The Want List - A Selection of Summer Reads - Football News

We've all been there, you're on holiday with the girlfriend, she wants wants to spend all day by the pool and as much as you try to amuse yourself, boredom sets in within the first half an hour. The answer to this predicament is simple; get yourself a good book.

To help you choose your holiday read we've compiled a selection of cracking books for football fans. A host of biographies, one man's obsession with Arsenal and a journey back from the dead all feature. And for those of you who really don't like to read we've even included a book full of pretty pictures for you to look at.



Fabrice Muamba: I'm Still Standing - On 17 March 2012 Bolton Wanderers midfielder, Fabrice Muamba, suffered a cardiac arrest and collapsed during the first half of an FA Cup quarter-final match against Tottenham. His heart stopped beating for 78 minutes yet he still survived. "I'm still standing" is his inspirational autobiography covering everything from how he fled the congo as a kid to his rise through Arsenal's youth system and of course that shocking afternoon in North London.  



I Am The Secret Footballer: Lifting the Lid on the Beautiful Game - So who is the secret Footballer? We don't know exactly but what we do know is this; he's honest, opinionated and has penned a brilliant book revealing everything you need to know about the beautiful (and not so beautiful) game. This a genuine story of player's career told in a combination of analysis, gossip and the joys and frustrations that only someone who played the game at the highest level could really feel.  



Barca: The Making of the Greatest Team in the World by Graham Hunter - Starting with the 2011 Champions League Final, the game that ended the debate about whether Barcelona were the greatest team in the world, this books focus is on each of the iconic personalities of the team. Telling its story through them, Guardiola; his mentor, Johan Cruyff; Xavi; Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi are all featured in one of the finest books ever written on football.

Pep Guardiola: Another Way of Winning by Guillem Balague - CV's don't read much better than Guardiola's. In his first season in charge, he led Barcelona to the treble of La Liga, the Copa del Rey and became the youngest-ever winning manager of the Champions League. The following season the club won six trophies in six competitions, playing some of the sexiest football ever witnessed. This fantastically written biography offers a great insight into the genius that is Pep Guardiola.

Messi: The Inside Story of the Boy who Became a Legend by Luca Caioli - Considering all he has acheived it's amazing that Lionel Messi is still only 25. In this book the 3 times Ballon d'Or winner's story is told through numerous exclusive interview's. His parents, extended family, various coaches and team mates all contribute and Messi himself even pens the final chapter. A great portrait of the world's best footballer.



Red: My Autobiography by Gary Neville - An Old Trafford regular since he attended his first match at the age of six, captain of the brilliant 1992 FA Youth Cup-winning team that became known as 'Fergie's Fledglings', outspoken representative of MUFC, Neville is the ultimate one-club man. A great read, Gary Neville's "Red" is a refreshingly honest autobiography from one the games grafters covering his playing career for both club and country.  



Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby - Nick Hornby is a well known author who's novels such as "About a Boy" and "High Fidelity" have been turned into blockbuster movies. He is also a huge Arsenal Fan. Fever Pitch is a an extremely funny autobiographical book told through his obsession with the Gunners and his love of football. Reading Fever Pitch is a right of passage for any football fan, whether your allegiance lies with Arsenal or not.

Wayne Rooney: My Decade in the Premier League - A first hand account of Wayne's 10 years playing at the highest level in English football. Not known for his command of the English language the book is suspicously well written. The book covers everything from From gracing the ground at Goodison Park as an excitable 16 year old to lifting the Champions League trophy with Manchester United. A good read even if we did find it hard not to say every sentence in a scouse accent.

One Love by Levon Biss - If reading's really not your thing but you still want something to keep you entertained then this book is the one for you. British photographer Levon Biss journeyed through six continents and twenty six countries documenting the global football community. From seat cleaners at Espanyol and empty goals in the dubai desert to over 65's women's football in South Africa, this book covers it all. The book also includes quotes from some of the world's most famous players past and present.

All products are available to order now from selected online stockists.  Let us know what you'll be reading on your summer hols. Join the conversation online, on Twitter and on Facebook.