"Winning isn't everything; it's the only thing."
Always believe
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Olivier Giroud, Pitch Publishing, Worthing, 2021. ISBN 978-1-80150-009-8
Olivier Giroud played six seasons at Arsenal and four at Chelsea scoring 90 Premier League goals. He was a World Cup winner with France for whom he played 110 times. He is currently playing for AC Milan.
The book is not your typical ghosted autobiography. There are less of the (normally boring) match descriptions and much more about what player actually thinks. His account of the process of moving from club to club (within France, France to England, England to Italy) is particularly interesting. He gives good insights into the late in career frustrations of going from being an automatic starter to being a squad player.
The importance of his Christian faith and relationship with Jesus is a running theme in the book, with a full chapter on “Religion”. Throughout the book in situations on and off the field he refers naturally to praying, thinking out Jesus, being aware of God’s presence etc.
The final page of the book states:
Thanks to Jesus
Thank you. Jesus, for your love.
You give me my inner strength to always believe.
Amen
I particularly liked the way he integrates his faith is Jesus with his career in elite football.