and lose? Or play dirty and win?

Author Biography

Born in England, Simon Alder grew up moving frequently with his politically active parents. The two things that kept him grounded and confident were books and soccer. After a brief career in the technology field Simon decided that combining his life's passions was the true path to happiness and success. Simon has published Summer Kicks and Strike Back through Lechner Syndications, with the next release already under way. He looks forward to the day when his 18 month old son will be able to read The Soccer Series. Simon and his family live on an organic farm in Berkshire region of western Massachusetts.

by Absoccer (With), Soccertutor Com (Created by)

The Spanish Academy Soccer Coaching book provides an extensive range of practices from professional coaches at Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao / Spanish National. This book contains 120 practices as used in the academies of La Liga. There are technical practices for a wide range of topics ideal for coaches at youth level wanting to develop their team to world leading, Spanish academy standards. Jon Moreno (Spanish national youth development coach and ex Athletic Bilbao) details his methods, planning and shows you how to build a training session. He focuses on both technical and tactical work including warm ups/downs, support play, possession and decision making. Santiago Esposito (Atletico Madrid U11's) focuses on technical training for 8-12 year olds which includes ball control/dribbling, moves to beat, 1 v 1 duels, passing, crossing and shooting. Jose A. Fernando Lopez (Real Madrid U15's) shows coaches how to set out dynamic and structured drills, as well as advice on how to run a successful football team. These practices have an emphasis on possession and combination play. Ivan Mardrono Campo (Real Madrid Youth Team coach) outlines how to improve technique in the youth team stage. He also progresses to practices with small sided games to develop finishing, awareness, creating space, fast break attacks and wide play. This is a fantastic opportunity to learn from top Spanish coaches that have developed some of the key members of the fantastic technically skilled Spanish national side including Fernando Torres and Sergio Ramos.

by Dan Blank (Author)

The #1 international bestseller... Named the #1 Soccer Book by Football.com... Named a Top 5 Book of the Year by the NSCAA Soccer Journal. Soccer iQ is the first book for soccer PLAYERS!

Author Biography

Dan Blank has been coaching college soccer for over twenty years and served most recently as associate head coach at the University of Georgia. He is the first coach in Southeastern Conference history to lead the conference's best defense in consecutive years at different universities (Ole Miss 2009, Georgia 2010). He has an 'A' License from the USSF and an Advanced National Diploma from the NSCAA. He has also authored Soccer iQ Vol. 2, Every Thing Your Coach Never Told You Because You're a Girl, High Pressure, Shutout Pizza, Possession as well as several other books. You can buy his books and read his blog at www.soccerpoet.com.

by Coach Kurt W. Faust (Author)

Coaching youth soccer is an awesome experience! Whether you are stepping on to the field to coach for the first time or you have been coaching youth soccer for years, coaching is a continual learning process. Success comes from a coach's ability to teach, communicate, motivate, be organized and make soccer fun. Step Up and Coach Youth Soccer is a complete A to Z book looking at all aspects of coaching youth soccer. It is my hope that this will be a book that you will use again and again for your coaching experiences.

by Dominique Haynes (Author)

⚽ Welcome to the exciting world of Stella the Soccer Player! In this delightful tale, young readers will accompany Stella on a journey of financial discovery as she learns the importance of setting savings goals. From the vibrant soccer field to the humble piggy bank, Stella will demonstrate how saving money ���� can lead to achieving dreams and desired items. ����

In this story, Stella is an energetic and determined soccer player who dreams of having the best sports equipment ���� to enhance her skills and make her game even more thrilling. But there's just one problem-Stella doesn't have the funds ���� to purchase the equipment she desires. That's when she decides to embark on a savings saga. ����

Join Stella on her saga, and you will learn the fundamental concept of setting savings goals. Together, we will explore the various ways Stella can earn money. ���� With each hard-earned dollar, Stella starts to build her savings. ����

In Stella's Amazing Soccer Saga in Saving Money, children will learn practical financial skills in a relatable and engaging manner. They will grasp the concepts of income, expenses, and savings, as well as the benefits of budgeting and setting financial targets. ���� Stella's story will encourage young readers to apply these lessons in their own lives, helping them develop a strong foundation of financial literacy from an early age. ��������

by Adam Armijo (Author), Randy Jennings (Illustrator), Stacey Armijo (Author)

Ali and Aiden prepare for their first soccer game. They practice with their teammates to learn the skills and rules needed to play. Now they are ready... are YOU?

