{"product_id":"the-spectre-of-pep-how-guardiola-haunts-modern-football-tactics","title":"The Spectre of Pep: How Guardiola Haunts Modern Football Tactics - **PREORDER, SIGNED COPIES AVAILABLE**","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrom the publisher:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA spectre is haunting European football. Watch almost any game, no matter the level, and you will notice it. From inverted full backs to extreme high lines, the tactical threads of the match will eventually converge onto a singular point: Pep Guardiola.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor some though, his near total dominance has come at the cost of the game itself, with modern football's protagonists caught between acknowledging Guardiola's greatness and wanting to evolve the sport beyond him. InThe Spectre of Pep, acclaimed tactics writer Jon Mackenzie explores this contradiction. But this is much more than the story of just one man.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAfter tracing Guardiola's ascendancy, displacing giants like Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte, it examines how other elite coaches have fought to establish their own legacies within this landscape - including the likes of Jurgen Klopp, Roberto De Zerbi, Luis Enrique, and Mikel Arteta. And with his time at Manchester City coming to an end - in a world where his influence is arguably diminishing - it also speculates on what the next generation of tactics may look like, and how Guardiola's legacy will be viewed in the future. If you want to understand football today, you have to understand the tactical spectre of Pep Guardiola.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTo do that, you need this book.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eThe author:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJon Mackenzie is a writer, podcaster and presenter for The Athletic, and in recent years has developed a reputation as one of the leading voices in analysing modern football tactics. He lives in London and can usually be found watching football and noticing things.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMessage from Stanchion:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"a-section a-spacing-small a-padding-small\"\u003eSigned copies are available to preorder. They will be signed at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/stanchionbooks.eventbrite.com\/\" class=\"text-link\"\u003eour event with the author on 15 September 2026\u003c\/a\u003e and sent as soon as possible after that. Signed copies can not be sent any sooner than that.\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\"\u003eIf you preorder a signed copy with any other items, your order will be shipped once signed copies are available after the event. They will not be sent separately.\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\"\u003eUnsigned copies will be sent as close to publication date (20 August 2026) as possible.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e---\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product_spec\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eSeven Dials\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\u003e416 pages\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product_spec\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eAugust 2026\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eEnglish\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product_spec\"\u003e9781399631891\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Jon Mackenzie","offers":[{"title":"Signed (sent after 15 September 2026)","offer_id":58198855352701,"sku":null,"price":25.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"Unsigned (sent around publication of 20 August 2026)","offer_id":58198855385469,"sku":null,"price":25.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0271\/5149\/9341\/files\/Preorder-JonMackenzie-square.png?v=1779442479","url":"https:\/\/stanchionbooks.com\/products\/the-spectre-of-pep-how-guardiola-haunts-modern-football-tactics","provider":"Stanchion","version":"1.0","type":"link"}