Sports Biographies

This fully updated edition of the international bestseller includes Pep Guardiola's Bayern years and his decision to join Manchester City

I AM ZLATAN - the explosive, critically-acclaimed memoir of Zlatan Ibrahimovich, one of the world's most gifted and controversial footballers'Guardiola has no balls. He drove me like a Fiat . . . I'm a Ferrari' Zlatan Ibrahimovic - professional football's most mercurial player, Swedish national hero, tabloid fixture, fashion icon, modern-day philosopher and black belt in Taekwondo. Born to a Muslim father from Bosnia, and a Catholic mother from Croatia, Zlatan recounts his extraordinary life story, from his poverty-stricken upbringing as an outsider in Malm , Sweden, to becoming one of the world's most sought-after and expensive players, gracing Europe's finest clubs, from Ajax to Juventus, Internazionale to Barcelona, Milan to Paris Saint-Germain. I AM ZLATAN reveals a rare and ferocious intelligence, willpower and God-given talent most recently exhibited when Zlatan scored all 4 goals for Sweden in a 4-2 victory against England. His fourth goal, a 30-yard overhead kick with his back to goal is widely regarded as one of the greatest goals of all time. The BBC described it as a goal that 'combined unfathomable imagination and expert technique'.For fans of The Secret Footballer and Football Manager Stole My Life this no holds barred football memoir is every bit as dramatic and revealing as Roy Keane's classic autobiography.'The best footballer's autobiography of recent years is probably I Am Zlatan Ibrahimovic . . .' Simon Kuper, author of Why England Always Lose'Eagerly awaited, not least because Ibra seems to be spoiling for a fight on every other page. 'Dynamite' said one Swedish reporter' Daily Mail on I AM ZLATAN

The intimate biography of the charismatic Tour de France winner Marco Pantani and the world that caused his downfall. Now updated.

No player has been more synonymous with the glory years of Manchester United Football Club over the past two decades than right-back Gary Neville.

The autobiography of the biggest football star of the last decade

With a foreword from Jurgen Klopp."I said when he was appointed, 'fasten your seatbelts and get ready for take-off,' and I wasn't wrong. He took us on some journey" Sir Kenny DalglishOn 9 October 2015 swathes of Liverpool FC supporters gathered outside the Shankly Gates to listen to Jurgen Klopp's first press conference, where he confidently predicted a change in the team's fortunes after years of underperformance. Across the next nine years Jurgen would go on to revolutionise the club, creating a team of mentality monsters who would consistently deliver on his promises.In this revealing book, LFC turn to the players, club heroes and competitors who worked most closely with Jurgen to describe some of the most pivotal and memorable moments of his tenure. Mike Gordon explains what made Jurgen the perfect fit for LFC; James Milner describes how he set about transforming the club; Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk outline how he convinced them to sign for him; Jordan Henderson reveals what he said in his team talk to inspire their legendary UEFA Champions League comeback against Barcelona in 2019; Sir Kenny Dalglish recalls the momentous 2019-2020 Premiere League season and how Jurgen ended the 30-year wait. Every story places readers at the heart of Jurgen Klopp's incredible LFC journey, and outlines the qualities that have enabled him to become one of the club's most revered and successful managers.Accompanied with stunning photographs from Liverpool FC's archive, this celebration describes the indelible mark that Jurgen Klopp has left and relates countless memories that LFC fans will cherish for years to come."The boss improved everything during his time here, everybody loved him, and he's been a great manager, that's plain to see. It's been incredible to play for him" Mo Salah"The greatest gift Jurgen gave to Liverpool was belief" Jordan Henderson"Rather than buy a team of superstars, Klopp built a team of superstars. He re-established Liverpool as one of the biggest and best clubs in Europe" Jamie Carragher"Jurgen's team helped us to arrive at our limits. This is the truth. They have been our biggest rival, our biggest opponent by far" Pep Guardiola

