Masters of Modern Soccer

How the World's Best Play the Twenty-First-Century Game

By: Grant Wahl

Narrated by: Grant Wahl

In Masters of Modern Soccer, Sports Illustrated writer Grant Wahl asks: How do some of the game's smartest figures master the craft of soccer? By profiling players in every key position (American phenomenon Christian Pulisic, Mexican superstar Javier "Chicharito" Hernández, Belgium's Vincent Kompany, Spain's Xabi Alonso, Germany's Manuel Neuer) and management (Belgium coach Roberto Martínez and Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc), Wahl reveals how elite players and coaches strategize on and off the field and execute in high pressure game situations.

Masters of Modern Soccer is the definitive thinking fan's guide to modern soccer. For a supporter of any team, from the US national teams to Manchester United, or any competition, from Mexico's Liga MX to the World Cup, this book 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.

America's premier soccer journalist, Grant Wahl, follows world-class players from across the globe examining how they do their jobs. This access imbues Masters of Modern Soccer with deep insight from the players on how goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders, and forwards function individually and as a unit to excel and win. Wahl 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.

A book that will stand the test of time, Masters of Modern Soccer is the most in-depth analysis of the craft of soccer ever written for the American fan. For any fan, player, coach, or sideline enthusiast, this book will change the way they watch the game.

©2018 Grant Wahl (P)2018 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Grant Wahl is a master of modern soccer writing and this book is a Rosetta stone for anyone who wants to fully understand the contemporary game. It’s a user’s manual to how the game is (or ought to be) played, coached, managed, and watched. Everyone interested in soccer - fans, youth coaches, even top professionals - will gain fascinating insights from some of the game’s finest craftsmen, one of whom is Wahl himself.” (Steve Rushin, author of Sting-Ray Afternoons and columnist for Sports Illustrated)

“I started it taking off at LAX and finished it landing at JFK. It’s an incredible peek behind the curtain into the way players, coaches, and technical directors see themselves and their jobs. These entertaining and candid profiles help explain some of the complexities and mysteries of the beautiful game and the people who inhabit it.” (Alexi Lalas)

“Reading Grant Wahl on soccer is always a pleasure. Hardly anyone else gets so much ac­cess to players, thinks so hard about what he hears, and tells it so well. No hype here - just insights into top-class professionals, by a top-class professional.” (Simon Kuper, coauthor of Soccernomics)

Very interesting behind the scenes look at professional soccer

You probably need to be a soccer nerd but I enjoyed this book. The section on how Christian Pulisic ended up at Dortmund was especially interesting to me. I’d like to know the whole in-depth story around that one day.

One of the best soccer books I've read

this is easily One of the best soccer books I've ever read, I highly recommend

imsightful

Insightful stories about players and a manager who are among the best at what they do. Worthwhile for any soccer fan.

Great for coaches!

Getting insight from top players, coaches and admin in the world has been very enlightening! I love hearing how others view and approach the game and this book delivers. I highly recommend this book, especially for coaches.

great listen for fans of the game

listening to this book was a breeze. As a coach, I found lots of great information to bring to the game. I highly recommend it for anyone who loves the beautiful game.

Great for those who love soccer

As someone who knows soccer a little bit but is not overly knowledgeable and who found a love of professional soccer about a decade ago, this was a terrific listen. I especially appreciated the detail from those leading teams. This is a worthy listen for anyone who wants a deeper look at top performers in professional soccer.

#1 soccer journalist in USA

Grant Wahl profiles the brightest minds in the modern game. Grant nails this book. Kudos.

Good mix of biography and tactics

Interesting combo of interviews and statistics. Top players, coaches and managers talk about their personal tactics.

All sides of the beautiful game

As an old guy who has played amateur football on many levels, coached and refereed, I still had much to learn from Grant Wahl’s book. RIP Grant!

Good, but needed to pick an audience.

A good overview of modern soccer, but it straddles the line between being for soccer aficionados and sports fans who only have a passing understanding of the game. As a coach I found some nuggets and some entertainment, but most of what was said was not particularly new.