Author Biography

As parents of three young boys, Stacey and Adam Armijo scoured bookstores and countless websites searching for books they could use to teach their sons about the basics of sports, but came up empty handed. As you'll read here, it's no wonder Stacey and Adam created the solution! Stacey grew up in Solana Beach, CA, gravitating to sports as early as she could remember. She excelled in soccer, field hockey and track, and was offered a field hockey athletic scholarship at UNC Chapel Hill, where she earned the title of co-captain and 3 time NCAA National Champion. After college, Stacey fell in love with competitive running, and even today she relishes the thrill and challenge of most outdoor sports, more specifically, trail running and triathlon. Armed with a competitive spirit and creative mind, Stacey set her mind to creating a children's book so all young children, and adults too, have this sports education accessible. Stacey's husband Adam grew up in the Bay Area with sports as a cornerstone of his youth. Taking part in more traditional sports early in life, Adam transitioned to cycling in his teen years and has become an avid mountain biker and outdoorsmen. Adam's journey has included triathlons, backpacking and adventure racing. Together Adam and Stacey have created a vision to educate families on the fundamentals of each sport, starting with soccer and swimming, and teach kids the importance of learning, practicing and having fun while experiencing a new sport!

by John Maynard (Author), Leslie Priestley (Designed by)

The second of two magnificent volumes from Emeritus Professor of History, John Maynard, on the Socceroos journey through World Cup qualifying campaigns.

Volume 2 starts with a 'new era' for the Socceroos with the first of five consecutive successful World Cup qualifying campaigns starting with Germany in 2006 through to Qatar 2022.

In that time, the team had five coaches, four captains, and made the Round of 16 twice: first with the 'Golden Generation' in 2006 losing to eventual champions Italy; and then with the 'Surprise Generation' in 2022 with their magnificent run, only dipping out to eventual champions Argentina.

Socceroos - A World Cup Odyssey is an in-depth look at the team's history with commentary on every qualifying match, the role and decisions of governing bodies such as FIFA and Football Australia, media coverage, and the reception afforded to players and coaches.

It is a significant history of the game: simultaneously viewed through the expert eyes of an eminent historian, and written by a passionate, lifelong fan.

by Ricardo Sanchez (Author), Ian Waryanto (Illustrator)

More than anything else, Franco dreams of going pro some day. After all, his soccer coaches say he's the best kind of player--more giving than greedy, preferring to rack up the assists instead of scoring goals. And that method works just fine until Franco has to change schools. On his new team, the Warlocks, Franco's pass-first approach to soccer just isn't working. To make matters worse, the team is filled with ball-hogs, and their coach doesn't seem to care. Franco refuses to let his dream of going pro die, but the new team is pretty much a living nightmare...

by Quentin Holmes (Author)

The Sporty Lou series is for kids 3-to-6-years old who LOVE sports!

-A Multicultural Children's Books by Quentin Holmes
-Easy-to-read, empowering and entertaining stories for young children (3-to-6-years old)
-Picture Books & Coloring Books
-Available in hardcover, softcover

Sporty Lou is a spunky determined kid with a big heart and bigger imagination. At the feet of his 'mighty dad', Sporty Lou is taught the basics of soccer. He struggles and falters, but his little body holds a giant heart that won't back down from a challenge! Cheer along as Sporty Lou's imagination turns his backyard into a stadium full of roaring fans. Will he ultimately give in or take his first steps towards becoming a true sports legend?

by Shamini Flint (Author)

Goal-oriented Maya has two main concerns: getting support and permission for girls' soccer and keeping her unpredictable biracial family together. At the same time she's trying to fit in at school, figure out who her true friends are, and dodge the criticisms of her traditional East Indian grandmother and the other relatives who say girls should be quiet and obedient. Maya's witty, observant first-person narrative will make readers want her on their team, and they'll cheer her on as she discovers that winning is great--but losing doesn't mean defeat.