From established sports journalist Ben Hunt, the very first biography of the up-and-coming British driver Lando Norris, published on the brink of the British Grand Prix.As the youngest ever British Formula 1 driver, Lando Norris is trailblazing his way through the world of motor racing. After signing as a junior driver for McLaren in 2017, he has since asserted himself as the team''s brightest talent and an aspiring world champion.Born to British and Belgian parents and raised in the idylls of south-west England, Lando''s childhood reflects how even the calmest of upbringings can create an adrenaline junkie. As one of a new cohort of young drivers seeking to assert their dominance in the sport, Lando is a uniquely modern sportsman, who celebrates learning and personal development, but who nonetheless has the killer instinct required to take him to the very pinnacle of F1.In Lando Norris, motor sport aficionado and journalist Ben Hunt draws on his extensive driver and paddock access to seek to understand what makes Lando tick and examines how this young British driver has been well and truly raised in the mould of a champion.

Good is not good enough. You have to be even better - Erik ten HagWho is Erik ten Hag? Calm and cool-headed, he ignores critics, follows his own methods and relentlessly pursues perfection on the pitch. His uncanny ability to analyse and solve problems - the ''process'' as Ten Hag calls it - has unfailingly led to breakthrough. There is no magic. There is only intelligence at work, personal devotion to players and near-obsessive attention to detail.At Ajax, Ten Hag brooked no dissent and moulded his team into a smoothly operating unit of attack. His team enjoyed an astonishing run, winning three league cups in a row and reaching the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in a quarter of a century. Along the way, they produced some of the brightest and most entertaining football seen in Europe for years.Maarten Meijer''s definitive biography follows Erik ten Hag, from his upbringing in the Dutch countryside to his domestic triumphs and European victories. Meijer''s book is the ultimate guide to the man with the momentous task of ending a decade of disappointment at Manchester United, and beginning a new era of great and winning football.

Brought to you by Penguin. The remarkable untold story of the mercurial cycling prodigy Frank Vandenbroucke, written by William Hill award-winning author Andy McGrath. They called him God. For his grace on a bicycle, for his divine talent, for his heavenly looks. Frank Vandenbroucke had it all, and in the late Nineties he raced with dazzling speed and lived even faster. The Belgian won several of cycling's most illustrious races, including Liege-Bastogne-Liege, Paris-Nice and Ghent-Wevelgem. He was a mix of poise and panache who enthralled a generation of cycling fans. Off the bike, he only had one enemy - himself. Vandenbroucke dabbled in nocturnal party sessions mixing sleeping pills and alcohol and regularly fell out with team managers. By 1999 his team had suspended him and this proved to be the start of a long, eventful fall from grace. Depression, a drug ban, addiction, car crashes, divorce and countless court appearances subsumed his life. He threatened his wife with a gun. He tried to commit suicide twice. And when police found performance-enhancing drugs at his house, Vandenbroucke said they were for his dog. It seemed he had finally learned from his mistakes. Then, on 12 October 2009, aged just 34, Vandenbroucke was found dead in a hotel room in Senegal. Guided by exclusive contributions from his family, friends and team-mates, William Hill award-winning author Andy McGrath lays bare Vandenbroucke's chaotic, complicated life and times. God is Dead is the remarkable biography of this mercurial cycling prodigy. (c) Andy McGrath 2022 (P) Penguin Audio 2022

