Curious about the most compelling soccer reads that encompass both fictional and non-fictional narratives? We have delved into an impressive 156 top-notch soccer books, compiling and structuring them to cater to that exact query.
The following rundown highlights the top-rated 16 titles that have graced three or more highly esteemed “Best Soccer” book lists. These books also present the reader with a unique insight into the world of football, with a varied ranking system based on the number of appearances on different lists. The remaining, meticulously researched 125+ titles are sorted alphabetically at the conclusion of the article.
While this topic delves into the world of sports literature, readers seeking a different genre may also be interested in exploring the finest works by Elizabeth Strout, a celebrated author known for her captivating novels.
16 Exceptional Soccer Books to Dive Into
“A Life Too Short: The Tragedy of Robert Enke” by Ronald Reng
This award-winning biography delves into the life of Robert Enke, a professional goalkeeper who had an enviable career but battled personal demons. Ronald Reng, a celebrated writer, uncovers the challenges and fears that top-level athletes face, providing a poignant narrative of Enke’s life and tragic end.
“All Played Out” by Pete Davies
The book offers an inside look at the transformative world of football post-Italia ’90, a time marked by significant cultural and emotional shifts in the sport. Pete Davies provides an unfiltered account of the England squad, exploring the lives, hopes, and fears of players, fans, and other key figures in football.
“Brilliant Orange” by David Winner
This book examines the unique and influential Dutch football culture, tracing its evolution from the birth of Total Football to its impact on international clubs. David Winner explores how the Netherlands’ football style reflects its culture and history, with a blend of skills, tactics, and creativity.
“Football Against the Enemy” by Simon Kuper
Simon Kuper’s global journey across twenty-two countries reveals the profound impact soccer has on politics and culture. The book is a compelling exploration of the game’s varied manifestations worldwide, highlighting its role as an international language and its intersection with political events.
“Morbo” by Phil Ball
“Morbo: The Fierce Rivalry in Spanish Football” written by English author Phil Ball delves deep into the rich history of Spanish football, masterfully contextualizing it through the lens of the enigmatic term “morbo.” While challenging to translate precisely, Ball dedicates a chapter to unravel its full meaning. “Morbo” encapsulates the intense rivalry ingrained in the club scene, a rivalry shaped by history, language, and politics. While the fierce Barcelona vs. Real Madrid rivalry is widely known, this book reveals it as just one facet of a broader landscape of animosity.
Ball’s narrative extends its focus to regions like the Basque country in the northwest and Seville in the south, highlighting their contributions to the essence of “morbo.” The book immerses readers in the palpable emotions of this rivalry while providing historical context. Notably, it traces Spanish football’s roots back to English-owned copper mines in Huelva, Andalucia, where laborers played a role in its early development.
Throughout its pages, “Morbo” showcases that Spanish club football is more than just its star players, from Di Stefano to Raul and Luis Figo. It reveals a deeper force coursing through its veins. However, a paradox remains: Ball also explores the historical underachievement of the Spanish national team in major international tournaments. In contrast to the excellence of Spanish club football, the book raises thought-provoking questions. In the new millennium, books like “Brilliant Orange” and “Le Foot” have offered similar explorations of football culture in Holland and France, but “Morbo” adds its unique Spanish perspective.
“The Fix: Soccer and Organized Crime” by Declan Hill
In “The Fix: Soccer and Organized Crime,” journalist Declan Hill takes readers on a perilous journey across Asia, Europe, and the World Cups as he risks his life to interview ruthless mobsters and manipulative intermediaries. These sinister figures lavish gifts, women, and envelopes filled with cash, often referred to as “shopping and coffee money,” on players, referees, and staff. Hill, an Oxford academic, uncovers unsettling statistics that suggest fixed games with more red cards, early goals, and suspicious “nap” periods.
Hill doesn’t stop at exposing the dark side of the beautiful game; he offers solutions. He advocates for measures like increasing the presence of women and professional referees, providing better pensions and education benefits for players, and establishing integrity units within soccer associations, staffed by former policemen. In a world tainted by organized crime, “The Fix” shines a light on the need for reform and integrity in the sport.