Author Biography

Shamini Flint grew up in Malaysia and is the author of the Inspector Singh Investigates crime novels for adults and many books for children. Previously a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales, she is now a full-time writer. @ShaminiFlintAuthor

by Simon Alder (Author)

For the team? Or for the glory? Malcolm is a star striker, who's ready to show off his skills in the premier summer league. When he finds out the winning team gets to practice with the Major League Soccer team, DC United, and Malcolm's hero, Dwayne De Rosario, he's determined to take his team to the top. But things take a downward spiral when Malcolm gets stuck on the losing-est team in the league. His coach has them running pointless drills instead of playing, he gets tricked into making a super-embarrassing bet with the league bully, and his goalie is...a girl! Can Malcolm take his team from zeros-to-heroes in time to secure the league championship and win a once-in-a-lifetime chance to practice with his hero, or will he end up tip-toeing around the stadium in a tutu?

Author Biography

Born in England, Simon Alder grew up moving frequently with his politically active parents. The two things that kept him grounded and confident were books and soccer. After a brief career in the technology field Simon decided that combining his life's passions was the true path to happiness and success. Simon has published Summer Kicks and Strike Back through Lechner Syndications, with the next release already under way. He looks forward to the day when his 18 month old son will be able to read The Soccer Series. Simon and his family live on an organic farm in Berkshire region of western Massachusetts.

by Liam Shannon (Author)

In 2002 Brazil national team coach Luiz Felipe Scolari actively used The Art of War for Brazil's successful World Cup campaign. Not only did Scolari read the book and apply its strategies, but on some occasions he actually slipped copies of the text underneath his players' doors during the night. Commenting on his use of The Art of War after the World Cup win, Scolari confirmed "sometimes a different approach like this can help." Quite the understatement.Composed in the late 5th century BCE, The Art of War by Chinese general Sun Tzu is the most well-known and well-respected work on military strategy and philosophy in history. Proving its timeless brilliance, the now 2400-year-old text is still used in teaching strategy and philosophy at the leading military academies today. The Art of War is used as instructional material at the US Military Academy at West Point and it is also recommended reading for Royal Officer cadets at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. Business Insider magazine names The Art of War as one of the top 25 most influential books ever written, and highly respected astrophysicist and social commentator Neil deGrasse Tyson identifies Sun Tzu's work as one of the "seven books every intelligent person on the planet should read." The Art of War and Sun Tzu have been referenced and quoted in various movies and television shows, including "Wall Street," "The Rock," "The Family Man" "Bandits," and the James Bond movie "Die Another Day". In television, The Art of War has been referenced countless times, including in two of the most popular and most critically acclaimed shows of all time: "The Sopranos" (season 3, episode 9) and "Breaking Bad (season 2, episode 7). Most significantly for this project, The Art of War has been applied in sports, and not just by Scolari. NFL coach Bill Belichick, the coach with the most Super Bowl victories of all time, has stated on multiple occasions his admiration for The Art of War, with one specific headline reading "Belichick explains how advice from Sun Tzu's 'The Art of War' helped build the Patriots dynasty." The advocation for Sun Tzu's strategies in all walks of life, including sports, could hardly be higher. Liam Shannon's book takes Sun Tzu's work and, for the first time, translates it directly to "the beautiful game." Sun Tzu Soccer reads exactly as The Art of War would read, if The Art of War were written specifically for soccer. The ultimate strategies meet the greatest sport.

by G. Hopkins (Author)

Star-Spangled Soccer traces the development of soccer in the USA. It is the first book that tells the story of how the sport rose to extreme highs and suffered almost catastrophic lows as it fought to position itself on the American sports landscape, beginning with the announcement from FIFA in 1988 that America would host the 1994 World Cup.

