About the Author

Rory Smith joined The Times as one of its leading football writers in 2012, having previously written for the Daily Telegraph, and he now writes for the New York Times. He worked with Rafa Benitez on Champions League Dreams, but this is his first book under his own name.

Reviews

'It is in the small details of how the destinies of this band of proselytisers were forged that the book delivers such delights.'
*i*

'A gratifyingly timely book. It explains how English football managers...were pivotal in making foreigners better at football than we are... So there is a strong seam of irony running through Rory Smith's excellent book.'
*Daily Mail*

'As well-travelled and erudite a journalist as you will find...the candour of Smith's writing is one of the book's most endearing traits.'
*When Saturday Comes*

‘[A] fine book… [it] casts a fresh long-term perspective on footballing insularity, showing how British coaches helped bring the game to the world but found themselves and their insights forgotten or ignored at home.’ 
*Guardian*

‘Superbly researched story…An ideal read in front of a warm log fire’ 
*squawka.com*