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Quiet Genius

Bob Paisley, British football’s greatest manager SHORTLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2017

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Quiet Genius

By: Ian Herbert
Narrated by: Dean Williamson
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Bloomsbury presents Quiet Genius by Ian Herbert, read by Dean Williamson.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2017
SHORTLISTED FOR THE FOOTBALL BOOK OF THE YEAR, SPORTS BOOK AWARDS 2018

The full story of the man who brought unprecedented – and since unmatched – success to Liverpool FC.

Bob Paisley was the quiet man in the flat cap who swept all domestic and European opposition aside and produced arguably the greatest club team that Britain has ever known. The man whose Liverpool team won trophies at a rate-per-season that dwarfs Sir Alex Ferguson’s achievements at Manchester United and who remains the only Briton to lead a team to three European Cups.

From Wembley to Rome, Manchester to Madrid, Paisley’s team was the one no one could touch. Working in a city which was on its knees, in deep post-industrial decline, still tainted by the 1981 Toxteth riots and in a state of open warfare with Margaret Thatcher, he delivered a golden era – never re-attained since – which made the city of Liverpool synonymous with success and won them supporters the world over. Yet, thirty years since Paisley died, the life and times of this shrewd, intelligent, visionary, modest football man have still never been fully explored and explained.

Based on in-depth interviews with Paisley’s family and many of the players whom he led to an extraordinary haul of honours between 1974 and 1983, Quiet Genius is the first biography to examine in depth the secrets of Paisley’s success. It inspects his man-management strategies, his extraordinary eye for a good player, his uncanny ability to diagnose injuries in his own players and the opposition, and the wicked sense of humour which endeared him to so many. It explores the North-East mining community roots which he cherished, and considers his visionary outlook on the way the game would develop.

Quiet Genius is the story of how one modest man accomplished more than any other football manager, found his attributes largely unrecorded and undervalued and, in keeping with the gentler ways of his generation, did not seem to mind. It reveals an individual who seemed out of keeping with the brash, celebrity sport football was becoming, and who succeeded on his own terms. Three decades on from his death, it is a football story that demands to be told.©2021 Ian Herbert (P)2021 Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Coaching Football (Soccer) Sports Sports History Success
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Critic reviews

An evocative, intimate portrait (Rory Smith)
Quiet Genius is like its subject, a winner and surely a candidate already for the best football books of the year, whether you are of a Liverpool FC persuasion or not.
Terrific
Herbert has written perhaps the best Paisley biography, emphasising how hard work, an uncanny eye for a player and a belief that football is, at its heart, a simple game, worked wonders.
This brilliant new book chronicles how Bob Paisley the player reinvented himself as Bob the builder, Bob the physio, and ultimately Bob the all-conquering manager
This biography puts Paisley on the map once again and brings him into the discussion of being one of the world’s best football managers ever. Herbert deserves loads of credit for this as no other author could deliver a text as great as this. Kudos to Bloomsbury for yet another great football title and perhaps the top title of 2017
A cut above many formulaic sports books.
A beautifully constructed tribute to the virtues of the quiet approach, and all the more stirring for arriving in an age of constant noise.
The depth of research is outstanding with the input of former players and coaches providing authoritative insights into a great man.
Herbert will leave you with no doubt regarding Paisley’s exalted position in football’s pantheon.
Herbert’s biography of Bob Paisley, the great Liverpool manager, is also a vivid - and often unflattering – portrait of Seventies football.
An eloquent portrait of the introvert who became Liverpool’s greatest manager of all time.
Herbert reveals the paradoxes of the most unassuming boss to find footballing immortality and bring Anfield unparalleled glory.
Ian Herbert’s book is a beautifully constructed tribute to the virtues of the quiet approach, and all the more stirring for arriving in an age of constant noise.
All stars
Most relevant
So much better than most football biographies/autobiographies. More than the usual lists of results and newspaper reports. You finish it with a far clearer understanding of the man and his success. But his flaws are not overlooked. Thoroughly recommended.
Narrator not so good - the wrong accent for this particular story and some mispronunciations of familiar names.

Gives a real sense of the man

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How do you succeed a football icon and take the club on to even greater heights of success and dominance and hand on a team that would maintain the standards for nearly another decade. Its never been done in English football before or since and yet this seemingly jolly durham grandfatherly type with his slippers and copy of the racing post did it.

This book is likely as close as we will get to finding out how. It makes plain that this was a man who was made of steel and was as hard and uncomprimising as you will find in football. Also it shows how football has changed in ways both good and bad from the era Paisley managed in.

A must read for Liverpool fans and I would suggest that fans of other clubs will find it an interesting and at times funny look at how Liverpool worked under Bob Pasiley and the boot room.

Revealing and at times moving biography

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I learnt a lot about Bob Paisley and his attitude and brilliance. Well worth it

Great insight into a Legend

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You forget that he was Britain’s most successful manager ever. His style wasn’t to be in the foreground but more to ensure the ingredients of success were right.
The story of his success is really well told, including his hardness with those who weren’t helping to win so many titles.

A real genius

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A fantastic book written by Ian Herbert and expertly narrated by Dean Williamson showcasing the many talents of Bob Paisley from tough tackling defender with Bishop Auckland to signing for Liverpool as a 20 year old and progressing through the ranks to become one of the most successful managers ever over a 44 year career at the same club. I really enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it.

A fantastic read

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