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Zonal Marking
From Ajax to Zidane, the Making of Modern Soccer
Description
An “excellent” (New Yorker) history of European soccer, showing how shifting styles and influence have shaped the game
In the early 1990s, the Dutch footballing philosophy was worshipped across the continent. Then the baton passed to the Italians, who clearly boasted Europe’s strongest league. But when France started winning everything at the international level its national academy became the template for others, until suddenly, almost out of nowhere, Europe’s most revered player and manager both hailed from Portugal. Next, Barcelona and Spain won everything during a very obvious four-year period of dominance, before tiki-taka’s decline meant Bayern and Germany took control. Finally, Europe’s most successful coaches found themselves competing in England, introducing a brilliant cacophony of styles to the Premier League.
Zonal Marking is a glorious travelogue through soccer’s triumphant styles and characters.
In the early 1990s, the Dutch footballing philosophy was worshipped across the continent. Then the baton passed to the Italians, who clearly boasted Europe’s strongest league. But when France started winning everything at the international level its national academy became the template for others, until suddenly, almost out of nowhere, Europe’s most revered player and manager both hailed from Portugal. Next, Barcelona and Spain won everything during a very obvious four-year period of dominance, before tiki-taka’s decline meant Bayern and Germany took control. Finally, Europe’s most successful coaches found themselves competing in England, introducing a brilliant cacophony of styles to the Premier League.
Zonal Marking is a glorious travelogue through soccer’s triumphant styles and characters.
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Praise
“An excellent recent history of European football.”
—New Yorker
“A wonderful overview of tactical development in European football.”
—Matthew Syed, The Times
“A fascinating assessment of football.”
—Observer
“Cox, a tactics obsessive, largely ignores the soap opera of football to explain what actually happens on the field. In this book, speckled with well-told anecdotes, he traces the tactical development of the game over the last 30 years.”
—Simon Kuper, Financial Times
“Revelatory stories, lucid tactics and wry anecdotes combine… The secret weapon of Cox’s readability is the use of telling quotes from those who actually play the game.”
—When Saturday Comes
“An entertaining and brilliantly researched look at football tactics.”
—FourFourTwo
