What to read about soccer? 5 books that will reveal a different side of soccer geniuses

Soccer is a game that the whole world watches with bated breath. Spectacular matches, devoted fans, great teams and athletes that endlessly fascinate. Together with the largest book service LitRes, we have made a selection of books that will help you understand the secrets of success of legendary soccer players and coaches.

Lena Tarasova

editor of non-fiction direction of LitRes Group of Companies

Tells you what to read if soccer is your thing.

“Lev Yashin. Goalkeeper of my dreams”, Valery Zhmak

The life story of the greatest goalkeeper of world soccer resembles a sharp drama. The legendary Lev Yashin was one of the first goalkeepers in the USSR, who began to play also as a defender.

Thanks to his new flawlessly honed technique, he was nicknamed the Black Spider, which figuratively characterizes his impenetrable defense and multifunctionality on the field. The book is about the most important match in the life of the great athlete.

They are woven into one big red-and-white part of the history of Russian soccer, which, despite difficult periods, retains its unchanging “Spartak spirit.”

“Leonid Slutsky. Coach from the neighboring yard”, Igor Rabiner

Almost the best Russian sports journalist collected in his book little-known facts from the life of the head coach of CSKA and the Russian national soccer team Leonid Slutsky. For example, about his work in Volgograd “Olimpia”, where he coached the boys, two of whom became bronze medalists of Euro-2008, about the betrayal of his best friend, about the peculiarities of his coaching style.

To learn about it, the author of the book talked to more than ten interlocutors – from Slutsky himself and his mother to CSKA president Yevgeny Giner. The text is accompanied by unique photos from the personal archive of the first national team coach in history who did not play at the professional level.

“Win at all costs”, Steven Gerrard

Legendary Liverpool player and England captain Steven Gerrard wrote this autobiography to share the secrets of his sporting successes, recount the reasons for his mistakes and recognize outstanding colleagues on the field – from Luis Suarez to Jose Mourinho.

In this honest book, the footballer for the first time details his 114 games for England, including the World Cup and European Championships, as well as playing for the Liverpool team to which he has dedicated 28 years of his life.

“Pep Guardiola. At the Peak”, Guilhem Balague

One of the strongest coaches in world soccer, Josep Guardiola managed to make Barcelona the strongest team in the world in just four years. How did he manage to find an approach to the legendary Messi? What made him go undefeated in another team and in another country?

The book opens the soccer “behind the scenes” and highlights the hidden sides and unobvious twists in the life of the legendary coach.