“Among the Thugs” by Bill Buford
Bill Buford, editor of the prestigious journal Granta, ventures into a parallel society populated by characters with names like Barmy Bernie, Daft Donald, and Steamin’ Sammy. They share a deep passion for lager, the Queen, football clubs (with a particular affinity for Manchester United), and, most prominently, themselves. Their disdain extends far beyond ordinary limits, manifesting in acts ranging from mere vandalism to full-scale riots that send shockwaves through entire cities.
Buford’s “Among the Thugs” offers a captivating exploration of this alternate society, capturing both its savagery and its sinister allure. His approach combines the social insight of George Orwell with the immersive, personal engagement of Hunter S. Thompson. As he delves into the world of England’s soccer hooligans, Buford paints a vivid picture of a subculture where raw emotion and violence collide with an unsettling fascination.
“The Damned United” by David Pearce
“The Damned United” narrates the tumultuous saga of the legendary Clough’s eventful forty-four days as he endeavored to reform a deeply corrupted institution, all while steadfastly refusing to succumb to corruption himself. This gripping story unfurls the challenges he faced, including recalcitrant players, complacent management that turned a blind eye, and the unwavering support of his wife and friends as he valiantly fought to uphold his principles and do what he believed to be right.
“Why Soccer Matters” by Pelé and Brian Winter
Soccer, known as football in many parts of the world, is a sport with various names but a universal appeal. For decades, fans worldwide unanimously agreed that Pelé was the greatest player of all time. In “Why Soccer Matters,” the iconic star, renowned ambassador, and humanitarian shares a global perspective on the transformative power of the game. Pelé, born Edson Arantes do Nascimento, is a national treasure known for his magical feats on the field, including an unprecedented three World Cup championships and a remarkable all-time scoring record of 1,283 goals in his illustrious twenty-year career.
As the World Cup returns to Brazil after more than six decades, Pelé, the tournament’s official ambassador, seizes a unique opportunity to advocate for positive change on a global scale through soccer. Drawing on his extensive travels as a global soccer ambassador and his involvement with charitable organizations like Unicef, Pelé explores the game’s potential to inspire and uplift young men and women, struggling communities, and entire nations. With candidness and rich storytelling, he shares his most inspiring experiences, heartwarming anecdotes, and valuable insights, placing the beautiful game in a broader context. “Why Soccer Matters” is not just Pelé’s legacy but also his way of passing on the wisdom he’s acquired to inspire a new generation and outline his ambitious goals for the future of the sport and, by extension, the world.
“How Soccer Explains the World: An Unlikely Theory of Globalization” by Franklin Foer
Soccer transcends being merely a game; it serves as a compelling window into the complex currents of today’s global landscape, encompassing both its triumphs and tribulations. In the remarkable work of reportage that is “How Soccer Explains the World,” Franklin Foer embarks on an eye-opening journey through the realm of soccer, illuminating the interplay of civilizations, the dynamics of the international economy, and virtually everything in between. This book presents an original and insightful perspective, helping us make sense of the multifaceted issues of our contemporary era by using soccer as a lens through which to view them. Franklin Foer’s narrative offers an astute exploration of the profound connections between the world of soccer and the larger global context, revealing the sport’s capacity to offer profound insights into our complex times.
“The Miracle of Castel di Sangro” by Joe McGinniss
“The Miracle of Castel di Sangro” takes readers on an extraordinary journey as master storyteller Joe McGinniss ventures to Italy to chronicle the unlikely rise of a ragtag minor league soccer team. What begins as a journalistic assignment to cover the village of Castel di Sangro’s soccer team’s sudden ascent to the second-highest-ranking professional league in Italy turns into an unforgettable odyssey through an off-the-beaten-track Italian village.
Amidst the captivating backdrop of Castel di Sangro, McGinniss becomes entangled with a cast of characters that defy imagination. There’s the team’s owner, a figure straight out of a Mario Puzo novel, and coach Osvaldo Jaconi, whose mastery of the English language is encapsulated in a single word: “bulldozer.” As the tumultuous and electrifying season unfolds, McGinniss forges deep connections with the team, the village, its inhabitants, and the essence of Italy itself. “The Miracle of Castel di Sangro” is more than a soccer story; it’s an exploration of life in an Italian village that will resonate with readers far beyond the realm of sports.
