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How to Be a Football Manager

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How to Be a Football Manager

By: Ian Holloway
Narrated by: Ian Holloway
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About this listen

*** SHORTLISTED FOR SPORTS ENTERTAINMENT BOOK OF THE YEAR AT THE SUNDAY TIMES SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2023 ***

Football management is like being a potato - you're never too far from the sack and everyone is constantly chipping away at you. It's not for the faint-hearted and unless you've got skin as thick as rhino and, more importantly, a wicked sense of humour, you've no chance of surviving.

Ian Holloway - aka 'Ollie' - has all the above and more besides. His press conferences are the stuff of legend. He's been there, seen it and done it in his 40 years as player and manager, and has been entertaining football fans on and off the pitch for most of his life. He's been head honcho at clubs in all four divisions in English football, experiencing everything from the giddy heights of taking Blackpool to the Premier League to fighting relegation from the Football League with Grimsby Town. There's never been a dull moment.

In the joyful How to Be a Football Manager, Holloway weaves a fantastically rich tapestry of hilarious anecdotes to reveal what being the boss is really like. This is not a handbook to tell you when to play a Christmas tree formation or throw on a false nine - it's about dealing with the ridiculous, fighting your corner and always having a comeback.

©2022 Ian Holloway (P)2022 Headline Publishing Group Ltd
Coaching Football (Soccer) Sports Comedy Funny Witty Inspiring Heartfelt Boss

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Critic reviews

'fascinating, frank, funny' Jim White, Daily Telegraph

'insightful' Henry Winter, The Times

'engaging ... revealing ... a warm and often funny read' FourFourTwo

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I found this to be really informative and interesting on both a human and professional level.

No promises are made to make you the best manager, but it's guaranteed to make you a better person and view practice's and relationships.

This was all I hoped it would be and more

Life lessons through football adventures

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Read this for a chance of pace as needed something lighter and i wasn`t disappointed as i enjoyed this. What was surprising was the the touches of psychology and self reflection contained within Ian's words which elevated the story above your standard football biography. Whether it was the aim or not this book has changed the perception i have of Ian Holloway, a perception that was formed by the media from when he was managing in a more positive light. By that i don`t mean i disliked him before, i mean he comes across much ore thoughtful and intelligent that the chancer clown image that the media had created.

The narration is alright and gets better the longer the nook goes on. Listen the guy is not a voice actor so I'm not to criticise his ability to perform the book, but you can feel the passion in the voice which is important.

Enjoyable and insightful

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I thoroughly enjoyed this honest account of Ian’s managerial career. From the highs of Bristol City to the low moments with various chairmen and forced gardening leave.
Before listening I’d just thought that Ian was the managerial equivalent of Robbie Savage but there’s clearly a lot more to him and I really enjoyed how he spoke about looking after his players (horrendous preseasons aside) both on and off the pitch.

I definitely recommend for aspiring football managers and fans alike.

Good honest listen

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just a fantastic read honest sincere and very interesting to hear about how Ian navigated his managerial career

Very inspiring

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The football part is great and may serve as a useful guide to managers but I was really impressed with the qualities of Holloway and his ambitions on that side - even when not always living up to his own standards, still always wanting to get better.

Aiming to be human

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