Title/Author:
“Soccer Without
Borders” by Eric Kirschbaum
Tags:
Football (European), soccer,
biography, coaching
Publish date:
May 10, 2016
Length:
400 pages
Rating:
5 of 5 stars (outstanding)
Review:
Jurgen Klinsmann took
the 2014 United States Men’s World Cup team to an unexpected run to the round
of 16 and in the process became a well-known name in soccer circles in the
country. However, he was well-known previously for his career as both a player
and a coach in Germany, Italy and England and was noted for his non-conventional
views for coaching. His career and his vision is wonderfully captured in this
book by journalist Eric Kirschbaum.
The book reads as part
biography, part coaching manual and part soccer history lesson. Kirschbaum does
an excellent job of covering each part of Klinsmann’s career. He also tells of Klinsmann’s desire to not
just live a comfortable life in the United States and adapt to its norms for
the sport. Klinsmann’s vision and hopes
for making the United States a powerful team in the sport is portrayed as well,
if not better, than any previous publications I have read on his coaching of
the team.
Fans of international
soccer will replay some of his greatest moments such as his overhead bicycle
kick for Stuttgart in 1987 and his excellent play in the 1990 World Cup final,
leading his West Germany team to the victory over the Netherlands. His coaching
overseas is well-documented as well, making the reader possibly believe he or
she is reading a biography.
However, the book is much more than that, and Klinsmann’s work with the United States team is the best reading in the book. His unpopular decision to leave Landon Donovan off the 2014 World Cup is one example of this type of work – Klinsmann’s non-conventional and well-written explanation was very good; as was the vision he has for soccer in the United States.
Here there are more unconventional thoughts, such as the
biggest professional league in the country, Major League Soccer, have
relegation for the worst teams to lower leagues. This is done in Europe, but not in the United
States because of the sports culture here.
Again, the explanation why this should be done, as well as his other
ideas, is thought-provoking and will make the reader ask why it is not already
in effect or taking place.
Soccer fans of all
levels, from casual to hard-core, will enjoy this book about the coach who
hopes to bring the United State to success in a sport where it has been lagging
behind the rest of the world for a long time.
It is one that is highly recommended to be part of a reader’s library.
I wish to thank
Picador Publishing for providing a copy of the book via NetGalley in exchange
for an honest review.
Book Format Read:
E-book (Kindle)
Buying links:
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