“Inverting the Pyramid” by Jonathan Wilson
Soccer enthusiasts relish debating the strategic decisions made by managers, and “Inverting the Pyramid” offers an enthralling exploration of the global history of soccer tactics. Jonathan Wilson, an erudite writer with a keen eye for detail and a knack for weaving a grand narrative, embarks on a journey that spans from the modern pioneers of tactical innovation to the sport’s chaotic beginnings.
As Wilson delves into the evolution of soccer tactics, he introduces readers to the brilliant minds of great players and thinkers who have profoundly shaped the game. Along the way, he probes the intriguing question of why the English, in particular, have exhibited a reluctance to embrace abstract concepts in soccer strategy. “Inverting the Pyramid” stands as a modern classic of soccer literature, a book that beckons followers of the game to revisit its pages time and again.
“Soccernomics” by Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski
“Soccernomics” tackles the burning questions that have long intrigued soccer aficionados: Why do England struggle? Why does Scotland underperform? Why hasn’t America achieved international dominance in the sport, and what’s behind the Germans’ efficient yet robotic playing style? In this engaging exploration, Soccernomics provides answers by employing insights and analogies from economics, statistics, psychology, and business to shed fresh and entertaining light on the inner workings of soccer.
The book ventures beyond the obvious to unveil the often counterintuitive truths about the world’s most beloved sport. Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski’s innovative approach enriches readers’ understanding of soccer’s intricate dynamics, leaving them with a deeper appreciation of the beautiful game. Whether you’re a dedicated fan or a casual observer, Soccernomics offers an enlightening and thought-provoking perspective on the sport we all cherish.
“The Ball is Round: A Global History of Soccer” by David Goldblatt
“The Ball is Round: A Global History of Soccer” stands as the definitive exploration of the world’s most beloved sport. With a new foreword tailored for the American audience, this book delves deep into the heart of soccer, a cultural practice that transcends borders and unites people worldwide. While birth and marriage rituals vary across cultures, the rules of soccer remain universally understood. Few, if any, world religions can claim the same geographical reach as this beautiful game. The pinnacle of shared human experience is the World Cup final, a global spectacle that captivates millions.
In this remarkable tour de force, David Goldblatt takes readers on an extraordinary journey, tracing soccer’s evolution from a chaotic folk ritual to the pinnacle of global sportsmanship. The narrative not only highlights soccer’s pivotal role in the political and social histories of modern societies but also immerses readers in the sheer beauty, joy, and exhilaration that define the essence of the sport. As soccer gains momentum in the United States, “The Ball is Round” provides invaluable insights into its past, present, and future.
“Fever Pitch” by Nick Hornby
In the United States, it’s known as soccer, but in Great Britain, it’s the real football – a sport played without padding, prayers, or mercy. Before the players even step onto the field, the intensity of football fandom in the UK is unparalleled. Nick Hornby, a lifelong football enthusiast, pays homage to his enduring passion in “Fever Pitch.” Part autobiography, part comedy, and part astute analysis of madness, Hornby’s award-winning memoir encapsulates the feverish intensity of being a football fan.
“Fever Pitch” is not just a celebration of the sport; it’s an exploration of the agony and ecstasy that accompanies it, the sense of belonging to a community, and its profound impact on the coming-of-age stories of countless young men. This memoir is a love letter to the home team but resonates with anyone who understands the true essence of enduring a losing season.
“Soccer in Sun and Shadow” by Eduardo Galeano
“Soccer in Sun and Shadow” presents Eduardo Galeano’s captivating commentary on the rich history and intricate politics of soccer. This timeless work now features newly written material, including insights on the 2002 World Cup, a global event that captured the attention of a quarter of the world’s population. Galeano’s narrative spans a wide spectrum of topics, from the tragic events of 9/11 to the poignant tale of the sole survivor of an extraordinary match between British and German soldiers in 1915.