"e;Sheer joy!"e; - Patrick Barclay"e;Fascinating, funny and poignant."e; - Henry Winter"e;Brilliant, non-judgemental, superbly researched and anecdote-laden."e; - Guillem Balague"e;Wonderfully evocative."e; - Michael Cox, The Athletic"e;Cracking tales from the terraces amid betrayal in the boardrooms."e; - Tim Marshall, author of "e;Dirty Northern B*st*rds!"e; and Other Tales from the Terraces: The Story of Britain's Football Chants"e;If 1970s football is due a reappraisal, Get It On is an exhilarating place to start."e; - Tom Lines, When Saturday Comes***Four years after the crowning glory of 1966 and a decade after the abolition of the maximum wage, a brash new era dawned in English football. As the 1970s took hold, a new generation of larger-than-life footballers and managers came to dominate the sport, appearing on television sets in vivid technicolour for the first time.Set against a backdrop of three-day weeks, strikes, political unrest, freezing winters and glam rock, Get It On tells the intriguing inside story of how commercialism, innovation, racism and hooliganism rocked the national game in the 1970s. Charting the emergence of Brian Clough, Bob Paisley and Kevin Keegan, and the fall of George Best, Alf Ramsey and Don Revie, this fascinating footballing fiesta traces the highs and lows of an evolutionary and revolutionary era for the beautiful game.Jon Spurling has been interviewing footballers for twenty-five years, including legends George Best and Jack Charlton, European Cup-winning captains Emlyn Hughes and John McGovern and pioneering black footballers Cyrille Regis and Brendon Batson. Get It On presents these heroes of the era in their unvarnished and uncompromising glory and explores how the 1970s was the most groundbreaking decade in English football history.

Diego Maradona, is arguably the greatest and certainly the most widely-known footballer of the modern age. During his tempestuous career he played for top clubs in South America and Europe, and was a central figure in four World Cups. This title presents the story of Maradona.

*PRE-ORDER NOW* 'Our incredible story under a supreme manager shared in all its glory.' Jordan Henderson The definitive account of Jurgen Klopp's astonishing revival of Liverpool Football Club.

The story of one of the most recognisable and successful players in world football. Didier Drogba is renowned for his heading ability, sharp shooting and sheer strength. He has played for his native Ivory Coast and for clubs in France, China and Turkey, but it is as a Chelsea striker that he is best known. His feats with Chelsea have made him a cult hero among supporters. In Didier Drogba's honest and revealing autobiography he will talk about life as an immigrant in Paris, the importance of his education and how finding success later than most professional footballers has kept him grounded.In 2012 Didier was voted Chelsea's greatest ever player. He talks from a privileged behind-the-scenes position about tactics and how he felt mentally and physically as well as anecdotes from the dressing room. Didier provides unique insight into important and controversial matches from the first trophy he won with them in 2005 to the Premier League title a decade later; as well as what persuaded him to stay when he was at his lowest ebb.Away from football Drogba has been widely applauded for his involvement in trying to broker peace in the Ivorian civil war - he is a UN Goodwill Ambassador and does a huge amount of work with the Didier Drogba Foundation - Time magazine named him one of the world's 100 most influential people. Go behind the scenes at Stamford Bridge and find out about life on and off the field for this humble Chelsea hero.

Lewis Hamilton's explosive arrival on the Formula 1 scene has made front-page headlines. In My Story, for the first time Lewis opens up about his stunning debut season, including the gripping climax to the 2007 F1 World Championship, as well as his dad Anthony, his home life and his early years. The only book with the real story, as told by Lewis.In his first season in F1, Lewis Hamilton has thrilled the world of motor racing. With victories in Canada, America and Hungary and Japan he led the World Drivers' Championship, right up to the last race of the season. But bare statistics alone do scant justice to the amazing impact Lewis Hamilton has had on the sporting landscape this year. My Story gives the real account from Lewis himself, as he sets the record straight about his colourful life on and off the track.Given a grounded upbringing by his dedicated father in unremarkable Stevenage, Lewis tells about how he first tried out go-karting while on a cut-price family holiday in Ibiza. In his book he gives the real version of events at a motor sport dinner where, as a nine-year-old wearing a borrowed suit, he approached McLaren team boss Ron Dennis with the immortal words that were to change his life forever.He rose rapidly through the Junior and Formula ranks, dominating every series with his raw speed and canny race craft. Here Lewis candidly recalls those key moments that shaped his career and went some way towards compensating for the sacrifices made by his father Anthony in getting his son to the top.Lewis also charts how he got into the sport and was signed up by Ron Dennis, what motivates him, who are his closest friends, how he copes with the constant travelling, and the physical and mental challenges of driving a state-of-the-art Formula 1 car. He looks back in detail at the 2007 World Championship - his four race wins, the frightening crash in Germany, his rivalry with team-mate Fernando Alonso, his special relationship with Ron Dennis, and what it's like living under the spotlight of the paparazzi - right up to the last race of the season in Brazil.

