The Secret Footballer is the

pseudonym A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true meaning ( orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individual's o ...

of a former

Premier League The Premier League is a professional association football league in England and the highest level of the English football league system. Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on a system of promotion and relegation with the English Football Lea ...

footballer A football player or footballer is a sportsperson who plays one of the different types of football. The main types of football are association football, American football, Canadian football, Australian rules football, Gaelic football, rugby lea ...

who contributed articles to ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in Manchester in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'' and changed its name in 1959, followed by a move to London. Along with its sister paper, ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardi ...

'' newspaper and has written five books, ''I Am The Secret Footballer'', ''Tales From The Secret Footballer'', ''The Secret Footballer's Guide to the Modern Game,'' ''The Secret Footballer: Access All Areas'', and ''How to Win: Lessons from the Premier League''. Some of these are

memoirs A memoir (; , ) is any nonfiction narrative writing based on the author's personal memories. The assertions made in the work are thus understood to be factual. While memoir has historically been defined as a subcategory of biography or autobio ...

. The Secret Footballer is English, has played for at least two Premier League clubs and was once relegated on the last day of the season. He grew up on a rural

council estate Public housing in the United Kingdom, also known as council housing or social housing, provided the majority of rented accommodation until 2011, when the number of households in private rental housing surpassed the number in social housing. D ...

and was a late starter in organised football. He signed his first professional contract aged 21. He was still playing as late as 2011. He says he considered suicide after the end of his career but his writing steered him away from alcohol abuse. says he wants to reveal his identity but fears being sued for the content of his work. Former Reading and Stoke City striker Dave Kitson has been written about as being a 'leading contender' as The Secret Footballer.

Bibliography

*''The Secret Footballer: Access All Areas'' (Guardian Faber, 2015) *''The Secret Footballer's Guide to the Modern Game: Tips and Tactics from the Ultimate Insider'' (Guardian Faber, 2014) *''Tales From The Secret Footballer'' (Guardian Faber, 2013) *''I Am The Secret Footballer: Lifting the Lid on the Beautiful Game'' (Guardian Faber, 2012) *''How to Win: Lessons from the Premier League'' (Guardian Faber, 2017)

References

External links

*
The Secret Footballer blog on ''The Guardian''Who Is The Secret Footballer
- A website whose large community and many comments speculate on the identity of The Secret Footballer. 21st-century English memoirists 21st-century English sportsmen English men's footballers Pseudonymous writers The Guardian journalists Men's association football players not categorized by position Living people Year of birth missing (living people) {{UK-journalist-stub