World Book Day continues this week, and fans of all sports are spoiled for choice when it comes to reading something to celebrate, from biographies of big stars to the stories behind iconic tournaments.
World Book Day is once again on Thursday, and sports fans are wondering if they want to celebrate the day.
We cover everything from soccer and baseball to cycling and Formula 1. Whether you want to read biographies of top stars or reminisce about a particular season or tournament, there are plenty of options.
Whether it’s the sportsbook you want to binge read this week, or you’re heading out on holiday this summer, Mirror Football has got your back.
From the inside story of Italia 90 to the autobiography of Britain’s biggest star, here are 10 sports books to read this week.
fever pitch
First on our list is Nick Hornby’s autobiographical account of his relationship with Arsenal. Each chapter is mainly about a football match that Hornby remembers attending at Highbury, the Gunners’ former ground.
Hornby is known for his dedication to the game that many fans feel and how it has influenced his life from childhood to adulthood, with Arsenal often being the simplest part of it. highlight.
Click to find out more about how you can buy the book for just 21p.
Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game
Before being made into a film starring Brad Pitt and nominated for six Academy Awards, Moneyball was a 2003 book that told the story of the previous year’s Major League Baseball season with the Oakland Athletics.
The book, written by Michael Lewis, describes the system that allowed the Athletics to make the playoffs with just $44 million in player salaries, compared to the likes of the New York Yankees, which had player salaries of over $125 million. It follows Billy Beane, the general manager who instituted the system. That season.
The number one bestseller should be on your bookshelf and available for purchase now.
It’s all over: The whole story of Italia ’90
Pete Davies’s book is unusual in that it simultaneously provides behind-the-scenes coverage of England and Three Lions fans, making it the definitive account of Italy in 1990. Davies was part of the England squad for nine months before and during the tournament.
He also met hooligans, journalists, and Italians along the way. This is a vivid recreation of the tournament that seared soccer into the public consciousness, from qualifying to the final.
This is a classic that every soccer fan needs on their bookshelf. Available here.
The Seven Deadly Sins ~Chasing Lance Armstrong~
From one of the greatest tournaments to one of the biggest scandals in sports. David Walsh tells how he exposed Lance Armstrong’s performance-enhancing drug use, ultimately leading to him being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles.
Walsh was up against the power of a man who at the time was considered one of the greatest athletes of all time. It took more than a decade for Walsh to be proven right, and the book is a compelling account of the worst of the sport.
Click to purchase the book and receive 8% off the suggested retail price.
mixer
A must-read for modern fans, The Mixer focuses on the tactical development of the Premier League over its first 25 years. This is one of his first books to delve into top-flight tactical stories.
Ferguson’s directness, Keegan’s relentlessly attacking Newcastle side, Mourinho’s cautious and reactive Chelsea and Ranieri’s Leicester miracle are all put under the microscope by Michael Cox.
An absolute must-read for fans of modern gaming. Here’s how to get your copy:
Roughly speaking
For over 17 years, Stuart Broad has been one of cricket’s top players. He retired after the last Ashes Test in 2023, where he took the crucial final wicket and hit a six with his last shot.
Now, Broad has written an autobiography, sharing the moments in his career that made him grow and almost ruined him. This is a frank and refreshingly honest story about one of England’s all-time greatest cricketers.
Click to purchase the book at 34% off the suggested retail price.
Pep Guardiola: Another way to win
The definitive edition of Guillem Balague, one of the greatest soccer managers in history. We take readers behind the scenes of Pep Guardiola’s career. His all-conquering Barcelona team, his time at Bayern Munich, and his dominant team Manchester City have all been studied.
Balague has access to Guardiola’s biography directly from Guardiola himself and his inner circle. Find out what drives the man who changed football forever during his 15 years as a manager.
This sensational book is currently available for under £10.
extra mile
Kevin Sinfield spent 18 years as a Leeds Rhinos player, winning seven Super League titles. Since his retirement he has worked as a coach with the Rhinos, union side Leicester Tigers and the England national team.
Perhaps his greatest contribution is his extraordinary fundraising efforts to find a cure for motor neuron disease. In this memoir, Sinfield tells of his remarkable life since his debut with the Rhinos in 1997.
If this doesn’t work, here’s how you can buy this book at half price.
The Damned United
David Peace’s novel, set during Brian Clough’s brief 44-day reign at Leeds United, is a mix of fiction, rumor, speculation and fact. The film portrays Clough as a deeply flawed hero during the most difficult period of his career.
Clough infamously clashed with the Leeds team as he sought to step out of the shadow of his great rival Don Revie. The book is told from Clough’s perspective and was the inspiration for the film starring Michael Sheen.
Here’s how to get your hands on one of the best sports books on the market.
survive and drive
Written by one of the most popular figures on the F1 grid, Surviving To Drive is an inside look at the 2022 season. Next, Haas team principal Günther Steiner gives readers an unobstructed view of the rollercoaster ride of top-level auto racing.
Nothing is out of place in Steiner’s book, from firing drivers to adjusting the books to designing new cars. This is the first time an F1 team has allowed team representatives to take members of the public behind the bonnet.
It’s a great book, and it’s currently available for 45% less than the suggested retail price.