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Masters of Modern Soccer: How the World's Best Play the Twenty-First-Century Game
How do some of soccer’s smartest and most accomplished figures master the craft of the game? This in-depth analysis of modern soccer reveals how elite players and coaches strategize on and off the field to execute in high-pressure situations. “A worthy addition to any soccer fan’s shelf.”—The Wall Street Journal In Masters of Modern Soccer, America’s premier soccer journalist, Grant Wahl, reveals what players and managers are thinking before, during, and after games and delivers a true behind-the-scenes perspective on the inner workings of the sport’s brightest minds. Wahl follows world-class players from across the globe, examining how they do their jobs and gaining deep insight from the players on how goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards function individually and as a unit to excel and win. He also shadows a manager and director of soccer as they juggle the challenges of coaching, preparation, and the short- and long-term strategies of how to identify and acquire talent and deploy it on the field. These central figures share the little details that matter, position by • Attacking midfielder Christian Pulisic explains why he wears his soccer cleats a size too small to make his first touch even better. • Forward Javier “Chicharito” Hernández reveals the Mexican national team’s secret synchronized patterns that create space for him in front of the goal. • Defender Vincent Kompany tells you why his teammates’ pressure on the ball means he can defend his man more tightly in the penalty box. • Defensive midfielder Xabi Alonso describes his disdain for slide tackles and the tendency among even the best professional midfielders to play too closely to one another. • Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer tells the origin story of his sweeper-keeper role, which has allowed him to redefine the position for the modern game. • Head coach Roberto Martínez explains the differences between coaching clubs and national teams and why one of the first things he looks for in any game situation is numerical advantage. • Director of football Michael Zorc discusses what he looks for when it comes to identifying players he can buy low and sell high, Moneyball-style, while still competing to win trophies. The definitive analysis of the craft of soccer, Masters of Modern Soccer will change the way any fan, player, coach, or sideline enthusiast experiences the game.
255 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2018
135 people are currently reading
681 people want to read
About the author
Grant Wahl
8 books37 followersGRANT WAHL was one of the world’s leading soccer journalists. He joined Sports Illustrated in November 1996 as a reporter and was promoted to senior writer in October 2000. He was also a contributor to Fox Sports television, where he did insider segments, essays, and longform video stories. Wahl’s last book, The Beckham Experiment, was the first soccer book to make the New York Times Best-Seller List.
Photo Credit: Marina Zarya
Photo Credit: Marina Zarya
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 69 reviews
July 20, 2018
I was previously familiar with Grant Wahl, although I must admit his writing had never really stood out to me before. My main exposure to him came through Fox's nightly World Cup highlight show World Cup tonight. In addition to offering interesting insights, I found he had an engaging personality and interacted well with the other cast members of the show. I decided that this book would make a great World Cup companion read.
I was really struck by the fact that the subjects he chooses are at the top of their game this very minute, and not 2 to 4 years ago which is often the case with books of this type. In most cases it seems like Wahl repeatedly interviewed his subjects over the course of a year or two which really added depth that you don't normally see in a book this short. Another revolutionary technique he uses is to watch game film with his subject and just asked him what he sees. I have never seen this approach used in a soccer book before and it really enhanced my understanding of the game, or at least how the world's elite players think about the game.
I won't go into every interview here, but I think the interviews with Christian Pulisic, Roberto Martinez and Juan Carlos Osorio will be of particular interest to American fans. Also noteworthy is an interview with Dortmund's Director of Football, the first interview with any Director of football that I know about in book form.
This Book is perfect for both new fans of the game and experienced fans who really want to take their knowledge to the next level. My only criticism of this book is it's way too short but that's also what makes it such an unexpected surprise. I think people Will be referring back to this book for years to come.
I was really struck by the fact that the subjects he chooses are at the top of their game this very minute, and not 2 to 4 years ago which is often the case with books of this type. In most cases it seems like Wahl repeatedly interviewed his subjects over the course of a year or two which really added depth that you don't normally see in a book this short. Another revolutionary technique he uses is to watch game film with his subject and just asked him what he sees. I have never seen this approach used in a soccer book before and it really enhanced my understanding of the game, or at least how the world's elite players think about the game.
I won't go into every interview here, but I think the interviews with Christian Pulisic, Roberto Martinez and Juan Carlos Osorio will be of particular interest to American fans. Also noteworthy is an interview with Dortmund's Director of Football, the first interview with any Director of football that I know about in book form.
This Book is perfect for both new fans of the game and experienced fans who really want to take their knowledge to the next level. My only criticism of this book is it's way too short but that's also what makes it such an unexpected surprise. I think people Will be referring back to this book for years to come.
June 25, 2018
The value in this book lies in the player and manager interviews and the insights they bring to fans that haven't played at the professional level (the focus on predetermined patterns in both set pieces and especially open play was unexpected and fascinating).
