Inverting the Pyramid

The History of Soccer Tactics

By: Jonathan Wilson

Narrated by: Damian Lynch

The classic history of soccer tactics— “masterful” and “deliciously nerdy” (Time Out)

In this modern classic, soccer journalist Jonathan Wilson pulls apart the finer details of the world’s game, tracing the global history of tactics from modern pioneers right back to the beginning, when chaos reigned. Along the way, he examines the lives of great players and thinkers who shaped the sport and probes why the English, in particular, have proved themselves unwilling to grapple with the abstract.

Fully revised and updated, this fifteenth-anniversary edition analyzes the evolution of modern international football, including the 2022 World Cup, charting the influence of the great Spanish, German and Portuguese tacticians of the last decade whilst pondering the effects of football's increased globalization and commercialization.

Critic reviews

“A wonderful and comprehensive treatment of this important topic. Make sure to secure the revised and updated edition, of course.”—Stan Veuge, Senior Fellow, Economic Policy, American Enterprise Institute

History and Tactics blended to perfection.

very much enjoyed this book! I've been a Wilson fan via his work in The Guardian and appearance. on the podcast. I've only been a big footie fan for 10 or so years, but am a total sports nerd, who loves the technical, tactical, and strategy side. Add in a healthy dollop of history, and this book was for me. Highly rated.

Love the update

If your a tactics fanatic like me the new edition is a MUST READ. It now includes the rise of Guardiola and Klopp as well as goes more in depth on the older styles of Argentina, Inter Milan, Spain, and Soviet teams.