World Soccer Yearbook 2003 [Paperback]

David Goldblatt (Author), Philip Lord (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2002

This informative, engaging and accessible book aims to be the most comprehensive, all-in-one guide to the world's favorite sport. Embracing the fanatical interest in the world's most popular sport, World Soccer Yearbook 2003 examines the game on a global level. Where other books have been club-based, league based, or specific to national teams, this is the first true survey of soccer around the world -- from its the origins in the 19th century, to the latest national, league, and club standings, there is here for every soccer fan.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Authored by a writer for a major British newspaper, this sports yearbook aims to examine the game of soccer at a global level. Whereas works such as The World Encyclopedia of Soccer: A Complete Guide to the Beautiful Game (Lorenz, 2001) profile select international teams and championships, World Soccer Yearbook, 2002-3 examines "the beautiful game" from a truly worldwide perspective.

The major focus of World Soccer Yearbook is on the 204 soccer nations affiliated with Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), the governing body of world soccer. Dominant soccer nations, such as England, Argentina, and Italy, are given in-depth coverage ranging from 20 to 30 pages. Brief overviews and tabular data of approximately one to two pages are dedicated to less prominent soccer nations, such as those in the Caribbean. The main section of the yearbook is arranged by major soccer federation and then by country in what appears to be an arbitrary order. Fortunately, the book's detailed table of contents and accurate index overcomes any difficulties that the work's arrangement may present.

In addition to country data, the yearbook addresses global soccer themes in the opening and closing chapters of the book, entitled "The World Game" and "World Issues," respectively. Topics such as the global origins of the game and the migration of South American and African players to Europe are considered in these sections. This coverage is innovative and further demonstrates the international scope of this reference book.

One of the most outstanding features of the yearbook is its variety of illustrations. Full-page color maps of major soccer cities identify the location of important soccer landmarks such as team offices and stadiums. The work also contains an inclusive selection of color and black-and-white photographs of teams, individual players, championships, and the game in action. In addition, detailed diagrams supplement the sections on the rules of the game and playing styles, which helps the reader grasp these concepts.

World Soccer Yearbook, 2002-3 is a comprehensive and engrossing resource that is essential reading for any fan or player of the game of soccer. This work is suitable for public libraries and college libraries supporting physical education programs and sports history programs. High-school libraries might also consider it. RBB
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Paperback: 496 pages
• Publisher: DK ADULT; 1st edition (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789489430
• ISBN-13: 978-0789489432
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.6 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,403,418 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Wonderful, January 14, 2003

By 

Andrew (Springboro, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: World Soccer Yearbook 2003 (Paperback)

Words can't describe how great this book is. From the moment you see the section on the World Cup and how detailed it is (EVERY SINGLE WC MATCH IS COVERED), to the wonderful pictures that look so good you could easily mistake you're watching TV, this book grabs you. It covers every FIFA confederation (including OFC) and every majour country's domestic league. Ever wonder who finished 6th in the Uruguayan Domestic League last year? Or ever wonder who led the Swedish Allveskean in goals? Or who plays in the stadium set at the highest altitude? Get this book, and you'll do yourself a favour if you're a football fan. Plus, impress your friends!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fabulous Primer for Football Fans!, November 11, 2002

By 

madman31 (Birmingham, AL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: World Soccer Yearbook 2003 (Paperback)

This book has everything you could possibly want about soccer around the world. Whether it is the World Cup, Continental championships, or domestic leagues, this book breaks down all of the statistics, facts, and tidbits for the soccer trivia enthusiast. A nice primer for people interested in learning about the business that is world soccer.