Product Description

All agree that Pele and Maradona had it. Most agree that Zidane has it, and that Gazza almost had it: but what is it that makes true greatness? Laid out here are the eleven key elements that make a football hero, in a thinking-man's study of the beautiful game. With testimonies from managers, pundits and the players themselves, "A Cultured Left Foot" discusses the key virtues that combine to make the perfect player. Hilarious, gripping and insightful, it is a must-read for every football fan.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #99065 in Books
• Published on: 2008-10-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Review
'A delight to read ... an exuberant and intelligent footy book' -- Simon Barnes, Chief Sports Writer, The Times. 'Probably the most intelligent football book of the year' --Independent on Sunday. 'Full of insights' --Independent (No. 1, 'Ten Best Sports Books')

'Endless fascinating details and anecdotes' -- Simon Kuper, author of 'Football Against the Enemy'. 'A work of insight from a young writer trying to solve an old problem, the definition of that much over-used word in football vocabulary; great' --Martin Tyler, Sky Sports

'Quirky and exuberant' -- FourFourTwo, ****. 'Hilarious anecdotes ... a scintillating read, brimming with rich detail ... one book that should find its way onto every football fan's bookshelf. Join the greatness debate' --The Crack (Book of the Month)

The Times
`A superbly nuanced examination of what makes a footballer great'

Simon Barnes, Chief Sports Writer, The Times
`A delight to read ... an exuberant and intelligent footy book'

Customer Reviews

A footballing feast
This guy has mined a fine seam of knowledge (both his own and many significant others) to produce an enlightening account rich in content, flavour and style. I thoroughly enjoyed his pondering on his 11 ingredients of a successful footballer and the passion that shines out from the pages.

Each chapter contains an informed and humourous analysis of a particular aspect of a footballer and Okwonga's ability to draw on so many aspects of life and intertwine them with footballing history to reason his thinking left me hoping he writes another. He took me back to so many great footballing moments and taught me so many more. One on managers would be magnificent. Thoroughly recommend. Enjoy.

Cerebral football book
Not your average sports book, Okwonga even quotes scientific papers in this beautifully-written personal thesis on what constitutes a great foootballer. His knowledge of the minutiae of the game is startling and makes even the avid football fan realise there are fans of the game like Okwonga who watch and analyse the beaautiful game on a far more microscopic scale. Oh for a DVD of the passes, goals and moments written about in the book!