{"title":"Life stories","description":"The life and times of some of the greatest characters ever to grace the game","products":[{"product_id":"square-peg-round-ball-football-tv-and-me","title":"Square Peg, Round Ball: Football, TV and Me","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom the publisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e'What Ned hasn't seen on a sports TV channel isn't worth knowing about.' - Gabby Logan\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e'From falling out with Mourinho to flying with Gerrard, this is a wonderful journey through football.' - Henry Winter\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e'A great read by one of sport's good guys.' - Jonathan Liew\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e'A beautiful love letter to a love no longer felt.' - Adrian Chiles\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cem\u003eSquare Peg, Round Ball\u003c\/em\u003e is a candid, insightful reminiscence on a life in football. From time to time, as I lurched from training ground to player's tunnel, I'd be glared at by Alex Ferguson, clapped on the back by Arsene Wenger, taken out the back by Alan Pardew or banned by Jose Mourinho. In the time it took for the Golden Generation to come of age, dominate, disappoint and retire, I fell in - and ultimately out - of love with the game, as I was granted a uniquely privileged insight into the backstage comings and goings of the professional football circus.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAlthough best known as ITV's commentator on the Tour de France, Ned Boulting has spent most of his professional life covering football. Follow Ned's journey from football supporter to reporter - from criss-crossing the country in a banger of a car hoping for a word or two from the latest big signing, to the glamour of the Champions League. Ned really has been there, done that, and got the Sky Sports jacket to prove it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWitnessing the shenanigans, the machinations and the idiocy of football at close quarters Ned shares his best stories with affection. Whether it's treading mud into Steven Gerrard's pristine white carpets, or nearly being pushed into oncoming traffic by a menacing Vinnie Jones, or being chased away from Roman Abramovich's house by some scary looking men on quadbikes - Ned has made a fool of himself to bring us the best tales from his experiences in 90s and 2000s football.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNed Boulting began his television career in 1997 when he joined Sky Sports' Soccer Saturday. 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Daily Mail \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e'Stirring ... bold and powerful.' Guardian\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eF\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003erom Jamaica to Sheffield to the recently formed Premier League, Uri rises through the ranks as a referee, making it to the the highest level of our national game.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBut along the way he is confronted with tensions and prejudices, old and new, which emerge as his every move is watched, analysed and commented on. Your Show is an extraordinary novel which charts one man's pioneering efforts to make it, against the odds, to the very top of his profession and beyond.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAshley Hickson-Lovence was born in London in 1991 and is a former secondary school English teacher. 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After initially meeting Clough while out begging for money, Clough later invited the brothers to stay at his house. From there a relationship formed which would see Craig living with the Cloughs for nine years, where he was a first-hand witness to the many aspects of Clough's character - his gruffness, his humour, his big-heartedness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a beautiful, inspirational story, which has never before been told, about Clough's gentleness and capacity for generosity. 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They walked the streets of Manchester together, enjoyed 1990s music and culture together, even learnt the trumpet together and remain close friends to this day.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn \u003cem\u003eThe King and I\u003c\/em\u003e Boli gives us unparalleled insight into Cantona the footballer, Cantona the friend, and Cantona the man.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDr Claude Boli is currently scientific director of the National Museum of Sport based in Nice, France. He is the author of several articles, books and films on football, including: Manchester United: L'invention d'un club (Foreword by Eric Cantona) published by La Martiniere, 2004; Football et Immigration, Gallimard, 2010. Author with Eric Cantona of the documentary film Foot et Immigration: 100 ans d'histoire commune. 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Drawing on hundreds of interviews with friends from his childhood and school, coaches, teammates, on-pitch opponents, business associates and family members, Auke Kok has written the definitive biography of the skinny impish street footballer that became the genius player, inspirational manager, football philosopher and commercial pioneer that was Johan Cruyff.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAuke Kok is a historian, writer, journalist and columnist. He has written several bestsellers in the Netherlands and has been nominated for and won a number of prizes, with his most recent book, 1936. We went to Berlin, named Sports Book of the Year 2017. 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When her beloved Charlton Athletic clinched promotion to The Championship in May 2019, sportswriter Jen Offord splashed out on season tickets for herself and her sceptical brother Michael, setting out to chronicle the south-east London outfit's first season back in the second tier of English football. But this season, more than any other before it, would be a game of two halves.