The 35 best football books to read right now

Jonathan Wilson's instant classic Inverting the Pyramid came at a perfect time for self-reflection, as a nation questioned how an England side boasting Wayne Rooney, Gary Neville, and John Terry had failed to qualify for the Euro 2008 tournament. The answer is concisely and expertly explained as Wilson takes us through a history of formations beyond 4-4-2.

Susie Petruccelli is the winner of the Vikki Orvice Prize and tells the story of her time playing football in America. The memoir explores subjects like equal pay and the discrimination she faced whilst playing football. You know this is a good one when it's been praised by the likes of Tennis legend Billie Jean King.

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Only 20 managers have managed to guide national sides to a World Cup victory. In his book, Chris Evans searches for the secrets and keys to winning the most prestigious tournament in world football. The book includes insights from journalists, players, and managers as they try to unlock the mystery.

Italy boasts some of the most violent football fans globally, and this investigative book delves deep into the right-wing subculture that is often compared to British hooliganism. Tobias Jones gets up close and personal with ultras from Italy's most prominent teams in an intense testament that won Football Book of the Year.

Patrick O'Connell turned his career as a player in the English leagues into a successful period as a Spanish football manager, most notably guiding Real Betis to their only title success in La Liga. But the story of how he saved Barcelona from financial ruin as their boss during the Spanish Civil War forms the bulk of this remarkable tale, penned by his grandson's wife.

This book – the first of its kind – explores the design story behind football, diving into how design has been used to push the game to its technical and emotional limits. From the master planning of the new Tottenham Hotspur stadium and the innovative materials used in today’s boots to the graphic design of the Juventus team logo and the grassroots initiatives pushing back against the sport’s commercialisation.

1999 is a year that all Manchester United fans will remember - it's the year they won the treble by lifting the FA Cup, Premier League, and Champions League trophies. Football writer at The Times, Matt Dickinson, takes a look back at how they managed the historic achievement.

As the gulf between the rich and the super-rich continues to grow at the summit of the English football pyramid, it's essential not to lose sight of the non-league game, which forms the lifeblood of the community around the nation. The Bottom Corner spends a season with the dreamers who keep it alive at the other end of the ladder - and who have more than a few stories to share.

The Lionesses brought it home when they were crowned the European Champions in 2022. Meet Beth Mead, one of the members of that historic squad who chronicles her extraordinary footballing journey from playing in Hinderwell to Wembley Stadium.

Paul Ferris' autobiography has been showered with awards and praised by many for transcending genres. The Boy on the Shed takes the reader further than most, beginning with The Troubles and following the life of a man once lauded as "the new George Best", only to be faltered by injury and made to find other ways to be involved in football.

Books promising the inside scoop on famous figures are nothing new. Still, Craig Bromfield had more of a front-row seat than most people did to the life of Brian Clough, having lived with him for nine years after the late Nottingham Forest manager took him and his brother in as teenagers. It's a revealing image of a man whose persona in the public eye has been primarily marked over the years by a form of reckless genius.

This autobiography is precisely what you'd expect from a book about everybody's favourite surly pundit. Picking up from where his first autobiography left off, it's full of more outrageous anecdotes and stories about people he's worked with. The best-selling autobiography takes us through the end of his playing career to a no-holds-barred account of the beginning of his managerial life.

If first-hand tales are your thing, here are 24 of the best football autobiographies.

Written by a mix of 20 established and emerging writers, Football, She Wrote is an anthology featuring women's insights on the sport they love. The book features a wide range of stories, memoirs, and interviews covering themes of sexuality, diversity and inclusion. A must-read for anyone who wants a more profound understanding of the importance of making football more inclusive.

Not only does Suzanne Wrack write about the history of the women's game, but she crucially looks forward to its potential. If you want to know more about women's football from the very beginning to its current state, this is definitely the book for you.

St Pauli's fans are true punk rockers in attitude and music taste. This book shows us the Hamburg way of life and what it's like to be a St Pauli fan. Their mantra is that everyone is welcome in football; they are pro-refugee, anti-fascism, anti-sexism, anti-racism, anti-homophobia, anti-capitalism, and if you don't like it, well, that's your problem.

Ronald Reng tells the heartbreaking story of his lifelong friend Robert Enke, a top German goalkeeper who took his own life in 2009. Enke played for clubs such as Barcelona and Benfica, he had a beautiful wife and children he loved dearly, but underneath it all, he suffered from debilitating depression. An eye-opening must-read. 

Explore the biography of one of football's most iconic individuals as Sir Alex Ferguson shares his experiences growing up in Glasgow, Scotland, managing Aberdeen in his formative managerial years, and, of course, his historic tenure at Manchester United.

