- Jubilee offer: spend £10 or more on any product sold by Amazon.co.uk on or before June 6 and you can buy The Diamond Jubilee A Classical Celebration Album for just £2.50 Here's how (terms and conditions apply)
Lion Man
and over one million other books are available for Amazon Kindle .
Learn more
| ||||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Special Offers and Product Promotions
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
More About the Author
Product Description
Product Description
In an era when even the finest rugby coaches have a drastically short shelf-life, Ian McGeechan's longevity and adaptability is staggering. In his 20 years at the highest level of the game he has been at the centre of almost every major story in UK rugby and has worked alongside some of the greatest rugby figures of the era. McGeechan began his career as a player -- winning more than thirty caps for Scotland and twice touring with the Lions. As coach to the Scottish national team, he led his country to a famous Grand Slam victory in the 1990 Five Nations tournament. Most recently, as coach of Wasps, McGeechan has guided the team to complete dominance in the club game. Continued success in management earned him an appointment as head coach to the Lions on five separate occasions, more than any other, including the Lions' latest 2009 tour to South Africa. Now, in this frank and engaging memoir, Ian McGeechan shares his unrivalled insight into the triumphs and tribulations of British rugby and of the progress of the sport over the past two decades. Lion Man offers a unique glimpse into the past, present and future of British rugby from one of the most influential figures in the history of the sport.
About the Author
Ian McGeechan began his career as a player -- winning more than thirty caps for Scotland and twice touring with the Lions. As coach to the Scottish national team, he led his country to a famous Grand Slam victory in the 1990 Five Nations tournament and has been appointed head coach to the Lions on four separate occasions, most recently for the 2009 tour to South Africa. And as coach of Wasps, McGeechan has guided the team to dominance in the club game.
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
41 of 43 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I got this book having bought it at a book signing in Limerick a week ago. Obviously I'm a fan of the man however the book was a real treat whether you are a rugby fan or not.
To most people, the author is the passionate rugby coach seen on the various Lions videos who has the knowledge and experience to get the best from his players. In his own words you get to see how he develops his coaching techniques and theories over the years. He writes with a very good style that is as accessable as his speeches.
His triumph is his ability to describe tense matches in a thrilling way, especially his account of the Lions tour of 1997 and more recently 2009. I was at the 2009 2nd test and it was a pleasure to read what he was thinking during and after that game. He pulls no punches regarding his comments on the 2005 Tour, and all I can say is that a certain spin doctor at the time is shown up for what he is. He is also firm in his conviction about what a Lions Tour is all about, the bond, the tradition, the teamwork. He always strives to get this right and has it as a precondition of the Tour.
The book is honest on his personal life too, and his comments about how Rugby has affected his family and his finances in the past are similar to what other 'old timers' from the amateur era have said. Needless to say, he owes Rugby nothing and if, as he claims, never coaches the Lions again, well this book is a fitting account of all his achievements, about which he is quick to share the glory.
To most people, the author is the passionate rugby coach seen on the various Lions videos who has the knowledge and experience to get the best from his players. In his own words you get to see how he develops his coaching techniques and theories over the years. He writes with a very good style that is as accessable as his speeches.
His triumph is his ability to describe tense matches in a thrilling way, especially his account of the Lions tour of 1997 and more recently 2009. I was at the 2009 2nd test and it was a pleasure to read what he was thinking during and after that game. He pulls no punches regarding his comments on the 2005 Tour, and all I can say is that a certain spin doctor at the time is shown up for what he is. He is also firm in his conviction about what a Lions Tour is all about, the bond, the tradition, the teamwork. He always strives to get this right and has it as a precondition of the Tour.