Wahl's writing and narrative flow were strangely clunky, since I generally like his sportswriting. I wonder if the editing of the book suffered to get it out in time for the world cup?
Juan Carlos Osorio and Roberto Martinez come off especially well (as does Dortmund); given how Mexico and Belgium have played so far, this looks especially prescient.
Wahl's writing and narrative flow were strangely clunky, since I generally like his sportswriting. I wonder if the editing of the book suffered to get it out in time for the world cup?
Juan Carlos Osorio and Roberto Martinez come off especially well (as does Dortmund); given how Mexico and Belgium have played so far, this looks especially prescient.
December 21, 2022
RIP Grant Wahl. He was a good reporter — maybe TOO good for this book. It’s extremely detailed on the technical nuances of soccer, and it’s clear he asked good questions, knew the game well and was able to develop great sources because of these two things. But IMO it suffers a little bit from being a little too inside, er, baseball (sorry) with all the technical stuff. Do you want to know every aspect of how Christian Pulisic passes a ball in every situation? Well, if so, it’s here. Like I said, maybe there’s a bit too much for someone who isn’t a player and has no aspirations of turning pro—although someone who is a soccer player or coach might actually find most of this book VERY useful—which is great! But I think this maybe isn’t the book I wanted. I think Wahl was great at the more big picture investigative stuff — his coverage of the US women’s team and their demands for equal pay, to make a big one. I wish he had the opportunity to write more of THOSE kinds of books. It’s a big bummer he left us so early and won’t be able to.
March 19, 2018
A very American-centric look at soccer through interviews centered around of figures in the current game. As an American soccer fan I was most excited for the interviews with Christian Pulisic, which did not disappoint, and I found the selection of players (and manager and technical director) fairly interesting as a whole. I found the repeated analogies to American football a little off-putting in a book about soccer, and at times I found the chapters would go on such long tangents that I'd almost forget who was the actual focus of a section. Overall I think there were some interesting tidbits in here, but it doesn't measure up to other soccer books I've read.
February 6, 2023
Nothing groundbreaking, but still extremely interesting to go into the minds of players, managers, and a sporting director. Certainly learned the most from Roberto Martinez. He really knew how to explain the adaptations required in each job and with different groups of players.
October 15, 2023
Schweizer Fußballstadien
Es gibt viele Witze über die Schweizer Fußballnationalmannschaft, die in ihrer Neutralitätshaltung der gesamten Nation folgt. Die Realität ist, dass die Schweizer nie eine besonders starke Persönlichkeit hatten, wenn es um den Fußball ihrer Mannschaften ging. Wo die Deutschen Organisation versprechen, die Italiener Defensivstärke und die Spanier Flair und Spannung bieten, war die Schweiz im Fußball des Landes schon immer sehr langweilig. Als einer der besten Fußballvereine der Schweiz bietet der FC Basel eine interessante Geschichte und Zukunft, über die wir Sie auf unserer Website informieren.
Dieser Mangel an Persönlichkeit spiegelt sich in der Leistung der Schweiz auf der internationalen Bühne wider, ganz zu schweigen vom Spitznamen des Landes. Wie man es von einem Land mit einer interessanten geographischen Geschichte erwarten würde, sind die Schweizer auf Deutsch als Schweizer Nati, auf Französisch als La Nati oder auf Italienisch als Squadra nazionale bekannt. Das ist leider das Aufregendste an der Schweiz, wenn es um ihren internationalen Fußball geht.
Innenpolitisch gibt es nichts mehr zu besprechen. Die höchste Spielklasse in der Schweiz ist die Schweizer Superliga, die aufgrund des Sponsorings derzeit als Raiffeisen Superliga bekannt ist. Es gibt eine Reihe von Mannschaften aus der Schweiz, von denen begeisterte Fußballfans vielleicht schon gehört haben, darunter auch die Young Boys mit dem immer amüsanten Namen. Auch Grasshopper, Sion und der FC Zürich treten in den verschiedenen Schweizer Ligen an. Der erfolgreichste Verein der letzten Zeit ist jedoch zweifellos der FC Basel.
Von 2000 bis 2019 gab es neunzehn Erstligaspiele, von denen Basel elf gewann. Drei der anderen Spiele gewann der FC Zürich, zwei gingen Anfang der 1920er-Jahre an Grasshopper, doch die guten alten Young Boys erkämpften sich in den letzten Jahren zweimal den Sieg. Man kann davon ausgehen, dass die Schweizer Super League zumindest in der Vergangenheit nicht so wettbewerbsfähig war.
Dieser Mangel an Wettbewerbsfähigkeit könnte ein Grund dafür sein, dass die Schweizer Länder in Europa noch nie so gut abgeschnitten haben. Kein Team aus der Schweiz hat das Finale der UEFA Champions League, offiziell als Europapokal der Landesmeister bekannt, oder der UEFA Europa League, früher als UEFA-Pokal bekannt, erreicht. Auf europäischer Bühne kann der FC Basel jedoch zeitweise überzeugen. Im Jahr 2002 erreichten sie das Finale des Intertoto Cups und verloren dort gegen Aston Villa. Auch den englischen Mannschaften in der Champions League waren sie regelmäßig ein Dorn im Auge, so wurden Liverpool, Chelsea und Manchester United in der Vergangenheit gegen die Schweizer Mannschaft gefoult.
