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A Life in Football: My Autobiography Hardcover – 22 Sept. 2016

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 3,101 ratings

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THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

'Wrighty's characteristic honesty means his book is far more engrossing than most bland football memoirs' Sunday Times

Ian Wright, Arsenal legend, England striker and TV pundit extraordinaire, is one of the most interesting and relevant figures in modern football.

His journey from a South London council estate to national treasure is everybody's dream. From Sunday morning football directly to Crystal Palace; from 'boring, boring Arsenal' to inside the Wenger Revolution; from Saturday afternoons on the pitch to Saturday evenings on primetime television; from a week in prison to inspiring youth offenders, Ian will reveal all about his extraordinary life and career.

Ian will also frankly discuss how retirement affects footballers, why George Graham deserves a statue, social media, why music matters, breaking Arsenal's goal-scoring record, racism, the unadulterated joy of playing alongside Dennis Bergkamp and, of course, what he thinks of Tottenham.

Not a standard footballer's autobiography, Ian Wright's memoir is a thoughtful and gripping insight into a Highbury Hero and one of the greatest sports stars of recent years.

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Product description

Review

Wright's characteristic honesty means his book is far more engrossing than most bland football memoirs (Julia Llewellyn Smith, Sunday Times) --Sunday Times

Awarm and engaging read (Sunday Post) --Sunday post

About the Author

Ian Wright, MBE, is an English former professional footballer, turned television and radio personality. Wright enjoyed success with London clubs Crystal Palace and Arsenal, as well as earning 33 caps for the English national team. He also played in the English and Scottish Premier Leagues for West Ham United and Celtic and the Football League for Burnley and Nottingham Forest.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Constable; First Edition (22 Sept. 2016)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 384 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1472123581
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1472123589
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.88 x 3.49 x 24.13 cm
  • Customer reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 3,101 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
3,101 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the reading experience brilliant and good autobiography. They also appreciate the decent insight into life before and after football, and the genuine account of the individual. Readers describe the characterization as brilliant stuff from a brilliant player. Opinions are mixed on readability, with some finding it easy to read and humble throughout, while others say it's a terrible read.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

128 customers mention ‘Reading experience’128 positive0 negative

Customers find the book a brilliant read.

"Excellent service, brand new book!" Read more

"...A wonderful uplifting read. Thank you Ian!" Read more

"A terrific book. It's full of great stories, as I suppose I'd expected...." Read more

"...all this stuff is well written and in particular the first 2 sections are interesting to read however what is missing is a proper full account of..." Read more

52 customers mention ‘Content’52 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides a decent insight into life before and after football. They say it's an interesting football memoir, with factual information on one of Arsenal's true legends. Readers also say the book is engaging, funny, and brutally honest. They mention that it has plenty of advice for aspiring young footballers and their parents, and that the author is open and honest about his feelings and opinions.

"Ian provides transparent information that allows novices of the footballing world to learn about the culture of football, the running of the club..." Read more

"...What I maybe didn't expect so much was to find it's also full of excellent insights, both into the attitude of someone who is determined to succeed..." Read more

"...needn't of worried as this is a fantastic, funny and at times brutally honest account of the great man's life and career...." Read more

"Good book insight into football , Agents and working on tv . Family was not great but I connect with that ...." Read more

49 customers mention ‘Stories’49 positive0 negative

Customers find the stories in the book touching and honest. They also say the author is eloquent and honest about his trials and tribulations.

"A terrific book. It's full of great stories, as I suppose I'd expected...." Read more

"...I read his life story with a smile on my face, its full of behind the scene stories as well as interesting insights and views on the game...." Read more

"A pretty remarkable story about how a poor, black lad from the back streets of the smoke makes it through building sites, Sunday league amateur..." Read more

"...Some really touching moments also mean that one feels like this is more of a genuine account of the individual than a lot of other autobiographies..." Read more

14 customers mention ‘Characterization’14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book brilliant, hard working, and a top autobiography.

