Football Stories: Bad Boys and Hard Men

Football Stories: Bad Boys and Hard Men

They are the footballers who have brought a little more to Pele’s “beautiful game” than the steady right foot, a neat sidestep, a reliable throw-in and respect for “the gaffer”. They are out there living life on the edge – bad boys and hard men playing their own rules. Through sheer talent and force of personality, the eight men profiled have made it to the top of their game and the front of the tabloids, and stayed there. They have all earned a special place in football lore, and will be talked about in pubs and boot-rooms for years to come, long after they have walked away from the game. Each of them has crossed the line, each of them has taken their life or career to the extreme. They have turned their sport into Britain’s favourite real-life soap opera, but what makes them tick? “Football Stories” charts the career ups and downs of eight players and managers, on and off the pitch, from their early days in the local leagues to international glory. But what happens when the football is over? Where are they now? The footballers featured are: Cantona; McAvennie; Maradona; Best; Pearce; Clough; Jones; and Ferguson