'Incredibly well-researched and loaded with modern-day, high-tech football insights' - Tony Strudwick, Head of Performance, Wales national football teamProfessional football is more demanding than ever. Top internationals reach speeds of 36km/hr, run 12km each match and play up to 60 games each season. Sports scientists are now key figures at every top club, applying cutting-edge techniques to boost fitness, accelerate recovery and forge lean, mean, winning machines.This illuminating book uncovers the training and fuelling secrets of today's greatest footballers, drawing on access to the world's best clubs, including Barcelona, Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and many more. Why does Cristiano Ronaldo have his own cryotherapy chamber? Why does Paul Pogba wear custom-made compression socks? Why does Sergio Agüero altitude-train when returning from injury? From virtual-reality units to the omnipresence of GPS vests, taking in brain-training, innovative gear and performance nutrition along the way, you'll discover what it takes to reach the top of the game - and how to apply this knowledge to your own training.

European appeal, featuring interviews from clubs such as Barcelona, Real Madrid, Amsterdam, Bayern Munich and many more

Introduction1 The Numbers Game2 Fast, Fit and Flying3 Rapid Discovery4 Managing Injury5 Fuelling Peak Performance6 Match-Day Fuelling and Supplements7 Brain Training8 Beat the Heat9 Nurturing Nature10 Pitches, Pads, Boots and BallsEpilogue: Future FootballIndexAcknowledgementsPicture Credits