Description
THE TACTICAL EVOLUTION OF FOOTBALL 1863 1945
Book Summary
Martí Perarnau, bestselling author of Herr Pep and Pep Guardiola: The Metamorphosis, deciphers the genetic code of football in this work. The reader will find an in-depth analysis of the tactical evolution of the beautiful game from its codification in 1863 to 1945, covering systems such as the Cambridge Pyramid, the British WM, or the Swiss bolt. Through the figure of the false nine, the book demonstrates that football is a battle of ideas carried by coaches and players, offering a unique perspective on how each nation plays according to its own nature.
What is it about?
This book traces the tactical evolution of football from its official codification in 1863 to the year 1945, a foundational period in which the bases of the modern game were forged. Martí Perarnau analyzes the main systems and tactical revolutions that marked this era: the Cambridge Pyramid, the attacking center-half, the Uruguayan libero, the British WM, the Italian Method, the Hungarian 4-2-4, the Swiss bolt, and the Argentine 3-2-5.
The central theme of the work is the false nine, a figure that emerged in 1910 and which, according to the author, encapsulates the four great elements of football: ball, time, space, and deception. Through this figure, the successive evolutions of the game are explored: the English direct play versus the Scottish passing game, offensive and defensive orientation, proactive mentality and reactive spirit, zonal defense and man-marking, as well as the different types of attacks (linear, fan-shaped, or W-shaped).
The book demonstrates that football is a combat of ideas traveling on the backs of coaches and players in constant migrations, and that each football culture develops its own style according to its idiosyncrasy.
Main themes
- Evolution of tactical systems from 1863 to 1945
- Analysis of the false nine as a figure that condenses the essential elements of the game
- Migration of tactical ideas through coaches and players
- Relationship between each country's cultural identity and its style of play
- Contrast between English direct play and Scottish passing play
- Evolution of defense: zonal, man-marking, and cover systems
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at coaches, tactical analysts, sports journalists, and football fans with a deep interest in understanding the roots and evolution of the game. It will also be of great value to readers who have enjoyed Martí Perarnau's previous works and wish to expand their knowledge of the sport's tactical history. It is not light reading, but a rigorous and exhaustive analysis for those who seek to understand football beyond the result.
What this book provides
- Exhaustive knowledge of the tactical systems that laid the foundations of modern football
- Understanding of the false nine as a transversal element that has accompanied all the game's evolutions
- A historical perspective that connects tactics with each country's cultural identity
- Keys to understanding how ideas travel through coaches and players in their migrations
- A detailed analysis of the four fundamental elements of football: ball, time, space, and deception
Technical specifications
- Author: Perarnau, Martí
- Publisher: Corner
- Language: Spanish
- Topic: Football
- Collection: Corner
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: November 2021
- Number of pages: 752
- Weight: 1006 g
Editorial review
With this work, Martí Perarnau offers a monumental research project that goes far beyond historical chronicle. Across 752 pages, the author demonstrates a rare ability to trace the origin of tactical ideas and show how they have traveled and mutated over the decades. The book is especially valuable for those who wish to understand that football is not just a sport of execution, but an intellectual battle where the ideas of coaches and players have shaped the game we know today. An essential read for the fan who seeks depth and rigor.