When considering the public face of Sir Alex Ferguson--the unsmiling, world-beating football manager who has taken just about all the honours the British game has to offer--it is difficult to imagine that he grew up as the son of a ship builder on the banks of the Clyde in Glasgow. Yet Ferguson's story is much the same as many others who have made it to the top in the sport: a boy with talent who rose above the expectations of his working-class background to become a household name throughout the world.

John Barnes
John Barnes

John Barnes was one of the key members of arguably the greatest British club side of all time, he was involved at Hillsborough on the day when so many tragically lost their lives and was one of the first extremely high-profile black players in this country and faced torrents of unacceptable racial abuse within the game for many years, yet has emerged with dignity in tact. Barnes it is clear has much about which to offer his thoughts, which are very perceptive and clearly put, and that is the attraction of his book.

Schmeichel : The Autobiography
Peter Schmeichel

Schmeichel's achievements, include Denmark's 1992 European Championship triumph and all United's trophies so you would expect his autobiography to be a mere chronicle of his successes, something strictly for afficionados of the United or Danish variety. While he doesn't fail that category of reader, Schmeichel balances his account with reflections on some of his lower points, from his confrontations with Ian Wright, the protracted transfer negotiations between United and Brondby. Schmeichel also gives a revealing insight into his relationships with Eric Cantona and Sir Alex Ferguson.

Vialli: a Diary of His Season
Harry Harris

In the style of his Ruud Gullit diary, Harry Harris uses his unique access at Stamford Bridge to provide an account of the on-the-pitch action and back-room tensions at Chelsea under the management of Gianluca Vialli.


Addicted
Tony Adams, Ian Ridley

NOW IN PAPERBACK. Arsenal and England stalwart Tony Adams combines two very '90s preoccupations in these memoirs: football and the confessional. Alongside the story of Adams' hugely successful career for Arsenal and England, Addicted also charts his decline into alcoholism and subsequent efforts at rehabilitation. The combination works surprisingly well with Adams new-found self-awareness enabling a far more thoughtful and mature insight into his footballing life than you suspect would otherwise have been the case.

Jan the Man: from Anfield to Vetch Field
Jan Molby, Grahame Lloyd

Traces the career of Jan Molby, the Danish player-manager, whose game has brought him from Liverpool to Swansea. This autobiography also reveals the story of his spell behind bars, and his troubled time at Anfield. It features interviews with Johan Cruyff, Alan Hansen, Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush.

Hell Razor
Neil Ruddock, Dave Smith