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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 Comedy & Humour Football (Soccer) Comedy Funny Inspiring Witty Heartfelt Football 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

What listeners say about How to Be a Football Manager

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Ollie is a legend

Absolutely brilliant insight into the career of one of the most colourful characters to grace the beautiful game. Absolutely loved the honesty and integrity displayed by Holloway in his reading of this awesome book. It would be tremendous to see him back managing very soon. x

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fantastic listen for budding football managers

enjoyable listen with countless stories in what seems like a shorter career in football management. than what is deserved. hope you get another position soon.

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Good listen

Well structured in that it's not just his career in chronological order. Ian narrating himself makes it a little more authentic as well. Couldn't imagine anyone else reading it.

I was engaged enough to finish within 2 days.

Some good interesting stories about the less glamorous side of football management and managing players in lower leagues. Nice to hear about a world outside the premier league

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Outstanding insight into Ian's life as a manager

Very interesting insight, with the ups downs and downright crafty scrupulous club owners making poor choices

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Bristol Boy Comes Good!

A really entertaining listen, as funny and insightful as I’d expected.
Ian’s honesty and self deprecating humour shine out. Lots of amusing anecdotes about other players, managers and club chairmen. He clearly loves the game, despite his ups and downs over many years.
Everyone in the Warmley/Cadbury Heath area of Bristol had heard of how good Ian was by the time he was 13/14 and so it was always nice to hear of his future successes (despite being a City fan!)

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Great listen

Very interesting inside into the world of management by one of its most colourful managers

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Enjoyable and insightful

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.

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loved it

loved every minute of it felt like he was sat in the back of the car

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Narration could be better

I like Ian Holloway but he is not a narrator…. At times it feels like he is struggling with reading the book..

Some of the anecdotes are a little weak and not relatable.. how to be a football manager and he often says things to the reader like .. if you ever runs football team do this with the chairman etc.. I’m not sure who it’s aimed at. An incredibly small percentage of people will manage at a level as high as Ian.

It was ok, I think the secret footballer books come across better though.

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typical ollie

Great listen got from it what I thought. lots of great anecdotes! definitely recommend this one!

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