Soccernomics

Why England loses, why Germany and Brazil win, and why the U.S., Japan, Australia, Turkey – and even Iraq — are destined to become the kings of the world’’s most popular sport
By Simon Kuper and Stefan Szymanski

Named one of the “Best Books of the Year” by the Guardian, Slate.com, the Financial Times, the Independent (UK), and Bloomberg News

A New York Times best seller, Soccernomics pioneered a new way of looking at soccer through meticulous data analysis and incisive and witty commentary. Described by the San Francisco Chronicle as “the most intelligent book ever written about soccer,” this new edition contains fresh material, including chapters on Spain’s 2010 World Cup victory, on match data, and on the fates of debt-ridden clubs like Manchester United and Barcelona in the new era of financial fair-play rules.

What the critics say

[Kuper and Szymanski] combine their skills to entertaining and mostly convincing effect.
Economist
Should still be compulsory reading for all poor suffering England fans.
Jim O’Neill, Chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management
If you’re a football fan, I’ll save you some time: read this book...compulsive reading…thoroughly convincing.
Daily Telegraph (UK)
Using data analysis, history and psychology, [Soccernomics] punctures dozens of clichés about what it takes to win, and who makes money in soccer – and in sports in general.
Associated Press
Oh, Rooney's the best. [My son] Ben thinks that England might be in the top four, but that's it. He knows the starting line up of every European team. We're reading this very interesting book about football together, you know. Soccernomics.
Lorrie Moore, author of A Gate at the Stairs and Birds of America
Many explanations [of England’s poor form] can be found in the book Soccernomics in a segment entitled “Why England Loses.” (This is well worth a read for any English football fan; essentially, you overvalue your football heritage and undervalue the benefits of innovation.)
Stephen J. Dubner, co-author Freakonomics
Quite magnificent. A sort of Freakonomics for soccer.
Jonathan Wilson, The Guardian
Roberto Di Matteo is carrying on playing it by the book after finally being named as Chelsea boss.The Italian, who led the club to a Champions League and FA Cup double while in caretaker charge last season, has now been handed a two-year deal by owner Roman Abramovich….. Di Matteo’s latest choice of reading is interesting. He has been spotted buying a tome called: Soccernomics. Why Transfers Fail, Why Spain Rule The World And Other Curious Phenomena Explained.
Daily Mirror
Gripping and essential.
Slate
It's a really good book. If more people read it, they'd understand some of the reasons why England don't win. Everyone can have an opinion, but they back it up with stats.
Jamie Carragher, Liverpool FC
“As an avid fan of the game and a firm believer in the power that such objective analysis can bring to sports, I was captivated by this book. Soccernomics is an absolute must-read.”
Billy Beane, general manager of the Oakland A’s
“[Kuper and Szymanski] do for soccer what Moneyball did for baseball. . . . Read this book.”
New York Times

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