How to Be a Footballer


Book Description

'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?




How Not to Be a Professional Footballer


Book Description

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’.




The Footballer's Journey


Book Description

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




Becoming a Pro Football Player


Book Description

Countless young football players dream of breaking into the NFL and scoring the winning touchdown of the Super Bowl. Those on their way to the pros and those who just want to know more about athletes' journeys will appreciate an insider's look at the training and perseverance needed to make it big. Youth, high school, and college teams, the NFL Draft, and women's football are some of the topics covered in this well-researched volume. Readers will love both the appealing text as well as the action-packed color photographs of their favorite players.




The Stupid Footballer is Dead


Book Description

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.




Not for Long


Book Description

The NFL is the most popular professional sports league in the United States. Its athletes receive multimillion-dollar contracts and almost endless media attention. The league's most important game, the Super Bowl, is practically a national holiday. Making it to the NFL, however, is not about the promised land of fame and fortune. Robert W. Turner II draws on his personal experience as a former professional football player as well as interviews with more than 140 current and former NFL players to reveal what it means to be an athlete in the NFL and explain why so many players struggle with life after football. Without guaranteed contracts, the majority of players are forced out of the league after a few seasons. Over three-quarters of retirees experience bankruptcy or financial ruin, two-thirds live with chronic pain, and too many find themselves on the wrong side of the law. Robert W. Turner II argues that the fall from grace of so many players is no accident. The NFL, he contends, powerfully determines their experiences in and out of the league. The labor agreement provides little job security and few health and retirement benefits, and the owners refuse to share power with the players, making change difficult. And the process of becoming an elite football player--from high school to college and through the pros--leaves athletes with few marketable skills and little preparation for their first Sunday off the field. With compassion and objectivity, Not for Long reveals the life and mind of high school, college, and NFL athletes, shedding light on what might best help players transition successfully out of the sport.




How to Be a Better Footballer


Book Description

'Passion, positivity and precision ... and always be willing to learn something new.' Athlete Andrew Henderson was just sixteen years old when a horrific rugby injury put paid to his career in the game. So he turned his attention to football - more specifically, freestyling football skills - and never looked back. Now a five-time World Freestyling Champion and the UK Freestyle football champion for eight years running, in this unique manual Andrew brings together all his expertise and advice to help make you a better footballer. Packed with step-by-step skill tutorials, tricks, tips and guidance, Andrew also reveals how hard work, dedication and flair allowed him to become a master on the football pitch and beyond. Having worked with Cristiano Ronaldo, impressed the likes of David Beckham and Neymar, to performing at the opening ceremonies of the Olympics and various World Cups around the world, he is now sharing all his secrets and famous freestyling skills to help you improve your football techniques and take them onto the pitch. Interspersed with the jaw-dropping tricks, guidance on tackling, fundamental skills and tips on advancing your expertise, Andrew's passionate advice about following a dream and overcoming adversity prove that both enthusiasm and patience play a major part in any sporting arena. This isn't only about teaching the physical elements but learning from a master about how to focus your mentality to bring flair, passion and precision to your game.




The Complete Guide to Become a Professional Soccer Player


Book Description

Professional soccer is an exciting and challenging sport to play. It also gives players the chance to proudly represent their country and heritage as they travel around the world. However, the ability to become a professional soccer player takes hard work, discipline, and dedication to the sport. You need to learn to be fast, flexible and focused on a soccer field while thousands of people are watching every move you make. This will require you to obtain extensive knowledge and training from someone who is an experienced soccer player and knows everything there is to know about the game. This book was written by such a person. The information you are about to read will advise you on all aspects of how to become a professional soccer player. You will first learn about the elements needed to become a successful soccer player and then how to market yourself as an agent. The four main elements of soccer success are having physical readiness, tactical & technical competence, mental strength, and nutrition. These elements all play a role in making you an outstanding soccer player out on the field. Obviously, you will need to be physically ready if you're going to be able to handle the intense physical exertion that soccer entails. This will involve performing vigorous exercise training regimens to get you in top shape for the game. Tactical & technical competence is about understanding the various soccer positions and how they are useful for your team. These positions include forward, striker, left midfielder, right midfielder, stopper, defensive midfielder, goalie, and more. The book will teach you how to build mental strength to enhance your cognitive flexibility and responsiveness, which are skills needed in soccer. Most importantly, there will be great emphasis placed on the importance of good nutrition. After all, a professional athlete must maintain a strict nutritious diet if they are going to excel at soccer. Once you learn the best foods to eat and when to eat them, you will have more energy and strength on the field. Remember that professional soccer is a business like anything else. You may have fun playing the game but as a player, you will be the employee of the team owner or manager. If you want to get hired by a team and go play for them, you basically need to market yourself as if you're applying for a job. This means creating a resume that outlines your experience and skills in all types of athletics. By the time you finish reading this book, you will know what it takes to become a professional soccer player. You might decide that you've got what it takes to succeed as a player or you may not. Either way, let this book guide you along the way.




The Work of Professional Football


Book Description

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.




The Path - The Ultimate Guide To Becoming Professional Footballer


Book Description

WOW! Becoming a Professional Footballer, Isn't that like every baller's dream? The knowledge in this eBook is the next level if going pro is your dream. You'll get all the tools it takes to reach your goals in the form of a step by step guide. I wish I knew what I know now. If I did, my time on the professional scene would have continued longer than it did. Luckily for you, I believe in destiny, and honestly, I think I am destined to share this information with you. Players are going pro all over the world, and it about time you get your time in the limelight. There are professional leagues of all divisions, any all most every country you can think of, so let's get your foot through the door. Bonus Items Included: Pro Player CV Template Pro Player CV Example Pro Player Cover Letter Home Training Year Planner