We independently choose all the products that appear on our site. We may earn a commission when you purchase something through the links provided.
At its most basic, soccer autobiographies offer fans a glimpse into the person behind the person we’ve come to know and love through our television screens. at best, they provide a unique insight into an individual’s thought process that would be impossible to obtain from a simple biography.
This selection of autobiographies follows the careers of some of soccer’s biggest stars, both on and off the pitch, and provides a raw insight into what it’s like to play at the highest level.
You are reading: Books written by football players
If you’d rather listen to your books than read them, audible offers a 30-day free trial for new customers, giving you access to many of the titles on this list.
shop: the best soccer autobiographies 2022
I think then I play Andrea Pirlo
The world cup and champions league winning midfielder offers a humorous and insightful look at his career, packed with many anecdotes involving his former teammates at both juventus and ac milan.
get it on amazon for £7.89
banksy from gordon banks
In his own words, legendary goalkeeper Gordon Banks looks back on the ups and downs of his career, from his role in helping England win the World Cup to the car accident that left him blind in one eye.
get it on amazon for £6.55
Do you like to read about football? Mundial is a magazine dedicated to extensive writing about football icons and culture.
buy the latest issue here.
pat nevin’s accidental soccer player
As the name suggests, the accidental footballer differs from your usual football memories. Pat Nevin writes about his life with honesty and humor without shying away from difficult topics.
get it on amazon for £13.53
red: my autobiography by gary neville
Best known to many as a top-tier pundit these days, the iconic Manchester United and England star traces his career here as one of the nation’s most talented defenders over the course of a hugely successful club career.
get it on amazon for £8.39
my turn johan cruyff
Widely regarded as one of football’s greatest players, Johan Cruyff’s life was just as extraordinary off the pitch, where the 1973 European Footballer of the Year dealt with bankruptcy and an attempted kidnapping.
>
get it on amazon for £10.99
football: my story by kelly smith
kelly smith is a legend of the game. in football: my story, he shares the ups and downs of his career and what it took to get to the highest possible level for both club and country. he is inspiring and revealing, with everything you expect from an autobiography.
get it on amazon for £10.49
my life in red and white by arsene wenger
This definitive autobiography of the revolutionary football manager is not only a must-read for Arsenal fans, but essential reading for anyone who considers themselves a football fan.
get it on amazon for £5.11
forwarded by abby wambach
See Also: Agatha Christie mysteries still raking in cash 100 years later – Marketplace
abby wambach is a name associated with the united states women’s soccer team, with which she won the 2015 world cup. forward is a powerful reminder of the resilience and redemption required to become a world-class athlete.
get it on amazon for £10.99
always driving by harry redknapp
From his early days struggling at Oxford City to lifting the FA Cup in Portsmouth, one of the most notable figures in English football tells the full story of his career as one of the most recognizable managers in football history.
get it on amazon for £10.99
blessed by george best
Arguably the greatest British footballer to ever play the sport, the late Manchester United and Northern Ireland star led as colorful a life off the pitch as he did on it, and this book, written nearly two decades ago, remains a clever, moving vision worthy of its gifts.
get it on amazon for £11.04
I’m zlatan ibrahimovic for zlatan ibrahimovic
In his own unique style, replete with less than self-deprecating one-liners and bravado, the Swedish superstar looks back on his time at some of Europe’s biggest clubs on his journey to becoming a modern sporting icon.
>
get it on amazon for £8.19
how not to be a professional soccer player by paul merson
paul merson’s autobiography is both a manual and a memoir. The book contains a treasure trove of anecdotes told in Merson’s usual amusing and entertaining manner.
get it on amazon for £4.99
a life in football by ian wright
Ian Wright’s Sunday Times best-selling memoir covers the career of the former England striker and current TV pundit in front of fans, as well as topics such as racism, social media and retirement.
get it on amazon for £6.96
my autobiography of alex ferguson
Originally published in 2013, this autobiography was recently updated to include Sir Alex Ferguson’s thoughts on events at Manchester United since his retirement, as well as more anecdotes from his post-management career.
get it on amazon for £9.09
ray parlor’s romford pelé
Now an expert on talksport and sky sports, Ray Parlor’s memoir takes a candid look at his career on the pitch, including his time on Arsenal’s famed undefeated side from 2003-04.
get it on amazon for £8.19
not for me, clive by clive tyldesley
It’s not just footballers and coaches who have entertaining autobiographies to their names; This book delves into the career of one of the most recognizable voices in sports broadcasting.
See Also: FGM Recommended Book List
get it on amazon for £10.28
player: my life and love of football by glenn hoddle
One of the game’s last major player-managers at the highest level, this book offers a compelling insight into the former Tottenham, Chelsea and England player, who featured in four major tournaments for the Three Lions before leading them as his boss in france 1998.
get it on amazon for £7.99
raised a warrior by susie petrucelli
vikki orvice award winner susie petruccelli tells the story of her time playing football. her memoir explores issues such as equal pay and the discrimination she faced while playing soccer. You know he’s good when he’s been praised by the likes of tennis legend Billie Jean King.
get it on amazon for £18.94
clough the autobiography of brian clough
Perhaps slightly overshadowed by the dozens of biographies written on the man himself, this book offers a rare insight into the legendary forest manager of Derby and Nottingham County in his own typically rich words.
get it on amazon for £3.47
a life for megan rapinoe
megan rapinoe has been a force to be reckoned with both on and off the court. An advocate for equal pay and LGBTQ rights, Rapinoe writes how she has made the most of her platform to stand up for her beliefs.
get it on amazon for £9.99
the second half of roy keane
Written with the help of Man Booker Award-winning author Roddy Doyle, Keane’s autobiography offers a brutally honest account of the former Manchester United captain, leaving no stones unturned throughout a sometimes infamous career, but with exceptional frequency.
get it on amazon for £8.19
they don’t teach this by eniola aluko
eniola aluko is a powerhouse in women’s football, from tearing up the pitch with england to becoming the first female match-of-the-day expert. this memoir explores all of that, along with issues of dual nationality, race, and prejudice.
get it on amazon for £8.99
my autobiography of luka modrić
Released in 2021, this illuminating look at the Ballon d’Or winner’s career reveals his journey from growing up in war-torn Croatia to playing for his country in the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final in Russia.
get it on amazon for £8.74
even heskey annotated by emile heskey
shortlisted for best sports autobiography at the 2020 british sports betting awards, heskey’s revealing autobiography traces the rise of the english footballer as he overcame fierce criticism to emerge as one of the stars of his generation.
get it on amazon for £4.32
See Also: Powell’s Books Updates From Owner Emily Powell
Looking for more soccer books?
- the 30 best football books to read right now
- the 8 essential books to unlock the genius of pep guardiola
- 11 must-read books for all fans from Italian football