Rob Steen is a journalist, sportswriter, author and Senior Lecturer in Sport Journalism at the University of Brighton. Jed Novick is a journalist, author and Senior Lecturer in Sport Journalism at the University of Brighton. Huw Richards is a freelance journalist and sports historian.

List of contributors; List of figures and tables; Chronology; Foreword Sir Michael Parkinson; Introduction Alan Tomlinson; Part I. Foundations: 1. Kicking off: the origins of association football Dave Russell; The game-changers: Billy Meredith Huw Richards; 2. Uruguay: the first world power Chris Taylor; The game-changers: Henri Delaunay Huw Richards; 3. Austria and Hungary: the Danubian School Huw Richards; The game-changers: Alfredo Di Stefano Rob Steen; 4. Italy: football as politics - Mussolini to Berlusconi Paddy Agnew; The game-changers: Pele Huw Richards; 5. Brazil: rhythm and grooves Jim White; The game-changers: Diego Maradona Huw Richards; 6. Africa: towards global football citizenship? Paul Darby; The game-changers: Eusebio Rob Steen; Part II. Development: 7. Money, money, money: the English Premier League Peter Berlin; The game-changers: Didier Drogba Jed Novick; 8. The boss: a very British convention Colin Shindler; The game-changers: Sir Alex Ferguson Will Tidey; 9. David Beckham and the celebrity phenomenon Jed Novick; The game-changers: George Best Rob Steen; 10. Football and feminism Jean Williams; The game-changers: Mia Hamm Huw Richards; 11. Fans: consumers, hooligans and activists John Williams; The game-changers: Franz Beckenbauer Rob Steen; 12. Sheepskin coats and nannygoats: the view from the press box Rob Steen; The game-changers: Havelange, Blatter and Platini - the ruling class Rob Steen and John Vale; 13. Brought to book: football and literature Peter Stead; The game-changers: Johan Cruyff Jon Vale; Part III. Where We Are: 14. What took you so long? Spain conquers the world Huw Richards; The game-changers: Jose Mourinho Jed Novick; 15. Where next? Football's new frontiers Toby Miller; The game-changers: Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo Jed Novick; Further reading; Index.