In diesem Bereich der Website erzählen wir Ihnen etwas über die Stadien, die Sie in der Schweiz finden, das dort etablierte Ligasystem sowie die Leistung des Landes auf der internationalen Bühne. Wir verraten Ihnen auch, wie das Fußballspiel seinen Weg in die Heimat der Schweizer Schokolade, des CERN und fragwürdiger Bankpraktiken fand.
Es sagt etwas über die Fußballstadien aus, die es in der Schweiz gibt, dass die größte Kapazität im ganzen Land unter 40.000 liegt. St. Der Jakob-Park, die Heimat des FC Basel, ist ein modernes Stadion, in dem in der Vergangenheit große Spiele ausgetragen wurden, darunter nicht zuletzt das Finale der UEFA Europa League 2016 zwischen Liverpool und Sevilla. Im Vergleich zu europäischen Giganten wie dem Nou Camp oder Old Trafford handelt es sich jedoch offensichtlich um einen recht kleinen Veranstaltungsort.
Die Schweiz ist vielleicht nicht das Ziel für Sie, wenn Sie ein Fan riesiger Stadien sind, aber es gibt nicht wenige Stadien im Land, die spektakulär zu sein versprechen. Wenn die Schweiz eines zu bieten hat, dann sind es unglaubliche Ausblicke mit atemberaubenden Bergketten im Hintergrund. Zahlreiche Stadien im ganzen Land machen sich genau diesen Vorteil zunutze und sorgen dafür, dass Sie den Standort auch dann genießen können, wenn das Stadion selbst weniger als 10.000 Sitzplätze bietet.
Das erste Länderspiel der Schweiz fand 1905 statt, als die Mannschaft in Paris gegen Frankreich antrat und mit einem respektablen Ergebnis von 0:1 verlor. Obwohl sie noch nie ein großes internationales Turnier gewonnen haben, haben sie bei einigen Turnieren recht gute Leistungen gezeigt. Sowohl 1934 als auch 1938 erreichten sie das Viertelfinale der Weltmeisterschaft. Das gleiche Schicksal ereilte sie 1954, als die Schweiz tatsächlich Gastgeber der Veranstaltung war. Im Jahr 2006 stellten die Schweizer im selben Wettbewerb einen etwas unerwünschten Rekord auf, als sie ausschieden, obwohl sie in der regulären Spielzeit kein Gegentor kassierten, und im Achtelfinale im Elfmeterschießen gegen die Ukraine verloren.
Es gibt viele Witze über die Schweizer Fußballnationalmannschaft, die in ihrer Neutralitätshaltung der gesamten Nation folgt. Die Realität ist, dass die Schweizer nie eine besonders starke Persönlichkeit hatten, wenn es um den Fußball ihrer Mannschaften ging. Wo die Deutschen Organisation versprechen, die Italiener Defensivstärke und die Spanier Flair und Spannung bieten, war die Schweiz im Fußball des Landes schon immer sehr langweilig. Als einer der besten Fußballvereine der Schweiz bietet der FC Basel eine interessante Geschichte und Zukunft, über die wir Sie auf unserer Website informieren.
Dieser Mangel an Persönlichkeit spiegelt sich in der Leistung der Schweiz auf der internationalen Bühne wider, ganz zu schweigen vom Spitznamen des Landes. Wie man es von einem Land mit einer interessanten geographischen Geschichte erwarten würde, sind die Schweizer auf Deutsch als Schweizer Nati, auf Französisch als La Nati oder auf Italienisch als Squadra nazionale bekannt. Das ist leider das Aufregendste an der Schweiz, wenn es um ihren internationalen Fußball geht.
Innenpolitisch gibt es nichts mehr zu besprechen. Die höchste Spielklasse in der Schweiz ist die Schweizer Superliga, die aufgrund des Sponsorings derzeit als Raiffeisen Superliga bekannt ist. Es gibt eine Reihe von Mannschaften aus der Schweiz, von denen begeisterte Fußballfans vielleicht schon gehört haben, darunter auch die Young Boys mit dem immer amüsanten Namen. Auch Grasshopper, Sion und der FC Zürich treten in den verschiedenen Schweizer Ligen an. Der erfolgreichste Verein der letzten Zeit ist jedoch zweifellos der FC Basel.
Von 2000 bis 2019 gab es neunzehn Erstligaspiele, von denen Basel elf gewann. Drei der anderen Spiele gewann der FC Zürich, zwei gingen Anfang der 1920er-Jahre an Grasshopper, doch die guten alten Young Boys erkämpften sich in den letzten Jahren zweimal den Sieg. Man kann davon ausgehen, dass die Schweizer Super League zumindest in der Vergangenheit nicht so wettbewerbsfähig war.
