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<b></b><b> THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER </b><b></b><b><br/><br/><b>SHORTLISTED FOR FOOTBALL BOOK OF THE YEAR & BEST SPORTS WRITING AWARD AT THE 2025 SPORTS BOOK AWARDS</b><br/><b><br/>A TIMES SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR<br/>A TELEGRAPH BOOK OF THE YEAR<br/>AN IRISH TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR<br/>AN IRISH INDEPENDENT BOOK OF THE YEAR</b><br/><br/><b>Fully updated to cover Saudi Arabia's 2034 World Cup bid, the Manchester City charges case and the events of the 2024/25 season.</b><br/><br/><b>'Important, perfectly timed and hugely necessary.' </b><i>The Guardian</i><br/><b>'Football needs this book. A monumental piece of investigative journalism.'</b><i> Irish Times</i><br/><b>'A must-read on how modern football works.' </b><i>Ian Wright</i><br/><b>'Brave, forensic and utterly gripping.' </b><i>Tom Holland</i><br/><br/>______________________________<br/><br/><b>The definitive account of how capitalism and the world's elite corrupted modern football.<br/></b><br/>As the 2022 World Cup in Qatar drew to a close, there was a bitter undercurrent to Argentina's triumph. Throughout the tournament, numerous allegations of sportswashing and financial misconduct had been made against the state of Qatar, moving what had previously been a smaller conversation into the worldwide spotlight.<br/><br/>The question had been asked, who <i>really </i>owns and runs football?<br/><br/>Journeying from Abu Dhabi to Newcastle, and onto London, Paris, Moscow and New York, journalist Miguel Delaney investigates the allegations of sportswashing and misconduct in the beautiful game. The result is a gripping account of how football has been taken over by the world's wealthiest businessmen, state-backed corporations, media tycoons and oil-rich oligarchs.<br/><br/>From Neymar's GBP198 million transfer to Paris Saint-Germain and Abu Dhabi's construction empire in Manchester to failed Financial Fair Play constraints and the dawn of the European Super League, Miguel draws on exclusive interviews and unprecedented access to key stakeholders to produce an all-encompassing expose of modern footballs highest echelons.<br/><br/><b>Authoritative, riveting and eye-opening,<i> States of Play</i> reveals how football has become a tool for the world's elite.</b><br/>______________________________<br/><br/><b><i>'T</i>he moral compass that the game needs.'</b> <i>Andy Brassell</i><br/><br/><b>'In this excellent investigation, Delaney reveals the ugly side of the beautiful game.'</b> <i>Oliver Bullough</i><br/><br/><b>'The most important football book of its generation.'</b> <i>Jack Pitt-Brooke</i><br/><br/><i>'</i><b>Tackles the major issues affecting football today with fearlessness and forensic scrutiny. An important investigation for our times.'</b> <i>Laurie Whitwell</i><br/><br/><b>'A majestic book. The essential guide to how the people's game has become the plaything of the very rich and powerful.'</b> <i>Jonathan Wilson</i><br/><br/>Miguel Delaney's <i>STATES OF PLAY </i>was ranked in the<i> Irish Times </i>bestsellers list the weeks of 11th-18th November & 9th December 2024.</b>

<b>Featuring exclusive interviews with Unai Emery, Monchi, Ollie Watkins, John McGinn, Pau Torres and more, this is t</b><b>he behind-the-scenes account of Unai Emery's Aston Villa revolution, from the award-winning <i>Sunday Times</i> bestseller Guillem Balague. </b><br/><br/> In October 2022, Unai Emery was appointed manager of Aston Villa. Despite being one of England's most historic football clubs, Emery was taking charge of a team in turmoil and hovering above the relegation zone in the Premier League. But in his very first match, Villa produced a statement victory, deftly beating Manchester United 3-1 at Villa Park. It was a sign of things to come.<br/><br/> Guillem Balague has had unparalleled access to Unai Emery, his backroom staff and the Aston Villa squad ever since the Spaniard was appointed manager in 2022. From Emery's early years growing up in the Basque region to becoming one of the most exciting coaches managing today, <i>Rise of the Villans</i> reveals the inner workings of Emery's psyche. Featuring exclusive interviews with Emery himself, as well as key players such as Villa captain John McGinn and star striker Ollie Watkins, it charts the journeys of both Emery and Aston Villa over the last three decades, offering a comprehensive and compelling narrative of why they are the perfect match.<br/><br/> Exploring Emery's management of the Midlands side, the book outlines how he has transformed them into an exciting side renowned for their direct passing, high energy and devastating counter attacks. After a 7th placed finish in his first season in charge, Emery's Villa continued their fine form in the 2023-24 season, finishing 4th and qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in over four decades.<br/><br/> <b>With the Holte End roaring into life as Villa Park welcomed the return of European football's most prestigious club competition, it was clear for all to see: Unai Emery had awoken the sleeping giant.</b>

<b>Pablo Escobar had one obsession. Not drugs, not money, not power... football.</b><br/><br/>Narcoball uncovers the incredible story of Colombian football during the early 1990s - shaped by drug lords, rivalries, and ambition. It uncovers a football empire backed by cartels - where victory was a currency of its own, and defeat, a matter of life and death.<br/><br/>This is a different story of Pablo Escobar and his rivals. A tale of clandestine deals that reshaped Medellin's football clubs, where fortunes were won and lost. It unveils the extraordinary bonds that Escobar forged with football's luminaries and why his influence reached unprecedented heights, leading to the astonishing 5-0 victory over Argentina in Buenos Aires, the murder of referees, and the ruthless coercion of officials culminating in the killing of Andres Escobar - the Colombian defender who paid the ultimate price for an own goal in the 1994 World Cup. It is also an examination of a people's relationship with both the sport and the nefarious leaders that brought both pride and terror to their communities.<br/><br/>Set against the U.S War on Drugs, international threats, and government clampdowns, this is a gripping exploration of Colombian club football under Escobar's rise and fall.

