The Best Soccer Books – Part 1

What could be better to relax with a soccer book and enjoy stories about one of the most beautiful sports in the world?

This article provides an overview of the best soccer books.

A Season With Verona – Tim Sparks

In the book ‘A Season With Verona’, author Tim Sparks takes the reader on a tour of Italy, sharing a season with his adopted home team Hellas Verona in the highest Italian soccer league, the Serie A. This soccer book is a personal account of Tim Spark’s relationship with Italy, the Italians and the love for Italy’s national sport. Sparks followed Hellas Verona to home- and away matches, documenting each game. This book is absolutely a must for every soccer fan!

The Miracle of Castel di Sangro – Joe McGinniss

If you are interested in Italian soccer and the passion of the Italians for this sport, then you should read, besides ‘A Season With Verona’, Joe McGinniss’ The Miracle of Castel di Sangro: A Tale of Passion and Folly in the Heart of Italy.

Master storyteller Joe McGinniss follows the soccer team of the remote village of Castel di Sangro, which miraculously reached the Serie B, the one but highest league in Italy. This book gives a very interesting insight in the team, the absurd characters, the special bond McGinniss develops with the team, the village and the country.   

Fever Pitch – Nick Hornby

Fever Pitch is one of the most famous soccer books in the world. This award-winning bestseller gives the reader a remarkable and humorous insight in the British obsession for soccer. Soccer fanatic Nick Hornby tells about matches during his childhood, young adulthood and manhood. This book touches the various areas of soccer, such as the chants at the games, travelling to games in prison-like trains, hooliganism and drinking giant cans of warm beer. If you are not a soccer fan yet, then you will be after reading this book!

Football Against The Enemy – Simon Kuper

Journalist Simon Kuper traveled to 22 countries, including the United States, South Africa, Russia and Italy, to find out how soccer relates to politics and culture.

During his travels he met a remarkable group of soccer players, politicians and soccer fans, who all explained what role soccer plays in their country and in their lives.

Kuper also tried to find out what the background is of the country’s distinctive style of playing, why is the frivolous Brazilian style completely different to the cautious Italian style?

If you are a fan of the most popular sport in the world, then you should absolutely read this soccer book!

The Fix – Soccer and Organized Crime – Declan Hill

Investigative journalist Declan Hill tells his story of match fixing in professional soccer. This well-researched soccer book gives an intriguing insight into the unseen and dark side of soccer. Hill gives the readers a good sense as to how gangsters and bookies have managed to penetrate deeply into the world of soccer and how lowly-paid players always have been susceptible to bribery.

As soon as you start reading, it is difficult to put this compelling soccer book down. The Fix – Soccer and Organized Crime might also shock true fans how widespread match fixing is in the world of soccer.

If you are interested in soccer books, then please make sure to read The Best Soccer Books – Part 2 as well.