Dieser Mangel an Wettbewerbsfähigkeit könnte ein Grund dafür sein, dass die Schweizer Länder in Europa noch nie so gut abgeschnitten haben. Kein Team aus der Schweiz hat das Finale der UEFA Champions League, offiziell als Europapokal der Landesmeister bekannt, oder der UEFA Europa League, früher als UEFA-Pokal bekannt, erreicht. Auf europäischer Bühne kann der FC Basel jedoch zeitweise überzeugen. Im Jahr 2002 erreichten sie das Finale des Intertoto Cups und verloren dort gegen Aston Villa. Auch den englischen Mannschaften in der Champions League waren sie regelmäßig ein Dorn im Auge, so wurden Liverpool, Chelsea und Manchester United in der Vergangenheit gegen die Schweizer Mannschaft gefoult.
In diesem Bereich der Website erzählen wir Ihnen etwas über die Stadien, die Sie in der Schweiz finden, das dort etablierte Ligasystem sowie die Leistung des Landes auf der internationalen Bühne. Wir verraten Ihnen auch, wie das Fußballspiel seinen Weg in die Heimat der Schweizer Schokolade, des CERN und fragwürdiger Bankpraktiken fand.
Es sagt etwas über die Fußballstadien aus, die es in der Schweiz gibt, dass die größte Kapazität im ganzen Land unter 40.000 liegt. St. Der Jakob-Park, die Heimat des FC Basel, ist ein modernes Stadion, in dem in der Vergangenheit große Spiele ausgetragen wurden, darunter nicht zuletzt das Finale der UEFA Europa League 2016 zwischen Liverpool und Sevilla. Im Vergleich zu europäischen Giganten wie dem Nou Camp oder Old Trafford handelt es sich jedoch offensichtlich um einen recht kleinen Veranstaltungsort.
Die Schweiz ist vielleicht nicht das Ziel für Sie, wenn Sie ein Fan riesiger Stadien sind, aber es gibt nicht wenige Stadien im Land, die spektakulär zu sein versprechen. Wenn die Schweiz eines zu bieten hat, dann sind es unglaubliche Ausblicke mit atemberaubenden Bergketten im Hintergrund. Zahlreiche Stadien im ganzen Land machen sich genau diesen Vorteil zunutze und sorgen dafür, dass Sie den Standort auch dann genießen können, wenn das Stadion selbst weniger als 10.000 Sitzplätze bietet.
Das erste Länderspiel der Schweiz fand 1905 statt, als die Mannschaft in Paris gegen Frankreich antrat und mit einem respektablen Ergebnis von 0:1 verlor. Obwohl sie noch nie ein großes internationales Turnier gewonnen haben, haben sie bei einigen Turnieren recht gute Leistungen gezeigt. Sowohl 1934 als auch 1938 erreichten sie das Viertelfinale der Weltmeisterschaft. Das gleiche Schicksal ereilte sie 1954, als die Schweiz tatsächlich Gastgeber der Veranstaltung war. Im Jahr 2006 stellten die Schweizer im selben Wettbewerb einen etwas unerwünschten Rekord auf, als sie ausschieden, obwohl sie in der regulären Spielzeit kein Gegentor kassierten, und im Achtelfinale im Elfmeterschießen gegen die Ukraine verloren.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2018
It's 2018, the year of the World Cup, and soccer has changed from the game it was originally. It's faster and more physical, more technical and more commercialized. But its fans are just as passionate as ever, and increasingly savvy thanks to the internet, the amount of data now available on every game in every league, and easy access to games from around the world. Personally, as I sat preparing to write this, we watched FC Koln succumb to Bayern Munich 1-3 in the Bundesliga.
There is no better time than now to prepare for the coming deluge of games, and Masters of Modern Soccer is an excellent place to start. Grant Wahl knows soccer, as our most prominent soccer journalist, and he spoke to some of the finest players from around the world to take a deep dive into each position on the pitch.
He starts in Germany, talking to Borussia Dortmund's Christian Pulisic. Born in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Pulisic has made a name for himself pretty much everywhere he's played in his career. Only 19, he brings a youthful energy and a thoughtful precision to his position as attacking midfielder. In contrast, defending midfielder Xabi Alonso depended on his emotional understanding of the field during his 17-year career, not caring so much for data but depending on on old school risk management by controlling the small choices he made on the field.
Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, power forward and all-time leading goal scorer for the Mexican men's national team ("El Tri"), depends on his hyperactive energy to figure out where the ball is and find a way to be in that same place. While the team manager Juan Carlos Osorio spends his time coming up with synchronized designs for plays, Chicharito understands that there is also a lot of kinetic intelligence and intuition to be in the right place at the right time.
