'Incredibly well-researched and loaded with modern-day, high-tech football insights' – Tony Strudwick, Head of Performance, Wales national football team Professional football is more demanding than ever. Top internationals reach speeds of 36km/hr, run 12km each match and play up to 60 games each season. Sports scientists are now key figures at every top club, applying cutting-edge techniques to boost fitness, accelerate recovery and forge lean, mean, winning machines. This illuminating book uncovers the training and fuelling secrets of today's greatest footballers, drawing on access to the world's best clubs, including Barcelona, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and many more. Why does Cristiano Ronaldo have his own cryotherapy chamber? Why does Paul Pogba wear custom-made compression socks? Why does Sergio Agüero altitude-train when returning from injury? From virtual-reality units to the omnipresence of GPS vests, taking in brain-training, innovative gear and performance nutrition along the way, you'll discover what it takes to reach the top of the game – and how to apply this knowledge to your own training.

Who is the greatest ever footballer? Pele? Maradona? Cruyff? Who is the greatest ever British footballer? Charlton? Best? Dalglish? Who is the country's greatest defender, midfielder, goalkeeper? What are the greatest teams fielded by every club in the English and Scottish leagues? And what is the greatest international team of all time? How do you decide? Well, the facts don't lie. Based on a unique and comprehensive network of national and international football databases, compiled by football statisticians across the globe, each player is awarded points (for games played for both club and country) according to a series of criteria, such as win, lose, draw, whether they scored, goals conceded, captaincy, etc. Points accumulated for each game are also weighted in line with the competition in which the game featured and the quality of the opponents played. Each player's points are then fed through to the Greatest Ever compilers who update their lists on a weekly basis. The end result is the only objective, comprehensive and incontrovertible record of who are the greatest talents ever to have graced the beautiful game.

Who is the greatest ever footballer? Pele? Maradona? Cruyff? Who is the greatest ever British footballer? Charlton? Best? Dalglish? Who is the country's greatest defender, midfielder, goalkeeper? What are the greatest teams fielded by every club in the English and Scottish leagues? And what is the greatest international team of all time? How do you decide? Well, the facts don't lie. Based on a unique and comprehensive network of national and international football databases, compiled by football statisticians across the globe, each player is awarded points (for games played for both club and country) according to a series of criteria, such as win, lose, draw, whether they scored, goals conceded, captaincy, etc. Points accumulated for each game are also weighted in line with the competition in which the game featured and the quality of the opponents played. Each player's points are then fed through to the Greatest Ever compilers who update their lists on a weekly basis. The end result is the only objective, comprehensive and incontrovertible record of who are the greatest talents ever to have graced the beautiful game.

This title will introduce you to Pelé, Mia Hamm, Lionel Messi, and more of the all-time greatest players in soccer. Complete with action-packed stories of their most memorable moments, spotlight stats, information boxes, a glossary, additional resources and more. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. SportsZone is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.

One of the greatest players of all time, Duncan Edwards's story is one of tragic heroism. From a working class Dudley upbringing, Edwards rose to great heights at Manchester United. In only five years, he helped United to win two League Championships and to reach the semi-finals of the European Cup. Edwards made his England debut in a game against Scotland at the age of 18 years and 183 days, becoming the youngest player for England since WW2 - a record which stood until Michael Owen's debut over forty years later. He went on to play 18 games for his country, including all four of the qualifying matched for the 1958 World Cup, in which he was expected to be a key player. Sir Bobby Charlton described him as 'the only player that made me feel inferior' and Terry Venables claimed that, had he lived, it would have been Edwards, not Bobby Moore, who would have lifted the World Cup as captain in 1966. Page-turning and poignant, author James Leighton tells a story of a magnificent sportsman and great man - the perfect antidote to the headline-grabbing footballers of today.

What does it take to be the best? This book has selected the 25 greatest footballers of all time. It will take you on a step-by-step guide through their illustrious careers, starting with their childhood, and then taking you through their playing days, making sure to highlight all of the countless records that they set along the way. Being called one of the GOAT's (Greatest of All Time) is a very big claim to make and there are many factors that must be ticked for a player to even be considered in this bracket. It is not just about the number of goals scored over their careers, or the number of trophies won, but it is also about their ability to be a great leader in the team, to step up in the big games, and to leave a legacy upon the great sport of football. All of these factors have been carefully analysed to select 25 players who have shone above the rest, ranging from players of the 1950's, to players who are still playing today. Learning about the best of the best is crucial to becoming a better footballer yourself. Who knows, maybe in the future you will be replacing one of these footballers as a legend yourself. Suitable for kids aged 7+