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA billionaire takeover backfired spectacularly; the team plummeted into the relegation zone just as Coronavirus swept in to suspend life as we know it. The Year of The Robin is a love letter to the power of football even when there is no football to actually watch, filled with wild characters searching for redemption and wrestling over issues of money, racism and mental health. A funny, sharp and a thought-provoking exploration of the idea of family in unprecedented times and season from which the world may never fully recover.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJen Offord is the co-host and producer of the hugely popular Standard Issue podcast, for which she has interviewed many leading sports stars. She writes and broadcasts for many other high-profile outlets on issues of sport, equality and mental health. 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It's a book about two English footballers but also about English football and England itself. In later life Jack and Bobby didn't get on and barely spoke but the lives of these very different brothers from the coalfield tell the story of late twentieth-century English football: the tensions between flair and industry, between individuality and the collective, between right and left, between middle- and working-classes, between exile and home.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJack was open, charismatic, selfish and pig-headed; Bobby was guarded, shy, polite and reserved to the point of reclusiveness. They were very different footballers: Jack a gangling central defender who developed a profound tactical intelligence; Bobby an athletic attacking midfielder who disdained systems. They played for clubs who embodied two very different approaches, the familial closeness and tactical cohesion of Leeds on the one hand and the individualistic flair and clashing egos of Manchester United on the other.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBoth enjoyed great success as players: Jack won a league, a Cup and two Fairs Cups with Leeds; Bobby won a league title, survived the terrible disaster of the plane crash in Munich, and then at enormous emotional cost, won a Cup and two more league titles before capping it off with the European Cup. Together, for England, they won the World Cup. Their managerial careers followed predictably diverging paths, Bobby failing at Preston while Jack enjoyed success at Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday before leading Ireland to previously un-imagined heights.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBoth were financially very successful, but Jack remained staunchly left-wing while Bobby tended to conservatism. In the end, Jack returned to Northumberland; Bobby remained in the North-West. Two Brothers tells a story of social history as well as two of the most famous football players of their generation.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJonathan Wilson is the editor of \u003cem\u003ethe Blizzard\u003c\/em\u003e and a freelance writer for the Guardian, World Soccer and Sports Illustrated. 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The Rebel. The God.","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom the publisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMARADONA is the definitive new biography of a true global icon, from world-renowned football writer and journalist Guillem Balague. Diego Armando Maradona was widely acclaimed as a genius. One of the greatest footballers of all time, he was also one of the most controversial.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn an international career with Argentina he earned 91 caps and scored 34 goals and played in four FIFA World Cups. With his unforgettable 'hand of God' goal and unsurpassed second one in the 1986 quarter-final against England, he captained his nation and led them to victory over West Germany in the final in Mexico. His vision, passing, ball control and dribbling skills, and his presence and leadership on the field, often electrified his own team's overall performance.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaradona's club career included dazzling spells in his own country at Argentinos Juniors, Boca Juniors and Newell's Old Boys, and in Europe with Barcelona, Napoli and Sevilla. Yet his life was one of relentless media attention, including tales of drug abuse and constant health issues. Based on in-depth interviews and first-hand stories, Guillem Balague's masterly biography represents a psychological and sociological approach to the legend.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis journey of exploration takes Guillem to Argentina, Spain, Italy and Dubai. Along the way, he asks what fosters such adulation, and how this adoration engendered a self-destructive personality. Even after his untimely death in 2020, Maradona continues to fascinate: his divine status seemingly preserved for ever.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGuillem Balague is a Spanish football journalist, prizewinning author and pundit, first for Sky Sports and now for BBC Radio 5 Live. He is the author of A SEASON ON THE BRINK - A PORTRAIT OF RAFA BENITEZ'S LIVERPOOL (2006); the first biography of PEP GUARDIOLA (2012); MESSI (2013); CRISTIANO RONALDO (2015), the Football Book of the Year at the Cross Sports Book Awards; and the bestselling Brave New World - INSIDE POCHETTINO'S SPURS (2017). 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Despite flourishing in the blue and white of the national side, delivering Argentina their first silverware in twenty-eight years - beating Brazil on their home soil to win the Copa America - Messi endured a difficult first season in Paris.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e Guillem Balague has had unprecedented access to Messi's inner circle including the player himself: his coaches, team-mates and family. From tracing the origins of Messi's precocious talent in Rosario, Argentina, to chronicling his peerless seventeen-season career at Barcelona, and his tumultuous Parisian adventure, Guillem presents an authoritative and compelling account of an enigmatic footballing genius.