Manchester City center back Vincent Kompany shares his secrets for being a defender. And he knows a lot of secrets--he's been studying the game since he was 6. Although he's struggled with injuries, he understands what it means to be the Master of the Castle, always defending the fort. He knows how to suffocate players, to induce their exhaustion so that they make mistakes. And he knows how to win the battle for headers (hint: it's not about jumping higher, it's about being in the spot where the ball lands. That way the ball is yours even if you don't leave the ground).
Innovative goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is an intimidating force for strikers. Tall and imposing, his presence just lets players know that they can't score against him. And add to that his habit of coming our of the box, mixing traditional goal keeping with that job of a sweeper, and you've got the new sweeper keeper model that is making its way onto soccer pitches across the world. It's risky, but Neuer has the athleticism to back it up, as well as an understanding of trigonometry to understand the angles and spacing of the pitch.
Masters of Modern Soccer also includes chapters on manager of the Belgium national team Roberto Martinez and his ability to adapt to the players and situations before him and Borussia Dortmund's sporting director Michael Zorc, who is tasked with finding the most valuable players for their budget, so they can compete with teams who have larger budgets. From the players through the top of the organization, it's all about control, intelligence, and instinct.
As soccer continues to grow in popularity and the data scientists change the way we think about the game, it's more interesting than ever to get to peek in the backdoor and meet some of its more exciting players. Grant Wahl's Masters of Modern Soccer offers us access to a deeper understanding of the players and the sport so we can grow to love it even more. Masters of Modern Soccer is packed with information and personality, guiding us to see soccer in a fascinating new way.
Galleys for Masters of Modern Soccer were provided by Crown Archetype through Penguin Random House's First To Read program, with many thanks.
There is no better time than now to prepare for the coming deluge of games, and Masters of Modern Soccer is an excellent place to start. Grant Wahl knows soccer, as our most prominent soccer journalist, and he spoke to some of the finest players from around the world to take a deep dive into each position on the pitch.
He starts in Germany, talking to Borussia Dortmund's Christian Pulisic. Born in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Pulisic has made a name for himself pretty much everywhere he's played in his career. Only 19, he brings a youthful energy and a thoughtful precision to his position as attacking midfielder. In contrast, defending midfielder Xabi Alonso depended on his emotional understanding of the field during his 17-year career, not caring so much for data but depending on on old school risk management by controlling the small choices he made on the field.
Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez, power forward and all-time leading goal scorer for the Mexican men's national team ("El Tri"), depends on his hyperactive energy to figure out where the ball is and find a way to be in that same place. While the team manager Juan Carlos Osorio spends his time coming up with synchronized designs for plays, Chicharito understands that there is also a lot of kinetic intelligence and intuition to be in the right place at the right time.
Manchester City center back Vincent Kompany shares his secrets for being a defender. And he knows a lot of secrets--he's been studying the game since he was 6. Although he's struggled with injuries, he understands what it means to be the Master of the Castle, always defending the fort. He knows how to suffocate players, to induce their exhaustion so that they make mistakes. And he knows how to win the battle for headers (hint: it's not about jumping higher, it's about being in the spot where the ball lands. That way the ball is yours even if you don't leave the ground).
Innovative goalkeeper Manuel Neuer is an intimidating force for strikers. Tall and imposing, his presence just lets players know that they can't score against him. And add to that his habit of coming our of the box, mixing traditional goal keeping with that job of a sweeper, and you've got the new sweeper keeper model that is making its way onto soccer pitches across the world. It's risky, but Neuer has the athleticism to back it up, as well as an understanding of trigonometry to understand the angles and spacing of the pitch.
Masters of Modern Soccer also includes chapters on manager of the Belgium national team Roberto Martinez and his ability to adapt to the players and situations before him and Borussia Dortmund's sporting director Michael Zorc, who is tasked with finding the most valuable players for their budget, so they can compete with teams who have larger budgets. From the players through the top of the organization, it's all about control, intelligence, and instinct.
As soccer continues to grow in popularity and the data scientists change the way we think about the game, it's more interesting than ever to get to peek in the backdoor and meet some of its more exciting players. Grant Wahl's Masters of Modern Soccer offers us access to a deeper understanding of the players and the sport so we can grow to love it even more. Masters of Modern Soccer is packed with information and personality, guiding us to see soccer in a fascinating new way.
Galleys for Masters of Modern Soccer were provided by Crown Archetype through Penguin Random House's First To Read program, with many thanks.
March 25, 2018
Long-time players and fans of soccer will notice how different the contemporary game is compared to the matches played in the 1970’s and 1980’s. There are several reasons for this, most notably the changes in responsibilities of the positions and the use of analytics. America’s premier soccer writer, Grant Wahl, interviewed seven men who are the premier people in their position or job in international soccer and the result is this excellent book.
