Soccer Men: Profiles of the Rogues, Geniuses, and Neurotics Who Dominate the World’s Most Popular Sport

Kuper (Soccernomics), who has covered professional soccer’s headliners and newsmakers for a variety of publications, including the Financial Times and the Times of London, writes, “I have never thought that most soccer players, like in many other sports, have anything special to say.” He adds that today’s players are mostly followers whose worldview is limited to what happens on the pitch. Still, that doesn’t prevent the author from employing eloquent criticism and biting wit in profiling everyone from legendary Argentine player/partier turned national coach Diego Maradona (“the fat cigar smoker and former cocaine addict with the geriatric’s heart”) to David Beckham (“an Andy Warhol painting come to life”) to baseball executive Billy Beane, whose moneyball tactics have found their way into professional soccer. But over the course of a book, Kuper’s winking, borderline contemptuous style and halfhearted reporting transform the soccer-loving author from observant cynic to incessant crank. This collection is best read in small chunks by soccer fans who don’t mind seeing their idols take a tumble. (Oct.)