An explosive and shocking biography of Jose Mourinho - revealing the dark side of 'the special one'. When José Mourinho announced his return to English football, it sparked celebrations from fans and press alike. As one of the most charismatic figures in the game, his reappearance could surely only be a good thing... But is there a darker side to the Mourinho? A mischievous, scheming, even tyrannical quality to the man beneath the veneer of charm? As part of El Pais, Diego Torres is one of the premier investigative journalists in Spanish football, and in this explosive biography of 'the special one' he uncovers secrets and lies that will change the way we see Mourinho. From dodgy dealings to assassinations of players both outside and within his own team, and other shocking revelations, Prepare To Lose reveals Mourinho as a man far removed from the hero so many people consider him to be.

The manager everyone loves to hate... Mercurial Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho, who regards himself as football's equivalent of George Clooney, featured in his own blockbuster this summer when he took charge of Manchester United - the world's biggest club. The news sent shockwaves through the Old Trafford faithful - generations of whom have pledged their loyalty to a succession of managerial legends including Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson. At the very outset of what promises to be a tumultuous season for the Red Devils, Andrew J Kirby investigates in his latest book Jose Mourinho: The Art of Winning whether the latest controversial move by the club's owners is a marriage made in heaven or hell. Machiavellian schemer, marketing man's dream, inspirational leader and motivator, arrogant "manager-lout," Super Coach. Anti-hero. Serial trophy-winner. Jose Mourinho's personality is a complex one. Jose Mourinho: The Art of Winning is an entertaining character study of the man who in many ways has come to define modern, elite-level football. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo apart, the biggest, most marketable stars in world football today are the managers. The 2016-17 edition of the FA Premier League is being billed as the most exciting yet, and that's not because of the influx of star players after the European Championships in France. Though some eye-catching names have joined the league, none have the cache of a Messi or a Ronaldo. None have the standing of a Jose Mourinho or a Pep Guardiola either. And so it is on the manager's shoulders that the responsibility for delivering the customary Premier League spectacle falls. Incorporating interviews with fans (of United, and of Mourinho's former clubs), players (past and present), commentators and journalists, this book endeavours to determine what effect the Jose Mourinho show will have on Manchester United as a football club and the Premier League as a whole by tackling eight key questions including the following: Is Mourinho the best manager in the game? What is the management approach of Jose Mourinho? Can Manchester United tolerate the dark side of Jose Mourinho? What is the role of the modern day Premier League manager and how has this changed over the years? And: "Once a Blue, always a Red?" Can a manager who is so recognisably a Blue become a Red? Stuffed full of statistical detail and flavoured with a wistful view of a game, he sets the spectacular scene for a showdown of showdowns in this season's Premier League campaign where the ultimate prize for United will be the crucial return to the Champions League. With interviews with football writers, players and fans, this book is a must that every Manchester United fan - and indeed every football supporter - needs to read. Andrew J Kirby's sports-writing has featured in BBC Sport magazine and on the Radio Five Live website. He has held a Manchester United season ticket for over a quarter of a century and regularly follows the Reds across Europe and beyond. His other United books include, Fergie's Finest: Sir Alex Ferguson's First 11, The Pride of All Europe: Manchester United's Greatest Seasons in the European Cup and Louis van Gaal: Dutch Courage. PRAISE FOR FERGIE'S FINEST A must read for any red. Scott the Red, Editor: Republik of Mancunia United Blog The perfect gift for the red devil in your life! Sam Sharp, Manchester United fan Buy it now! Michael Hopkins, Manchester United fan PRAISE FOR THE PRIDE OF ALL EUROPE A very enjoyable trip down memory lane. Goodreads Reviewer The book succeeds in encapsulating the hopes, dreams, disappointments and joys of so many different eras. Manchester United fan review on Amazon PRAISE FOR DUTCH COURAGE Great research and insight make this a supreme football biography. Cool Reviews Excellent insight into this complex character. Nigel Craig, Amazon Reviewer

What would my mother say? How would she want me to handle this situation? How can I make this tough decision and stay true to myself? What would my mother say? Sam Haskell still asks himself these questions every day. When Haskell was young, his devoted mother, Mary, instilled in her son the values of character, faith, and honor by setting an example and asking him to promise to live his life according to her lessons. He did, and those promises have served Haskell consistently from his Mississippi boyhood to his long career at the venerable William Morris Agency in Beverly Hills. In this inspiring memoir full of touching stories and amusing anecdotes, Haskell reveals how he kept his pledge to his mother to live a decent life–even in the shark-infested waters of Hollywood, where he handled the hottest stars and packaged the highest-rated shows–by refusing to become the cliché of an amoral agent. Here is Haskell as a child in Amory, Mississippi (pop. 7,000), discovering the power of hope as he waits for an unlikely visit from the “Cheer Man” (a representative of the detergent company who gave ten dollars to anyone using the brand), learning humility after pursuing an eighth-grade “Good Citizenship” award he cockily assumed he’d win, confronting the complications of human character when a near-fatal car crash exposed his judgmental father’s true nature. Years later, in Hollywood, Haskell would rely on his mother’s teachings–honesty, self-reliance, and belief in God–as he swiftly rose from the William Morris mailroom to eventually become the company’s Worldwide Head of Television. His capacity for friendship and his insistence on living his version of the Golden Rule (being “thoughtfully political”) allowed him to handle various client crises and the tense negotiations that nearly scuttled the last years of Everybody Loves Raymond and the entire existence of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Haskell has achieved success through self-respect, and from his story we learn how we, too, can maintain our dignity when faced with life’s challenges. This stirring memoir is a testament to mothers everywhere who instill in their sons the lasting values they need to become good men and devoted fathers.