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e'I can tell my grandkids one day that I coached Lionel Messi' Pep Guardiola\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eGuillem Balague is a Spanish football journalist, prizewinning author and pundit, first for Sky Sports and now for BBC Radio 5 Live. He is the author of A SEASON ON THE BRINK - A PORTRAIT OF RAFA BENITEZ'S LIVERPOOL (2006); the first biography of PEP GUARDIOLA (2012); MESSI (2013); CRISTIANO RONALDO (2015), the Football Book of the Year at the Cross Sports Book Awards; and the bestselling Brave New World - INSIDE POCHETTINO'S SPURS (2017). 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Even when he was alive accounts of his  life had a tragic register, of the kid from the slums whose magical talent on the soccer field was squandered by drug addiction.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut his death allowed millions of people to ponder both the tragedy and triumph of his life, of a man who was arguably the world’s greatest soccer player, who was also a champion for the world’s poor. Adorned in the talismanic number 10 shirt that Maradona made his own while playing Boca Juniors, Barcelona, Napoli and Argentina, hundreds of thousands flocked to the presidential palace in Buenos Aires to pay their last respects; millions around the world were similarly moved, creating makeshift altars and murals in his honor.  Vatican News called him “soccer’s poet.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe interviews collected in \u003ci\u003eDiego Maradona: The Last Interv\u003c\/i\u003eiew span the breadth of his life and career as a player, coach, and public figure, providing a panoramic and extremely candid accounting of his rollercoaster life, many translated into English for the first time.  Included in the book are encounters with Pele, Fidel Castro (who Maradona credited for saving his life) and Gary Linker, who Maradona played against in the 1986 England-Argentina game that sent shockwaves around the world. 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For over fifteen years, almost any conversation about international soccer has always come back to two players-Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo-undoubtedly the greatest of their generation but with styles, attitudes, and fanbases that couldn't be more different. For millions of people around the world \"Messi or Ronaldo?\" isn't simply a barroom argument, or an affirmation of fandom, so much as a statement of philosophy, of values, of what global soccer is today and of what it will be tomorrow.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eNow Wall Street Journal reporters and co-authors of The Club, Joshua Robinson and Jonathan Clegg, unite the stories of Messi and Ronaldo into a single modern epic of global sports, detailing how one rivalry changed both the game and the business of international soccer-forever. Based on dozens of firsthand accounts and years of original reporting, Messi vs. Ronaldo weaves together the stakes, color, and characters at the heart of each man's story, going inside the locker rooms and boardrooms where their legends were forged and revealing off-field drama as gripping as anything that happened on it.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFrom their contrasting origin stories to their divergent career arcs and their conflicting reputations, these players have built their successes on opposite paths, yet each, in his own way, offers a riveting tale of triumph and excess. 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Calm and cool-headed, he ignores critics, follows his own methods and relentlessly pursues perfection on the pitch. His uncanny ability to analyse and solve problems - the 'process' as Ten Hag calls it - has unfailingly led to breakthrough. There is no magic.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e There is only intelligence at work, personal devotion to players and near-obsessive attention to detail. At Ajax, Ten Hag brooked no dissent and moulded his team into a smoothly operating unit of attack. His team enjoyed an astonishing run, winning three league cups in a row and reaching the Champions League semi-finals for the first time in a quarter of a century.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Along the way, they produced some of the brightest and most entertaining football seen in Europe for years. And throughout his first season at Manchester United, he has more than made his mark. 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For over fifteen years, almost any conversation about international soccer has always come back to two players-Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo-undoubtedly the greatest of their generation but with styles, attitudes, and fanbases that couldn't be more different. For millions of people around the world \"Messi or Ronaldo?\" isn't simply a barroom argument, or an affirmation of fandom, so much as a statement of philosophy, of values, of what global soccer is today and of what it will be tomorrow.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e Now Wall Street Journal reporters and co-authors of The Club, Joshua Robinson and Jonathan Clegg, unite the stories of Messi and Ronaldo into a single modern epic of global sports, detailing how one rivalry changed both the game and the business of international soccer-forever. Based on dozens of firsthand accounts and years of original reporting, Messi vs. Ronaldo weaves together the stakes, color, and characters at the heart of each man's story, going inside the locker rooms and boardrooms where their legends were forged and revealing off-field drama as gripping as anything that happened on it.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e From their contrasting origin stories to their divergent career arcs and their conflicting reputations, these players have built their successes on opposite paths, yet each, in his own way, offers a riveting tale of triumph and excess. Taken together, their story embodies the astronomical growth of international soccer, how social media has revolutionized the power of sports celebrity, and how the desire to capitalize on the billions of dollars these players represent electrified some of the most storied clubs in Europe-Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Manchester United among them-and cost them almost everything.