Rio Ferdinand - Five Star - The Biography
Rio Ferdinand - Five Star - The Biography

Author: Wensley Clarkson

Publisher: Kings Road Publishing

Published: 2014-10-27

Total Pages: 263

ISBN-13: 1784181250

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'The fascinating story of one of football's most controversial stars' - Daily MailRio Ferdinand established himself as one of the world's top; defenders. He burst on to the pitch at the young age of seventeen, when he made his first-team debut for West Ham, playing alongside other budding talents Frank Lampard and Joe Cole. During his time with the Hammers, the young Ferdinand was honoured to be compared to 1966 World Cup hero Sir Booby Moore, and it wasn't long before he himself was picked to represent England.His performances on the world stage transformed Ferdinand from an emerging force to a fully accomplished international football star. As his reputation soared, so too did his value on the transfer market, and in the summer of 2002 Manchester United signed him for a world-record fee for a defensive player.The path to footballing glory hasn't always been smooth: when he was a young boy his schoolmate Stephen Lawrence was murdered, while in later years his reputation was dented by drink-driving shame and an outrageous holiday in Cyprus. And in 2004 his career faced the ultimate test - having missed a routine drugs test, Ferdinand was banned from professional football for eight months.Yet he came back stronger than ever, becoming a defensive lynchpin at both club and international level. A crucial member of the team, Rio as a player was both controlled and calm in even the most heated of games, while his pace, organisational skills and reading of the game made him one of the strongest team players.This searching biography, described by the Sunday Times on its publication as 'the most exciting sports biography of the year', has been fully revised and updated to take account of Ferdinand's life and career since he retired from professional football. It paints a portrait, not always uncritical, of an extraordinary footballer, but also an extraordinary man who shook up the world of sport and, in his work for charity and as an informed commentator, continues to do so. In doing so, it covers the highs and lows of an illustrious career, revealing all about Ferdinand's extraordinary talent, dedication and ambition.

Thinking Out Loud
Thinking Out Loud

Author: Rio Ferdinand

Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton

Published: 2017-10-03

Total Pages: 211

ISBN-13: 1473670268

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THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLER 'A lacerating account ... painful but necessary' EVENING STANDARD 'Beautiful & significant ... Tackles grief with honesty' DAWN FRENCH 'Very important and moving book' ALASTAIR CAMPBELL 'A searingly honest book. So much of Rio's emotional turmoil and deep loss resonated with me. At the same time I loved his message of hope' GLORIA HUNNIFORD 'Rio's courageous story of life, loss, grief and hope' PRIMA CHRISTMAS GIFT GUIDE, 'Best of the Celebrity Crop' 'Tender, heartbreaking ... An extraordinary and unforgettable book. *****' HEAT * * * * * * 'When Rebecca died, the idea that one day I might begin to feel better would have struck me as laughable ... I know how persuasive this kind of permanence thinking can be. I know too that anyone locked in its grip will laugh if I promise them that their pain will one day ease. It will. Of course it will. But I know better than to expect anyone to believe me.' In 2015, former England football star Rio Ferdinand suddenly and tragically lost his wife and soulmate Rebecca, aged 34, to cancer. It was a profound shock and Rio found himself struggling to cope not just with the pain of his grief, but also with his new role as both mum and dad to their three young children. Rio's BBC1 documentary, Being Mum and Dad, touched everyone who watched it and won huge praise for the honesty and bravery he showed in talking about his emotions and experiences. His book now shares the story of meeting, marrying and losing Rebecca, his own and the family's grief - as well as the advice and support that get him through each day as they strive to piece themselves back together. Thinking Out Loud is written in the hope that he can inspire others struggling with loss and grief to find the help they need through this most difficult of times.

