{"product_id":"masters-of-modern-soccer-book-grant-wahl-9780307408617","title":"Masters of Modern Soccer","description":"\u003cb\u003eHow 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.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e\"A worthy addition to any soccer fan's shelf.\"--\u003ci\u003eThe Wall Street Journal\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e In \u003ci\u003eMasters of Modern Soccer,\u003c\/i\u003e 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. \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e 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. \u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e These central figures share the little details that matter, position by position:\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e * Attacking midfielder \u003cb\u003eChristian Pulisic\u003c\/b\u003e explains why he wears his soccer cleats a size too small to make his first touch even better. \u003cbr\u003e * Forward \u003cb\u003eJavier \"Chicharito\" Hernández\u003c\/b\u003e reveals the Mexican national team's secret synchronized patterns that create space for him in front of the goal. \u003cbr\u003e * Defender \u003cb\u003eVincent Kompany\u003c\/b\u003e tells you why his teammates' pressure on the ball means he can defend his man more tightly in the penalty box. \u003cbr\u003e * Defensive midfielder \u003cb\u003eXabi Alonso\u003c\/b\u003e describes his disdain for slide tackles and the tendency among even the best professional midfielders to play too closely to one another. \u003cbr\u003e * Goalkeeper \u003cb\u003eManuel Neuer\u003c\/b\u003e tells the origin story of his sweeper-keeper role, which has allowed him to redefine the position for the modern game. \u003cbr\u003e * Head coach \u003cb\u003eRoberto Martínez\u003c\/b\u003e 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. \u003cbr\u003e * Director of football \u003cb\u003eMichael Zorc\u003c\/b\u003e discusses what he looks for when it comes to identifying players he can buy low and sell high, \u003ci\u003eMoneyball\u003c\/i\u003e-style, while still competing to win trophies. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e The definitive analysis of the craft of soccer, \u003ci\u003eMasters of Modern Soccer\u003c\/i\u003e will change the way any fan, player, coach, or sideline enthusiast experiences the game.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":49920862224657,"sku":"CIN0307408612G","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ WELL_READ \/ SBYB","offer_id":50346917134609,"sku":"CIN0307408612A","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":51000797888785,"sku":"NIN9780307408617","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ VERY_GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":52103230161169,"sku":"CIN0307408612VG","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ VERY_GOOD \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":53645218480401,"sku":"GOR012946555","price":13.9,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0307408612.jpg?v=1751227486","url":"https:\/\/www.worldofbooks.com\/en-gb\/products\/masters-of-modern-soccer-book-grant-wahl-9780307408617","provider":"World of Books ","version":"1.0","type":"link"}