Andrea Pirlo – I Think Therefore I Play
A perfect example of this is Andrea Pirlo, not just an elegant footballer but a great writer too. He made a short book, with it being around 150 pages, and told us things that we wouldn’t have known otherwise. Stories about transfers and his nearly move to Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona which has every football fan licking their lips over. To stories about him playing on his Playstation before winning the World Cup in 2006 with Italy, which probably would’ve been useful before the 2012 Euros Final where Spain embarrassed Italy 4-0 but in his fairness, the Euros odds were never in their favour for this game and tournament. This is the formula that every biography writer should follow.
Paul Merson – How Not To Be A Professional Footballer
Say what you want about Paul Mearson punditry, I know I am not a fan, but Mearson as a man is a lot better than you would once imagine. Suffering through many trials and tribulations, how Mearson overcame them and how he continues to struggle. With football being such a key thing around the world and being the world’s biggest sport, the pressure on the players’ shoulders must be immense and Mearson discusses this topic beautifully. Speaking of the highs of his trophy wins and the laws that followed. Although I may never reread it, I am glad I gave it my time all those years ago.
Jamie Vardy – From Nowhere, My Story
Jamie Vardy has been one of the most interesting figures in football over the last decade and this book further cements his wild character. It goes through Jamie Vardy’s life and how he didn’t believe he would ever make it as a professional football, to then winning the Premier League and the Golden Boot in one of the best footballing stories of all time. Vardy spoke about his career and how he was making £30 a week while working at a factory to get his big move to Leicester that changed his life forever. This is a great story and my only complaint is that there is less about the footballing relationships and more about his story but it is also his biography so who am I to complain?
Roy Keane – The Second Half
As a Manchester City fan, I have been programmed to hate Roy Keane and although sometimes his punditry annoys me, he is one of my favourite people to listen to when it comes to football and his book is a fascinating read as he speaks about the tail end of his career and how he went from one of the best footballers in his position to an ITV pundit and a manager. The way he talks about his managerial career and struggles is a great read. One of my favourite things about this book is the way it genuinely feels like how Roy Keane speaks and he isn’t being formal for the book, he is authentically himself with X-rated language and funny anecdotes, this is a great book for any fan, even those who hate Roy.