He also played in the English and Scottish Premier Leagues for West Ham United and Celtic and the Football League for Burnley and Nottingham Forest. Despite the fact that his international career spanned eight years, 87 matches and three full-time managers, he only started 17 times and was a used substitute in 16 matches. In A Life in Football: My Autobiography Ian Wright reveals all about his extraordinary journey from living on a South London council estate to England football player, including his stint in Chelmsford prison and breaking Arsenal’s goal scoring record. Since this was when he was at the height of his career it was the section I was most looking forward to reading about but it still seemed strange to begin here. In his absence, Arsenal were eliminated in the semi-final by Chelsea, [33] ending their hopes of a domestic treble.

When you consider he raised Shaun (who was not his own) and did so well with his other kids, it's a testament to the man. The book is aimed at children and young people and is inspired by many issues that Wright himself dealt with while growing up as a young, black, working-class footballer in London. He came on as a substitute in the Euro 2000 qualifier in Luxembourg, a match England won 3–0 in October 1998. He doesn't hold back when dishing the dirt and telling all about the mistakes he's made in his life. Wright appeared in an advertisement for the Wii console where he was seen playing Mario Strikers Charged and Wii Sports with his son Shaun.As of 2023 [update], he is Arsenal's second-highest scorer of all time and Crystal Palace's third-highest. p>Read about how we’ll protect and use your data in our Privacy Notice. He then discusses how he became a TV presenter but eventually was working on terrible TV shows that he never should have signed up for. In his playing career, Wright was sponsored by the sportswear company Nike, and appeared in Nike commercials. The arrival of Bruce Rioch heralded a bleaker time; the two did not get on and eventually Wright handed in a transfer request which he later retracted.

He played a major part in the club's success during the 1990s, winning an FA Cup and League Cup double in 1993; [17] scoring in both the FA Cup Final itself and the replay against Sheffield Wednesday. Having impressed then-manager Steve Coppell, [4] he signed a professional contract for Crystal Palace in August 1985, just three months short of his 22nd birthday, the agreed fee being a set of weightlifting equipment.It is incredible to think he still made sure his mother never had a worry in the world after he became and pro and shows how kind Ian Wright has become despite all odds. One of the most interesting and relevant figures in modern football, Arsenal legend Ian Wright reveals all about his extraordinary life and career in this gripping, thoughtful memoir that is nothing like the standard footballer's autobiography we are expected to see. When compared to his own home life as a child, you understand the personal trials and tribulations going on inside the man; with the lack of a father figure and a troublesome stepfather. Celtic's performances had been poor and Wright, Barnes and Regi Blinker were considered by some to be not sufficiently talented to improve the club.

Some good parts of the locker-room stuff that goes on and the banter, football and training, backdoor politics, and a tragic encounter to early family life and a society with racial problems. THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER'Wrighty's characteristic honesty means his book is far more engrossing than most bland football memoirs' Sunday TimesIan Wright, Arsenal legend, England striker and TV pundit extraordinaire, is one of the most interesting and relevant figures in modern football. This book is so riddled with inconsistencies and confusing that it turns what should be an enjoyable read into a jumbled, muddled mess. It was for a friendly against Hungary in September 1990 and the England camp was at Burnham Beeches in Buckinghamshire.His father was absent from a young age, and he was brought up by his mother, Nesta, and an abusive stepfather. In 1997 he starred in Nike's "Park Life" commercial (set to the tune " Parklife" by Blur) where a group of pub league players playing amateur football at Hackney Marshes in east London are suddenly joined by top Premier League footballers, including Wright, Cantona, David Seaman and Robbie Fowler. I find football autobiographies that are purely chronological quite tedious through the childhood years and even this book dragged in part 2 where Ian fills us in on the areas of life that took him to Palace in the late 80s. Ian Wright is an Arsenal legend; I became aware of him mostly through his recent work with Arsenal as an ambassador.

He took over from David Seaman in Autumn 2004 as a team captain on BBC game show They Think It's All Over, which ran until 2006. As of the 2022–23 season [update], he is Arsenal's second highest goalscorer of all time, behind Thierry Henry who broke his record in 2005. A thoughtful and gripping insight into one of the greatest sports starts of recent years, Ian Wright also frankly discusses how retirements affects footballers, why George Graham deserves a statue and his experience with racism. His upbringing has undoubtedly affect Ian throughout his life and his mother and step-father should be ashamed of how he was brought up. Of course, I didn’t sleep properly that night because I couldn’t wait for the next morning and going out for training.Ian Wright talked about his time at Arsenal under managers the likes of George Graham and Arsene Wenger. Definitely the best sports autobiography I've read so far because it's well-paced, non-chronological and it's written exactly the way he speaks: down-to-earth, honest and straight to the point. The arrival of Dennis Bergkamp brought a brief but fruitful striking partnership: in their first season together they helped Arsenal finish fifth in the league and qualify for the UEFA Cup.