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWith the 2022 World Cup almost certain to be the last for both of these figures, Messi vs. Ronaldo offers a deeply researched look at their legacy and grapples with the impact that their talents have had on the game for better and for worse. Much more than a retelling of the dual accomplishments of these great players, this is truly a biography of a rivalry, one that has become a crucial lens for understanding the past, present, and future of global soccer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e Jonathan Clegg is an editor for The Wall Street Journal, his work has also appeared in the Daily Telegraph, the Independent (U.K.), and FourFourTwo magazine. Joshua Robinson is the European sports correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, and has written for the New York Times, the Washington Post and Sports Illustrated. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e---\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product_spec\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eHarperCollins\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e20 x 13 cm\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003ePaperback\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e320 pages\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product_spec\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eDecember 2023\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eEnglish\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product_spec\"\u003e9780063157187\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Jonathan Clegg, Joshua Robinson","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44302604271843,"sku":null,"price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0271\/5149\/9341\/files\/2024-01-1008.28.11.jpg?v=1705064069"},{"product_id":"arne-slot-the-biography","title":"Arne Slot: The Biography","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom the publisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eArne Slot: The Biography is the definitive portrait of the Dutch manager who took on one of the toughest jobs in football – succeeding Jürgen Klopp – and delivered a Premier League triumph in his first season at Liverpool FC. Slot had proven himself in the Netherlands – leading AZ Alkmaar to a second-place finish and delivering Feyenoord their first title in six years. With a bold, high-pressing style and sharp mind, he had earned a reputation as one of Europe’s brightest managerial prospects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhen Klopp’s era ended in 2024, Anfield held its breath. But Slot stepped into the void with calm authority and tactical brilliance. By Christmas, Liverpool were top of both the Premier League and Champions League tables, having lost just once.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKey players like Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai found renewed form under his leadership. Slot ushered in a new era of confidence and cohesion at Anfield. In this richly detailed biography, acclaimed Dutch author Maarten Meijer traces Slot’s journey from the quiet village of Bergentheim to the Premier League summit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHe unpacks the methods, mentality and rise of a coach who has already lifted his first major English trophy and whose vision and leadership are reshaping Liverpool’s future.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eDutch football commentator Maarten Meijer has written books on Louis van Gaal, Guus Hiddink, Dick Advocaat and Erik ten Hag. His work has been praised as ‘superb’ by\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003e The Times \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eand ‘explosive’ by the\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003e Daily Mail\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Beyond sport, Maarten has degrees in science and philosophy, and a doctorate in Russian literature. Since 2000 he has been based in Korea with his wife and four children, where he teaches philosophy.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e---\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eEbury Spotlight\u003cbr\u003e24 x 16 cm\u003cbr\u003eHardback\u003cbr\u003e320 pages\u003cbr\u003eJuly 2025\u003cbr\u003eEnglish\u003cbr\u003e9781529949506\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Maarten Meijer","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56346137854333,"sku":null,"price":22.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0271\/5149\/9341\/files\/2025-07-0217.11.13.jpg?v=1751473556"},{"product_id":"arne-slot-the-new-era-the-definitive-biography-of-liverpool-s-new-hero","title":"Arne Slot: The New Era: The Definitive Biography of Liverpool’s New Hero","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom the publisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003e The definitive biography of Arne Slot, covering Liverpool's triumphant 2024\/25 season \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eFeaturing exclusive interviews with Arne Slot, Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo and more, this is the definitive biography of Liverpool's new manager.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAs Jurgen Klopp left Liverpool in June 2024, he proclaimed Arne Slot his successor with a chant that rang around Anfield. The expectations were raised for the man who would succeed the greatest Liverpool manager of the modern era, but Slot's start to life in Merseyside could not have gone any better. By the end of the 2024-25 season, the Reds had triumphantly won the Premier League, with players like Mohamed Salah, Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister regularly putting in career defining performances. Arne Slot was the Kop's new hero. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMikos Gouka has had unparalleled access to Slot, his former and current players, rival coaches and Slot's family and friends for the last two decades, allowing him to construct an impeccable biography that delves into the Dutchman's life and managerial career. From his early years as a coach at Cambuur and AZ Alkmaar to how he flourished at Feyenoord, where he developed his distinct tactical philosophy, before making the switch to Anfield, Gouka reveals everything. