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Editorial Review Product Description
Paul McGrath is Ireland’s best loved sportsman and also its least understood. An iconic football presence during a professional career stretching over 14 years, he played for his country in the European Championship finals of 1988 and the World Cup finals of 1990 and 1994. But, behind the implied glamour of life in the employ of great English clubs like Manchester United and Aston Villa, McGrath wrestled with a range of destructive emotions that made his success in the game little short of miraculous.
It is not just a football story. It is an extraordinary human story that is certain to surprise with its candour.
It may well be the most candid sports book ever written. ... Read more Customer Reviews (3) 
This book can be such good reading for a very wide variety of people.
This book can be such good reading for a very wide variety of people.
When I say this, I mean it. Is one an alcoholic? Read it. Are you a big fan of soccer? Read it. Are you interested in Ireland? Surely, this should be read as well. Yes, and I could go on.
The first half of the book is especially quite a heartening read, Paul was the son of a Nigerian male and an Irish woman, however, Paul came to find himself in institutions, sort of being an orphan though he kept tabs with his Mother and at times, did seem to live with his family. There are really warm stories here, that of his sister especially.
If one suffers from alcoholism, I don't know if there has ever been a better account on the destructive nature of the disease though I haven't read many other like accounts. He talks about blackouts, waking up and not knowing how he got somewhere and even accidents he experienced while driving, fortunately, none of them having grave consequences. McGrath even passed out on streets on occasion.
Although at times, some of the information on the Irish National Soccer Team that Paul played for could be much more expanded upon, there's enough and he talks about the coach of the Irish Team, Jack Charlton, Gaffer for a decade (among other managers). Jack would set a sentry outside of McGrath's door at night when the Irish were off playing a game somewhere, to keep Paul from going on a bender. There is also good information on other figures in Paul's life such as Sir Alex Ferguson, long time successful coach of Manchester United, Peter Taylor, who coached McGrath at Aston Villa and other accounts of major figures who knew Paul.
It's amazing that though Paul was on the wagon some, at other times, the drink dominated him but he was such a good player, some teams put up with the risks of an alcoholic even when it came down to the occasions where McGrath went absolutely missing during the time a big game might be played.
I've long had some videos of the Ireland National Team games with Paul in it, in USA 1994, I can turn on one of the videos and McGrath is talked about, he was such a phenomenonally gifted player.
I really wanted to bow out of writing a review on this book but I feel compelled to though it is hard to describe. Good read for around St. Patrick's day, I hope the best for Macca. McGrath really joins a legion of sports stars like George Best and others, who had problem with the drink.
I will seek to scan the cover of my edition of this book, it is a picture likely from the same photo session but Paul has a bit of a warm grin on his face. In the cover of the one shown on the amazon page, it is a bit of a long face.
Best sports autobiography I've ever read
As a child who grew up in an Ireland that was being taken over by the wonders of Jack Charlton's Ireland team, McGrath was always a hero of mine. There were always the little hints that all was not well off the field, but on it, he was a legend. This goes into the painful depths of what was behind this amazing footballer and makes you appreciate even more how successful he became.
This book gives an amazingly honest insight into the life of one of the greatest Irish sportsmen.
A must for anyone who likes to read sports autobiographies.
Back from the Brink
This is a riviting account of an extraordinary, complex and successful life which impacted millions.Without any undersatnding how this individual instinctivly lived a life of chasos, triumph and glory, he was a man who was adored by so many. The toast of his native Ireland, Ooh Ah Paul McGrath!an astonisging individual.
Enjoy the book which bencmarks one of the great periods in Ireland's maturity as a nation and as a soccer force in the world.
Aidan
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