The book ventures into territories as diverse as the rise of robotic soccer in Japan, the mass-production of the game as a symbol of civilization’s decline, and the remarkable achievements of nations like Senegal and Turkey on the world stage. Galeano also delves into the epic rivalry between sportswear giants Nike and Adidas. “Soccer in Sun and Shadow” is a captivating exploration of the sport’s impact on the human experience, blending history, politics, and the sheer magic of the game itself.
Soccer Lit: 125+ Nonfic & Fiction Gems
| Books | Authors | Lists |
|---|---|---|
| Beyond Lucky | Sarah Aronson | Book Riot, Softonic |
| Booked | Kwame Alexander | Book Riot, Washington Post |
| Breakaway: Beyond the Goal | Alex Morgan | Book Riot, Soccer Pursuits |
| Captain Awesome, Soccer Star | Stan Kirby | Softonic, We Are Teachers |
| Das Reboot: How German Soccer Reinvented Itself and Conquered the World | Book List Reader, Washington Post | |
| Fear and Loathing in La Liga | Sid Lowe | BuzzFeed, The Daily Beast |
| Football Clichés: Decoding the Oddball Phrases, Colorful Gestures, and Unwritten Rules of Soccer across the Pond | Book List Reader, Signature Reads | |
| Forward: A Memoir | Book List Reader, Signature Reads | |
| Futebol- The Brazilian Way of Life | Alex Bellos | Football History, The False 9 |
| God Is Round | Juan Villoro | Book List Reader, Remezcla |
| How to Watch Soccer | Book List Reader, Signature Reads | |
| I Am Zlatan | Zlatan Ibrahimovic | BuzzFeed, Football History |
| Masters of Modern Soccer: How the World’s Best Play the Twenty-First-Century Game | Book List Reader, Signature Reads | |
| Men in Blazers Present Encyclopedia Blazertannica | Book List Reader, Signature Reads | |
| My Father and Other Working Class Heroes | Gary Imlach | BuzzFeed, Football History |
| Now Is the Time for Running | Michael Williams | Book Riot, Softonic |
| Outcasts United: A Refugee Team, an American Town | Warren St. John | Book Riot, Read Brightly |
| Pelé, King of Soccer | Monica Brown | Read Brightly, We Are Teachers |
| Seeing Red | The False 9, World Soccer Talk | |
| Soccer Hero | Matt Christopher | Softonic, We Are Teachers |
| Soccer In A Football World | David Wangerin | BuzzFeed, World Soccer Talk |
| The Beckham Experiment | Grant Wahl | MLS Soccer, World Soccer Talk |
| The Nowhere Men | Michael Calvin | Book List Reader, BuzzFeed |
| The Numbers Game: Why Everything You Know About Soccer Is Wrong | Chris Anderson and David Sully | Football History, Signature Reads |
| Touched By God: How We Won the Mexico ‘86 World Cup | Book List Reader, Signature Reads | |
| Twelve Yards: The Art and Psychology of the Perfect Penalty Kick | Book List Reader, Signature Reads | |
| 43557 | David Thomson | The Daily Beast |
| 61 Minutes in Munich, the autobiography of Liverpool FC’s first black footballer | Howard Gayle | Football History |
| A NATURAL | NY Times | |
| A Season With Verona | World Soccer Talk | |
| Africa United | Rabona 57 | |
| American Huckster | Washington Post | |
| Behind the Curtain | Jonathan Wilson | BuzzFeed |
| Betty Bunny Wants a Goal | Read Brightly, We Are Teachers | |
| Big Kicks | Read Brightly | |
| Bloody Confused | World Soccer Talk | |
| Boy in the Dress | Softonic | |
| Brazil’s Dance with the Devil: The World Cup, The Olympics, and the Fight for Democracy | Dave Zirin | The Daily Beast |
| Bring the Noise: The Jürgen Klopp Story | Book List Reader | |
| Broken Dreams: Vanity, Greed and the Souring of British Football | Tom Bower | Football History |
| Club Soccer 101: The Essential Guide to the Stars, Stats, and Stories of 101 of the Greatest Teams in the World | Luke Dempsey | Football History |
| Coming Out to Play | Signature Reads | |
| Diego Maradona | Mark Weinstein | Remezcla |