This book has been compared to the best-selling baseball book “Men At Work” by George Will. In that one, Will broke down baseball by writing about various jobs done by people in the game and wrote about how the best performers handle that job. Wahl does the same thing for soccer as he interviews the best players and management personnel. The players are American midfielder Christian Pulisic, Mexican forward Javier “Chicarito” Hernandez, Belgian centerback Vincent Kompany, Spain’s Xabi Alonso and German goalkeeper Mauel Neuer.
Their insight into the game makes for compelling reading as they each share what they do to be the best at their position. Whether it is how Kompany positions himself in relation to the opponent’s best goal scorer, the “Wow moments” Pulisic provides to fans or the drills on which Neuer works to improve his reflexes, each section is a lesson in how today’s game is played and why the sport has changed so much over the last few decades.
These changes are noted often by Wahl as he talks about positions that are no longer in vogue, such as the sweeper, or how drastically the skills have changed in order to be an elite player. This is clearly evident for a goalkeeper, where Wahl writes that shot blocking, once considered the primary job of the keeper, is now only one of several skills at which a goalkeeper must excel. Neuer’s insight backs up this assertion.
Coaching and management get the same treatment as players do in this book as Belgium coach Roberto Martinez and Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc are also interviewed and share their secrets for success as well. The biggest takeaway from these chapters was also mentioned in some of the players’ chapters. The used of advanced statistical analysis is just as prevalent in professional soccer as it is in other sports, again most notably baseball. There is even a reference to “Moneyball” in the book as much like the Oakland A’s, Borussia Dortmund does not have the same financial resources like some other clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid or Barcelona. As a result, they do some creative thinking in the front office and Zorc’s insight will provide readers with some new information about this part of the sport.
Written with American readers in mind, this work is truly a masterpiece of the modern game. Wahl was the first author to write a soccer book that became a New York Times bestseller with his 2009 biography of David Beckham. This book could very well become his second. If a reader has any interest in the sport, no matter how much or how little, this is a book that must not be missed.
I wish to thank Crown Publishing for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
http://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/201...
This book has been compared to the best-selling baseball book “Men At Work” by George Will. In that one, Will broke down baseball by writing about various jobs done by people in the game and wrote about how the best performers handle that job. Wahl does the same thing for soccer as he interviews the best players and management personnel. The players are American midfielder Christian Pulisic, Mexican forward Javier “Chicarito” Hernandez, Belgian centerback Vincent Kompany, Spain’s Xabi Alonso and German goalkeeper Mauel Neuer.
Their insight into the game makes for compelling reading as they each share what they do to be the best at their position. Whether it is how Kompany positions himself in relation to the opponent’s best goal scorer, the “Wow moments” Pulisic provides to fans or the drills on which Neuer works to improve his reflexes, each section is a lesson in how today’s game is played and why the sport has changed so much over the last few decades.
These changes are noted often by Wahl as he talks about positions that are no longer in vogue, such as the sweeper, or how drastically the skills have changed in order to be an elite player. This is clearly evident for a goalkeeper, where Wahl writes that shot blocking, once considered the primary job of the keeper, is now only one of several skills at which a goalkeeper must excel. Neuer’s insight backs up this assertion.
Coaching and management get the same treatment as players do in this book as Belgium coach Roberto Martinez and Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc are also interviewed and share their secrets for success as well. The biggest takeaway from these chapters was also mentioned in some of the players’ chapters. The used of advanced statistical analysis is just as prevalent in professional soccer as it is in other sports, again most notably baseball. There is even a reference to “Moneyball” in the book as much like the Oakland A’s, Borussia Dortmund does not have the same financial resources like some other clubs like Manchester United, Real Madrid or Barcelona. As a result, they do some creative thinking in the front office and Zorc’s insight will provide readers with some new information about this part of the sport.
Written with American readers in mind, this work is truly a masterpiece of the modern game. Wahl was the first author to write a soccer book that became a New York Times bestseller with his 2009 biography of David Beckham. This book could very well become his second. If a reader has any interest in the sport, no matter how much or how little, this is a book that must not be missed.
I wish to thank Crown Publishing for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
http://sportsbookguy.blogspot.com/201...
December 29, 2018
Grant Wahl is one of my favorite sports writers and I've been reading his work in Sports Illustrated for some time. Happily, his book retains all of the qualities that make his articles great; clean, light prose that somehow still manages to be vivid.
This book seems to be a expansion on his four part Total Fútbol series for SI. Perhaps this is why I felt like these profiles worked better as separate narratives. Some of the attempts to connect the players seemed forced, particularly in the case of Christian Pulisic and Xabi Alonso. Javier Hernandez and Vincent Company worked far better as foils for each other positionally.
The writing is always most gripping when the personalities and inner thoughts of the subjects are at the forefront. The explanations of positions and roles is rather the opposite but I do understand that Wahl wanted to make this accessible to a wider audience.
I found that the interviewee largely determined the my interest the chapter. Kompany obviously has a lot more insight and experience to draw on than Pulisic, Manuel Neuer revolutionized his position, Chicharito not so much, etc. And wasn't Xabi Alonso a little hard done? His narrative is a little piecemeal in 'The Midfielders' section and snippets of his interview pop up intermittently throughout other sections of the book. Which is a shame.
