Product Description

Few characters in football have stirred up as much emotion and controversy as Phil Thompson. Indeed, his profile is as powerful as ever thanks to his regular appearances as a respected and outspoken member of the Sky Sports team. When rival fans chanted Sit Down Pinocchio at the ex- Liverpool assistant boss, it was a touchline confrontation that was more about pride, passion and humour than tribal hatred. Thommo has always been prepared to laugh at himself and his autobiography will bring a smile to the faces of all fans. Thompson is the proud young Kopite who became Bill Shankly's last great prodigy.As the sorcerer's apprentice, he was destined to captain club and country, hold aloft the European Cup and win every domestic honour. He would also become a member of the Liverpool Boot Room coaching team, only to be axed by former team-mate Graeme Souness. Like a red phoenix from the flames he would storm back to become Gerard Houllier's No 2, acting as caretaker-boss as his new mentor prepared for life-saving heart surgery. Forget the sky-high salaries and cynicism that dominate today.This is a real football story that will shock and amaze all supporters.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #129995 in Books
• Published on: 2008-10-26
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 344 pages

Review
Following the success of the hardback best seller version, which is still available.

About the Author
In penning his autobiography, Phil Thompson has collaborated with former Northern Sports Journalist of the Year Ken Rogers, who for many years was Sports Editor and chief soccer writer of the Liverpool Echo.At present Rogers runs the Trinity Mirror Sport Media magazine and book publishing unit.

Customer Reviews

End of an era
Excellent autobiography.

Just like Liverpools rise to dominance then subsequent fall the book parallels their history.

In the 70s and 80s great team and interseting characters, late 80s and on the characters have gone and so have the rseults albeit one very good season.

Better than most football books out there, but lost my interest 2/3 way through.

The best Autobiography iv'e read
I was given this book for xmas and unfortunately i could not get it signed. This book gives an excellent account of the great club that is liverpool. Phil Thompson wears his heart on his sleeve, He opens up the mystery and legend that is LFC. Every self respecting Liverpool fan must read this book. PT's time as assistant Manager is intriging to say the least, the attempted signings (more notably Alan Shearer), the improving much needed discipline on the training ground , most of all the relationship with Paul Ince and the Ian Wright incident (my percerption of Ian Wright has certainly changed) and the installation of the no-nonsense approach by any player. Phil Thompson is understandably still bitter with Graeme souness over his sacking and the astonishing words spoken to Terry McDermott. As iv'e said this is an excellent book and one can only hope Phil Thompson return's to liverpool in the near future. PT, if your reading this review then i can only congratulate you on this piece of work! I read this book within 3 days, it was hard to put it down. Thanks

The best Liverpool FC Autobiography for years
In a day and age where autobiographies are written by relatively young players at the peak of their success it's refreshing to read a book by someone with as much experience in the game(and in particular Liverpool) as Phil Thompson. Whilst most fans of other clubs are likely to love to hate the man due to his unbridled passion for the Reds both as Assistant Manager & more recently Sky Broadcaster, Liverpool fans have not had such a fascinating book to read for years. That's not to say that only Liverpool fans will find this a great read as despite Phil's obvious love for Liverpool it's still a brilliant insight into the life of someone who has genuinely lived & breathed the game since he was a young boy.

Phil Thompsons's insight into Liverpool is unique as he is able to comment on several generations of the club's history during which time he had three separate "stints". Most players or coaches within the game could only offer their experience for much shorter periods but with this book you basically get the inside knowledge through Thommo's time as player throughout the 70's & early 80's, his Coaching Role throughout the late 80's and then his time spent as Gerard Houllier's Assistant in the late 90's & new Millenium.

A hugely passionate man, you can't help but admire his love for the club & all that it stands for. Even now, after spending more time at the club than most, he still seems in awe of everything that revolves around Anfield which only makes the reader relate to his feelings more so than your average footballer or member of Coaching Staff who have usually gone past being a simple "fan".

This book really has everything, a young boy's dream fulfilled to make it through the ranks of his local boyhood club right through to lifting the European Cup whilst telling some brilliantly humourous tales along the way. The chapters tracing the period where he had "retired" from being on the pitch, the reader is treated to fascinating stories of relationships, bust-ups & transfer negotations which I found irresistable.

I've read the more "recent" autobiographies of players such as Owen, Ruddock, Barnes etc and found them interesting but not inspiring. I've also read the "old school" books of my own particular favourites like Dalglish, Hansen & Rush but this book beats them hands down. The only Liverpool autobiography that I've enjoyed more than this one was Craig Johnstone's but that was down to the larger-than-life character that he was & that was around 15 years ago.

If you're a Liverpool fan of the last generation or two I highly recommend you read this book. If your a fan and have been for long enough to remember back to when Phil Thompson was a player - you simply have to read this book.