Description

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In Masters of Modern Soccer, Sports Illustrated writer Grant Wahl asks: How do some of the game's smartest figures master the craft of soccer? By profiling players in every key position (American phenomenon Christian Pulisic, Mexican superstar Javier "Chicharito" Hernández, Belgium's Vincent Kompany, Spain's Xabi Alonso, Germany's Manuel Neuer) and management (Belgium coach Roberto Martínez and Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc), Wahl reveals how elite players and coaches strategize on and off the field and execute in high pressure game situations.

Masters of Modern Soccer is the definitive thinking fan's guide to modern soccer. For a supporter of any team, from the U.S. national teams to Manchester United, or any competition, from Mexico's Liga MX to the World Cup, this book reveals what players and managers are thinking before, during, and after games and delivers a true behind-the-scenes perspective on the inner workings of the sport's brightest minds. 

America's premier soccer journalist, Grant Wahl, follows world-class players from across the globe examining how they do their jobs. This access imbues Masters of Modern Soccer with deep insight from the players on how goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards function individually and as a unit to excel and win. Wahl also shadows a manager and director of soccer as they juggle the challenges of coaching, preparation, and the short- and long-term strategies of how to identify and acquire talent and deploy it on the field. 

A book that will stand the test of time, Masters of Modern Soccer is the most in-depth analysis of the craft of soccer ever written for the American fan. For any fan, player, coach, or sideline enthusiast, this book will change the way they watch the game.

About the Author

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GRANT WAHL is one of the world's leading soccer journalists. He joined Sports Illustrated in November 1996 as a reporter and was promoted to his current position of senior writer in October 2000. He is also a contributor to Fox Sports television, where he does insider segments, essays, and longform video stories. Wahl's last book, The Beckham Experiment, was the first soccer book to make the New York Times Best-Seller List.

Praise For…

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“Marrying first-rate reportage with stylish writing, Grant Wahl demonstrates why he’s considered the dean of U.S. soccer writing—a master of modern soccer, so to speak. This book has the weight and depth to appeal to hardcores, and the smart analysis to captivate the casual fan. Soccer’s answer to Men at Work.”
—JON WERTHEIM, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED EXECUTIVE EDITOR
 
“Grant Wahl is a master of modern soccer writing and this book is a Rosetta stone for anyone who wants to fully understand the contemporary game. It’s a user’s manual to how the game is (or ought to be) played, coached, managed, and watched. Everyone interested in soccer—fans, youth coaches, even top professionals—will gain fascinating insights from some of the game’s finest craftsmen, one of whom is Wahl himself.” 
—STEVE RUSHIN, AUTHOR OF STING-RAY AFTERNOONS AND COLUMNIST FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
 
“I started it taking off at LAX and finished it landing at JFK. It’s an incredible peek behind the curtain into the way players, coaches, and technical directors see themselves and their jobs. These entertaining and candid profiles help explain some of the complexities and mysteries of the beautiful game and the people who inhabit it.” 
—ALEXI LALAS
 
“Reading Grant Wahl on soccer is always a pleasure. Hardly anyone else gets so much ac­cess to players, thinks so hard about what he hears, and tells it so well. No hype here—just insights into top-class professionals, by a top-class professional.”
—SIMON KUPER, COAUTHOR OF SOCCERNOMICS

“[Wahl] is able to offer up a trove of invaluable how-to nuggets that should delight coaches and players alike…Masters of Modern Soccer will be relevant in 2022 and beyond, making it a worthy addition to any soccer fan’s shelf." 
—THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

“Wahl deftly straddles the line between popular appeal and wonky analysis. Most fans will be amazed by the sophisticated thought and preparation behind every game.”
—BOOKLIST

"One of the best books on the sport, alongside Raphael Honigstein’s Das Reboot and Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski’s Soccernomics, this gem of a work will appeal to longtime soccer fans and budding enthusiasts."
—LIBRARY JOURNAL (STARRED REVIEW)