Money and Soccer

May 4, 2015
On the heels of 2012’s bestselling Soccernomics (cowritten by Simon Kuper), Szymanski uses his academic’s understanding of sports management and economics to break down the world’s most popular sport via the global common denominator of money. To show the ways in which money effects different strata of clubs and nations, Szymanski includes graphs and charts and featuring diagnostic prose peppered with phrases like “zero-profit equilibrium, “data transformations,” and “logarithm of wage spending.” Soccer fans looking
to nerd out on the financial aspects of winning and losing, as well as how the growth of pro sports effect the globalization of soccer, will find plenty to like here. Some of Szymanski’s observations are obvious (he notes that “monumental spending is an effective formula for winning championships”) but readers will appreciate the thorough research behind them.

May 15, 2015

Does a new stadium guarantee future success? Is the game truly all about money? Can trophies be bought? Szymanski (Soccernomics; National Pastime) addresses these issues and more in his fast read that focuses on the business side of the sport and how it directly affects activity on the field. The author's expert-level knowledge about the equally complex worlds of soccer and finance shows in this well-researched book that covers a lot of ground, primarily focusing on the more modern history of soccer (or football) in western Europe; understandable as that is where most of the top clubs, players, and leagues are--and likewise where money has the greatest impact. Szymanski blends statistical analysis, narrative examples, and reviews of basic business concepts to present an educational read. VERDICT A wonderful book for anyone with a slight interest in soccer or the business side of sports. The investigation is insightful and backed by strong statistics and evidence. For public libraries and academic collections serving business or sports management departments.--Lewis Parsons, Sawyer Free Lib., Gloucester, MA

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2015
In Soccernomics (2009), Szymanski, with Simon Kuper (who contributes a foreword here), applied cold, hard facts to common assumptions about the game and cheerfully informed us that many of our most cherished beliefs could be disproved by data. Here, the economist focuses exclusively on the role of money, explaining the concept of dominance and distress; the roles played by players, owners, and stadiums; the effects of revenue, debt, and regulation; and what happens when teams become insolvent. The big takeaway is that teams who spend the most win the most, which may seem obvious, but Szymanski deftly explores the implications, posing questions (Are teams good investments? What do owners want? Can good managers beat the curve?) whose answers are surprisingly interesting. For every sports geek thrilled by the data, there will be several who feel it kills the poetry of the gamethen again, knowing your team is statistically predestined for mediocrity can make those rare moments of beating the odds all the more memorable. Another essential document from one of the top thinkers about modern-day sports.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)