10 best sports books to read on World Book Day including the story of Italia 90

06 March 2024 , 06:00

1115     0

Sports fans have plenty of options for what to read on World Book Day

World Book Day returns on Thursday and sports fans are spoilt for choice if they want to celebrate the occasion.

Everything from football and baseball to cycling and Formula 1 has been covered in depth. Whether you prefer to read biographies of the top stars or reminisce about a particular season or tournament, there's plenty of choice.

If it is a sports book you're looking to get your teeth into this week - or even when you head off for that summer holiday on the hori- Mirror Football has your back.

Here we take a look at 10 of the sports books to read this week, from the inside story of Italia 90 to the autobiographies of Britain's biggest stars.

Fever Pitch

First on our list is Nick Hornby's autobiographical account of his relationship with Arsenal. Each chapter is about a football match that Hornby remembers watching, mostly at the Gunners' former ground Highbury.

Chelsea complete record-breaking Enzo Fernandez transfer after deadline day rush

Hornby brings to life the devotion to the game many fans feel and how it has impacted his life from childhood through to adulthood, with Arsenal often being the most uncomplicated part of it.

Click for more information on how you can purchase the book for as little as TWENTY-ONE PENCE!

Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game

Moneyball tells the story of the 2002 Oakland Athletics

The book inspire an Oscar nominated film starring Brad Pitt

Before being a film starring Brad Pitt and nominated for six Oscars, Moneyball was a 2003 book telling the story of the previous year's Oakland Athletics season in Major League Baseball.

Written by Michael Lewis, the book follows general manager Billy Beane as he enacts a system that saw the A's reach the playoffs on a budget of just $44million for player salaries, compared to the likes of the New York Yankees, whose payroll exceeded $125m that season.

The number one best-seller has to be on your bookshelf and is available to purchase now.

All Played Out: The Full Story of Italia '90

All Played Out is the definitive account of Italia '90

The book goes behind the scenes with England at the tournament

Unusual for going behind the scenes with the England squad and Three Lions fans at the same time, Pete Davies' book is the definitive account of Italia '90. Davies was embedded with the England squad for nine months before and during the tournament.

He also met the hooligans, the journalists and the Italian people along the way. It is a vivid retelling of the tournament that shot football into the public's consciousness, going all the way from qualifying to the final.

This is a classic that every football fan needs on their bookshelf, here's where you can get yours.

Seven Deadly Sins: My Pursuit of Lance Armstrong

Seven Deadly Sins is the account of how Lance Armstrong lost his Tour de France titles

Armstrong won seven tours before being outed for performance-enhancing drug use

From one of the greatest tournaments to one of sport's greatest scandals. David Walsh tells the story of how he uncovered Lance Armstrong's performance-enhancing drug use, which eventually saw him stripped of his seven Tour de France titles.

Walsh came up against the might of a man then considered one of the greatest athletes of all time. It took more than a decade for Walsh to be proven right, with this book a gripping account of the worst of sport.

Everton chiefs face transfer backlash from fans after deadline day disaster

Click to purchase the book and get 8% off the recommended retail price.

The Mixer

The Mixer looks at Premier League tactics

Leicester's Premier League winners are one of the teams featured in The Mixer

An essential read for a modern-day fan, The Mixer looks at the development of Premier League tactics across the first 25 years of the competition. This is one of the first books to delve into the tactical story of the top flight.

Ferguson's directness, Keegan's relentlessly attacking Newcastle side, Mourinho's cagey, reactive Chelsea and Ranieri's Leicester miracle are all put under the microscope by Michael Cox.

An absolute MUST-read for any fan of the modern game. Here's how you can get your hands on a copy.

Broadly Speaking

Broadly Speaking is Stuart Broad's autobiography

Broad retired after last year's Ashes series

For more than 17 years, Stuart Broad was one of cricket's top players. He retired after the final Ashes Test of 2023, in which he took the critical final wicket and hit a six with his final shot.

Now, Broad has penned his autobiography, sharing the moments from his career, which made him and almost broke him. It's a candid and refreshingly honest account of one of England's best-ever cricketers.

Click to purchase the book for 34% off the recommended retail price.

Pep Guardiola: Another Way Of Winning

Another Way of Winning is the definitive account of Pep Guardiola's coaching career

It is written by Spanish journalist Guillem Balague

The definitive account of one of the greatest managers in football history, Guillem Balagué takes readers behind the scenes of Pep Guardiola's career. His all-conquering Barcelona side, his time at Bayern Munich and his dominant Manchester City team are all studied.

Balagué has direct access to Guardiola himself and his inner circle for his biography. It looks at what drives the man who has changed football forever over his 15 years in management.

A sensational book currently available for under £10.

The Extra Mile

The Extra Mile tells the life story of Kevin Sinfield

Sinfield is now a coach with England's national union team (Alex Livesey - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

Kevin Sinfield spent 18 years as a player for Leeds Rhinos, winning seven Super League titles. Since his retirement, he has worked as a coach at the Rhinos, union side Leicester Tigers and with the England national team.

Arguably his biggest contribution though has been his extraordinary fundraising efforts to find a cure for Motor Neuron Disease. This memoir sees Sinfield recount his remarkable life since making his Rhinos debut back in 1997.

If this floats your boat, here's how you can get the book for HALF PRICE.

The Damned Utd

The Damned United is a fiction novel based on fact

The book looks at Brian Clough's short stint at Leeds (Mark Leech/Getty Images)

Set during Brian Clough's brief 44-day reign at Leeds United, David Peace's novel mixes fiction, rumour and speculation with fact. It depicts Clough as a deeply flawed hero during one of the toughest times of his career.

Clough infamously clashed with the Leeds squad, as he looked to pull out from the shadow of his great rival Don Revie. The book is told from Clough's point of view and inspired a film starring Michael Sheen.

One of the greatest sports books on the market, here's how you can get your hands on it.

Surviving To Drive

Surviving To Drive goes behind the scenes at Haas during the 2022 season

The book is penned by then team principal Guenther Steiner (Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images)

Written by one of the most popular people on the F1 grid, Surviving To Drive is an inside account of the 2022 season. Then Haas team principal Guenther Steiner gives readers an unobstructed look at the rollercoaster ride of top-level motor racing.

Nothing is off the table in Steiner's book, from the firing of drivers to balancing books and designing a new car. This is the first time an F1 team has allowed its team principal to take the general public behind the bonnet.

A great book and currently available for 45% less than the recommended retail price.

Jacob Leeks