How to Be a Footballer

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The book looks at the technical side of the game and what you should watch out for in respect to tactical decisions and formations. Just as The Damned United (listed below) is a book that examines, through a stream-of-consciousness narrative, the obsessions of a man being played out in an often-illogical, unforgiving, alpha male-dominated environment. The clinical depression which hit him hard in the midst of troubles at Barcelona did not consume him in the wake of his young daughter's disabling disease and tragic death. A fascinating read which gives the reader a different insight into the maturer side of Roy Keane that you see today. For better or worse, the modern football fan knows at least a little about much more than was the case in the mid-90s.

He appears in the Sao Paulo carnival for the samba school of Corinthians’ hardcore fans, wearing purple feathers. We learn the reason for Forest’s training trips to Scarborough – Peter Taylor, Clough’s assistant manager and the yin to his yang, had a flat there and wouldn’t hire a furniture van – and see examples of Clough’s generosity, but not without tales of his pigheadedness and pride.This beautifully illustrated picture book provides an insight into life within a Brazilian favela and will inspire young girls to be the hero of their stories. There is also a really moving section in the book about the Hillsborough tragedy from the perspective of a player who witnessed first hand the terrible events. Very hard to put down, Ruddock gives us his views on the modern game, his theories on why the national team hasn’t won a trophy in recent years and he also reveals his biggest regrets in life as well as football. Throughout the book Ferguson attempts to explain the reasons for various decisions that he had to make involving top players such as David Beckham and Roy Keane and he attempts to settle some old feuds as well as reigniting others.

This riveting, passionately written inside story of the England team and its fans during Italia 90 made ‘football literature’ mean more than daft ghosted biographies.

After reading this book you will definitely change your opinion about the Joey Barton you have seen on the television and read about in the papers. Dig deeper and you’ll find books framed against the game’s irrational passions and ambitions that are among the best books written about anything.