So I've only been following soccer with any depth for the past 6 years and I'm really interested in the history of the sport but have no real knowledge of it. For example, all I knew about Zinedine Zidan was that he headbutted the crap out Marco Matterazzi. I had no idea he was one of the greatest players to ever play the game. Messi breaking Gerd Muller's (another person I'd never heard of) goal record has really peaked my interest to actually learn about the past greats and such. I was hoping some of you folks could point me in the right direction? I'm a reader so books would be preferred, but I'll take whatever you've got.
That's a great read. I'd also recommend How Soccer Explains the World. Both of those books provide good overviews. For some more specific topics: Fever Pitch - fiction by Nick Hornby, but, for me, really gets to what soccer club fandom is about Soccer in Sun and Shadow - by Eduardo Galeano; offers a different take on soccer fandom, much less about being a fan of a club Among the Thugs - yet another take on soccer fandom Dynamo: Triumph and Tragedy in Nazi Occupied Kiev - you really have to like history for this one, but if you do, it's a great read about the Dynamo players in Kiev during WWII and their famous game against the Germans Morbo - good read on Spanish soccer; gets into the intersection of history and soccer in Spain; another good read if you like history Brilliant Orange - interesting view of Dutch soccer, and their culture generally
Tor! The Story of German Football by Uli Hesse-Lichtenberger and Winning at all Costs (about Italian Calcio) by John Foot are good reads as well for historical context.
I'd also recommend for free reading up on some threads on BigSoccer - The Beautiful game https://www.bigsoccer.com/community/forums/the-beautiful-game.24/ I think they even have a great players or history sub-forum. Sometimes even drafts of greatest players in history with quality descriptions of why they chose a particular player.
How Soccer Explains the World is ********ing cool as shit. If you're gonna be at the game tomorrow, I'll meet you up and take a book or two for you.
That's one I never got around to reading. I don't get around to reading books much at all these days, but I thought the movie did a good job of capturing what it's like to be a soccer fan. Or a sports fan in general. It reminded me of some of the things I went through with the Houston Rockets in 1994 and prior years. This is another one I never got around to reading, but have heard good things about: http://www.amazon.com/Miracle-Castel-Sangro-Passion-Folly/dp/0767905997
The History of Football - The Beautiful Game (over here it is called The History of Soccer) http://www.amazon.com/History-Socce...5239212&sr=8-1&keywords=the+history+of+soccer Has some early (and I mean 100 years old) footage of stuff from 1897 and the first ever FA Cup final (spurs vs. Sheffield - 1901). Not too much on US other than to mention the Cosmo's period. But a great 7 DVD set on World Soccer. The Ball is Round - Still reading it. One Night in May - The story of the UEFA Champions League Final between Liverpool and AC Milan in Istanbul 2005. You don't have to be a Liverpool fan to watch this as it is more about the supporters who traveled to the game. http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3A6B755E77DA71A3
^^^ drama queen. also, youtube is your friend. i used to be an avid VHS collector of old games, but i lent so many out and never got them back before the technology became outdated. i was lucky to be born in 1972 and got to see a great cross section of 'greatest evahs' and now all their greatest plays can be found online. youtube Michel Platini, my personal favorite, if he's in a suit and tie you're in the wrong video. ps - English football sucks. don't let anyone let tell you any different.
For individual players there's a pretty good series called "Football's Greatest" that you can find on youtube. They're basically 30 minute documentaries about different players. You can also find various classic games on the net.
One not mentioned yet is "The Miracle of Castel di Sangro." Its a nice read about Italian soccer when players like Baggio were running rampant. Something of a golden age, from the viewpoint of a guy living in a tiny village in Italy: http://www.amazon.com/The-Miracle-C...9&sr=8-1&keywords=miracle+of+castel+di+sangro
has anyone read this? I didn't grow up playing so I've always struggled when conversation turns super strategic and technical. Think this would give me a solid tactical foundation? Plenty of diagrams? OFFSEASON BOOK CLUB!!! Let's get together at Nigel's house for wine, h'orderves, and discuss the intricacies of the 4-2-3-1!
Once in a Lifetime will really explain the NASL and soccer in the history of soccer in America-and why MLS is and will be the way it is. It's a must for anyone who keeps arguing all of this Euro, this is the way the rest of the world does it, crap.
A couple of movies came to mind. I can't vouch for their historical accuracy, but I enjoyed them as films. A look at Brian Clough's short stint as Leeds United's manager.
Milagro de Castle Di Sangro is terrific, an old fart, Baby Boomer spends an entire season living in the town of a Serie C club. He got to know the game and his experience living in that small town and journey with the team towards promotion is a great read. Once In a Lifetime sets the stage of what the NASL was, then Pele n the Cosmos and the downfall of the league. As far as video goes, the ESPN 30 for 30 on Pablo Escobar and Escobar the Colombian captain at USA'94 is a MUST see. The book, turned movie, Miracle on Grass/Game of Their Lives, about our 1950 World Cup team that would find a way to defeat England in their first ever World Cup even though we sent dishwashers, mail men and WWII combat veterans is a great read/view.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0429743/ I rented this one at Blockbuster a few years back. Not much there in terms of soccer history. But it was an amusing romantic comedy about what happens when a Corinthians supporter falls for a Palmeiras fan.
i loved 'The Damned United'. that's how i remember The Football League before it went biggest show on earth on us. my brother has been raving about this book. i haven't read it yet as i'm waiting for a long trip to read in one sitting. supposedly its that good.