Sports historian David Goldblatt's book explores how football has taken over the world. His investigation doesn't stop at elite clubs; he studies the politics driving the global game, football in Ugandan prisons, amputee football in Angola, and tackles the FIFA corruption scandal.

Fans may have seen the critically acclaimed 2009 adaptation with Michael Sheen playing Brian Clough, but here is where it all originated. This book Fictionalises the happenings of Brian Clough's stint as Leeds United manager, with plenty of flashbacks to his time at Derby Country and his ongoing rivalry with adversary Don Revie.

Get acquainted with the rules of football, which are visualised in the vibrant new book by Tifo. They cover the key concepts, tactics and philosophies that shape the sport today. This pocket-size guide is a must-have for anyone who wants to deepen their knowledge of the game.

Simon Kuper travelled to 22 countries to write this book, including South Africa, Russia, and the USA. In doing so, he created a book that explores the symbiotic relationship between football and politics – an example being the legendary Pele visiting Nigeria during the Biafran war, causing a 48-hour ceasefire so he could play.

James Montague gained insider access by going undercover to write about some of the most dangerous football gangs out there. The book explores how the polarising anti-establishment political wings can be found far-left or far-right throughout the ultra movement.

Before there was Guardiola and Klopp, there was Ferguson and Wenger – two men who defined the face of English football for generations. Now, the Frenchman who helped re-establish Arsenal among the greats of Europe tells his story, from his arrival at Highbury through the legendary Invincibles campaign. A must-read for any Gunners fan and football enthusiast in general.

This is an essential addition to this best football book's list, which analyses the intersection between football and Black British culture. It's not about racism but instead draws upon the broader and social discussions of diversity, identity and representation.

Das Reboot tells the story of how German national football reinvented itself after failing to recreate the successes of its 1996 team. The book takes the reader on a thrilling journey around the world to discover what makes the Germans play like the Germans.

If you like photography-led books, you're going to love this one. Remarkable Football Grounds dissects some of the most remarkable football stadiums around the globe. From stadia in the windswept islands of the Scottish Hebrides to far away in the Pacific - this book has it all.

Football in Sun and Shadow is one of the more high-brow selections for poetry and lyrical writing fans. This is a beautifully written piece of football literature, broken into little "chapterettes", which provide anecdotes from different World Cups dating back to 1930 and many more interesting facets of The Beautiful Game.

Zonal Marking is a thoroughly researched, opinionated book with diverse examples that never feel preachy. Michael Cox takes the reader on a journey through Europe's greatest football clubs to extract the best parts of each team and country and see what they have contributed to continental football as a whole.

Alex Scott let down her guard to tell the story of how she went from playing in football cages in East London, playing for England, to now broadcasting at the highest level. The former Arsenal captain shares the inspiring lesson she learnt from her tumultuous childhood to the truth behind the shiny football trophies.

Modern football is played with lots of technology to ensure the right decisions are made on the pitch. Sports data also helps analyse and unearth radical tactics to try and win every match. Rory Smith cleverly unpacks the data revolution, which football is now very much dependent on.

A Sunday Times bestseller, What It Takes: My Playbook on Life and Leadership is an account of Sarina Wiegman's life before and during her tenure as the decorated manager of the Lionesses. She maps her moments of resilience, perseverance and eventual successes and the unique philosophy on leadership that she has exemplified as a result.

Whether you're a religious Wrexham fan or just lapping up every episode of "Welcome to Wrexham" with Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, Paul Mullins's account of his transformative journey to Wrexham at a controversial point in his career is a worthy bookshelf addition.

Since his drop down to the National League team 'Super Paul Mullin' has been pivotal to Wrexham securing promotion and re-igniting the passion of Wrexham fans worldwide. Hear his incredible journey in his own words.

Whether you're a religious Wrexham fan or just lapping up every episode of "Welcome to Wrexham" with Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds, Paul Mullins's account of his transformative journey to Wrexham at a controversial point in his career is a worthy bookshelf addition.

Since his drop down to the National League team 'Super Paul Mullin' has been pivotal to Wrexham securing promotion and re-igniting the passion of Wrexham fans worldwide. Hear his incredible journey in his own words.

Resilience is hard-earned, and Ella, Georgia and Nikita have shown they have it to spare through their journeys as players. Joining a new team, taking a penalty, recovering from hard knocks and bouncing back... are all experiences that helped them to be the lionesses they are today. This book of true stories and tips is the perfect gift for any young, aspiring lionesses in your life.

Brought to you by The Price of Football podcast, join comedy writer Kevin Day, football finance expert Kieran Maguire and producer Guy Kilty as they deep dive into the trials and tribulations of taking an imaginary club, the West Park Rovers, from the bottom of the FA pyramid to the Premiere League.

Tackling some serious (and not so serious) problems with humour and panache, it’s an excellent read for anyone with a niggling interest in what it takes to build a team and take it to the top flight.