The Wizard ― The Life of Stanley Matthews

Stanley Matthews is one of the most famous footballers ever to play the beautiful game. Nicknamed "The Wizard of Dribble" for his deadly skills, he made fools of defenders around the world. He played 84 matches for England in a career that spanned an extraordinary 33 years and such was his popularity that attendance for his club teams, Stoke City and Blackpool, more than doubled when he played. He was a global superstar decades before Beckham, Ronaldo, or Messi, yet what do we really know about this legendary man? This first full and objective biography looks beyond the public face of the "first gentleman of soccer" to explore a life not without controversy. This was a player who clashed with his managers, who felt undervalued in the age of the maximum wage—leading to a charge of black marketeering—and who was criticized for his showmanship and perceived lack of team spirit. There were private dramas too—an unhappy first marriage that produced two beloved children, and a second, to the love of his life, a Czech with a dark secret even Matthews never knew and which acclaimed biographer Jon Henderson reveals for the first time. Recreating the magic on the pitch and analyzing the key moments that made Matthews great, this is a meticulously researched story of a national hero and a fascinating insight into English soccer in the 20th century.

Jon Henderson, a sportswriter for more than 45 years, has reported events from around the world working for Reuters and national newspapers, including the Observer and Guardian. His assignments included five Olympic Games and two World Cups. He is the author of two previous books, Best of British and The Last Champion The Life of Fred Perry.