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Football autobiographies / biographies
There was a thread on here somewhere discussing the same topic, but I gave up trying to find it. Anyway, what football autobiographies or biographies can you recommend? Which ones were terrible?
I have just finished Andrea Pirlo's "I think therefore I play". He describes little episodes of his life (in no particular order) in the various teams he has played in and paints a picture of some of his managers, club owners and team mates. It's extremely funny and I found myself laughing out loud on almost every page. It's also a real page turner and I finished reading it in 2 days. Pirlo only very very briefly touches upon his family (only mentioning them in fleeting) but concentrates on his club and World Cup 2006 experiences.
The one thing I never realised was how incredibly arrogant Pirlo is. That was quite a shock when reading this book. I knew he was cool, but I didn't know he thought he was the coolest person of all time in the whole wide universe. I must say he makes Ibrahimovic (whom he doesn't seem to like) and Ronaldo (whom he calls "the other one" in contrast to the "real Ronaldo") appear quite modest.
I also now have new found respect for Gattuso who it appears got tormented by his team mates (Pirlo being one of them) at Milan and the national team, but dealt with it like man by beating them up constantly.
Anyway, it's a very enjoyable read and it will certainly make you laugh.
I have just finished Andrea Pirlo's "I think therefore I play". He describes little episodes of his life (in no particular order) in the various teams he has played in and paints a picture of some of his managers, club owners and team mates. It's extremely funny and I found myself laughing out loud on almost every page. It's also a real page turner and I finished reading it in 2 days. Pirlo only very very briefly touches upon his family (only mentioning them in fleeting) but concentrates on his club and World Cup 2006 experiences.
The one thing I never realised was how incredibly arrogant Pirlo is. That was quite a shock when reading this book. I knew he was cool, but I didn't know he thought he was the coolest person of all time in the whole wide universe. I must say he makes Ibrahimovic (whom he doesn't seem to like) and Ronaldo (whom he calls "the other one" in contrast to the "real Ronaldo") appear quite modest.
I also now have new found respect for Gattuso who it appears got tormented by his team mates (Pirlo being one of them) at Milan and the national team, but dealt with it like man by beating them up constantly.
Anyway, it's a very enjoyable read and it will certainly make you laugh.
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Another one that I liked was Zlatan's, hopefully he releases an updated version, as it would be interesting to hear about his time at PSG.
Other ones that I would recommend would be, Hope Solo's, the biography of Robert Enke, Garrincha, Messi and Pep Guadiola (two differt books) by Guillem Balague, and Sir Bobby Charlton's two books, one on his United years, the other on his England years.
Think the last book I read was the Alex Ferguson one.
He certainly had some huge clubs not to mention his clashes with cruyff probably wait bit till it drops in price tho , reading book on 90s arm it's got everything from poll tax riot to dome
Hmm... my Italian is not good enough to read the original, but it just seemed like he was very bitter about never winning the Ballon d'Or and that he thought of himself as a gift to mankind. He comes across as very intelligent with an amazing sense of humour though. I found it a bit off that he never actually had any loyalty to Milan and would have left years before he did had they let him go.
Thank you. Maybe the two threads could be merged?
I would love to read a bio on Paolo Maldini after a watching a documentary on him. Could anyone recommend any? I am yet to find a person who did not like/admire/adore him. That he never won a title with the national team is so sad. I used to watch replays of the 2000 Euro final every time expecting a different ending. They literally threw away victory in the last seconds of the game.
Gutted Italy tho it away, nothing to do with fact that 20 of us where I then worked put £5 in a sweepstake and I had Italy & what's worse the hatred boss Got France >:(
A search before making a new thread would be unlikely to pick that up considering it says 'biographys'
Maldini? Just a poor man's Luke Shaw.
Its my favourite biography that i've read. I didnt make much of Zlatan Ibrahimovic's biography. I thought it repeated alot.
Ive read a couple about Arsene Wenger from the library, I can't remember who wrote them but they were decent.
A brilliant read.
Another couple for us of the older persuasion are "The way it was" by Stanley Mathews, and "1966 And all that" by Geoff Hurst.
I avoid bios of current players, as they seem little more than money making exercises.
Notice there was no books this time
They're probably in the pound shops now.
Fair enough, although isn`t he an Inter fan? I would love to see a Paolo Rossi biography being released in English, his is an amazing story.
He ran like the wind as soon as Hodgson became coach
Ugh... I appear to be the only one who thinks Rio was a terrible pundit, so boring. He had nothing to say and I thought he was one of the most overrated players ever. I really don't get the fascination with Rio. I thought he was devoid of personality both on and off the pitch.
Henry and Cannavaro were great pundits I thought. Both have a great understanding of the game, which they showed as players too. Henry's English is better of course.
Zidane could have sat there one game making fart noises in his armpit and he'd have been the bestest best pundit ever.
Correct. Zidane was the best at everything though. Have you ever seen anyone headbutt the way he did? And in the WC final too! Just pure class...
Although Cannavaro doesn't like Zidane, so if I was pushed, I'd have to give my preference to King Cannavaro.