Who Invented the Bicycle Kick?

May 15, 2014

Enough of the social, political, and economic aspects of soccer--this book is fun. In a question-and-answer mode, coauthors Simpson (editor, Champions) and Hesse (Tor!) tackle the burning issues of the game, such as the oddest reasons for stopping play, which match produced the most red cards, and, as promised in the title, who invented soccer's bicycle kick. Answers to these quirky questions run from one to six pages each and explore the sport's history from its origins. The run through the game's past and present includes colorful personalities such as legendary coach Stan Cullis, soccer's "scariest" manager, and Colin Grainger, a 16-year soccer veteran who once shared a stage with the Beatles. The teams, leagues, venues, games, equipment, on-field moves, and records are also here, and all make for a light romp across the world's most popular game. VERDICT With the World Cup just weeks away, this look at the lighter side of soccer is wonderful for serious and casual soccer fans and readers with a passing interest in the spectacle gearing up in Brazil.--Boyd Childress, formerly with Auburn Univ. Libs., AL

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2014
Which goalie first wore gloves? What was the most brutal game ever? Is there any real advantage to having a low center of gravity? Was the soccer war really about soccer? Under the headings Inventions, Oddities, Stars, Gaffers, Records, and Culture, these questions, and many more, are thoughtfully answered in this engaging book for soccer buffs. Unlike many sports-trivia books packed with obscure stats, these offbeat questions and in-depth explanations offer truly revealing information about the history and global development of the game. The vocabulary may be British (a gaffer is a manager), but American fans will get it. And, as the authors suggest, this could indeed form the basis for a truly epic pub quiz. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)