Author Biography

GARY HOPKINS has an MBA from Warwick Business School in the UK, a Sports Science degree from Loughborough University and is a qualified Teacher He is a passionate soccer fan supporting Coventry City, England the USA National Team (when they are not playing England) and D.C. United and has spent 20 years as a senior executive in the USA Soccer and Sports Marketing Industry. As President and CEO of API Soccer and API Sponsorship he oversaw the Commercial and Television rights for the United States Soccer Federation and the United States Youth Soccer Association raising millions of dollars in sponsorship revenue from corporate America, developing strategic Marketing plans to promote soccer at all levels and producing and airing over 70 USA National Team men's and women's game. API Soccer was also a founding investor in Major League Soccer and Managing Partner of DC United. Gary also co-authored a 1999 Major League Soccer market research report and in the early 90s Published Americas first full color monthly soccer magazine and owned the US Television rights to English League Soccer. As the Managing Director of Octagon's Sport Marketing Properties Division and Marketing Board Member he represented a multitude of other sports properties including 5 year highly successful partnership with the United States Track and Field Association where he negotiated the world largest apparel sponsorship for the sport

by Gemma Clarke (Author)

From Michelle Akers to Megan Rapinoe, bold and inspiring profiles of the pioneers, champions and future heroines of women's soccer around the world.
Women's soccer has come a long way. The first organized games on record -- which took place three hundred years ago in the Scottish Highlands -- were exhibition matches, where single women played against married women while available men looked on, seeking a potential mate.

Today, champions like Mia Hamm, Abby Wambach, Brazil's Marta and China's Sun Wen, have inspired girls around the world to pick up the beautiful game for love of the sport. Inevitably, given the hardships and discrimination they face, women who play soccer professionally are so much more than elite athletes. They are survivors, campaigners, political advocates, feminists, LGBTQ activists, working moms, staunch opponents of racial discrimination and inspirational role models for many.

Based on original interviews with over 50 current and former players and coaches, this book celebrates these remarkable women and their achievements against all odds.

Author Biography

Gemma Clarke is a British sports journalist based in the US. She has written about soccer for the Guardian, the Observer, the Times (UK), the Daily Telegraph and the London Evening Standard. She was writer and editor of the League Leader and the first female publications editor for a Premier League soccer club. She wrote minute-by-minute reports on the FIFA Men's World Cup for the Guardian online, as well as reporting on the Women's European Championships and the Men's Blind World Cup. She worked as a production assistant at Sky Sports News and as a stringer for the sports news agency Hayters Teamwork.

by Kris Klassen (Author)

by Adam L. Kelly (Editor)

Talent development pathways in youth soccer provide opportunities for young players to realise their potential. Such programmes have become increasingly popular throughout governing bodies, professional clubs, and independent organisations. This has coincided with a rapid rise in sport science literature focused specifically on optimising player development towards expertise.

Author Biography

Adam L. Kelly, PhD, is Senior Lecturer and Course Leader for Sports Coaching and Physical Education at Birmingham City University, United Kingdom. Alongside attaining his PhD at the University of Exeter, United Kingdom, Adam is Senior Fellow of the HEA, BASES Sport and Exercise Scientist, and FA UEFA A and AYA Licenced Coach. Broadly, his research interests explore organisational structures in youth sport to better understand the athlete development process and to create more appropriate settings. He is currently collaborating with a number of regional, national, and international organisations across a range of sports, including cricket, rugby, soccer, squash, and swimming.

by Illugi Julsson (Author)

Here are the best of the best, from legends like Messi and Modric to dynamic newcomers like Pedri and Bellingham. This lively book features short biographies of some twenty-eight stars in all--goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and attackers. With the same action-packed photos and colorful graphics that fans have come to expect from the critically acclaimed Abbeville Sports series, Stars of World Soccer shows what it takes to be at the top of the game.