Michael Cox

An insightful, comprehensive and always entertaining appreciation of how European football has developed over the last three decades by the author of the much heralded The Mixer.

Zonal Marking: The Making of Modern European Football

Serge L

If you're a football nerd like me, this book is an incredible read. Tracing the lineology of the beautiful game from the Dutch totalfutbol of Cruyff to the Premier League melting pot of tactics, styles and nationalities that it is now. 

Cox takes a comprehensive look at how each new philosophy revolutionized the tactical games. The sections of the book are broken down into Nations. While at first, it was slightly confusing, given the international nature of the game, it all makes sense in the end. The Dutch built the free-flowing, positioneless game. The Italian rigidity and emphasis on defensive solidity dominated the 90s. etc. This book will change the way you watch football.

Zonal Marking: The Making of Modern European Football

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