What do you think?
Rate this book
The Arsenal Yankee
Danny Karbassiyoon had it all. He had followed his dream of becoming a footballer, and had seemingly done the impossible. Coming from a country where football was certainly not the most popular sport, he was spotted by Arsenal Football Club. Better still, he got a contract and found himself training alongside the Invincibles - the most famous club side in the history of the English League. Like so many others before him, under the careful guidance of Arsène Wenger Danny made his way up through the ranks, getting occasional Arsenal games and going out on loan. Before him was footballing nirvana and a future of fame and fortune until injury put a stop to it. Danny Karbassiyoon was by no means the first player to have his life as a highly promising footballer cut short by injury. But he was one of the few to pick himself up and start again. With an attitude of anything is possible and with the active support of Arsenal, Danny moved into a new area of life: that of a football scout. The Arsenal Yankee is the remarkable story of one man s journey through the hopes and dreams of becoming a Gunner s star, through the disappointment of a career cut short, and a determination to make the most of life, no matter what fate might put in the way. With a most fulsome introduction from Arsène Wenger, the man who signed Danny Karbassiyoon for Arsenal, this is undoubtedly one of the most insightful stories of what it is really like to be discovered by a top club, and how life can be started again when a career-ending injury strikes.
- GenresSoccerNonfictionSports
220 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 17, 2016
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
May 17, 2016
I read a huge amount of sports books every year, and every now and then - about every twenty four months - along comes a title that reminds me exactly why I love writing from the heart and soul of a sportsman's life. The Arsenal Yankee is that book and I urge urge urge you to grab a copy.
This is ex-Arsenal player, Danny Karbassiyoon's unique story written by him. The glowing foreword from Arsene Wenger just shows how loved he is a Gooner through and through. Danny rose up the ranks in the United States youth soccer system, taking a few physical knocks that he thought nothing of along the way. He was recruited into Arsenal and moved to London in his early twenties, putting all his faith in soccer to sustain a career. In his time at Arsenal, playing alongside legends of the game including Cesc Fabregas, a minor knee injury sustained at the age of 15, came to collect its debt, effectively ending his Arsenal career.
The book charts Danny's story from start to finish - after being released by Arsenal he took on other clubs in England. All the while, he was fuelled with a positivity that sings off the page, but in a very real and not sickly way. When he finally accepted that his playing career was over, he returned to the US, facing a void and the emptiness of a life no longer ruled by professional sports schedules. And alas, that was when his old boss at Arsenal called him, and asked him if he'd like to be a scout for the club in North America.
Danny's story is one of resilience, bouncing back, and indeed, educating the current crop of players as to what it takes psychologically to make it in the professional game. It flows, it's real writing, and it is a simply brilliant read.
This is ex-Arsenal player, Danny Karbassiyoon's unique story written by him. The glowing foreword from Arsene Wenger just shows how loved he is a Gooner through and through. Danny rose up the ranks in the United States youth soccer system, taking a few physical knocks that he thought nothing of along the way. He was recruited into Arsenal and moved to London in his early twenties, putting all his faith in soccer to sustain a career. In his time at Arsenal, playing alongside legends of the game including Cesc Fabregas, a minor knee injury sustained at the age of 15, came to collect its debt, effectively ending his Arsenal career.
The book charts Danny's story from start to finish - after being released by Arsenal he took on other clubs in England. All the while, he was fuelled with a positivity that sings off the page, but in a very real and not sickly way. When he finally accepted that his playing career was over, he returned to the US, facing a void and the emptiness of a life no longer ruled by professional sports schedules. And alas, that was when his old boss at Arsenal called him, and asked him if he'd like to be a scout for the club in North America.
Danny's story is one of resilience, bouncing back, and indeed, educating the current crop of players as to what it takes psychologically to make it in the professional game. It flows, it's real writing, and it is a simply brilliant read.
December 28, 2016
Excellent memoir of an American kid making it to play for one of the biggest football clubs in the world. An honest, straightforward account of his experiences and the fragility of dreaming to be a professional athlete.
October 22, 2016
Excellent perspective from one of the few Americans to reach the heights of signing for a top European team.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews