Andrew Kirby: Storytelling

Sport is never just sport.

Sport is never just sport.

The greatest sporting moments are remembered long after the final whistle. Not because of the score, but because of what they meant.

Sport gives us stories that become part of our lives. The first match we attended. The players who made us believe. The moments we still talk about years — sometimes decades — later.

That's why writing about sport has always meant more to me than simply reporting results. It's about capturing what those moments mean to the people who lived them.

Writing about football

I've spent years writing about football for national publications, magazines, websites and supporter media, exploring the people, history and culture behind the game.

I've also written several books about Manchester United, from the club's greatest European triumphs to the managers and players who shaped its history.

My latest, SEVEN: Manchester United's Iconic Shirt, published by Pitch Publishing, explores the extraordinary mythology surrounding the club's most famous shirt number — and the players who made it legendary.

Alongside my books and journalism, I work with clubs, publishers and sporting organisations to uncover and tell the stories that matter.

Whether it's a book, a feature, a club history or a player profile, my approach remains the same: research thoroughly, listen carefully and tell the story honestly.

Have a sporting story worth telling?

Whether you’re a publisher, football club, sports organisation or fellow author, I’d love to hear about your project.

The greatest sporting moments are remembered long after the final whistle. Not because of the score, but because of what they meant.

Sport gives us stories that become part of our lives. The first match we attended. The players who made us believe. The moments we still talk about years — sometimes decades — later.

That's why writing about sport has always meant more to me than simply reporting results. It's about capturing what those moments mean to the people who lived them.

Writing about football

I've spent years writing about football for national publications, magazines, websites and supporter media, exploring the people, history and culture behind the game.

I've also written several books about Manchester United, from the club's greatest European triumphs to the managers and players who shaped its history.

My latest, SEVEN: Manchester United's Iconic Shirt, published by Pitch Publishing, explores the extraordinary mythology surrounding the club's most famous shirt number — and the players who made it legendary.

Alongside my books and journalism, I work with clubs, publishers and sporting organisations to uncover and tell the stories that matter.

Whether it's a book, a feature, a club history or a player profile, my approach remains the same: research thoroughly, listen carefully and tell the story honestly.

Have a sporting story worth telling?

Whether you’re a publisher, football club, sports organisation or fellow author, I’d love to hear about your project.


Author at Old Trafford, which is a sport stadium in the UK

Books

Seven: Manchester United's Iconic Shirt (Pitch Publishing) 2027



At Manchester United, the number seven has never been just a squad number. It has become a symbol of flair, leadership, charisma and expectation, worn by some of the greatest players in football history.


From George Best and Bryan Robson to Eric Cantona, David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo, each player added a new chapter to the mythology of the shirt.


Blending football history, analysis and personal reflection, SEVEN: Manchester United's Iconic Shirt explores how the meaning of the number seven evolved across generations, and how the weight of expectation can inspire brilliance or expose vulnerability.



The Pride of All Europe: Manchester United’s Greatest Seasons in the European Cup (Lume Books) 2015

Manchester United's relationship with European football is one of tragedy, triumph and unforgettable moments. From becoming the first English club to enter the European Cup to the heartbreak of Munich and three European Cup victories, United's history is inseparable from the competition.

The Pride of All Europe explores ten defining stories from six decades of European adventures, combining historical research, archive material, personal reflection and supporters' memories of those famous European away trips.

A celebration of the players, matches and moments that shaped Manchester United's European identity.

Buy now on Amazon

Fergie’s Finest: Sir Alex Ferguson’s First x11 (Lume Books) 2013

Sir Alex Ferguson transformed Manchester United into the dominant force in English football, winning 38 trophies during his remarkable 26-year reign, including 13 Premier League titles.


But who were the greatest players of the Ferguson era? From Eric Cantona and Roy Keane to David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo, Ferguson managed some of the finest footballers of their generation. Choosing his ultimate eleven is no easy task.


In Fergie's Finest, Andrew Kirby examines the contenders for each position, drawing on interviews with football writers and former players to assemble the definitive 'Team Fergie'. A celebration of the talent, personalities and fierce competition that defined an extraordinary era.


Praise for Andrew Kirby:

‘A brilliant look at the finest players we’ve seen during Fergie’s reign, and indeed, the club’s entire history. A must read for any red.’ Scott the Red, Editor: Republik of Mancunia United Blog


Buy now on Amazon

José Mourinho: The Art of Winning (Lume Books) 2019




The manager everyone loves to hate…

When José Mourinho arrived at Manchester United, it was a marriage that promised either glory or disaster.

Could the controversial Portuguese manager win over supporters raised on the traditions of Sir Matt Busby and Sir Alex Ferguson?

In José Mourinho: The Art of Winning, Andrew Kirby explores the extraordinary career and complex personality of one of football's most divisive figures, examining his triumphs, rivalries, mind games and relentless pursuit of success.

Combining statistical analysis, interviews with football writers, players and supporters, and a fan's perspective on the beautiful game, the book considers whether Mourinho's appointment was a marriage made in heaven or hell — and what his arrival meant for the future of Manchester United.


Buy now on Amazon

Louis Van Gaal: Dutch Courage (Lume Books) 2015

Arrogant, innovative, intimidating, emotional. Louis van Gaal has been called everything from a genius to “the devil himself”. But behind the formidable reputation lies one of football's most complex and compelling personalities.


In Louis van Gaal: Dutch Courage, Andrew Kirby separates the man from the myths, tracing the Dutch manager's extraordinary career through Ajax, Barcelona, Bayern Munich, the Netherlands national team and Manchester United.


Drawing on extensive research and the testimony of those who knew and worked with him, the book explores the contradictions of a manager whose methods inspired admiration, controversy and, occasionally, outright rebellion.


Praise for Dutch Courage:

‘From Ajax to Man United, via Bayern Munich, Andrew J Kirby plots the rise of this indomitable, complex figure with verve and great insight. This book is exhaustively researched, and offers great psychological insights into the man, as well as the world of football. A must-read for fans of United, and those of us interested in this colossus of football.’ – Guy Mankowski, author of ‘How I Left the National Grid’.



Buy now on Amazon

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