{"product_id":"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\u003cb\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn \u003ci\u003eMasters of Modern Soccer, \u003c\/i\u003eAmerica’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\u003eWahl 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\u003eThese 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\u003eThe 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":"Grant Wahl","offers":[{"title":"Paperback \/ softback Trade paperback (US)","offer_id":45894857720020,"sku":"9780307408617","price":25.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1000\/9208\/files\/BNCImageAPI_d8c11581-f968-482b-b084-bcb989f76015.jpg?v=1732524579","url":"https:\/\/penguinshop.ca\/products\/9780307408617","provider":"Penguin Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}