"Ian Wright is just such an inspirational, talented footballer and just a genuine bloke...." Read more

"...A real look into the life of a laid back, exceptional player. A must for any fan, but especially Arsenal fans." Read more

"Wrighty has given a decent insight to life before and after football. Top man and good autobiography. Worth a read!" Read more

"Great player and a great pundit too . That boy has done well for a kid from the rough side of town ." Read more

10 customers mention ‘Humor’10 positive0 negative

Customers find the humor in the book funny at times, but serious at others.

"...I needn't of worried as this is a fantastic, funny and at times brutally honest account of the great man's life and career...." Read more

"Fascinating, honest life story. Some no-holds-barred opinions. Funny at times; serious at others...." Read more

"This is an insightful, straight forward and humorous autobiography...." Read more

"...Very funny in places." Read more

13 customers mention ‘Readability’7 positive6 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the readability of the book. Some find it easy to read and interesting to hear about, while others say it's terrible, boring, and missing pages.

"...Humble throughout, he credits his influences and reflects on his negative experiences without blaming everyone else...." Read more

"...when he got about a quarter of the way through he realised it skipped about 40 pages. Also we noticed a lot of grammatical errors...." Read more

"Loved the down to earth tone of the book, and his total modesty about how good he was. What a lovely humble gent he still is...." Read more

"It was a long hard read but worth it in the end. A man who is grateful for all that he has. Well worth reading." Read more

Wonky printing - can’t read it!
1 out of 5 stars
Wonky printing - can’t read it!
Fault book - printed at an angle so several words cut off the pages!
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 21 May 2024
Excellent service, brand new book!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 February 2018
Ian provides transparent information that allows novices of the footballing world to learn about the culture of football, the running of the club along with life on the training ground.

Ian was remembered for playing very deep as a palace strike and then when the ball was released to him he would run the length of a pitch like a speed train with the ball and would slot the ball at the back of the net. His legacy is noted for that at his former south london club. However at Arsenal he'd focus on his runs inside the 18 yard box; which mean't that his training was based on improving his technique and finishing touches and this is how he became a better striker; besides embracing the dietary and new training that was imposed upon the players by Wenger when he arrived as manager in 1996.

Denis Bergkamp contributed towards Wrights last three seasons at the club and this made his work as a forward a lot easier. The book tells us about Bergkamp's ability to read the game in a way others didn't see and he'd apply tactics to distract defenders to run towards the activity of the field not knowing that Wright was getting himself in a position to score from a clever flick or or pass that was likely to create a one on one with the defender or keeper; to which Ian Wright would come off better.

Upon the arrival of Wenger in 1996; there were factors such as the introduction of supplements, a new way of training and even the application of teams changing their mind-set; that allowed Arsenal to form a revolution causing clubs to adopt and emulate the different training regimes along with using better facilities and using supplements.

In the same way Sugar Ray Leonard had to learn about the importance of improving balance before learning to box and defend; Arsenal's foundation was their diet changes, new training programmes, having access to better facilities of which launched them to perform with their football at an improved level.

You'll find this book to be an engaging experience as you'll learn about Wright's relationship with George Graham and how he'd draw a comparison between him and Arsene Wenger. He enlightens the reader on how their management styles although different; allowed him to apply discipline and at the same time enjoy his football; which wasn't the case under Graham George; although he is a legend; irrespective of his scandal. His record still stands as he wiped out the 15 barren seasons at Arsenal by providing the team with 5 titles.

