The Work of Professional Football: A Labour of Love?

"The Work of Professional Football offers a sociological study of the working lives of 'ordinary' professional footballers. Based on extensive research, including in-depth interviews with players who have achieved varying degrees of professional success, it provides unprecedented insight into this 'closed' world, and a unique sociological exploration of a contemporary working culture." "The book focuses on career turning points, such as injury and transfer, and demonstrates how players' identities are built around basic needs for security and self-esteem. The Work of Professional Football will be of great interest to students and researchers working in the sociology of sport and the sociology of work, football studies, coaching studies, business and management."--BOOK JACKET.

Martin Roderick is Lecturer in Sociology at Durham University, UK.