The 11 best Manchester United books

There are Manchester United books on every aspect of the club, from the triumphs and tragedies to the great managers and players. Here’s a world-class XI of titles.

The history of Manchester United embraces triumph and tragedy to a degree that only a handful of clubs can rival. It’s little surprise, then, that there are Manchester United books on every subject from the great players to the legendary managers, and from the many memorable victories to the devastating loss of lives in the 1958 Munich Air Disaster.  

This selection of Man Utd books has something for every Reds fan. Histories include the personalised Telegraph Custom Gift Book that reproduces the major headline stories from 1892 onwards, and Ferguson’s Glory Years, whose subject needs no introduction. 

There are official publications – the 2024 Annual  – plus autobiographies of great United players such as Peter Schmeichel and Marcus Rashford, the modern-day role model whose book You Are a Champion aims to inspire young fans to be the best version of themselves and even follow in his footsteps.

So here they are, from 1 to 11, a simply unbeatable line-up of Manchester United books. 

Manchester United books – history of the club

How does one start to cover the history of Manchester United? These three titles include a collection of headline stories spanning 130 years, a record of Sir Alex Ferguson’s quarter of a century and more as manager and the most memorable matches in the club’s history.

Manchester United Football Headlines - The Telegraph Custom Gift Book

Manchester United Football Headlines - The Telegraph Custom Gift Book

The ultimate Manchester United history book captures all the triumphs and tragedies of English football’s biggest club through reproduced articles from The Daily Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph. Match reports and iconic photographs illustrate how the paper has reported United’s record 20 league titles, the glory days under Sir Alex Ferguson, the golden era of Best, Law and Charlton, the historic first European Cup win in 1968, along with the emergence of the Busby Babes and the spectre of the Munich Air Disaster.
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Manchester United : Ferguson's Glory Years

Manchester United : Ferguson's Glory Years

Sir Alex Ferguson brought unprecedented success to Old Trafford and this lavishly illustrated book charts the remarkable story of his 27 years as manager. Under the Scot, United won the Premier League a record 13 times and the Champions League twice. Add his five FA Cups, four League Cups, the Cup Winners’ Cup and the World Club Cup, and Ferguson’s haul becomes unrivalled. This book recalls the great players, teams and games of a glorious era that has earned him a unique place in the history of Manchester United.
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Manchester United : The Making of a Football Dynasty: 100 Great Matches - 1878-2021

Manchester United : The Making of a Football Dynasty: 100 Great Matches - 1878-2021

Subtitled 100 Great Matches 1878-2021, John DT White’s history of Manchester United traces their rise from modest beginnings as a railway works side to the world's biggest football club. His selection of games sidesteps chronology in favour of themes that have shaped the club’s DNA, such as the oldest and most successful youth system in the world and United's ability to overcome tragedy and adversity. Volume One features the first 50 games and tells the story of United's rise from near-bankruptcy to sweeping success.
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Manchester United: The Biography : The complete story of the world's greatest football club

Manchester United: The Biography : The complete story of the world's greatest football club

Telegraph journalist Jim White’s history of Manchester United draws on the recollections of players, managers and supporters as it chronicles their rise to footballing superpower. Taking the story up to 2008, the year of United’s most recent European Cup victory, some of the questions it poses – such as “Does the club have a soul? A beating heart?” – are now more pertinent after a decade of modest achievement since Alex Ferguson’s retirement. While United fans ask what the future holds, this is an important assessment of their past.
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Manchester United books – autobiographies

Some of the game’s biggest names are synonymous with Manchester United and these books include another Alex Ferguson autobiography plus first-person accounts of club legends such as Roy Keane, Peter Schmeichel and the last Busby Babe Sammy McIlroy.