Manchester United: The Biography
Manchester United: The Biography

Author: Jim White

Publisher: Sphere

Published: 2010-10-07

Total Pages: 264

ISBN-13: 0748123326

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75 MILLION FANS. AN ANNUAL INCOME OF MORE THAN £500 MILLION. AND A STORY THAT HAS NEVER FULLY BEEN TOLD - UNTIL NOW. 'A wonderfully entertaining history' Sunday Telegraph 'When historians 1,000 years from now try to fathom the cult of Manchester United Football Club, White will be a good place to start' Financial Times MANCHESTER UNITED: THE BIOGRAPHY contains everything a football fan needs to know about the club, from its birth in the smog-bound mud of Newton Heath to the Theatre of Dreams. From the solid yeomanry of Lancelot Holliday Richardson, through the gilded days of Law, Best and Charlton, to the dazzling artistry of Cristiano Ronaldo and becoming 20-time English football champions. Award-winning journalist and lifelong red Jim White brings the history of this extraordinary club to life - unofficial and unbiased, it is written with the passion of a true fan.

Bale - The Biography of the 100 Million Man
Bale - The Biography of the 100 Million Man

Author: Frank Worrall

Publisher: Kings Road Publishing

Published: 2013-11-04

Total Pages: 252

ISBN-13: 1782198636

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Gareth Bale is one of the most promising young talents in the Premier League, and is regarded as one of Europe's hottest football properties.Born in 1989, Bale first attracted the attention of Southampton FC at the age of just nine. At secondary school, he was such a prodigious talent that his PE teacher, Gwyn Morris, had to impose special restrictions on him to make it fair for the other pupils. After completing his GCSE exams, Bale became the second-youngest player ever to sign for Southampton on 17 April 2006.The Premier League soon came calling and in 2007 Bale signed a four-year deal with Tottenham Hotspur. His career at White Hart Lane didn't get off to the best start, but in late 2009 he seized his chance to secure a regular place in the first team and has since proved to be a top-class footballer with a stunning hat-trick in Tottenham's Europa League tie against Inter Milan at the San Siro and a man-of-the-match performance in the return leg.Bale has unsurprisingly also made several appearances for Wales, and his talent has been compared to that of the legendary Ryan Giggs. He's fast, he's strong, he's an excellent and he scores goals. This is the fascinating biography of Tottenham's latest superstar player.

Soccer Stars
Soccer Stars

Author: Adam Sutherland

Publisher: The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc

Published: 2012-01-15

Total Pages: 26

ISBN-13: 1448871182

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This volume is an engaging look into the lives of soccer stars. Fascinating biographies of the sport's most skilled competitors are accompanied by bright, colorful photographs of players in action. Big names like David Beckham and Christiano Ronaldo are featured alongside other favorites.

Giggsy - The Biography of Ryan Giggs
Giggsy - The Biography of Ryan Giggs

Author: Frank Worrall

Publisher: Kings Road Publishing

Published: 2013-06-03

Total Pages: 304

ISBN-13: 1843583224

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The story of themost decorated player in English soccer history, with 11 Premier League titles, two Champions League victories, and four FA Cup winner's medals to his nameGiggs is an astonishing player with an unparalleled career, and here is his amazing story.By the time he made his Manchester United first team debutat 17, many consideredGiggs to be the greatest talent since George Best. By the advent of the Premier League in 1992, he was firmly established as United's left winger, a position he continued to dominate until late in his career, when Ferguson switched him to a deeper role in central midfield. Famed for his pace and skill on the ball, Giggs has scored vital goals throughout his career, most notably his incredible solo effort in the 1999 FA Cup semi-final replay against Arsenal. He was an integral part of the historic 1999Treble-winning side, and is the onlyMan Uplayer to have played in both the 1999 and 2008 Champions League victories. Giggs eclipsed Bobby Charlton's record in April 2009, when he made his 800th appearance for United. That year also brought his 11th Premier League winner's medal and the PFA Player of the Year award. Giggs has scored nearly 150 goals for United and his incredible record with the club has ensured that he will go down in history as one of United's greatest ever players."

