With years of combined expertise in online publishing, OvertimeReviews embodies the lessons learned from SEO strategies to paid advertising experiences. We've navigated the highs and lows, and our goal remains clear: to equip readers with comprehensive information they can trust.
The Best Soccer Books to Learn All About Soccer
Written By OvertimeReviews Team
Most people envision massive hardcover memoirs when they think about soccer books, and while there’s absolutely nothing wrong with reading a former pro’s tell-all, there’s a lot more out there waiting to be discovered. A diverse group of soccer enthusiasts and journalists are constantly scouring the globe for fascinating tales, analyzing legendary soccer clubs, world-famous players, and all the biggest tournaments to ensure that the top soccer events are immortalized in history.
If you enjoy reading and also happen to like soccer, there are a ton of books available that can make for must-reads. There are books about tactics, biographies, and the sport’s history, as well as novels about actual events that took place. To make things easier for you, we’ve curated a list of the finest soccer books of 2025 so you can indulge in both of your favorite pastimes at once.
Comparing the Finest Soccer Books of 2025
Soccer Smarts for Teens
Best Overall
To become a capable player you’ll need to hone your abilities, and Soccer Smarts for Teens is a great book to get off on the right (or left) foot. It features 50 strategies and techniques that can help individuals and teams improve, with exercises identified by difficulty level so you can select where to begin and how to advance through this soccer book.
This soccer book also contains ideas for honing essential skills like passing, as well as tips for tackling in-game scenarios. This soccer book is our top overall choice thanks to the number of tricks and techniques it offers readers as well as the motivational stories from legends that it includes.
National Geographic Kids Everything Soccer
Awesome Illustrations
Are you looking for a book that teaches all about soccer? If so, National Geographic Kids Everything Soccer is your go-to book. Whether played in the backyard or on a professional field, soccer is one of the most popular sports around the world, and this soccer book can be a great way to introduce kids to the beautiful game.
Featuring compelling illustrations and images, this soccer book can help readers understand all the basic rules of the game. Not only that, but it will introduce you to the game’s legends and current stars and teach you their incredible stories. For a fun, interactive way to get new players interested in the world’s most beloved sport, pick them up a copy of this soccer book.
The Ball Is Round: A Global History of Soccer
Historical Facts
If you love soccer and want to go in-depth learning about its history, The Ball Is Round: A Global History of Soccer is the book for you. It’s a comprehensive, informative soccer book, and while it may not be a casual read (spanning just over 1,000 pages), it can certainly be a great choice for voracious readers who love the beautiful game.
This soccer book examines the sport from all angles of a sociological perspective, with David Goldblatt providing interesting historical and modern-day examples of the sport’s popularity and power. This soccer book has been widely praised since its initial publication in 2008, and if it sounds interesting but you’re not sure you’ll be able to get through all those pages, it’s also available for purchase as an audiobook as well.
The Everything Kids’ Soccer Book
Great for Kids
With soccer constantly growing in popularity, there’s a good chance that your child will want to try their hand — or rather, their feet — at it themselves. If that’s the case, get them The Everything Kids’ Soccer Book. It can be a great way to introduce them to the sport, and it features helpful tips and techniques they can use to work on their skills.
This soccer book can teach your little soccer player everything from how to pass and shoot the ball to the ins and outs of goalkeeping, and it also features tons of facts, puzzles, and games to keep them engaged and entertained. For a fun, kid-friendly way to learn the game, make sure you check out this soccer book.
Soccer IQ
For Older Players
Are you a soccer player who wants to increase your knowledge about the sport? If so, then Soccer IQ is the book for you. It’s a soccer book that’s written for players with some experience of the sport, a breath of fresh air in a marketplace overrun with books for beginners and coaches. Drawing from his two decades of coaching experience, Dan Blank writes about common errors and gives easy-to-apply solutions to help players improve their game.
This soccer book is chock-full of helpful information, and it’s written in an easy, approachable way that can be a joy to read. If you’re looking for a way to help a more experienced player work on their skills, consider getting them this soccer book — if they enjoy it, there’s even a second volume available as well!
Buying Guide: Soccer Books
Soccer is a culture in and of itself. It’s popular all around the world, with many young children aiming to become professionals just like their favorite stars. Due to this global love affair with the sport, it only makes sense that there are tons of soccer books available for purchase. This can make finding a good one pretty tricky, but don’t worry — this comprehensive guide can help you find a great soccer book in 2024.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Soccer Book
Hardcover or paperback
There are two types of covers available for books. Paperback is typically easier to handle and less expensive, while hardcover books are usually more expensive but can last longer than their flimsy counterparts.
If you’re looking for a soccer book, it can be a good idea to go for a hardcover edition, although what you choose will likely be determined by your budget. If you have no financial constraints, purchasing a hardcover soccer book is a smart choice — paperback editions damage easily, while hardcovers are more durable and last longer.
Paper quality
Poor paper quality tends to reduce a book’s lifespan. Paper thickness is measured in GSM units (Grams per square meter), and when considering your options, 70 GSM is a good choice.
Thicker paper will last much longer, with high-grade paper measuring 80 GSM. These thicker materials are typically used in hardcover volumes, but you may also find paperbacks with high-quality paper. Before purchasing a soccer book, consider the thickness of its paper to determine its quality.
Easy to read
Another thing to think about before buying a soccer book is its language and how it’s written — a book that’s easy to read and apply is always preferable to one that’s complicated and wordy. A soccer book should be well-organized so that you can quickly locate topics without having to flip through the whole thing, as nobody likes a book that’s difficult to understand.
Type
Think about the type of soccer book you’ll want to read. Everything depends on your preferences, whether you want a beginner’s book, one that offers tips for improving your skills, a soccer book for coaches, a biography of a legendary soccer hero, or a comprehensive history of the beautiful game.
Author
You can pretty much always count on well-known authors when it comes to finding your next book. Authors who have already published some great soccer books will make the purchasing decision easier for you, so make sure to investigate their publication history and experience with the sport.
This is why it’s a good idea to select a book written by a well-known author, preferably one who you’re familiar with.
Warranty
A good guarantee can help protect your investment by ensuring that you receive a part of your money back if something goes wrong with your soccer book during transport or after purchase. A soccer book with a reasonable warranty period also offers you confidence in the book’s quality.
Size
When purchasing a soccer book, you’ll find that they come in several sizes. A small-sized book can easily fit in a backpack, while larger books with good illustrations and images are easier on the eyes. It’s important to choose the right size for you, as different items cater to different demands. If you’re a visual learner, go for a larger soccer book, while small-sized ones are ideal for carrying and reading on the go.
People Also Asked
Is it worthwhile to buy a soccer book?
If you’re a soccer fan who also enjoys reading and wants to learn more about the sport, it can certainly be worthwhile. Investing in soccer books for youngsters is also worth the expense as these can help them grasp some of the strategies and techniques that will aid them while playing.
What exactly is soccer IQ?
In its simplest form, soccer IQ refers to a player's capacity for smart decision-making during a game. The world's greatest players have an incredibly high soccer IQ, as they’re able to make the right decision in a split-second depending on what each moment in a game calls for, things like when to pass the ball, when to make a slide tackle, and when to take a shot on goal.
What is the most significant soccer skill?
While the answer you get might depend on who you ask, one crucial ability when it comes to playing soccer is control of the ball. Soccer is all about passing the ball, running with it, and shooting it to score, so it's no surprise that one of the most important abilities soccer players must develop is ball control.
Trustworthy Insights for You
Contributors
We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission at no cost to you. Click here to learn more about our process.