A People’s History of Football

Winner of an English PEN Award 2022

Football is so much more than the billionaire buyers and eye-watering signing fees that dominate the headlines. Look beyond the Premiership and the World Cup, the sublime brilliance of Messi and Mbappe, and you'll find a story unparalleled in the world of sport.

From England, France and Germany to Palestine, South Africa and Brazil, A People's History of Football reveals how the 'beautiful game' has been a powerful instrument of emancipation for workers, feminists, anti-colonialist activists, young people and protesters around the world.

Mickael Correia's history from below retraces the journeys of professionals, amateurs and enthusiasts alike. Countering the cliches about football fans, he dives into football countercultures born after the Second World War, from English hooligans to the ultras who played a central role in the 'Arab Spring'. And with chapters on anti-fascism, the women's game, and the rise in community-owned clubs, Correia reminds us that football can be a powerful social and political force - as generous as it is subversive.