A Life in Football: My Autobiography

by Ian Wright

THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

'Wrighty's characteristic honesty means his book is far more engrossing than most bland football memoirs' Sunday Times

Ian Wright, Arsenal legend, England striker and TV pundit extraordinaire, is one of the most interesting and relevant figures in modern football.

His journey from a South London council estate to national treasure is everybody's dream. From Sunday morning football directly to Crystal Palace; from 'boring, boring Arsenal' to inside the Wenger Revolution; from Saturday afternoons on the pitch to Saturday evenings on primetime television; from a week in prison to inspiring youth offenders, Ian will reveal all about his extraordinary life and career.

Ian will also frankly discuss how retirement affects footballers, why George Graham deserves a statue, social media, why music matters, breaking Arsenal's goal-scoring record, racism, the unadulterated joy of playing alongside Dennis Bergkamp and, of course, what he thinks of Tottenham.

Not a standard footballer's autobiography, Ian Wright's memoir is a thoughtful and gripping insight into a Highbury Hero and one of the greatest sports stars of recent years.

Genres: Football, Biography, Sports, Nonfiction, Autobiography, Soccer, Memoir

384 pages, Paperback

First published September 22, 2016

About the author

Ian Edward Wright, MBE is a retired English footballer turned television and radio personality.


Librarian Note:
There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.

Reviews

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always liked Ian Wright, both the footballer and the television personality but unfortunately never played for the club I support. He certainly wears his heart on his sleeve and his passion and love of England and the game is there for all to see.
I read his life story with a smile on my face, its full of behind the scene stories as well as interesting insights and views on the game. A very frank story and enjoyable for any follower of football.

[Simon Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

The thing I especially liked about Wrighty’s autobiography is that the first ‘part’ cuts straight to the interesting bits at Palace, Arsenal and then West Ham. I find football autobiographies that are purely chronological quite tedious through the childhood years and even this book dragged in part 2 where Ian fills us in on the areas of life that took him to Palace in the late 80s. However, once you’ve got past the full chapters on teenage years, and music tastes, it’s back into Ian’s career and the post-playing years. I never realised he had done so much and also kind of forgot he had retired from playing around 19 years ago!
All in all, one of the better autobiographies. Good style, very readable if a little repetitive with the same anecdotes appearing 3-4 times throughout. But I guess those stories and quotes are what defines Ian now.

[Gary Wing · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book. Ian Wright comes across in the book much like he does on TV - funny, knowledgable, totally aware of where he come from and how fortunate he has been in his life.

I particularly like the fact that he doesn't skirt around issues. Where he was wrong - he acknowledges it. Where he doesn't like what someone did - he says it.

[Guy Strangways · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant autobiography exploring Ian Wrights life, his footballing career and how his journey shaped him who he is today. An excellent read for sports and non sports fans and definitely if you are into your footie this is a must read.

[Ken Kirkberry · Rating 4 out of 5]

An honest account and some good football stories.

[Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ian Wright and whoever helped him to write this autobiography manage to truly capture his personality really well and his infectious enthusiasm for football and life seep through. His dedication to football and his genuine appreciation for all the people who’ve helped him throughout his life both in football and outside of it is heart warming to read about. Such an honest and open account of his life and feelings, a must read for arsenal fans in particular but all football fans can appreciate it. Ian’s pride to be a Londoner, to be black, to be English, to be arsenal and everything that shaped his career is really cool. What a bloke

[Mark Colton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Can't help but love Wrighty. Excellent insight to the inheritant racism in football- even at board and FA level. The man loves his tunes and fashion. Very open and honest about his love life and mistakes.
Good read, just repetitive.

[Nicholas Gordon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent book, interesting life he’s had, seemed a bit contradictory at times but still enjoyed it

[Ed’ La Lecture · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm going to do the review in English, because deep down I hope you'll read it, Ian.

As a French guy who falls in love with Arsenal, you're not the first player to reach our ears. Then we get to know you and realise that you are the face of this club. The smile on the cover photo is the smile the club gives us.

Thank you for teaching a little French boy a part of London that we don't know, notably Brockley. Thank you for sharing your life. As I opened this book to learn more about you and English football, I ended up finding that my favourite chapter was "Uptown Funk".

You brought tears to my eyes at the end, and I'll try to learn from Rocky and you...

