by andrew walsh
In recent years there has been an explosion of interest in the tactical aspect of football.
You are reading: Best football tactics books
The tactics of the world’s best managers are regularly broken down to a level rarely seen in past generations. Countless blogs have sprung up on the internet discussing the builds and tactics of all the best games of each week, as well as the more obscure ones. and coaches at all levels are incorporating exciting new ideas and strategies into their game plans.
But to gain a deeper understanding of soccer tactics, it’s best to go beyond the blogs, which can vary considerably in clarity and quality, and delve into some fundamental texts on soccer tactics.
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These are our picks for the best tactics books available right now, in no particular order, and regardless of whether you read their print or e-books or call the game soccer or football.
our list of the best football tactics books
The Mixer by Michael Cox
The Mixer by Michael CoxWith the Premier League topping the charts of professional soccer leagues both in the United States and around the world, this is a great book to understand its tactical evolution. the game we see today on nbcsn or sky is virtually unrecognizable from what you would have seen around the start of the league in 1992.
Cox’s engaging and well-researched book takes you from the days of “route one” football filled with long balls and big forward bruises to the false nines, slick defenders and midfield wizards of today.
The book covers some of the business aspect of the game that drove many of these changes, but for the most part it focuses on tactics. a great read for those who have marveled at some of the top league’s most exciting players in recent years and are interested in gaining a better overall understanding of their contributions to one of the world’s greatest leagues.
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Inverting the Pyramid by Jonathan Wilson
Many would consider this list woefully incomplete without mentioning this voluminous tome. It is considered by many to be the best work on the subject of soccer tactics. others, however, describe it as a dense work bogged down by a dizzying amount of obscure coaching and player references dating back to the early decades of the 20th century.
I tend to think it’s somewhere in the middle of those two extremes, as there’s a lot of useful history even if you decide to skim through parts of it. but in terms of understanding how we got to where we are today with soccer tactics, no other work comes close.
You will travel to the 1930s, wander through South America and Dutch total football in the 1970s, and finally arrive at today’s Barcelona and other current tactical leaders.
See Also: Jeff Abbott – Book Series In Order
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Complete Guide to Coaching Soccer Systems and Tactics by Jacob Daniel
Complete Guide to Coaching Soccer Systems and Tactics by Jacob Danieljacob daniel, longtime director of US soccer coaches, has put together an excellent soccer resource covering tactical formations, principles of attack and defense, training drills.
Some sections of the book are aimed primarily at coaches, but players and fans will also get a great deal from it due to the abundant diagrams, clear descriptions of tactical principles, and its overall comprehensive nature.
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The book walks you through everything from the strengths and weaknesses of a 4-4-2 vs. 4-3-3 to the principles of zone marking and man-to-man, with helpful examples sprinkled throughout. everywhere.
See Also: Jeff Abbott – Book Series In Order
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Zonal Marking: The Making of Modern European Football
Zonal Marking: The Making of Modern European FootballWe’ve already covered Cox’s book on the Premier League, and he too has branched out for a more far-reaching tactics book covering all of Europe.
Think of this book as inverting the pyramid by focusing only on the last 30 years in Europe. as such, it doesn’t go into as much historical detail or as many far-reaching footballing nations. but many fans will appreciate a focus on events and players they remember from their own lives, rather than earlier anecdotes that may seem like ancient history despite their value in shaping current tactics.
The book’s zonal marking grew out of Cox’s popular blog of the same name. if you’re looking for more writing from him, he no longer updates the blog but instead writes a regular tactical column for Atletico (which requires a paid subscription).
See Also: Jeff Abbott – Book Series In Order
see more reviews and purchase options
Soccer: Modern Tactics: Italy’s Top Coaches Analyze Game Formations Through 180 Situations
Soccer: Modern Tactics: Italy’s Top Coaches Analyze Game Formations Through 180 SituationsThis book features a rather unique structure, as the author is joined by 10 of Italy’s greatest coaches, including legends like Carlo Ancelotti, Arigo Sacchi, and Marcello Lippi. this gives you much more than a perspective on the tactical concepts discussed, but all within the specific tradition of the Italian school of thought.
Most of the formations are covered, but this is far from a beginner’s book; it takes considerable tactical knowledge and some of the diagrams and concepts are quite complex. It also has a pretty straightforward translation and maybe a less than complete edition, but as long as you’re looking for information on soccer tactics and not fascinating prose in English, you’ll be fine.
See Also: Jeff Abbott – Book Series In Order
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Masters of Modern Soccer by Grant Wahl
Masters of Modern Soccer by Grant Wahlfootball journalist grant wahl has made a fantastic contribution to the genre with this work. is not a traditional tactics book from a coach’s perspective, but rather an intimate look at a select group of great players and coaches and how they approach the game.
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The personal touches of the chapters (interviews combined with Wahl’s analysis) give this book a unique insight not often seen.
wahl delves into his motivations, thought processes, and actions on the pitch through the lens of profiled players including christian pulisic, chicharito hernandez, and xavi alonso. In addition to the players, he also interviews the Belgium coach Roberto Martínez and the Borussia Dortmund sports director Michael Zorc.
I also recommend looking at youtube videos of the closely analyzed moves described in the text to better understand them.
See Also: Jeff Abbott – Book Series In Order
see more reviews and purchase options
How to Watch Soccer by Ruud Gullit
How to Watch Soccer by Ruud GullitThis type of book written by a former player or coach can be hit or miss: some spend most of their time gushing about their own achievements.
Gulitit shares a lot of his personal story here, but there’s also a lot of tactical musing, and it’s valuable in the sense of being a personal account of strategy from a top-tier professional player and later coach.
I found it much more useful than the others of the genre that I’ve read, at least.
See Also: Jeff Abbott – Book Series In Order
see more reviews and purchase options
We think these books are the best options for understanding soccer strategy and tactics (and they also make great soccer-related gift ideas). have you read any of them? if so, what did you think? Would you add any others to this list?
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