A comprehensive record of the world's most popular game, from its ancient beginnings to the billion-dollar industry it has become today. --cover leaf.

Spanning the wide world of sports, this volume is packed with every conceivable fact that anyone would possibly want to know about nearly 300 sports, including history and practice worldwide.

The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Footballis the ultimate celebration of the most popular sport on the planet. This comprehensive and fully illustrated book is written by one of the world's leading football writers and describes the history and development of the game, its legendary players, clubs and international teams, notable coaches and stadia. There is also in-depth information on the major competitions at both national and club levels. Each entry comes with graphical statistical information to show the greatest achievements of each player, club or nation. It even includes the action and results of the 2017/18 season and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

"For the first time ever, you'll find complete statistics for every player who has played even a single game in the NFL. Essays on the history of the game, its championship teams, and most significant games are just the beginning." "Total Football also features articles on the evolution of strategy through the years, team histories, the 300 greatest players, football families, players who enjoyed great public careers after football (such as U.S. Supreme Court Justice Byron White), and the most complete lists ever published on team rosters, awards, and the draft."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

For more than 120 years, the University of Southern California Trojans have maintained a tradition of football excellence that has placed the team among the perennial elite in the collegiate ranks. Eleven national championships, 38 conference titles, 150 All-Americans, and seven Heisman Trophy winners all stand as testaments to the greatness of the Cardinal and Gold. This definitive reference chronicles the history of USC football from its first-ever game on November 14, 1888--a 16-0 victory over the Alliance Athletic Club--through 2012. Synopses of each season include game-by-game summaries, final records, ultimate poll rankings, and team leaders in major statistical categories. Biographies of head coaches and all-time USC greats, a roster of every player to don a Trojan uniform, a look at USC football traditions, and a catalog of honors received by both players and coaches through the years complete this essential encyclopedia for the Trojan faithful.