Normally, I'm either immediately hooked by a book and don't put it down until I finish it or else I start delaying reading more of it which is a clear indication that it isn't really to my liking.

'A Cultured Left Foot' however, is an anomaly in that it fell somewhere in the middle. Initially, I couldn't really get into the book despite the fact that there wasn't really anything wrong with it. Then, suddenly, it all changed and within a couple of days I had read it.

There was, however, a specific reason for this, a point where the author Musa Okwonga goes off to a tangent to criticise those who labelled Hagi as the Maradona of the Balkans. Not because he didn't deserve the accolades but rather as it was belittleling for a player of his talent to be described as a copy of someone else.

It was this aside - something that the author himself probably won't have given too much notice to - yet it piqued my interest.

And the rest of the book made sure that I kept at it. What author has tried to do here is find out what makes a great player, a huge endeavour but he makes quite a good job of it.

This through a series of eleven elements – such as fun - that he analyses in depth. And by in depth I mean looking at disciplines like ballet to find analogies. If that sounds slightly boring, then I'm doing it all a disservice because author's writing because it is both intelligent and enlightening. It all fell in place when, after doing a bit of research, I discovered that Okwonga is mainly a poet and the flow of his writing here clearly has its roots in that skill.

But this isn't simply a book of author's opinions for he has chosen to validate and build his arguments by talking to a number of high profile personalities from within the sport.

Ironically, from this arises the minor criticism that there is of this book. Far too often, this chats are kept to a minimum. Undoubtedly, this was an editorial decision to keep the focus of the book but the feeling is that it misses out a bit as it is slightly disappointing to see interviews with Steve McManaman last only a few lines.

At the same time, it doesn't really matter because the author's writing is so interesting. An incredibly good book that ultimately looks into what makes watching football so magical.



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