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHe chronicles Slot's first full season at Liverpool, based on exclusive interviews with current Liverpool players, staff and Arne Slot, offering insight into the new ideas and methods that Slot has introduced on the training pitches of Kirkby, delving into the tactical evolution of the team over the course of the season as the Reds battled for Premier League glory.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eBased on exclusive interviews with Slot himself, Gouka has created an intimate and all-encompassing biography of the newest manager to join football's elite.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eMikos Gouka is a leading Dutch football journalist from Rotterdam who writes for AD and covers Feyenoord. He is the author of two books on Feyenoord; \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eKameraden\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, which covered their title winning 2022-23 season under Arne Slot and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eArne Slot\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, a biography of Arne Slot which offers insight into his early life, managerial career and tactical philosophy dubbed 'Slot-ball' (which was the original Dutch title), as well as his move to and first full season at Liverpool. Published in the Netherlands in November 2024, it was an instant hit and sold out it's first three printruns within the first week of publishing.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e---\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeven Dials\u003cbr\u003e24 x 16 cm\u003cbr\u003eHardback\u003cbr\u003e240 pages\u003cbr\u003eAugust 2025\u003cbr\u003eEnglish\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003e ‎ \u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan\u003e9781399634267\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mikos Gouka","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56785762845053,"sku":null,"price":22.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0271\/5149\/9341\/files\/2025-08-2818.04.55.jpg?v=1756402306"},{"product_id":"the-lionel-messi-story-how-one-man-revolutionized-major-league-soccer","title":"The Lionel Messi Story: How One Man Revolutionized Major League Soccer","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom the publisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLionel Messi is often called the best player of all time. He holds 46 titles, including one World Cup and four European Champion League titles and eight Ballon d’Ors, the highest individual honor in soccer. In 2024, he won Major League Soccer’s MVP award. But who is the player behind these impressive stats? What makes Lionel Messi so great? This book takes a deep dive into Messi’s background, examining his beginnings, his struggles to reach the top, and even his thoughts on his soccer career.  \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-expanded=\"true\" class=\"a-expander-content a-expander-partial-collapse-content a-expander-content-expanded\" style=\"padding-bottom: 24px;\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWith Messi’s arrival to Major League Soccer (MLS) in 2023, the most popular sport in the world experienced a revolution in the US. More stars from Europe, South America, and Africa followed, and the matches were soon televised on more channels and platforms than ever before. The explosive success of MLS motivated \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eTime \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003emagazine to name Messi the greatest sports figure of 2023.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTo fully understand how Messi influenced MLS, this book takes a dynamic and in-depth look into his playing history―his beginnings, his career successes, his own personal stories, as well as what other players think of Messi’s career. This is the amazing story of how one of the world’s greatest soccer players revolutionized MLS.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eLuciano Wernicke \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ewas born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Salvador, and he is a professor of Sport History and Soccer History at the Instituto Universitario River Plate. In 2019, Luciano was the assistant to the Costa Rica National Soccer team manager. He has written 25 books on soccer, including \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eUnforgettable Soccer \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eand \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eWhy Is Soccer Played Eleven Against Eleven?\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and his books have been translated into several different languages.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e---\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product_spec\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMeyer \u0026amp; Meyer Sport (UK) Ltd\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e22 x 14 cm\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003ePaperback\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e208 pages\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product_spec\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eNovember 2025\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eEnglish\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product_spec\"\u003e9781782552901\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Luciano Wernicke","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57457130275197,"sku":null,"price":16.95,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0271\/5149\/9341\/files\/2025-11-2708.55.16.jpg?v=1764241189"},{"product_id":"killing-maradona-how-cocaine-the-camorra-and-crime-corrupted-footballs-greatest-talent","title":"Killing Maradona: How cocaine, the Camorra and crime corrupted football's greatest talent  - **SIGNED COPIES AVAILABLE**","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom the publisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDrugs, cartels, mafia, addiction, the FBI, and coercion - this is the untold story behind the tragic decline of football's most gifted and controversial legend.