Start reading How Not to Be a Professional Footballer on your Kindle in under a minute. Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here.

Deliver to your Kindle or other device

 
 
 

Try it free

Sample the beginning of this book for free

Deliver to your Kindle or other device

Read books on your computer or other mobile devices with our FREE Kindle Reading Apps.
How Not to Be a Professional Footballer
 
 

How Not to Be a Professional Footballer [Kindle Edition]

Paul Merson
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)

Print List Price: £8.99
Kindle Price: £4.99 includes VAT* & free wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet
You Save: £4.00 (44%)
Unlike print books, digital books are subject to VAT.
This price was set by the publisher

Formats

Amazon Price New from Used from
Kindle Edition £4.99  
Hardcover £9.17  
Paperback £5.92  

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought


Product Description

Review

Some of The Merse's one-liners:

"The lad's like a fish up a tree."
Translation: that player looks a little lost and out of his depth

"It's a worldy strike."
Translation: that is a world class long-range goal

Review

When Saturday Comes "Most football memoirs carefully ration the racy bits as a way of punctuating the otherwise retelling of a career. How Not To Be A Professional Footballer does precisely the opposite." Zoo "The best read to fall asleep by the pool with."

Product details

  • Format: Kindle Edition
  • File Size: 1996 KB
  • Print Length: 325 pages
  • Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0007424965
  • Publisher: HarperSport (4 April 2011)
  • Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
  • Language English
  • ASIN: B004URQIGY
  • Text-to-Speech: Enabled
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #1,213 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  •  Would you like to give feedback on images?


More About the Author

Paul Merson
Discover books, learn about writers, and more.

Visit Amazon's Paul Merson Page

What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?


Suggested Tags from Similar Products

 (What's this?)
Be the first one to add a relevant tag (keyword that's strongly related to this product)
 

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
By Lodos
Format:Hardcover
This is a brilliant and brutally honest book, up there with the very best football biographies you'll ever read. In fact, there's enough here to entertain even those with only a passing interest in the game: Merson's is a fascinating and cautionary tale. The story is eye-watering at times, as Merson takes us on a rollercoaster ride through the drink, drugs and gambling addictions which he has fought for his entire life and which plagued his career. But for every moment of horror - Merse sitting in the dark all day snorting hundreds of pounds worth of cocaine, watching the racing results on teletext and thinking about breaking his fingers so he can't phone in another bet - there are hilarious anecdotes aplenty, too (going to a gay bar with John Barnes, the utter mania of living with Gazza).
Merse may come across as a joker on TV, but this reveals how he got there. As a tale of excess, it's up there with Motley Crue's The Dirt. A must-read, and for my money, one of the books of the year.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Kindle Edition
Having read the previous reviews on the book I was expecting a really good insight into things not previously known. What a disappointment - and don't get me wrong I do like PM when he appears on Soccer Saturday - its just that this book delivers nothing in the way of entertainment to the reader. Yes he is/was an idiot with money, gambling, drugs etc but come on this just isn't hilarious as some previous reviewers contend. Having said all of this there are few football related biographies that tell anything the reader shouldn't already be aware of so I guess I am a victim of falling for the trap of expecting a few bombshells. If you like sports books that will occupy your brain for a few minutes whilst sunbathing on the beach then I suppose this will be as good as any.
Was this review helpful to you?
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
An honest tale 14 Jun 2011
Format:Hardcover
As a Walsall fan I was fascinated by his recollections of his spell at the Banks Stadium both as a player and much maligned manager. The patience of Walsall Chairman Jeff Bonser (not the most popular character at Walsall) comes through as he indulged his star player and even put up the money for his addiction rehab in America. Merson's basic honesty also comes across well. He didn't rate Scott Dann - soon to be a centre back for a leading Premiership team - and admits his oversight. He also says that he didn't think he was manager material and was thrust into the job somewhat reluctantly. Its a shame that his spell as a manager will be most remembered by Walsall fans and not his dream debut against West Bromwich Albion where his two goals contributed to a stunning 4-1 win. the amount of money he claims to have lost is truly staggering. Lets hope that that is now in the past.
Comment | 
Was this review helpful to you?
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Dark, funny and an interesting insight!
"How Not to be a Professional Footballer" is a retrospective look by Paul Merson at his Arsenal years, his final years in football and his move into television. Read more
Published 20 days ago by Wicko
Loved it
Great book. Sad story but good to see Paul Merson battles on. Toughest bit for me was reading the bit about winning the league at Anfield as I'm a Liverpool fan! Read more
Published 1 month ago by Alan Ferguson
Merse - you were great - but what a plonker !
This was the first book that I read from my newest order of Amazon books, and it's intersting, informative, IF YOU HAVE AN INTEREST IN THE SUBJECT MATTER. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Paul J. Kulhavy
Super Christmas Present
Bought this book for my partner as a Christmas present. It came in immaculate condition and although he has not read it yet he was over the moon to receive it!
Published 4 months ago by Tracy
A Sad But Brutally Honest Story About a Deeply Flawed Man
As an Arsenal Supporter who saw Paul Merson make his debut, and watched live many of his performances, this book was always going to be of great interest to me. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Big Andy
Honest but poorly written
Merson has given a painfully honest description of his life and problems in football.How he survived for so long is a mystery and why he was tolerated by team mates and... Read more
Published 6 months ago by M. Long
Steps on your dreams like a Vinnie Jones tackle
Thousands of nights kicking a football around the park, football training and Sunday league before realising I would never play professionally could have been solved if someone had... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Andy Lee
Merse tells it all.
OMG what a life. A must read for anyone who watches Merse on Soccer Saturday. It also gives an insight into well known managers and other players in the game.
Published 9 months ago by Pamela
Funny book good read.
I had high expectations of this book before I read it as ive heard a lot of people say how funny it was, he gives a good honest read and a few laughs along the way. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Mark
top book
Being an Arsenal fan, i couldn't wait to read this book. It is a amazing how Merson could have the playing career that he did, whilst living this lifestyle. Read more
Published 9 months ago by shaggyvw
Search Customer Reviews
Only search this product's reviews

Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   
Related forums


Look for similar items by category


Look for similar items by subject


Amazon Media EU S.à r.l. GB Privacy Statement Amazon Media EU S.à r.l. GB Delivery Information Amazon Media EU S.à r.l. GB Returns & Exchanges