« And it was those talks we had on Honor Oak bridge that taught me not to, either. »

[Stephen · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting autobiography which is open, frank and honest talking about growing up in south london and getting his big break with crystal palace and the move to arsenal and his latter years after football being in broadcasting

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Autobiographies can be a strange entity. You buy the book because you're interested in the person it's about and therefor you want to know about their life. However you're also thinking in the back of your mind, please get famous so I can hear stories about the part of their life you're most familiar with. Now I'm not aware if Ian Wright had a ghost writer on this book but assuming he didn't then he either felt this way himself and decided to do something about it, or he's never read an autobiography and doesn't understand the concept of a chronologically ordered story because the middle and the beginning are the wrong way round.

The book is separated into three sections. We start with Wright's Arsenal career, his time (and problems) playing under George Graham, Arsene Wenger's appointment and his, at the time, revolutionary new ways of training and dietary programmes. Since this was when he was at the height of his career it was the section I was most looking forward to reading about but it still seemed strange to begin here. I actually checked Google to make sure I'd not missed a book detailing his early life.

Next comes his life before football and then finally what he did once his playing career was over. I'm not going to give a blow by blow account of everything said because it would make reading the book pointless but I will say he goes into great detail about his highs and lows both during adolescence and as an adult. His troubles with people representing him and opinions about how Black people are treated are also given a lot of inches. The latter I'm particularly unqualified to give deep comment on but after a while I did start to feel like everything was about the colour of his skin. This became somewhat tiresome but it's obviously something Ian Wright feels is important and as someone not of colour it's not something I've ever had to deal with and if it bothered me so much I could simply have stopped reading (it never got to that point)

My biggest gripe was Wright's unwillingness to stand by his words. For example, he had major problems with the former Arsenal manager, George Graham and he goes into great detail about it. But then he'll praise him and almost exonerate him of wrong-doing. This happens quite a few times throughout the book and drove me round the bend. How you can have two polarising opinions about a person / event in the same book, sometimes a few sentences apart is beyond me and grew frustrating with each occurrence.

Not the worst football autobiography I've read but nothing spectacular either. On the whole it did what most of them have for me, given an insight into the views of the individual of the game and events happened while they played, and served as a quick read to pass the time. Nothing hugely thought provoking but certainly didn't turn my brain to mush and feel like a waste of time.

[Stephen Fogle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this man. What an absolute legend.

[John Boddy]

Good honest read, thoroughly enjoyed this book.

[Adam Lambe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Ian going into his autobiography so was worried it would disappoint, it did not. His personality jumps from the page. Some tender moments and not just all about his time on the pitch. Don't have to be a massive football fan but definitely helps.

[John Anthony · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ian Wright tells it as he sees/saw it and doesn't pull any punches. It's hard not to like the book and harder still for me not to like Ian Wright. This Arsenal legend wears his story like his punditry clothes on TV – with colour, style and ease. Always interesting, though a family chart showing which of his 8 children belonged which partner could have been a useful addition!

Very interesting reflections on various managers he's played under as well as fellow players – the godlike Dennis Bergkamp in particular. Recommended to anyone with an interest in football (soccer)in general and the Arsenal in particular.

[Aleks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ian Wright is an Arsenal legend; I became aware of him mostly through his recent work with Arsenal as an ambassador. He is a great link between the club and the fans.

This book was a decent read. I learned more about football in the 90's and Arsenal through Ian's perspective. I'd recommend it to people who want to know more on these topics. Very easy book to read. The order is a little unconventional; it starts with the most interesting part -- his prime at Arsenal -- and continues to the end of his career, then jumps back to early life and life after football. I did appreciate this format as the book was instantly engaging; his Arsenal career was mostly what I wanted to know about. The story is good enough that it keeps you around for the other parts.

This is a general criticism and not an issue with Ian Wright but autobiographies are typically self-serving. The person always gives their side, which may not be the truest or only version. That is why I hesitate to throw heaps of praise on Ian for his story or anyone who writes an autobio.

[John Frankham · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really enjoyable, frank, amusing, and enlightening autobiography. What inner strength to get from his beginning to his current status.

As a life-long Crystal Palace fan, this was of particular interest to me!

The GR blurb:

'THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

'Wrighty's characteristic honesty means his book is far more engrossing than most bland football memoirs' Sunday Times

Ian Wright, Arsenal legend, England striker and TV pundit extraordinaire, is one of the most interesting and relevant figures in modern football.

His journey from a South London council estate to national treasure is everybody's dream. From Sunday morning football directly to Crystal Palace; from 'boring, boring Arsenal' to inside the Wenger Revolution; from Saturday afternoons on the pitch to Saturday evenings on primetime television; from a week in prison to inspiring youth offenders, Ian will reveal all about his extraordinary life and career.