If you appreciate insight into tactics and how they manifest in the minds of players and managers then you'll likely enjoy this very much! It's an interesting snapshot of the football industry.
(ARC provided by Netgalley)
This book seems to be a expansion on his four part Total Fútbol series for SI. Perhaps this is why I felt like these profiles worked better as separate narratives. Some of the attempts to connect the players seemed forced, particularly in the case of Christian Pulisic and Xabi Alonso. Javier Hernandez and Vincent Company worked far better as foils for each other positionally.
The writing is always most gripping when the personalities and inner thoughts of the subjects are at the forefront. The explanations of positions and roles is rather the opposite but I do understand that Wahl wanted to make this accessible to a wider audience.
I found that the interviewee largely determined the my interest the chapter. Kompany obviously has a lot more insight and experience to draw on than Pulisic, Manuel Neuer revolutionized his position, Chicharito not so much, etc. And wasn't Xabi Alonso a little hard done? His narrative is a little piecemeal in 'The Midfielders' section and snippets of his interview pop up intermittently throughout other sections of the book. Which is a shame.
If you appreciate insight into tactics and how they manifest in the minds of players and managers then you'll likely enjoy this very much! It's an interesting snapshot of the football industry.
(ARC provided by Netgalley)
April 14, 2019
As a huge soccer fan, and somebody who regularly reads Grant Wahl's work, I never connected with this snoozer. In the book, which is inspired by George Will's baseball classic, Men at Work: The Craft of Baseball, Grant sat down with prominent figures in the world game to discuss what it takes to succeed in their roles.
Broken down into Midfield, Forward, Defender, Goalkeeper, Manager, and Director of Football, the reader gets a glimpse into the mind of players like Xabi Alonso, Chicharito, Vincent Kompany, and Manuel Neuer. Tellingly, the midfield was the only position with two interviewees, which I'm assuming owed to the inclusion of Christian Pulisic to appeal to the US market. Regardless, I thought Pulisic's interview was one of the best in the book, which shed light on his tactical considerations as well as the atmosphere that has allowed him to thrive at Borussia Dortmund. My favorite chapter, somewhat surprisingly, was Wahl's interview with Dortmund's Michael Zorc, who is one of the top Directors of Football in the game. It was fascinating to learn more about Dortmund's approach to team building and how it has continued to evolve for the team to remain competitive despite comparatively smaller budgets than their peers.
This book, aimed at the North American market, would be great for a new soccer fan or young players that are interested in the mindset required to succeed at the highest levels.
Broken down into Midfield, Forward, Defender, Goalkeeper, Manager, and Director of Football, the reader gets a glimpse into the mind of players like Xabi Alonso, Chicharito, Vincent Kompany, and Manuel Neuer. Tellingly, the midfield was the only position with two interviewees, which I'm assuming owed to the inclusion of Christian Pulisic to appeal to the US market. Regardless, I thought Pulisic's interview was one of the best in the book, which shed light on his tactical considerations as well as the atmosphere that has allowed him to thrive at Borussia Dortmund. My favorite chapter, somewhat surprisingly, was Wahl's interview with Dortmund's Michael Zorc, who is one of the top Directors of Football in the game. It was fascinating to learn more about Dortmund's approach to team building and how it has continued to evolve for the team to remain competitive despite comparatively smaller budgets than their peers.
This book, aimed at the North American market, would be great for a new soccer fan or young players that are interested in the mindset required to succeed at the highest levels.
November 26, 2018
"Masters of Modern Soccer" was a pretty good, semi-in-depth look at the sport. I both appreciated that Wahl mainly focused on just a select few players to highlight (it allowed us to get to know them and what makes them tick pretty well) and at times also did not appreciate this (it made it seem like we were getting too few perspectives). Another slight problem as far as making the perspective seem too narrow is everyone had only played or coached professional in England or Germany (with a little bit also in Spain) with nothing from other top leagues like Italy and France.
I most appreciated the sections on Christian Pulisic (the great American soccer hope) and, surprisingly, Michael Zorc the sporting director; obviously the casual fan watching on TV does not get much info about the scouting, buying, and selling aspect of the game and so that was an interesting peek into that world. I also liked just the little tidbits about soccer that I had not previously known.
I most appreciated the sections on Christian Pulisic (the great American soccer hope) and, surprisingly, Michael Zorc the sporting director; obviously the casual fan watching on TV does not get much info about the scouting, buying, and selling aspect of the game and so that was an interesting peek into that world. I also liked just the little tidbits about soccer that I had not previously known.
