Believe: The Autobiography

by Oleksandr Zinchenko

The remarkable story of the footballer who battled against the odds to achieve his dreams – only to see his country having to fight to survive, after the shocking invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

A fan favourite at Arsenal and previously at Manchester City, Oleksandr Zinchenko has been lighting up the Premier League with his fearless performances for many years. But his success has not come without its challenges. Having begun his career as a teenager at Shakhtar Donetsk, he was stranded in Russia after the invasion of the Donbas region. But after he joined Manchester City in 2016 he would go on to experience exhilarating career highs, with four league titles in six years, before moving to Arsenal where he has played an integral part in their challenge for honours.

He has shown heroism of a very different kind through his extraordinary campaigning in support of Ukraine throughout the ongoing war with Russia. Although his instinct was to join the fight, he decided – following the advice from close loved ones – that he could make the greatest difference by using his platform to spread awareness and raise money to support his country.

Written with candour and bravery, Believe is no ordinary tale of success on the pitch, but one of unwavering strength and integrity, tempered by sadness and anger. It provides unique insights into the methods of Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta. It is the story of a selfless man who prioritised his homeland's welfare before his own – delivering his best on and off the field.

287 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 24, 2024

Reviews

[Claire Q]

I am a Ukranian and a huge Arsenal fan, so of course I loved this. It felt like he was sitting around just telling his story, and I enjoyed the casual, talkative tone. I admired how he didn't hide mistakes or choices he wished he'd made differently. I hope one day my son has the same drive, determination and humility. The book also included a lot of interesting and important perspectives from a Ukrainian away from Ukraine during the war - what it feels like and what we can do to help.

[Andrew Pischchany]

Хороша книга, жахливий переклад

[Oleksandr Mazur]

Книгу читати цікаво. Олександру велика повага за позицію та за думки. Але переклад українською не дуже якісний

[Ivan Mosiichuk]

рукою треба писати книги, а не грати у карному майданчику….

[John Newcomb]

An unusual autobiography as Oleksandr rightly highlights the Russian War against Ukraine which has so affected the lives of the Ukrainians. You get the impression that he is one of the good guys.

[Bohdan]

I don’t know how Zinchenko’s football story will end, but his attitude and openness are impressive