| Dino-Soccer | Lisa Wheeler | We Are Teachers |
| Eight World Cups | George Vescey | Mens Journal |
| El Diego: The Autobiography of the World’s Greatest Footballer | Diego Maradona | Football History |
| Everything Your Coach Never Told You Because You’re a Girl: and other truths about winning | Soccer Pursuits | |
| Fearless: The Amazing Underdog Story of Leicester City, the Greatest Miracle in Sports History | Book List Reader | |
| Football Manager Stole My Life | Iain McIntosh, Kenny Miller, and Neil White | BuzzFeed |
| For the Love of Soccer! | Pelé, Frank Morrison | Book Riot |
| Fowler: My Autobiography | Robbie Fowler | BuzzFeed |
| Froggy Plays Soccer | Read Brightly | |
| Futebol Nation: The Story of Brazil through Soccer | David Goldblatt | The Daily Beast |
| Garrincha: The Triumph and Tragedy of Brazil’s Forgotten Footballing Hero | Ruy Castro | Remezcla |
| Goalkeepers Are Different | Brian Glanville | Five Books |
| Golazo!: The Beautiful Game from the Aztecs to the World Cup: The Complete History of How Soccer Shaped Latin America | Andreas Campomar | The Daily Beast |
| Goodfella: My Autobiography | Softonic | |
| Happy Like Soccer | Maribeth Boelts | We Are Teachers |
| Here Goes Nothing | Lincoln Peirce | Book Riot |
| Home and Away: Writing the Beautiful Game | Book List Reader | |
| How to Score: Science and the Beautiful Game | Ken Bra | Football History |
| Hunter & Stripe and the Soccer Showdown | Read Brightly | |
| I Am the Secret Footballer | The Secret Footballer | BuzzFeed |
| I Believe That We Will Win: The Path to a U.S. Men’s World Cup Victory | Book List Reader | |
| I Think Therefore I Play | Rabona 57 | |
| Idols and Underdogs | Washington Post | |
| Immortal: The Biography of George Best | Duncan Hamilton | Football History |
| It’s Hard to Dribble with Your Feet | Val Priebe | We Are Teachers |
| It’s Not the Glory | Washington Post | |
| Kickers #1: The Ball Hogs | Rich Wallace | We Are Teachers |
| King Power | Washington Post | |
| Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of United: An Englishman’s Quest to Remain Connected to “His” Team from the Other Side of the Pond | Book List Reader | |
| Lola Levine Is Not Mean! (Lola Levine #1) | Monica Brown, Angela Dominguez | Book Riot |
| Madlenka Soccer Star | Softonic | |
| Maisy Plays Soccer | Read Brightly | |
| Money and Soccer: A Soccernomics Guide | Book List Reader | |
| MVP #2: The Soccer Surprise | David A. Kelly | We Are Teachers |
| My Favourite Year | World Soccer Talk | |
| My Turn: A Life of Total Football | Book List Reader | |
| Olivia Plays Soccer | Read Brightly | |
| On the Ball | Brian Pinkney | We Are Teachers |
| One Goal: A Coach, a Team, and the Game That Brought a Divided Town Together | Book List Reader | |
| Pep Confidential | Martí Perarnau | BuzzFeed |
| Pinkalicious: Soccer Star | Read Brightly | |
| Play like a Girl: How a Soccer School in Kenya’s Slums Started a Revolution | Book List Reader | |
| Provided You Don’t Kiss Me: 20 Years With Brian Clough | Duncan Hamilton | Football History |
| Red Card: How the U.S. Blew the Whistle on the World’s Biggest Sports Scandal | Book List Reader | |
| Richer Than God: Manchester City, Modern Football and Growing Up | David Conn | Football History |
| Rock ‘n’ Roll Soccer: The Short Life and Fast Times of the North American Soccer League | Book List Reader | |
| Salvajes y Sentimentales | Javier Marías | Remezcla |
| Saving the Team (The Kicks #1) | Alex Morgan, Paula Franco | Book Riot |
| Soccer | Read Brightly | |
| Soccer Against the Enemy | Rabona 57 | |
| Soccer Chick Rules | Softonic | |
| Soccer iQ – Vol. 2: More of What Smart Players Do | Soccer Pursuits | |
| Soccer IQ: Things That Smart Players Do Vol. 1 | Soccer Pursuits | |
| Soccer on a Sunday | Read Brightly | |