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMaradona was football's ultimate genius - a magician on the pitch whose talent rivalled only Pelé. But off the field, the boy from the barrios of Buenos Aires became entangled in a dark web of criminal influence and personal demons. From the Cali Cartel's attempts to lure him into the drug trade, to the Camorra's grip on his life in Naples; from clashes with the Italian government to Pablo Escobar's sinister hospitality, Maradona's life was a battleground far beyond football.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBattling addiction, betrayal, and exploitation, Maradona's story is one of genius corrupted - a man caught between adulation and self-destruction, whose medical neglect and FBI scrutiny culminated in a tragic end. Marking the 40th anniversary of Argentina's legendary 1986 World Cup victory, Killing Maradona is a searing investigation into the forces that destroyed football's first 'Golden Boy.'\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eDavid Arrowsmith\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e was the Director of Development at leading UK factual TV producer Zig Zag Productions. He has worked in television for over 20 years - developing unscripted ideas and acting as Executive Producer on key projects for companies such as October Films, DSP, Channel 5, Granada Television, and the BBC. He is passionate about history, and just some of his key commissions include '1966: Who Stole the World Cup?', 'Britain's Bloodiest Dynasty', '8 Days That Made Rome', and 'Adolf \u0026amp; Eva: Love \u0026amp; War'. He was also involved in the development of the award-winning, Nobel Peace Prize-nominated documentary 'Sri Lanka's Killing Fields'.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDavid was born and raised in London but is proudly half-Colombian. In fact, he is the great-grandson of a former president and directly descended from four more. He has played football for over 35 years and has no plans to stop just yet.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMessage from Stanchion:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small\"\u003eWe have a limited number of copies signed by the author.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e---\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product_spec\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eCassell\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e24 x 16 cm\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eHardback\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e336 pages\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product_spec\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eMay 2026\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eEnglish\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product_spec\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003e ‎ \u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan\u003e9781788406154\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"David Arrowsmith","offers":[{"title":"Signed","offer_id":57836654002557,"sku":null,"price":22.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Unsigned","offer_id":57836654035325,"sku":null,"price":22.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0271\/5149\/9341\/files\/2026-05-1109.11.07.jpg?v=1778494510"},{"product_id":"cristiano-and-leo-whoisthegreatest","title":"Cristiano and Leo: #whoisthegreatest","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom the publisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA Financial Times Sports Books of the Year. Cristiano and Leo is the fascinating account of the lives and rivalry between two of the best footballers to ever play the game, Ronaldo and Messi, by Jimmy Burns the bestselling author of Maradona: The Hand of God. The rivalry between Ronaldo and Messi has defined football to a generation of fans – everyone has an opinion on who is the greatest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDo you prefer Ronaldo whose work ethic and physique have been honed for one purpose – scoring goals. Or Messi, whose superhuman natural talent means he can do the seemingly impossible with a football. Between them they have scored over 1300 goals, won the Ballon d’Or ten times, and taken the beautiful game to even greater heights.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBut statistics alone cannot do justice to their skill, athleticism and dedication to stay at the top for so long of one of the most competitive sports in the world. Cristiano and Leo tells their definitive story, from children kicking a ball halfway around the world from each other to facing each other in the epic clash El Clásico, between Real Madrid and Barcelona. This is the essential book to understand one the most compelling rivalries in sporting history.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cspan\u003eBorn in Madrid, Jimmy Burns studied in London and Lancashire, worked in Portugal, Spain and Buenos Aires and is an award winning journalist and author, who wrote the internationally acclaimed \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eHand of God: A Biography of Diego Maradona\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eLa Roja\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eBarça\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eWhen Beckham Went to Spain\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. He is married, and has two daughters. His favourite hobbies – apart from watching a good football match or playing football on the beach – include tennis, walking, and practicing yoga.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e---\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product_spec\"\u003eMacmillan\n\u003cdiv\u003e20 x 13 cm\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003ePaperback\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e416 pages\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product_spec\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eSeptember 2019\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eEnglish\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product_spec\"\u003e9781509849147\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Jimmy Burns","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57883822850429,"sku":null,"price":10.