When Jose Mourinho realised as a teenager that he was never going to be a great player, he decided he was going to become the best coach in the world. At 47, many would say that he's done that - probably including Mourinho, who has called himself the Special One. From translator and assistant to Sir Bobby Robson at Barcelona, to Champions League-winning manager at Porto and on to turning Chelsea into one of Europe's most successful clubs, followed by Champions League victory at Inter-Milan, and now ready to deliver the same at Real Madrid, Jose Mourinho's ascent has been rapid. Backed by Abramovich's billions, Mourinho weeded out those not fully committed to his methods, made several astute signings and improved the performances of many Chelsea stars. The result: in his first season in 2005, Chelsea won both the Premier League title and the Carling Cup, followed by another title the following season. Mourinho then left for Inter-Milan where he delivered a treble in his second season in charge, and is now tasked with bringing Real Madrid's 'Galacticos' the silverware they crave. Patrick Barclay, award-winning football correspondent of The Times, has written an intelligent, analytical and concise account of the life and psychology of Mourinho. To develop this portrait, he has interviewed those who have worked closely with him, such as Sir Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal, as well as some of the players who provide a revealing insight into what has made Mourinho the most successful manager in the world.

‘A history of modern Spain told through one of world football's most intense rivalries’ Independent ‘Sports Book of the Year’ Sunday Times It’s Messi vs Ronaldo, it’s Catalonia vs Castilla. It’s the nation against the state, freedom fighters vs Franco’s fascists. It’s majestic goals and mesmerising skills, red cards and bench brawls. It’s the best two teams on the planet going face to face and toe to toe. It’s more than a game. It’s a war. It’s Barcelona vs Real Madrid. Only, it’s not that simple. From the wounds left by the civil war to the teams’ recent global domination, historian and expert on Spanish football, Sid Lowe lifts the lid on sport’s greatest rivalry. Lowe has spoken to the biggest names and the forgotten heroes who defined their clubs. Men like Alfredo Di Stéfano and Johan Cruyff as well as the only survivor of the most politically charged game in history, the Barcelona striker who knocked Madrid out of the European Cup for the first time ever, and the president who celebrated his club’s defining moment by taking a midnight dip in the Thames. By exploring the history, politics, culture, economics and language, while never forgetting the drama on the pitch, Lowe demonstrates the symbiotic nature of the relationship between these two football giants. In doing so he reveals the human story behind this explosive rivalry.

From the post room to the board room, everyone thinks they can be the manager. But how do you manage outrageous talent? What do you do to inspire loyalty from your players? How do you turn around a team in crisis? What's the best way to build long-term success? How can you lead calmly under pressure? The issues are the same whether you're managing a Premier League football team or a FTSE 100 company. Here, for the first time, some 30 of the biggest names in football management reveal just what it takes. With their every act, remark, and success or failure under constant scrutiny from the media and the fans, these managers need to be the most adroit of leaders. In The Manager they explain their methods, offer lessons they've learned along the way, and describe the decisions they make and the leadership they provide. Each chapter tackles a key leadership issue for managers in any walk of life and, in their own words, shows how the experts deal with the challenges they face in an abnormally high-pressure environment. Offering valuable lessons for business leaders and fascinating behind-the-scenes insights for football fans, The Manager is an honest, accessible and unprecedented look at the day-to-day work of these high-profile characters and the world of top-level football management. Featuring: Roy Hodgson, Carlo Ancelotti, Arsène Wenger, Sam Allardyce, Roberto Mancini, José Mourinho, Brendan Rodgers, Harry Redknapp, Sir Alex Ferguson, Walter Smith, Mick McCarthy, Gerard Houllier, Tony Pulis, Martin O'Neill, Neil Warnock, Howard Wilkinson, Kevin Keegan, Dario Gradi, Andre Villas-Boas, David Moyes, Alex McLeish, Hope Powell, Martin Jol, Glenn Hoddle, Chris Hughton, David Platt, Paul Ince, and George Graham.

The first English-language futsal guide covering training, technique and tactics. Many of the top world-class professional football players played Futsal in their youth – Pelé, Luis Figo, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Xavi and Fabregas – and have stated that playing the game made them the great players they are today. Futsal is an exciting, fast moving game of technique, skill, tactics and physical endeavour. Players take the ultimate challenge by testing their skills under the most intense pressure due to the lack of time and space. Coaches face huge tactical challenges as the game changes minute by minute. It is for these reasons that Futsal has taken a huge grip upon the football landscape and the development of players from grassroots upwards. This book is the ideal book to assist players and coaches in honing their futsal skills and techniques. If you want to be the new Messi, Ronaldo or Fabregas, can you afford not to read this book?