| Soccer Tough: Simple Football Psychology Techniques to Improve Your Game | Soccer Pursuits | |
| Soccer under the Swastika: Stories of Survival and Resistance during the Holocaust | Book List Reader | |
| Soccer Without Borders | Washington Post | |
| Soccerland | Softonic | |
| Solo: A Memoir of Hope | Book List Reader | |
| Spotlight Soccer | Ricardo Sanchez | We Are Teachers |
| Stacey the Soccer Fairy | Daisy Meadows | We Are Teachers |
| Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants | World Soccer Talk | |
| Tangerine | Softonic | |
| The Arsenal Yankee | Washington Post | |
| The Away Game: The Epic Search for Soccer’s Next Superstars | Book List Reader | |
| The Boy in the Dress | David Walliams, Quentin Blake | Book Riot |
| The Country of Football: Soccer and the Making of Modern Brazil | Roger Kittleson | The Daily Beast |
| The Fall of the House of FIFA: The Multimillion-Dollar Corruption at the Heart of Global Soccer | Book List Reader | |
| The Flea: The Amazing Story of Leo Messi | Read Brightly | |
| The Football Business | Rabona 57 | |
| The Game of Our Lives: The Meaning and Making of English Football | David Goldblatt | Football History |
| The Goalkeeper Goof | Cari Meister | We Are Teachers |
| The Italian Job | World Soccer Talk | |
| The Kicks Series | Read Brightly | |
| The Language of the Game: How to Understand Soccer | Book List Reader | |
| The Million Dollar Kick | Read Brightly | |
| The Second Most Important Job in the Country | Niall Edworthy | Football History |
| The Simplest Game | Paul Gardner | Mens Journal |
| The Soccer Fence: A Story of Friendship, Hope, and Apartheid in South Africa | Read Brightly | |
| The Soccer War | Ryszard Kapuscinski | Star Tribune |
| The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer | Washington Post | |
| The United States of Soccer: MLS and the Rise of American Soccer Fandom | Book List Reader | |
| The Wild Soccer Bunch Series | Read Brightly | |
| The World is a Ball: The Joy, Madness, and the Meaning of Soccer | World Soccer Talk | |
| This book certainly is a must have for every football tactics fan | The False 9 | |
| This Love Is Not for Cowards | Robert Andrew Powell | Star Tribune |
| Tor!- The Story of German Football | The False 9 | |
| What Is the World Cup? (What was…) | Bonnie Bader | Book Riot |
| What We Think About When We Think About Soccer | Signature Reads | |
| What’s Wrong with US? A Coach’s Blunt Take on the State of American Soccer after a Lifetime on the Touchline | Book List Reader | |
| When Friday Comes | James Montague | BuzzFeed |
| When Nobody Was Watching: My Hard-Fought Journey to the Top of the Soccer World | Book List Reader | |
| Who Invented the Bicycle Kick? Soccer’s Greatest Legends and Lore | Book List Reader | |
| Who Is Pele? (Who Was?) | James Buckley Jr., Andrew Thomson | Book Riot |
| Why Soccer Matters In Latin America | Joshua H. Nadel | Remezcla |
| Winning At All Costs | Rabona 57 | |
| World Cup Fever: A Fanatic’s Guide to the Stars, Teams, Stories, Controversy, and Excitement of Sports’ Greatest Event | Book List Reader |
Conclusion
Football narrates unforgettable stories, reveals intricate strategies, and holds up a mirror to cultures. The featured books in this article provide some of the most significant accounts from the world of soccer, touching on various facets of the sport. From deeply personal stories that center around the game to critical analyses of soccer’s global impact, these books are a treasure trove of knowledge, insights, and vibrant narratives. Immerse yourself in these pages to view the beautiful game from a broader lens and learn about its pervasive influence and power, which transcends mere gameplay to impact societies, cultures and lives across the globe.
