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  • A Life in Football

  • My Autobiography
  • By: Ian Wright
  • Narrated by: Paul Mendez
  • Length: 9 hrs and 6 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (815 ratings)
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A Life in Football cover art

A Life in Football

By: Ian Wright
Narrated by: Paul Mendez
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Summary

Ian Wright, Arsenal legend, England striker and TV pundit extraordinaire, is one of the most interesting and relevant figures in modern football. His journey from a South London council estate to national treasure is everybody's dream.

From Sunday morning football directly to Crystal Palace; from 'boring, boring Arsenal' to inside the Wenger Revolution; from Saturday afternoons on the pitch to Saturday evenings on primetime television; from a week in prison to inspiring youth offenders, Ian will reveal all about his extraordinary life and career.

Ian will also frankly discuss how retirement affects footballers, why George Graham deserves a statue, social media, why music matters, breaking Arsenal's goal-scoring record, racism, the unadulterated joy of playing alongside Dennis Bergkamp and, of course, what he thinks about Tottenham.

Not a standard footballer's autobiography, Ian Wright's memoir is a thoughtful and gripping insight into a Highbury hero and one of the greatest sports stars of recent years.

©2016 Ian Wright (P)2016 Hachette Audio UK

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What listeners say about A Life in Football

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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant story

Fantastic story, excellent narration. A must listen for everyone. The story is a black man living in London during the 70's 80's and 90's personified.

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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From one of my life heros

Ian Wright lived and best of all loved and loves his life. An honest account of a privileged life i.e. that of a professional footballer. Thanks Ian I really enjoyed the book.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Fantastic journey of an under valued footballing story

Being a Wolves fan I only know Ian Wright through the chants you'd hear on the terraces. I'm 25 so I only got the fag end of his career and never saw him in his prime. However with his onscreen personality I felt like this would be a great book to listen to, and I was right. Despite not performing the book himself you can really tell this is Wrighty, his vocabulary and performance is bang on. The book has a great insight into the world of football during the late 80, and early 90's and gives an informed, non biased view towards growing up as a black child, and how racism is perceived.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Wrighty - an incredible guy

An excellent resume of Ian's life read by someone who sounded just like Wrighty, which made it more enjoyable and real. I loved his enthusiasm and the way he portrayed his life - warts and all. He gained more respect including the negative side rather than merely promoting the positives. A great man and a fabulous read.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

An interesting listen in football and adversity

We all know Ian Wright for his footballing record and his lively and TV pundit style. this book however really goes into the background story of a player who managed to overcome significant adversity in his upbringing to make a great success of himself.

this is unlike many autobiographies which are a simple description of a life in the game. Instead, Wright provides a very reflective view of societal issues through his own life on poverty, race and money. It is refreshing to hear a footballer be as self aware and analytical as he is. He lays many of his mistakes and flaws in front of the listener, and gives views on how the next generation can avoid his shortcomings.

you get a very real, almost child like innocence in the way he views the world; something he references.

the reason why I enjoyed this listen is because Wright uses his book to extol his appreciation and gratitude towards those who have helped him. you would expect this to be limited to managers like Arsene Wenger and Steve Coppell, yet his heartfelt acknowledgement is really reserved for those people who he realised tried to help him in his early life and off the field. This is illustrated by the fact he refers to many of these people as 'Mr', even at his age.

The book not only describes a fascinating and alternative route into the professional game, it provides an important lesson in the necessity and influence of role models to young people.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Story is ok, narration very off putting

I’ve listened to many footballers autobiographies, and rarely they voice their own, so I didn’t expect Ian to voice this one. I found the narration of this very basic. Very little performance, annunciation, and overall a tad boring. I know I’m being picky, but even inflections at the end of certain sentences I found annoying after a while, and after reading other reviews, I’m not alone.

That aside, the book was good. Not the best I’ve read, but definitely one to tick off the list.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great story, terrible narration

Overall pretty good, very disappointed with the speaker but gives a good insight to football 20 years ago.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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Loved it

I grew up in the same patch as Wrighty so this book was of interesting especially as an arsenal fan aswell. Wright was our local hero. This is very well organised, heart felt, honest and informative. A must listen /read for anyone. Especially for insights into the football world.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Easy listening

Finished in no time, enjoyable honest account delivered in a direct way that you would expect from Ian Wright!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Ian Wright autobiography

I've really enjoyed listening to this. he's had a remarkable life and stayed true to himself and not forgotten where he's come from. he's had to face battles over the years which he doesn't assume makes him special, just sharing his experiences.
the last chapter is dedicated to a dear friend of his and I think just shows Ian in his true self and gives yet another picture of just how simple and special football and friendships can really be.
I didn't mind the narrator, it wasn't a bad match all things considered just on occasions threw me off but that's probably me being a bit difficult to please.

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