Ian will also frankly discuss how retirement affects footballers, why George Graham deserves a statue, social media, why music matters, breaking Arsenal's goal-scoring record, racism, the unadulterated joy of playing alongside Dennis Bergkamp and, of course, what he thinks of Tottenham.

Not a standard footballer's autobiography, Ian Wright's memoir is a thoughtful and gripping insight into a Highbury Hero and one of the greatest sports stars of recent years.'

[Skye Annabel · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Its a gift, a total
privilege to have earned
a living from playing football
and now to still be able to
enjoy it to that degree"

Reading this book was so good! It completely satisfied my love for sports but also opened my eyes to a lot of stuff that go on behind the scenes in the Football industry. Ian Wright talked about his time at Arsenal under managers the likes of George Graham and Arsene Wenger. The bungs scandal and brown envelopes, was all so interesting to read about (also shocking) He also showed that most of the time players are just as in the dark as fans are when it comes to rumours about transfers etc. Ian Wright is such a humble and honest guy who really takes you on a short journey where he tells you his life in and outside Football, the friends he has made, the mistakes he has made and all the good things that come along with it. This was such a great read and i hope to read more books from Footballers i love to watch!!

[Starlight Kid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting first half about his career at Arsenal and how he is still involved with some of the old players. Typical Wright with the humour saying what he thinks which is why I like him.

2nd half of the book however was less about this and didn't find it as interesting.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

An great read by one of the greats of British football. Telling stories of the hardships of being black rising up the ranks of family life of pro football. One of the best biographies have read in a while.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

There seems to be quite a few autobiographies that tell their story with a random timeline. It begins with Ian Wright’s Arsenal career. Instantly he talks about how good George Graham was as a manager in terms of achievement but his acceptance of bungs ended his tenure as Arsenal manager. Bruce Rioch took over but didn’t have too much success. He discusses Arsenal's transformation which got them back competing with the title; how David Dein signed the striker Dennis Bergkamp, and hired Arsene Wenger, an unknown manager who brought completely new ideas to England. Wenger’s ideas on nutrition prolonged Wright’s football career. Wright reflects on his struggles to get in the England squad although acquired many caps in the latter stages of his career. He discusses his few football clubs after being forced out of Arsenal. Then he discusses his upbringing and how he signed a professional deal around 22 years old. It’s like a Jamie Vardy style story, although he says it is different because Vardy played in non-league for years, whereas Wright was playing Sunday league - so Wright’s story is more impressive.. He then discusses how he became a TV presenter but eventually was working on terrible TV shows that he never should have signed up for. He started working on the football highlights show Match of the Day, but after falling out with the BBC, he worked for radio shows until finally getting his job back on Match of the Day where he still works today. There’s other topics like his relationships with his family, and his thoughts on racism in football and the organisation Kick It Out. It’s easy to read, but he sounds more intelligent compared to Steven Gerrard’s “My Autobiography”. He does have a good story to tell, and provides enough insights into the game.

[Abhishek Dafria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading an autobiography where the writer is grateful, happy, content and at peace, is such a rare commodity that it is worthy of an extra star in my review. Ian Wright, the Arsenal legend, has put together an honest and inspiring narrative with a happy ending here. The book covers his difficult childhood, his late emergence as a professional football, his time at all his football clubs - mainly Crystal Palace and Arsenal - as well as international tournaments, his many wives and children, and his career post his retirement as a footballer. The structure of the book is different than most memoirs where Wright starts off with a few chapters on Arsenal covering the emergence of Arsene Wneger and one chapter dedicated to the legendary Dennis Bergkamp. The opening chapters hook you onto the story as Wright then moves around covering other different aspects of his life. He is straightforward, takes names, points fingers, but hardly speaks with malice, lauds the greats he worked with, and remains upbeat for most parts of the book. At times he is funny, sometimes he is reflective. The man has had such an event-filled life that whether you are a football fan or not, you could still enjoy the story. It helps though if you are indeed a fan of football and Wrighty!

[JJE · Rating 3 out of 5]

As other reviewers have said this is a very strange way to write an autobiography which is totally out of chronological order. At first it seemed refreshing to have the peak of Ian Wright’s career first but the further you progressed the worse it got.

Thoroughly enjoyed finding out about how revolutionary Arsenal Wenger was in the football game, how incredible it was to play with Dennis Bergkamp and how poorly treated he was by George Graham though it was odd to read despite George Graham really bullying him that he still thought positively about him and several others too which was strange and portrayed a submissive character.