JT- Captain, Leader, Legend: The Biography of John Terry
JT- Captain, Leader, Legend: The Biography of John Terry

Author: Ollie Derbyshire

Publisher: Kings Road Publishing

Published: 2010-11-04

Total Pages: 234

ISBN-13: 1784184845

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John Terry, footballing legend and Chelsea hero, graduated from Chelsea youth academy to become an international star. His imposing strength, natural skill and bulldog spirit have made him the backbone of both Chelsea and England's staunch defences.Born in London, and raised through the Chelsea youth teams, Terry's extraordinary talent soon had him replacing World Cup winner Frank Leboeuf to become a first team favourite amongst the Stamford Bridge faithful. But Terry's progress has not all been plain sailing. In 2002, when he was on the verge of realising his dream of playing for England after some outstanding displays in the under-21 team, he was involved in an incident outside a nightclub. With his career in the balance, Terry battled back and, having been cleared of any charges, he became stronger than ever before.Now an indomitable force in the national side, Terry was a fundamental figure in England's 2006 World Cup campaign, and one of the few players actually to enhance his reputation in the tournament. Handed the captain's armband under Jose Mourinho's inspirational new regime, backed by Roman Abramovich's formidable buying power, Terry is proof that some qualities simply can't be bought. A bid from rivals Manchester City in 2009 would lead nowehere: Terry is Chelsea through and through.Leading the Blues to win the FA Cup in 2009, along with back-to-back Premiership titles from 2004-2006, Terry's immense leadership skills have earned him the respect of his fellow pros and fans alike. Having also been presented with the ultimate honour of captaining his country through the 2010 World Cup, Chelsea and England's world class stopper is sure to be giving strikers sleepless nights for years to come.

Football's Secret Trade
Football's Secret Trade

Author: Alex Duff

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2017-03-29

Total Pages: 122

ISBN-13: 1119145449

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A no-holds-barred exposé on the financial transactions of the world's favourite sport The transfer fees clubs pay to sign top players now top €4 billion a year but much of the money has been flowing out of the game. A small group of wealthy investors including Russian oligarchs, English racehorse owners and a former billionaire gold miner have seized the opportunity to enter this booming market. Some have moved in on the territory of banks and lent money to clubs in exchange for a share in fees generated by Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar and dozens more of today's stars. Others have acquired obscure teams to get a piece of the pie. Even as the global financial crisis sent fortunes tumbling this select group found a profitable place to park their money. The size of the transfer market has continued to rise –- it increased seven-fold in value the last two decades, more than the FTSE share index. Between them, these wealthy investors have amassed hundreds of millions of euros in profits. At the same time, they have managed to stay out of the spotlight the world’s most popular sport brings. Football’s Secret Trade follows the money along a trail very few know about, from nondescript offices in the U.K. and ramshackle stadiums of South American clubs you have probably never heard of to offshore bank accounts in the Caribbean. Warning – you won’t see a major transfer deal in the same light again.

Pelé: His Life and Times - Revised & Updated
Pelé: His Life and Times - Revised & Updated

Author: Harry Harris

Publisher: Kings Road Publishing

Published: 2018-05-10

Total Pages: 222

ISBN-13: 1789460107

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A bestseller in both the UK and the USA on its first publication, this book was the first fully authorised life of world's greatest living footballer. With exclusive access to Pelé, award-winning sports writer Harry Harris charts his meteoric rise from humble beginnings in Brazil to his first international at the age of sixteen. Superb athleticism, speed of thought and execution, and astonishing ball control helped him become the only player to have appeared in three World Cup-winning sides, and to have scored more than 1,200 goals in his senior career, a feat that is now unlikely ever to be equalled, let alone surpassed. Pelé remains the best footballer of all time, despite the extraordinary exploits of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Neymar, and legends such as Diego Maradona and Johan Cruyff. Now revised and updated to bring the story completely up to date, this is a tribute to a world-class sporting hero, a great sportsman and, to this day, an inspiration to millions.