Playmaker: My Life and the Love of Football

by Glenn Hoddle

‘On the pitch he was a magician’ – Arsène Wenger

The first full autobiography from former footballer and England manager Glenn Hoddle

Glenn Hoddle was one of the most celebrated footballers of his generation. A wonderfully talented No. 10 – he formed part of the great Spurs teams of the early 1980s and cut his teeth in the blood and thunder of an England team that prioritised aggression over creativity.

Often seen as a player ‘out of time’, Glenn was a playmaker in the purest sense. A creator and a goal scorer, he rose through the Tottenham youth academy – playing under Keith Burkinshaw and crossing paths with the likes of club legends Bill Nicholson and Danny Blanchflower – before going on to play in Monaco under the tutelage of Arsène Wenger. In Playmaker, he looks back on his rise as a prodigious young footballer and talks at length about his career that took him from cleaning the cockerel at White Hart Lane to managing the England football team at a World Cup.

From scoring in an FA Cup final to winning the league in France; from revitalising Chelsea in the early 1990s, to managing the fall-out after David Beckham’s infamous sending off at the 1998 World Cup; from surviving a near fatal cardiac arrest at the age of 61, to continuing to work within the game he loves – Playmaker is a life lead through football, and an autobiography of one of the game’s most admired, thoughtful and respected personalities.

Genres: Football, Biography, Autobiography, Sports

313 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 11, 2021

Reviews

[Keen Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve always thought that Hoddle generally comes across as a measured and intelligent enough analyst when doing various games over the years. I do believe he was right in saying that he was greatly under-utilized for England, but to be fair 53 caps isn’t too bad going either.

His criticism of Bobby Robson’s managerial style at England was really refreshing, and the revelation that they only got past Poland at Mexico 86, by the players collectively agreeing to play in a way that Robson suggest they didn’t, was all too telling. He also made a fine point about Terry Fenwick being lucky not to be red carded for a foul on Maradona in the first half against Argentina during that notorious QF match at the same tournament.

Hoddle is also right to call out the previous England tradition of relying on that tired, rigid old meat and potatoes formation of 4-4-2 for so many years. All of those world class players and all of those opportunities wasted because of an all too predictable approach, and so they were often outplayed by technically superior though often talent inferior sides for so long. He is also good on the madness of his time as the England manager stuck in the no man’s land between the scuzzy English tabloid mafia and the delusional dinosaurs at the English FA.

In spite of being married and divorced twice, he does a fine job of keeping his personal life out of this as much as possible and this is very much about the football and to a lesser extent his spiritual and philosophical beliefs. Overall I actually found myself admiring Hoddle’s offbeat philosophy and ways of looking at the world, so readily at odds with his generation, background and of course the notoriously macho and intolerant lad culture, which is so prevalent in English football. He still has the courage of his conviction to stick his neck out and speak his mind, which obviously got him in all sorts of trouble. I was surprised how much I enjoyed this, it is an easy and quick read, but I definitely came away with a deeper respect for the man. A hugely talented footballer too.

[Mark Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a player. If only England had built a team around Glenn Hoodle who knows what would have happened.

[Steve Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot better than most footballers' autobiographies. Most interesting when Glenn is talking about his time as England manager.

[Steve M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hoddle was a fantastically gifted footballer .... however, this fact doesn't translate well in this book. As a sports autobiography, it's certainly above average - however, perhaps we should consider that bar as "not very high"? My abiding memory of this book will be this - Hoddle could have been one of England's great managers as well as greatest players, if he could have managed his managerial career anywhere near as well as he managed his career on the pitch. All too often, in my opinion, he makes the wrong move, often motivated by his heart over his head..... perhaps as a human characteristic that's actually a good thing? With the probable exception of his time as England manager, Glenn kept his nose clean. Admirable when compared to some of today's footballing clowns .... but from the perspective of a sporting autobiography, it means there's little controversy, a topic these types of books often need. Glenn's a good chap, but overall this book is just a bit vanilla. I suspect that if I was a diehard Spurs fan, I might think differently.... and do you know what? There's absolutely nothing wrong with that!

[Tom Nicholls · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a lifelong Spurs fan, this was a thoroughly enjoyable experience. While I regrettably missed witnessing his legendary playing days firsthand, I remember the surge of excitement when he returned to manage the club. There was a genuine belief that the "good times" were just around the corner – a hope that, sadly, didn't quite materialise. Hoddle's disappointment from that period resonates through the pages, offering a candid look at his time in the dugout.

One of the most compelling aspects is the opportunity to hear Hoddle's perspective directly. For years, he's faced significant criticism from the media and former players regarding his approach to the game. What shines through is his openness. His willingness to explore unconventional methods for improvement, such as the well-documented inclusion of a healer with the England squad in 1998.

My main wish for the book would have been a deeper dive into his managerial career after his England tenure. This later period felt somewhat condensed, almost a fleeting mention rather than a detailed exploration. However, this minor point aside, "Playmaker" remains a great read.

[j p daly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently finished reading Glen Hoddle's autobiography, "Playmaker," and I must say, it was an absolute delight! As a life long Spurs fan, I found this book to be an insightful and engaging deep dive into the life and career of one of England's most talented footballers.

What truly captivated me was the section detailing Hoddle's tenure as England manager, particularly his experiences during the 1998 World Cup. The behind-the-scenes stories and personal reflections on the challenges and triumphs of managing the national team were both fascinating and enlightening. Hoddle's candidness about his strategies, decisions, and the highs and lows of the tournament gave me a fresh perspective on that pivotal moment in English football history.

The writing is compelling, and Hoddle's passion for the game shines through on every page. Whether you're a die-hard football fan or someone who enjoys a well-told story of dedication and perseverance, "Playmaker" is a must-read. Highly recommended!

[Neil Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to this book via Audible.

As a Spurs fan, Glenn was one of my heroes and I watched him play many, many times. The book covers his career well, without going into too much depth. I would have liked to learn more about his time at various clubs, because he does seem to miss out whole seasons on occasions. I was aware of his spiritual beliefs, but I wasn't particularly interested in these parts.

Overall, it is a typical sporting autobiography. It does the job, but doesn't really stand out.

[Sara F · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a light hearted book. Easy to read about Glen Hoddles life starting from childhood to when he appeared on Masked Singer in 2021.
He talks a lot about his views on football formations and how the teams he worked with are managed. It's interesting to hear about some of the struggles je faced as a player and a manager, as well as the familiar names he worked with. He vents a lot about his frustration with the FA and press during his time with the England team. Would recommend to football fans.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

This autobiography was an interesting book. The stories inside were thoughtful and well detailed. I originally wanted to read this book to find differences of opinion from his 1987 book Spurred to success that I finished reading just before starting this book and both books are very different as there is not much repeating from it. Overall, this book is a solid book and was very interesting, especially when discussing his time as the England manager.

[Mark Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a Swindon Town fan I was very interested in the mentions of the club. Learnt a few things including how Hoddle has helped out to buy Phil Taylor. Good read especially around his time as England coach.

[Paul McCormack · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed it, covers everything neatly. Interesting character

[Olubunmi Adewumi · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing player. A wonderful man with a large heart. It's so unfortunate that his words were taken out of context by the media.

[M SReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this, some interesting insights into his time as England manager and some useful life lessons