November 4, 2019
Dylan's love of soccer and my own immense joy at watching the US Women's team march to the World Cup this year prompted me to see if I could learn a thing or two about what used to be called the "beautiful game." (According to this book, that is so "yesterday." Now it's the "modern" game). This books takes a look at each position through the eyes of one of the great current players at each slot, an approach to the subject inspired by George Will's baseball book. Good idea, well executed. My man take away was you have to be crazy obsessed to be a world class manager of a soccer team!
September 1, 2018
I’m a soccer fan so learning more about the technical aspects was interesting though sometimes a bit over my head. Calling it masters of modern soccer and including Pulisic but not a single woman player is hugely disappointing. Pulisic may one day be a great but over the slew of current women greats is a major oversight. I would have loved a chapter on Carli Lloyd, Marta, or any of the other greats on the women’s side.
November 9, 2018
I expected a lot more from this book. I've read Grant Wahl's SI stuff for a long time and he is a good writer but this book...intended to be an in-depth look...is surprisingly superficial to me. Perhaps I am not the intended reader as I am a rabid consumer of soccer information, but the only part I learned anything knew was about Michael Zorc. I expected a book for soccer geeks but this one is really for the person who is just getting interested in the game.
November 11, 2019
This book is crazy good, anyone who loves soccer would love this book. Conversation with Vincent Kompany, Christian Pulisic, and manager Roberto Martinez is intriguing and are filled with soccer knowledge that most people will never get to hear. Th book makes connections to Pep the manager of Man City throughout the whole book, which make is ten times better because Pep is one of the smartest managers to ever coach. Read this book, it's great.
December 4, 2023
This wasn't nearly as interesting as I was expecting. Too much of it was written in the gushing style of an American magazine personality feature. Too many of the reflections of the footballers/managers were disappointingly banal. I especially grew tired of Vincent Kompany's company, and Roberto Martinez has proved not to be the genius he is portrayed as here.
However, one can't deny that Grant Wahl knows a lot about football.
However, one can't deny that Grant Wahl knows a lot about football.
April 30, 2018
I received this book as an advanced copy from First To Read in exchange for my honest review. I'd like to consider myself a soccer fan but reading this book made me realize how much I really do not know about soccer. I thought it was a pretty interesting book and definitely geared for those that love the game of soccer.
October 19, 2018
One of the things I live the best is listening to people (artists, writers, whatever) talk about their craft. And anyone who thinks soccer isn’t at least somewhat a craft is fooling themselves. This book is a short section with the best of the best in each position in the modern game and it did not disappoint.
December 10, 2021
The book recounts all the changes that have happened in Soccer during past twenty years using the perspective of world-class performers in various areas of the game. The book is full of interesting events, happenings and decisions made behind the scenes and on the field of play that have had a bearing on the world of soccer.
May 21, 2023
Well written and I'm sure a higher level active soccer player would appreciate it way more as it was pretty technical. However there were still plenty of interesting aspects. My favorite section though was the conversation with Chicharito & his manager and how they broke down various plays and strategies.
May 11, 2018
Very solid 2nd-level book for soccer fans. So if you're American and you love the game and you've been watching for a while. Kind of basic stuff but good in-depth interviews with players and coaches and executives.
June 9, 2018
Interesting if you're a fan of soccer...if not, parts may be hard to follow. I liked reading about their thoughts on the game and other players, but the technical side of the game lost me a bit (and as the wife of a soccer coach I watch and understand a lot).
July 10, 2018
Wahl interviews word class players from different positions, a coach, and a director of football to get insights into the game behind the game. Very informative if you're trying to understand the sport beyond the basics.
July 15, 2018
It is more enjoyable to watch soccer than to read about it. That being said, it is a fascinating look at the Euro version of soccer by an author who has done his research. Well written and well worth reading (though a bit dry in spots).
August 21, 2018
Misleading title. This book was not as much about the game of football as it was a compilation of experiences from specific individuals. The author focused on the greatness of good moments from those individuals and much less on anything else.
November 22, 2018
Every fans dream is to sit down and chat with their heroes and see the game through their eyes. This is the access Grant gives us, rife with technical strategies and foundational concepts that have made the players into who they are today. Great read!!
December 1, 2018
I’m a soccer fan, and found this book to be informative, but this could’ve been a great book if Wahl had spoken with more accomplished coaches and players who have changed the game in recent years. The ones he’s spoken to are well known stars but they were never at the top of their profession.
January 16, 2019
The depth of the interviews made this book fascinating. Would recommend to both passionate soccer fans and those who barely care. If a window into the minds of world class performers interests you, this book fulfills.
October 8, 2019
I found this book to be engaging enough, and the interviews with soccer superstars were well done, but it didn't really pack a punch in any way for me. It was good, but I didn't feel like I got many new insights out of it. You'll like it if you enjoy soccer, but don't expect to be blown away.
January 16, 2020
Sommige leuke inzichten met grote namen uit t topvoetbal (kompany of xabi alonso etc.). Maar vond t allemaal wel erg amerikaans geschreven, vooral t interview met pulisic was overdreven en irritant. Alsof 't jezus is.
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