Credit due to Ian Wright for this insightful narrative on his life on and off the pitch as it allows the public to gain some understanding of day to day standards to be projected by role models who entertain the fans, whilst being the centre of focus from the media in their articles for praise and for criticism. But this is the world that you attract on a centre stage when playing for passion and glory where you have highs and lows in any players quest for achievement whilst maintaining your own dignity for yourself, the squad and the country you play for on competitive fixtures.
4 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 April 2024
Lovely book about the rise, fall and rise again career of Ian Wright. A wonderful uplifting read. Thank you Ian!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 March 2017
A terrific book. It's full of great stories, as I suppose I'd expected. What I maybe didn't expect so much was to find it's also full of excellent insights, both into the attitude of someone who is determined to succeed no matter what the set-backs and the various issues around the professional game. Two chapters particularly stood out for me. One is where Wright discusses agents. I'm a creative writing tutor and will be urging my students to read this. Everything he says about football agents equally applies to writers' agents, albeit football is of course on a generally bigger scale. The other is where Wright talks about racism. I might have expected him to be somewhat rant-y here but in fact he gives a very measured, insightful and very fair view of the subject.
7 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 February 2024
The book basically has 3 main sections. The first section is mainly about the different coaches he played under at Arsenal, his relationship with them and their methods plus a chapter about Dennis Bergkamp and another on his own skills as a striker. The second is his early life and career up to and including playing for Palace. The third is post-retirement stuff including his tv work. As said on the title all this stuff is well written and in particular the first 2 sections are interesting to read however what is missing is a proper full account of his years with Arsenal. In particular I would have liked to read his account of the 3 cup finals against Sheffield Wednesday and also of the 1997-98 season where he and Arsenal won the double. Likewise with Crystal Palace he talks a bit about what it was like there but does not give a specific account of any the seasons he played for them.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 23 June 2024
Just 3/4 of way through but have enjoyed reading this book up to now about his life before football and his family life.I am enjoying this read a lot
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 November 2016
Ask most Gooners these days who the greatest ever player was to wear the famous red and white and nine out of ten times the answer would be, Thierry Henry, with the remaining one being Dennis Bergkamp. Amazing players without a doubt, who took AFC to new heights, but for me the man who started it all was the legend that is Ian Wright.
I am always wary of footballers biographies. Most follow the same dreary old, game after game, pattern and in the end you learn nothing of the man himself, only that his favourite goal was away to Walsall on a cold rainy night in the third round of the Johnston's paint trophy. So for some time I avoided one of my heroes own attempts at putting pen to paper. I needn't of worried as this is a fantastic, funny and at times brutally honest account of the great man's life and career. Yes, there's a lot about football in it but this is told mostly at the beginning of the book and in a way that is honest and refreshing. You soon realise how much "Wrighty" admires or dislikes someone with his no holds barred assessment of many of the games players and managers. (I never did trust Redknapp) This is all great reading and even though we all think we know his footballing history there's plenty of stuff here for fans and neutrals alike.
Its the other part of the book that I enjoyed the most. How he got to become that Highbury legend, his childhood, his family life, his likes and dislikes and what he's up to now. I particularly enjoyed the chapter regarding his love of music and the final chapter in the book, his wonderful tribute to his dear friend, the late, great Rocky Rocastle.
So, wether you're a true Gooner or just a lover of the wonderful game then I really suggest you give this a go.
Nine out of ten would probably choose Thierry Henry as the greatest Arsenal player ever. Let's not forget, without him we would never have reached the 2006 Champions league final... but had Ian Wright been playing for us then, we would, without a doubt have won that final.
Ian Wright Wright Wright
8 people found this helpful
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Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 January 2024
Great read. Loved it

Top reviews from other countries

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Khamy
5.0 out of 5 stars Great story
Reviewed in the United States on 18 October 2022
My son loves this book
jason l.
5.0 out of 5 stars el mejor libre de ian wright
Reviewed in Spain on 25 October 2018
excellente
Antonio
4.0 out of 5 stars Storia interessante che parla di emozioni
Reviewed in Italy on 24 November 2018
Ho trovato che la storia di Ian Wright sia molto interessante. Il libro è ben scritto e godibile da leggere
Vivian
4.0 out of 5 stars Not a bad read
Reviewed in the United States on 15 August 2017
Extremely entertaining and his passion for Arsenal Football Club jumps off the pages
Ken Lu
5.0 out of 5 stars Best Football autobiography
Reviewed in the United States on 18 March 2020
Passionate , true to himself and uncompromising. This book takes you through the life of a man who worked his way up from nothing to play at one of the world’s greatest Football institutions.