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0271\/5149\/9341\/files\/2026-03-0408.37.03.jpg?v=1772640178"},{"product_id":"the-day-i-met-brian-clough-and-other-tributes-includes-memories-from-brian-cloughs-family-friends-and-fans","title":"The day I met Brian Clough ...And Other Tributes: Includes memories from Brian Clough's family, friends and fans","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom the publisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn encounter with Brian Clough was usually unforgettable - as this special collection of memories illustrates. Fans may think they've heard all there is to know about Cloughie, but this book has many untold stories and tributes. Brian Clough’s family are among the many people who describe their personal memories of the charismatic football manager in this unique collection of tributes. Brian’s widow, Barbara, and their daughter Elizabeth have provided a rare insight into life with the man known as the Master Manager. Brian’s brother Joe and sister Doreen also recount their memories in this book. This collection of anecdotes and tributes includes contributions from fans, friends and former players, collected by Marcus since he set-up the non-profit-making website over 10 years ago. Those who worked closely with Old Big ’Ead describe memorable times in his company – including the TV producer who captured unique footage of Cloughie in his back garden as he sang a surprise tribute to his old friend and commentator, Brian Moore.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMarcus Alton was still at school when he began writing a regular sports column in the local parish magazine, securing an exclusive interview with the new chairman of Nottingham Forest FC who lived in the same village. He then joined the Newark Advertiser newspaper, winning the title of Midlands Sports Journalist of the Year. He has worked for the BBC for more than 20 years and is a senior journalist. In August 2000, Marcus set-up the non-profit-making website, brianclough.com. Marcus has written two previous books about Brian: Young Man, You ve Made My Day, and The Day I Met Brian Clough which includes memories from his family, friends and fans\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003e---\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product_spec\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eDB Publishing\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e21 x 14 cm\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003ePaperback\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e208 pages\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product_spec\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eSeptember 2013\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eEnglish\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product_spec\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e9781908234988\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Marcus Alton","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58075389329789,"sku":null,"price":9.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0271\/5149\/9341\/files\/2026-04-2307.43.57.jpg?v=1776946488"},{"product_id":"arne-slot-the-biography-paperback","title":"Arne Slot: The Biography","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom the publisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eArne Slot has been tasked with a role at the helm of one of the most prestigious clubs in the game: Liverpool FC. Having showcased his ability to compete at the top tier of Dutch football, he brings his tactical acumen and characteristically aggressive, high pressing football from the Eredivisie to the Premier League.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSlot delivered remarkable performances at more than one club in the Netherlands and garnered a reputation for consistently exceeding expectations. Under his innovative leadership, AZ Alkmaar finished second in the league – and that only on goal difference – when the season was abandoned in 2020 due to Covid. In 2021, Slot took the reins at Feyenoord and led them to their first league title in six years. In four short years, he cemented his status as one of the most promising managerial talents in Europe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMaarten Meijer’s biography delves into Arne Slot’s roots, from the tiny village of Bergentheim in the Netherlands, to the formidable task of following in the footsteps of Jurgen Klopp, his iconic predecessor at Liverpool FC. With confidence borne from a career of success and a complete faith in the football he wants to play, Slot is ready to make his mark at Anfield and continue the legacy of excellence.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small\"\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eDutch football commentator Maarten Meijer has written books on Louis van Gaal, Guus Hiddink, Dick Advocaat and Erik ten Hag. His work has been praised as ‘superb’ by\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003e The Times \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eand ‘explosive’ by the\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003e Daily Mail\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. Beyond sport, Maarten has degrees in science and philosophy, and a doctorate in Russian literature. Since 2000 he has been based in Korea with his wife and four children, where he teaches philosophy.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small\"\u003e---\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small\"\u003eEbury Spotlight\u003cbr\u003e20 x 13 cm\u003cbr\u003ePaperback\u003cbr\u003e320 pages\u003cbr\u003eApril 2026\u003cbr\u003eEnglish\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-list-item\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e9781529949513\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Maarten Meijer","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":58075437138301,"sku":null,"price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0271\/5149\/9341\/files\/2026-04-2414.20.18_1bf8a42f-4353-4ccf-8dc6-4228b203c04d.jpg?v=1777045584"}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0271\/5149\/9341\/collections\/17682_3efbc985e10b02ae8f58f84eeca5d37a.webp?v=1670162773","url":"https:\/\/stanchionbooks.com\/collections\/stanchion-books-xmas-gift-guide-life-stories.oembed?page=3","provider":"Stanchion","version":"1.0","type":"link"}