Have you ever wondered who invented the 4-4-2 formation? Why footballers used to celebrate success by releasing a platitudinous pop single? And who has really scored the most goals in the history of the game? You can find the answers to all these questions and more in a book which takes the time to consider the debt the stepover may owe to Dutch speed skaters, explores the most surprising world transfer record and celebrates the most dysfunctional World Cup campaign ever. Through a series of answers to puzzling and perennial questions, the book sheds unexpected light on the beautiful game, challenging conventional wisdom, discovering neglected heroes and destroying a few urban myths along the way.

Author Biography

Paul Simpson was founding editor of FourFourTwo magazine, and currently edits Champions magazine. He is the author of the critically acclaimed Rough Guide To Elvis and his favourite football team of all-time is Jimmy Bloomfield's Leicester City. Uli Hesse is the author of Tor!, the definitive history of German football, a contributor to 11 Freunde magazine and is writing a book on the history of Borussia Dortmund, the club he supports, through the eyes of its fans.