The best football books

In an era where you can watch three football matches at once, soak up hours of podcasts every day and view game highlights from across the globe within a flash, there is often little time to invest in an old-fashioned hardback.

Reading about the beautiful game now feels like a retro pastime, enjoyed by the few rather than the masses. With a sea of bright, shiny content rammed down our throats with every passing Premier League weekend, it's hardly surprising that picking up a book has long been unstylish.

However, those glued to a screen, viewing football through only the echoes of their social media chamber, are missing out. The most captivating stories within the beautiful game are often found on paper.

Here are the best football books out there right now.

Given its relatively new entrance into the mainstream, there certainly isn't an abundance of books regarding women's football. Even fewer that touch on the subject in the detail that it merits. However, A Woman's Game: The Rise, Fall, and Rise Again of Women's Football is the best available to interested audiences.

Written by Guardian journalist Suzanne Wrack, the 2023 book delves deep into the history and origins of women's football, analysing it's difficult journey since the end of the 19th century.

Labelled "a truly important book" by 2019 Ballon d'Or Feminin winner Megan Rapinoe, it details how women's football's enormous popularity was followed by a 50-year ban, and how the modern game inspires a new generation of female football supporters.

Ultra: The Underworld of Italian Football - Tobias Jones

Ultras football culture has long been at the centre of Italian football and the 2019 book Ultra: The Underworld of Italian Football by journalist Tobias Jones offers an unprecedented examination of the phenomenon within one of football's most iconic nations.

Analysing the corruption, violence and far-right politics associated with Italian ultras, as well as discussing the development and philosophies of the culture with members of these groups, Jones provides an eye-opening account of the ultras landscape within Italian football.

Considered the bible of football tactics, systems and formations, Inverting the Pyramid: The History of Football Tactics, written by renowned sports journalist Jonathan Wilson, is a must-read for those interested in the development of the beautiful game on the pitch over the past century.

Originally published back in 2008, the book has received multiple updates and new editions in the subsequent years, most recently reviewed for its 15th-year anniversary in 2023.

A deep dive into how our sport has been altered by pioneers, generational thinkers and influential decision-makers, this book is the perfect read for those interested in the intricacies of football.

The Bottom Corner: Hope, Glory and Non-League Football - Nige Tassell

It's easy to glorify the riches of the Premier League and Champions League, revelling in £100m signings and the glory of the most high-profile players locking horns in cup finals, but elite-level football makes up a miniscule fraction of the game in reality.

The Bottom Corner: Hope, Glory and Non-League Football by Nige Tassell looks towards non-league football and the foot of the pyramid, rather than the dazzling lights of the top-flight. The book takes a journey towards football's soul, analysing the rising importance of the game's amateur and semi-professional ecosystem for everyday supporters.

Andrea Pirlo remains one of football's classiest professionals, not to mention a truly generational talent. In the great midfielder's memoir, I Think Therefore I Play, he tells the story of a sensational career that spanned multiple decades, littered with trophies and memorable moments.

Written as a love letter to football itself, Pirlo, with the help of Italian journalist Alessandro Alciato, details his incredible journey to the pinnacle of football, as well as sharing some notable stories regarding his world-beating teammates for club and country.

Expected Goals: The Story of How Data Conquered Football and Changed the Game Forever - Rory Smith

Nominated for William Hill's Sports Book of the Year award in 2022, Rory Smith's excellent release documents how data has transformed football over recent decades and how it's been adopted by the world's best in their search for glory and dominance both on and off the pitch.

One of the book's main protagonists is Chris Anderson, an academic who had no previous experience in football but saw an opportunity to infiltrate the sport using data analytics to change the way it was perceived and played.

Not many know more about Spanish football than renowned journalist Sid Lowe. The London-born writer has vast experience covering the trials and tribulations of La Liga and beyond, and decided to centre his first book on the famous rivalry between the nations' two biggest sides - Real Madrid and Barcelona.

The 2013 book analyses the history of El Clasico and the fierce hatred involved in Spanish football's - and probably the world's - most influential rivalry. Written with Lowe's characteristic flair and humour, this is an essential one for the bookshelf, especially for those intrigued by the battle between Spain's giants.

How to Watch Football: 62 Rules for Understanding the Beautiful Game, On and Off the Pitch - Tifo, The Athletic

Tifo Football, a popular branch of The Athletic, are known for their entertaining and analytical online videos, but their 2022 book How to Watch Football delves into the game's rulebook, looking at the quirks and inconsistencies of the sport.

Perfect for both aficionados and newcomers, this is an engaging and manageable read for a wide audience, and even those with far-reaching football knowledge are certain to learn a thing or two about the way the game works.

Fever Pitch: A Fan's Life was such a popular release in 1992 that it not only sold over a million copies, it was also the inspiration for two films. Nick Hornby's book quickly captured the attention of audiences across the United Kingdom.

The British author's autobiographical work followed his journey as a lifelong Arsenal supporter, with each chapter centred around a different football match that Hornby attended. The book naturally focuses heavily on Arsenal but it also evaluates and questions what it means to be a football supporter.

Zonal Marking: The Making of Modern European Football - Michael Cox

Another riveting read for those intrigued by football tactics, Michael Cox's Zonal Marking: The Making of Modern European Football looks intensely at the various systems, teams and nations that have dominated the continent over the past century.

From the swashbuckling Real Madrid side of the 1950s and early '60s to the Total Football of Ajax in the 1970s and beyond, the book provides an excellent foundation of knowledge for those less familiar with European football, while also analysing how the game has changed drastically since the advent of the Premier League and Champions League era.

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