An anecdote-driven narrative of the classic footballer's ‘DOs and DO NOTs’ from the ever-popular Arsenal legend and football pundit Paul Merson, aka ‘The Merse’.

'Very funny on almost every page, wonderfully self-deprecating and very sharp on the ludicrous behaviour of the modern player' - Sunday Times 'The funniest man in British sport' - Metro **A Sunday Times Sports Book of the Year** **Shortlisted for the National Book Awards** **Longlisted for the Telegraph Sports Book Awards Autobiography of the Year** You become a footballer because you love football. And then you are a footballer, and you're suddenly in the strangest, most baffling world of all. A world where one team-mate comes to training in a bright red suit with matching top-hat, cane and glasses, without any actual glass in them, and another has so many sports cars they forget they have left a Porsche at the train station. Even when their surname is incorporated in the registration plate. So walk with me into the dressing-room, to find out which players refuse to touch a football before a game, to discover why a load of millionaires never have any shower-gel, and to hear what Cristiano Ronaldo says when he looks at himself in the mirror. We will go into post-match interviews, make fools of ourselves on social media and try to ensure that we never again pay £250 for a haircut that should have cost a tenner. We'll be coached and cajoled by Harry Redknapp, upset Rafa Benitez and be soothed by the sound of an accordion played by Sven-Goran Eriksson's assistant Tord Grip. There will be some very bad music and some very bad decisions. I am Peter Crouch. This is How To Be A Footballer. Shall we?

A long-term study providing rare insights into the precarious career and ordinary working culture of professional footballers. Away from the celebrity-obsessed media gaze, the work of a professional footballer is rarely glamorous and for most players a career in football is insecure and short-lived. A former professional, Martin Roderick’s familiarity with the world of football is the foundation for this privileged research into a world that is typically closed to the public gaze and ignored by media reportage and academic research which prefers to focus on a small, unrepresentative group of elite players. Key themes explored within the text include: the culture of work in professional football the changing identity, orientation and expectations of players during their careers the fragile and uncertain nature of professional sport careers the performance and dramatic aspects of a career under public scrutiny the role of relationships with managers, owners, support staff and partners players' responses to the insecurities inherent in professional football such as injury, ageing, performance and transfer. The text deals with a wide range of issues of interest to sports students and academics, particularly those with a focus on the sociology of sport but also including sport development, sport management and coaching studies. The text will also be of interest to researchers in the fields of careers, industrial relations and the sociology of work.

Many youngsters dream of becoming a professional footballer. But football is a highly competitive world where only a handful will succeed. Many aspiring soccer players don't know exactly what to expect, or what is required, to make the transition from the amateur world to the 'bright lights' in front of thousands of fans. The Footballer's Journey maps out the footballer's path with candid insight and no-nonsense advice. It examines the reality of becoming a footballer including the odds of 'making it', how academies really work, the importance of attitude and mindset, and even the value of having a backup plan if things don't quite work out. Filled with real life stories from current, and former, professionals across different leagues, The Footballer's Journey provides honest guidance and practical tips on what is required to give yourself the best possible chance of turning the dream into a reality. Learn: - How likely a professional career really is - The importance of sacrifice - How commitment and focus will pay dividends - The value of education and having a back-up plan - Why rejection is not the end of the world, and how disappointment can drive you forwards

A key guide to the tools and techniques for football intelligence that will give anyone a psychological edge, in the world of football and beyond.

A book for girls and boys aged 6+ who want to know the score about football jobs.

What is the “I Want To Become a Professional Soccer Player” Book About? It is NOT just another “soccer” book. It is NOT just another "how-to" For soccer players. Though it will help aspiring soccer players that want to know the secrets within this book to become a professional soccer player. It is NOT a book for soccer players that just want to have fun. Though it will help aspiring soccer players that have the willingness to put in the hard work, time, and effort to start training and thinking like a real professional soccer player. It is NOT just about playing soccer for free. Though it will help aspiring soccer players to turn their dream into a professional career to get paid and make money for what they love to do. This Book is A SHORTCUT This is not a book about “playing soccer for fun”... But, if your child does what it says, they will definitely GO PRO sooner than you can think. Why can I say that? Because this IS a book about how every aspiring soccer player can use the secrets within this book to start training and thinking like a real professional soccer player... No matter what age or level your child is playing at! If your child has ever been frustrated by a lack of confidence, lack of skill, or lack of inspiration… This is the book you’ve been looking for!