The Secret Race is a riveting masterpiece from Tyler Hamilton, published in 2013 by Transworld Publishers Ltd. This book delves into the thrilling world of competitive cycling, offering readers an unprecedented look behind the scenes. Hamilton's gripping narrative and unique perspective make this book a must-read for sports enthusiasts and literature lovers alike. The Secret Race is more than just a sports book; it's a compelling story of determination, passion, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. Published by Transworld Publishers Ltd, this book is a testament to Hamilton's storytelling prowess and his deep understanding of the cycling world. Note: The book is written in English.

Physical Strength Can Only Take You So Far Reigning CrossFit World Champion Rich Froning is ΓÇ£The Fittest Man on Earth.ΓÇ¥ HeΓÇÖs fast. HeΓÇÖs strong. And heΓÇÖs incredibly disciplined. But it takes more than physical strength to compete and win at an elite level. It takes incredible mental and spiritual toughness as well. And it is the precise balance of all three that makes Rich Froning a champion. In First, readers come alongside Rich as he trains for and competes in back-to-back-to-back CrossFit World Championships. Along the way, Rich shares invaluable training tips, motivational techniques, and spiritual insights that, in keeping with the CrossFit philosophy, will prepare you to respond to any real-life physical, mental and spiritual challenge.

The SUNDAY TIMES bestselling memoir from the Tour de France cyclist who lifts the lid on his drug use and return to sport.

Presents the autobiography of Laurent Fignon, who is one of the charismatic cyclists of all time. This book shows his fans the glimpse of what really went on behind the scenes of this epic sport: the friendships, the rivalries, the betrayals, the scheming, the parties, the girls, and, the performance-enhancing drugs.

Now, working tirelessly as a worldwide ambassador for peace, he talks of the damage caused when religion is used to tear people apart, the essential need for unity in this troubled world, and how his faith sustains him on this, the most important journey of his life - the journey to forgiveness and peace.

'Operatically emotional...exceptionally vivid' Martin Amis, GuardianCelebrate the life of one of the world's greatest footballers. Diego Maradona.

'He is skilful. He is outspoken. He is Zlatan' New York Times'He is an amazing talent, one of the best around' Pep GuardiolaFootball's most prolific and controversial goalscorer has nothing left to prove on the pitch. There is only one Zlatan.In the decade since his megaselling memoir I am Zlatan Ibrahimovic, he has played at Paris Saint-Germain (2012-2016), Manchester United (2016-2018), LA Galaxy (2018-2019) and Milan (2020-). This outrageous and hilarious follow-up is bursting with personal confessions and revealing anecdotes about the world's best players and managers.Packed with revelations, in Adrenaline we hear for the first time what Zlatan really thinks about his time in the Premier League and what it was like to score that glorious bicycle kick against England. We hear about the club he very nearly signed for, and see his hilarious run-ins with the French media - and the French in general, really. Plus so much more.Zlatan transports you into the world of top-flight football like no one else. Filled with revelations - including Zlatan's life lessons on happiness, friendship and love - you'll be talking about this book a long time after finishing it.

Tony Jacklin rescued the Ryder Cup from oblivion. Following years of American domination, interest in the event nosedived in the 1970s. It was Tony''s appointment as captain of Europe in 1983 that helped resuscitate the matches and launch the remarkable transformation of a competition that is now one of the biggest showpiece occasions in the world of sport.This book takes us on a journey through Tony''s Ryder Cup career, his seven matches as a player and his four as captain. It details his friendships with some of the game''s greats like Seve Ballesteros, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer but also chronicles the times when he hit rock bottom - the sudden and unexpected death of his first wife, his own recent struggles with ill health, the year he lost everything financially and his affair with a sixteen-year-old that was splashed on the front page of a tabloid newspaper.

The first biography of the new Chelsea manager.