The Untold Story
Football’s Hidden Battles
In "The Smell of Football II: The Next Eleven Years (and Ten Teams)", Mick 'Baz' Rathbone delivers a raw, honest look inside the world of professional football, blending personal struggle with the ever-changing landscape of the sport. From his emotional exit as Everton’s head of medical in 2010, Rathbone’s journey carries readers through legendary football clubs, international setups, and locker rooms filled with iconic names like David Moyes, Sir Alex Ferguson, Sir Bobby Charlton, and Ray Clemence. This football memoir is packed with behind-the-scenes stories, offering readers rare insight into the evolution of soccer, the pressures on sports professionals, and the shifting dynamics between experience and youth in football medicine and management.
Rathbone’s self-deprecating humour and searing self-reflection capture the fears and doubts that haunt many in the game—especially those wrestling with ageing, relevance, and self-worth. His story resonates with football fans searching for meaning beyond the pitch, as he faces the difficulties associated with staying vital in a world dominated by younger, more academically qualified protagonists. With candid anecdotes from Birmingham City to the biggest club in the world, "The Smell of Football II" stands as an essential read for anyone interested in football, sports memoirs, and the ongoing search for purpose in a fast-moving game.
ROYAL MAIL TRACKED 48
This book will be delivered a few days after the publishing date.
Published: September 29, 2025
Price: £14.99
Paperback: 224 pages
ISBN-13: 9781836800422
Dimensions: 198 x 129 (mm)