You Are a Champion : How to Be the Best You Can Be

You Are a Champion : How to Be the Best You Can Be

This is less a Marcus Rashford autobiography than a book in which the Manchester United and England forward draws on his own experiences to inspire young people to be the best they can be. A role model off the field for his free school meals campaign, Rashford reveals how much of his success can be attributed to his positive mindset, and offers techniques, illustrations and infographics that children can use to build mental resilience, navigate adversity when it arises and discover the unstoppable power of their own voice.
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ALEX FERGUSON: My Autobiography : The Sensational Million Copy Number One Bestseller

ALEX FERGUSON: My Autobiography : The Sensational Million Copy Number One Bestseller

This book encompasses more than you might expect of an Alex Ferguson autobiography. In addition to detailing his success over 35 years as manager of Aberdeen and Manchester United, it includes his reflections on teaching at Harvard Business School and insights into the strategy of management that are relevant both on the field and in the business world. He also offers fresh thoughts on the final years of his tenure at Old Trafford, the club’s record 20th league title and his unique influence in the history of Manchester United.
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I Love This Game : The Autobiography

I Love This Game : The Autobiography

Former United and France left-back Patrice Evra’s autobiography is much more than an account of his career highlights. It reveals how football saved him from being drawn into the gang culture of the tough Parisien neighbourhood in which he grew up as he strove to become a professional. He also talks frankly about controversies that affected him on the field, such as his notorious run-in with Luis Suarez, whom he accused of racism, plus his role in the infamous players’ revolt by the France team at the 2010 World Cup finals.
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One: My Autobiography : The Sunday Times bestseller

One: My Autobiography : The Sunday Times bestseller

The greatest goalkeeper in the history of Manchester United, Peter Schmeichel’s autobiography is a revealing read. The Dane also sheds light on what it was like to be part of the team who dominated English football in the 1990s and describes the emotion of great nights such as the European Cup final triumph in Barcelona in May 1999. Then there is the story of his upbringing as the son of a brilliant but troubled jazz musician and an insight into his relationship with son Kasper, himself an international goalkeeper.
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The Last Busby Babe : The Autobiography of Sammy Mcilroy

The Last Busby Babe : The Autobiography of Sammy Mcilroy

Sammy McIlroy’s autobiography revisits an era in the history of Manchester United that has often been overlooked. The Northern Irishman was the last player signed for the club by legendary manager Sir Matt Busby. It was 1969, United had won the European Cup a year earlier but expected further success failed to materialise. Instead, McIlroy served six different managers in 13 years at Old Trafford that included relegation from the top flight. His story – from homesick youth to heartbreaking exit – is told with candour and emotion.
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The People's Game: How to Save Football : THE AWARD WINNING BESTSELLER

The People's Game: How to Save Football : THE AWARD WINNING BESTSELLER

A graduate of the Class of 92 who played 602 times for Manchester United and won eight Premier League titles, Gary Neville has experienced football as a player, coach, pundit and owner. Yet above all, he’s a fan. Shocked by the state of the game, Gary presents his vision for a brighter future. He tackles all the big issues, from ownership and funding to the rise in racism and the future of the women’s game, sharing stories from his own playing career and offering his insights into the biggest decisions in the recent history of the game.
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Manchester United books – other publications

Want a Man Utd book with a difference? This pair of titles includes the club’s official annual, which has all the inside information you could want, and a bumper quiz book. 

The Official Manchester United Annual

The Official Manchester United Annual

There are many Manchester United books but only one official annual. The 2024 edition features a review of the 2022-23 season that brought a League Cup final win, an FA Cup final appearance and Champions League qualification. Meet the squad and the club’s new arrivals; look back at United's history, including some of the club’s biggest Premier League wins; and find out what it takes to become an Academy player. Catch up with the United women’s team after their successful season and tackle some United brain-teasers.
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Want to discover more reading suggestions from Books by Telegraph Media Group? Browse our unique collection of Custom Books, exercise your mind with the iconic Telegraph Puzzle titles, or stay on top of the best recommended books with our Editorial Picks.

 

We've also got a wide array of other book suggestions and lists for you to browse through. For example, why not browse our curated selection of Liverpool FC books?