<b>FULLY ILLUSTRATED AND UPDATED - THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO VIDEO GAMING HISTORY</b><br/><br/><i>Pac-Man</i>, <i>Mario</i>, <i>Tomb Raider</i>, <i>The Sims</i>, <i>GTA</i>, <i>Minecraft</i>, <i>Fortnite</i>... Video games are now one of the pillars of popular culture. This comprehensive, visually rich book chronicles the history of video games from their earliest roots in 1958 up to the present day, from simple pixels to the stunningly realistic visuals of modern blockbusters.<br/><br/>Explore the evolution of the industry through the iconic artworks, stories, and characters that have defined gaming across generations. Rediscover the classics titles from Nintendo Switch's <i>Animal Crossing</i> and <i>Zelda: Breath of the Wild</i>, to <i>Elden Ring </i>and <i>God of War </i>on the Sony PlayStation 5, as well as a multitude of independent gems and record-breaking franchises.<br/><br/>This newly updated edition highlights the standout games and key milestones over more than 50 years, diving into the creative and technological lore that have made video games what they are today. Filled with nostalgia, insights, and rich artwork, this book is a must-have for any video game fan, offering a captivating journey through the vibrant history of gaming and the titles that have captivated millions worldwide.

The football World Cup is the biggest sporting competition on Earth - a chance every four years for the greatest players to win international glory, and a month-long media spectacle that's watched by an audience of billions. But the tournament has changed beyond recognition since the inaugural event in Montevideo, Uruguay, in July 1930. What was once a semi-professional meeting beset by haphazard play has evolved to become a game of multinational buyouts, dubious ethics and questionable aims - and the new era of football has much to tell us about the globalised world. Simon Kuper is among the vanishingly small number of writers who have attended every World Cup since 1990. The World at My Feet is his journey to find the heart of football, through the nine tournaments he's experienced first-hand - from watching matches in half-empty stands during Italia 90, a tournament that at times felt like a village fete, to witnessing the French triumph at home in 1998, South Africa's national dream in 2010 and the troubling legacy of Qatar 2022. Told on the pitch and in the stands, and in the pubs, front rooms and on the streets, this is the story of how football has changed the world.

<strong>A mind-bending adventure the whole family will enjoy!</strong><br/><br/>Packed with amazing trivia, weird world records, and mind-blowing facts, this book is perfect for curious kids, trivia-loving teens, and even grown-ups who can't resist a quirky fact or two.<br/><br/><strong>A must read for all curious minds!</strong><br/><br/>Discover the fastest, slowest, oldest, and weirdest things on Earth-and beyond!<ul><li>Which volcano has been erupting for over 2,000 years?</li><li>Are spiders faster than Usain Bolt? <em>(you will never look at your house spiders in the same way again!).</em> </li><li>Where's the coldest place life can survive?</li><li>Which creature has the longest neck <em>(and no, it's not a giraffe)?</em> </li><li>What are the smallest known things to exist?</li></ul><br/><br/>Whether you're sharing hilarious facts around the table, keeping the kids entertained and off screens, or wowing your friends with your trivia skills, this book is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser.<br/><br/>Perfect for;<br/><br/><strong>Gifts for kids (aged 8+) teens, and adults.</strong><br/><br/><strong>Families looking to keep eyeballs off screens and brains switched on.</strong><br/><br/><strong>Trivia buffs, fact lovers, and anyone who enjoys learning something new.</strong><br/><br/>Discover the World's Wildest and Wackiest Wonders - One Fascinating Fact at a Time!

<b>Steph Curry has had a dream career.</b> He's a four-time NBA champion, a two-time NBA MVP, a two-time NBA scoring champion, a ten-time NBA All-Star, and an Olympic gold medallist. Widely recognised as the greatest shooter in history, he has revolutionized the sport of basketball and will leave behind a legacy as perhaps the greatest Golden State Warrior player of all time.<br/><br/>In <i>Shot Ready</i>, Curry shares his full story with the public for the first time. In three parts - Rookie, Pro and Veteran - he takes the reader through his career in remarkable and intimate detail, telling stories and detailing lessons he learned at different points throughout. Grounding each lesson in reality, so that anyone can learn from his experiences regardless of their discipline in life, he produces a truly special memoir.<br/><br/>Perfect for fans of basketball, but also for anyone interested in the psychology of performance, or just looking for a fascinating read about an incredible life, <i>Shot Ready </i>is a tribute to the inescapable human fallibility of even the greatest sportspeople amongst us, and a testament to the subsequent grit, determination and guile required to become a champion.