His upbringing has undoubtedly affect Ian throughout his life and his mother and step-father should be ashamed of how he was brought up. It is incredible to think he still made sure his mother never had a worry in the world after he became and pro and shows how kind Ian Wright has become despite all odds.

It is worthwhile read as ‘Wrighty’ is an interesting character but that is where it terms of great autobiographies that’s where this book ends. For me it was poorly put together and doesn’t seem to have a reason for being compiled in this fashion.

[Ger Byrne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is so riddled with inconsistencies and confusing that it turns what should be an enjoyable read into a jumbled, muddled mess.

The book is split into 4 parts, The book starts with 11 chapters about his time with Arsenal, a lot of which is repetitive and gets then hops back to his growing up, which is dreadfully outlined, then onto his television career and then finally part 4 begins with talking about how he is now BACK on Match Of The Day despite never mentioning being on it previously.

He spends a full chapter talking about the music and clubs he liked to go to when he was growing up and yet scoring twice in an FA Cup Final barely merits two sentences? He complains about how much he hated his step father for never being around, and yet walked out on 6 (six) of his own kids and seems to justify it by saying he looks after them financially.

All in all, I like Ian Wright, and there's no doubting there's some good stories and insights in the book, but I found myself just willing the book to be finished, which us never exactly a glowing endorsement.

[Mohamed Nazirudeen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even as a Manchester United fan, I have always been an admirer of Ian Wright largely because I was a striker for most part of my schoolboy days and Ian Wright caught the eye with a style of play and enthusiasm that wouldn’t be out of place in the school playground or street football court.

Recalling the speed and energy with which he played, the variety of goals he scored and the consistency with which he scored them always brings a smile to my face. And having been a Sunday footballer for much of my adult life, there is the delicious fairytale of how he moved from Sunday football to Crystal Palace and then to legend-hood with Arsenal and England.

Throughly enjoyed this book as Ian gives an intimate look into his life story and his thoughts on many issues within English football and culture.

A must read for any fan of English football.

[Mika · Rating 2 out of 5]

A great short insight to Arsenal and Arsénse Wenger, thinking a while this book would be concerning these two subjects. Some good parts of the locker-room stuff that goes on and the banter, football and training, backdoor politics, and a tragic encounter to early family life and a society with racial problems.

Then it somewhere turns into some random jabber about where he buys his shoes and what kind of music he listens to. I cannot see how any fan for football-autobiographies would find that interesting at all to be honest.

Simple to read and written with a positive atmosphere, that saves the day. Yellow card for this one!

[Karen Osment · Rating 4 out of 5]

An open, honest, funny and emotional memoir about Ian's life so far. The first part was so interesting about his football career. There is so much detail about his rise to success and how the premiership operated in those early years, I learnt a lot! The second part focussed more on his personal life which was also fascinating. How he was so successful in a world of no support is inspirational. He's not worried about being totally honest about the people we all know in the football or media world, whether good or bad. He tells it as it is. A must read for all Arsenal fans and football fans alike. Eye opening. Was in tears at the end with his tribute to David Rocastle.

[Chiko Mukwenha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed the style and tone of this autobiography. Took me right from the time when he started playing (didn't know he played for Crystal Palace!) up to his time with Arsenal and all that happened afterwards. He does come across as a guy who doesn't try to hide his faults in his writing, and there is a sense of regret / blame he puts on certain factors (agents) during his career which is kind of sad to discover. However this is a book about triumph, working hard and some of the things it takes to stay at the top of World Football. Such an enjoyable read at the end of the day, concise, relatable and nicely packaged.

[Zaria Bettles · Rating 3 out of 5]

The 3 ⭐️ is purely reader based and not author based. I read this because living with a house full of Arsenal fans I hear and see a lot about them, both past and present, and Ian Wright is one of the few that doesn't make me roll my eyes instantly. The book was interesting and well written. It came across in the same approachable, chatty style I have seen him speak on TV and what makes him a relatable football pundit. If you know about football and, even more so, if you're a gooner then I am in no doubt this book would score at least 4 ⭐️, but unfortunately a lot was lost on me but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

[Mike Hales · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book sounds like Ian Wright, searingly honest, fascinating and funny. It’s a riveting read, full of glory, fame, music, mistakes and a fascinating look inside the world of football. I’ve always had a soft spot for Ian Wright, though I support QPR, for simple gesture I saw him make after QPR played Arsenal when he gave a young kid his Arsenal jacket and the look on that kid’s face was priceless. A small thing for him but a clear indicator of what he’s like as a man. The first time I had seen a footballer do that and I never forgot it. This a great read about a great footballer and a good man. Respect!