Reporter Brian Glanville praised as "the greatest football writer" and died at the age of 93

Brian Glanville's football writing has had a profound impact on generations of journalists and readers, and he passed away at the age of 93.

Glanville is a novelist and respected columnist, a prolific commentator of his beloved game, a passionate chronicle of Italian football and the author of some of the most influential books in football.

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He worked as a football journalist in the Sunday Times for about 30 years, contributed to World Football Magazine for more than fifty years, and wrote a compelling obsessive report for The Guardian. His recent tribute considers Northern Ireland and Aston Villa winger Peter McParland and Manchester United legend Denis Law.

His first book was a lifelong Arsenal fan, his first book with Gunner winger Cliff Bastin, who was published in 1950, is still writing decades later on the North London Club, and his last work was Highbury History, published in 2006.

Glanville's World Cup Story is considered a groundbreaking work for the global championship, and other works, such as the Book of Pepper Football, have cultivated the sport's lifelong dedication for many young readers. He has won admirers in America long time in the game, and his Paul Zimmerman calls him "the greatest football writer of all time."

In addition to numerous novels and short stories, two plays and a musical, he also produced a script for the 1967 documentary "Target"!

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His focus on global matches in the 1960s and 70s gave Glanville a place in the year’s Ballon d’Or in the jury.

Granville had a good relationship with England World Cup-winning captain Bobby Moore but was critical of the national team's manager, and his reputation was damaged by the hot defeat of the Mexican Championship when he was a winner in 1966 Sir Alf Ramsey.

“I have all sorts of interesting memories of Alf Ramsey, but he was a very strange person,” Glanville recalls. "He should have gone two years before he did. Luck is more than just a trial."

Brian Glanville, football writer and writer. Born on September 24, 1931. Died, died on May 16, 2025

•The report will be updated