The book is honest on his personal life too, and his comments about how Rugby has affected his family and his finances in the past are similar to what other 'old timers' from the amateur era have said. Needless to say, he owes Rugby nothing and if, as he claims, never coaches the Lions again, well this book is a fitting account of all his achievements, about which he is quick to share the glory.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
The first rugby match I ever observed was the 1990 'Grudge match' between us and Scotland. I was only a 10 year old kid but my dad's reaction after the game said it all. He was gutted by the result but he told me a few things about their coach....a Mr Ian McGeechan. Fast track to 1997 and 2009 and the Lions tours to SA. I will never forget these tours. Immense viewing. Brilliant win in 1997, and so darn close in 2009. Sheer passion and pride in the Lions shirt. The architect of our success was...a Mr Ian McGeechan. This book brings back some exciting memories of these times. For a non-rugby playing man like me this book provides a superb insight into Sir Ian McGeechan. Particularly his coaching methods, his passion for the Lions shirt and what it represents, his loyalty to not only Scotland but to his Yorkshire roots and to his family. This is a solid book, but it is a bit disjointed and repetitive in places. Plus even I know that Willie John McBride was nae Scottish! Overall an enjoyable read.
Organised Chaos - I will always remember this!
Organised Chaos - I will always remember this!
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I purchased this book on the back of the Lions hype after being fasinated by Geech. The book was a bit laboured to begin with with ramblings about cricket and the War, however, once he started talking about rugby it became very interesting - especially the lure of rugby league and a professional career. Lion Man provides an inside look at the toll coaching takes and the sacrifice Geech made, particularly the amount of time he took unpaid from his job to give to the sport. At times the book becomes repetitive, yet never so bad that you would put it down. There are moving moments in the book, most notably when a band member approaches him before his Scotland debut and asks about his father only to be told by Geech that he had passed away. The fact that his father never saw him play for Scotland still seems hard for him to accept. His arguments for choosing to play for Scotland, despite his wife's objections, are put forward providing humour. Intrestingly the book covers everything from club rugby to the latest Lions tour - giving his honest opinions on players past and present, with frankly brilliant stories about the Lions tours he has been apart of. For an autobiography its quite interesting and certainly Geech's story is one of the best in rugby terms and well worth a read.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Was this review helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Lion Man book
Bought this as a present and it was very enjoyable (according to the recipient). Not a follower of rugby so I cannot pass further comment
Published 5 months ago by CD73
Lion Man
Probably the best rugby book I've ever read.
Wonderful insights and "Mr Rugby"'s formula for success. Read more
Wonderful insights and "Mr Rugby"'s formula for success. Read more
Published 17 months ago by O'Cinneide
A passionate memoir from a passionate rugby man
I have just got back from a holiday in Bulgaria where I read this absorbing account of one man's life dedicated to rugby. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Mr. Paul M. Sheehan
Lion Man
Interesting from a biographical viewpoint, but was looking for tactical and technical pointers used by 'Geech' to achieve success ( like the golden nuggets handed to us in Carwyn... Read more
Published 20 months ago by G. P. Wells
Mr McGeechan.
...is how we used to address our teacher back in the 80s. As a young lad with undiluted passion for the beautiful game I was intrigued to hear what 'Mr McGeechan' would have to say... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Charles Bruin
Geech
A most interesting family history followed by a detailed in depth account of coaching practices over the years and lots of rugby anecdotes. A joy to read.
Published on 26 May 2010 by R. W. Y. Dobie
Formulaic and unimaginative
Sports biographies are often aimed at the devotee - those that will buy no matter the quality or insight of the words on the page. Read more
Published on 31 Jan 2010 by S. Glover
Lion Man
Great read. Covers a lot of ground in the development of todays Rugby Union and McGeechan comes over as such a passionate` Lion` and a passionate `Rugby Man`. Read more
Published on 31 Jan 2010 by David J. Rhodes
A highly anticipated but bitterly disappointing book ...
I'm a huge fan of McGeechan, and have great respect for what he has achieved in rugby over the years, particularly with the Lions. Read more
Published on 24 Jan 2010 by Simon
The Mane man
This book would surely have been entitled The Lion King had the B@I Lions won the series. It is an interesting read. Read more
Published on 14 Jan 2010 by E. P. Larkin
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192198663_.gif){kind=small}
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
