Total Football - A graphic history of the world's most iconic soccer tactics: The evolution of football formations and plays

by Sanjeev Shetty

The striking evolution of the world’s most iconic football tactics:
How they work, why they win – and the people that made them iconic.
 
In the early days of football, it was simple: a goalkeeper, two defenders and the rest attacked. Now the game is all about strategy.
 
Innovative graphics and expert analyses guide you through the managers’ decisions that led to new formations, the pure talent of footballers that defined each playing style, and the matches that propelled the winning tactics to legendary status. Sanjeev Shetty explores how each tactic works and the ways in which it guaranteed victory time and time again.
 
From catenaccio to tiki taka, Pelé to Messi and Cruyff to Guardiola, Total Football gives you a new understanding of how the beautiful game is played.
 
 
 
 

Genres: Football

192 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 7, 2018

About the author

And we are nearly ready! Who is Jeff Walker? hits the shelves on the 30th November! I'm not comfortable with giving big announcements but I will stay I really enjoyed writing this book and I hope it comes across when you read it. It's a follow-up to Man's Work, with Sam Langford returning, older, sometimes wiser but still as dry as they come. And I really hope you'll like Catherine Horvill, who is here to stay. I actually started writing this in 2017, having finished Total Football. I was inspired by two things - the desire to go back to fiction and tell a story. And making a book out of the name Jeff Walker, two words my then 12-year-old kept saying.

A third book featuring Sam Langford, tentatively called 'She's electric' is in development.

Reviews

[John Matthew IV · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good book to learn about the evolution of the tactics used in soccer.

It looks at 11 or so games from 1953 to 2016. A few times, a couple of games are looked at in tandem.

It does cover the these games in detail but it lacks flow. There's only a short introduction and no conclusion. Why these 11 games and not others? Why start in 1953?

It is also literally a hard book to read with many pages of black text on green, yellow or purple backgrounds. There is a reason why most books are black on white. It loses a star just for that printing own goal.

It is a simple read and recommend it but wait for the second edition that's printed on white pages.

[F Ahmad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have always enjoyed football, and this book was a good read! Esp. enjoyed the Total Football concept and when was younger, always endeavored to execute the moves out in the field, not always with great flair. I liked the book.

[Niamh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like football

[Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent descriptions of soccer tactics. Will be attractive for NFL football fans who relish the strategy and tactics of their game. Coaching, preparation and game planning makes a difference!