Pepe – My Autobiography [Book review]

PEPE: My Autobiography is an essential read for any Liverpool fan wanting to get the inside story on one of the most popular players of the modern era.

Ghost-written by former Liverpool Echo journalist Tony Barrett (who is now Liverpool FC correspondent for The Times), Reina’s autobiography instantly hooks you in as a Reds fan.

First off, Barrett’s forward contains an amusing anecdote of when the pair first met-up in Ibiza to begin discussions for the project, and instantly shows Pepe’s sense of humour – something he has become famous for, not only his Liverpool team-mates, but also with the all-conquering Spanish national team squad.

As with any autobiography, Reina talks about his rise to stardom, from his childhood in Madrid, to Barcelona where he progressed through the ranks at La Masia. Pepe also discusses his touching relationship with his Grandfather, and the huge influence he had on his career.

The book also covers some of the most important periods in LFC’s recent history, providing Reds fans with an insight into the players’ perspective during the ill-fated Gillett & Hicks regime, the Rafa and Hodgson reigns, losing Xabi Alonso, and the Fernando Torres affair.

One of the funniest excerpts in the book has to be when Reina talks of an old on-field spat with Jamie Carragher, when the angry defender screamed at the keeper: “you really think you’re Beckenbauer and you’re always trying them short passes,” to which Reina replied: “if I know one thing, it’s that you’re definitely not Beckenbauer!”

Genius, Pepe.

From winning the World Cup, FA Cup and European Championships, to the agony of a Champions League final defeat and surviving the off-pitch drama that tore one of the country’s greatest football clubs apart, Pepe has witnessed it all, first-hand. This book is his fascinating personal account. Go buy it now!

Big thanks goes to Trinity Mirror Sports Media, official publishers of Liverpool Football Club. Previous titles also include Anfield Songbook, Anfield Days & Wembley Ways, and Anfield Heroes. They can all be purchased at: store.liverpoolfc.tv
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