There is no question that Stefan Szymanski knows the economics of soccer better than anyone else. His best-selling Soccernomics, which he wrote with Simon Kuper, is considered to be the standard for understanding money and the beautiful game. Simply put, when Szymmanski talks, people listen.
Earlier this year, he predicted the collapse of MLS. That certainly got everyone talking, some in agreement and others calling it crazy. You can’t argue with the fact that the argument was thought-provoking.
Soccer is big business, a billion dollar one, that needs big ideas to explain it.
Recently Szymanski wrote his own text full of big ideas, Money and Soccer: A Soccernomics Guide, with Kuper providing a brief introduction. The text is world-class in every regard. The author is able to weave hefty economic principles into the game of soccer, doing it in a meaningful way. And it is something everyone can grasp, gaining a deeper insight into the game we all love.
Szymanski takes the reader on a global journey, from the big boys in the EPL and La Liga to the minnows in the Faroe Islands. Transfer policy, player wages, club debt, and Financial Fair Play are all discussed in detail. We particularly enjoyed his discussion on the role and success of supporter trusts.
We all know that money is playing more and more of a role in the world’s game and you need this text to fully understand what is really going on. Considering the latest FIFA scandals and the money surrounding them, I can’t imagine a time when this book is more relevant and purposeful.
