I Am The Secret Footballer

I first saw ‘I Am The Secret Footballer’ last Easter in a bookshop in Norwich but I only just got a copy of it (for Christmas). I was really looking forward to reading this supposed insight into the real world of top-flight professional football but I found the book somewhat disappointing, largely because the anonymous author really comes across as being obnoxious and arrogant. A lot of the book is taken up with stories of how, with the vast amount of money that he earned, everything was possible – there are tales of trips around the world, always involving expensive restaurants, champagne and women – but The Secret Footballer always try to slightly distance himself from the worst excesses (but rather unconvincingly). In the final chapter we find out that he is pretty much out of money and depressed but it is impossible to have much empathy with his situation given what has happened before.

Ultimately this is all rather shallow and superficial. It tells you little that you couldn’t guess at and, perhaps because of the anonymity, doesn’t allow any real connection to be made with the author. I’d be fascinated to know who he is though…