90 Minutes with the King: How Soccer Saved My Life

Tom Mulroy, Shep Messing (Foreword by)

$19.99

Publication Date: December 27th, 2023

Publisher:

BookBaby

ISBN:

9798350911084

Pages:

326

Charter Books

On hand, as of Apr 28 6:07am

(Memoir/Essays)

In Stock at Warehouse - Usually Arrives in 3-7 Days

Description

Experience the remarkable journey of a boy from New York who began life behind the eight ball. Growing up on the edge of poverty, he battled dyslexia and endured the pain dealt by an alcoholic father. From his single mother, he learned grit, empathy, and selflessness. At age 12, still torn between right and wrong, he is introduced to soccer. The Beautiful Game saves his life.
Outside his neighborhood, soccer is seen as an ethnic cult, a sport played by the weak and people who don't speak English. Nothing dents the boy's will. He follows his idol, Pelé , like a North Star and dreams of becoming a pro. His dream becomes an obsession, his exit ramp off a road that would have left him "dead or in jail." In his early teens, he plays for coaches who shape him as a player and a man. He struggles in school, but he has found his purpose. He plays or practices fifty hours a week. Some days he hitchhikes to games, other days he spends entire afternoons lashing balls off the brick wall of Cinema 45. No one will outwork him; nothing will distract him.
Seven years after he first touches a ball, Tom Mulroy becomes a professional soccer player. Against billion-to-one odds, Soccer Tom experiences the dream of every soccer player and fan around the world.

About the Author

Tom Mulroy became a professional soccer player at age 19, seven years after he first touched a ball. He played professionally for over a decade, scoring more than 50 goals. Tom was named the official spokesman for the 1994 World Cup, the world's largest sporting event. In 2012, Tom became the president of the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, leading the club to the NASL championship game. For nearly 40 years he has run his own global sports marketing agency specializing in soccer promotions and events. His clients have included Coca-Cola, McDonald's, FIFA, CONCACAF, and CONMEBOL.

Praise for 90 Minutes with the King: How Soccer Saved My Life

"This is absolutely a must read for every soccer lover around the world. Whether you are a fan, player, referee, or coach, you will enjoy Soccer Tom's remarkable American soccer journey."
Alan Rothenberg,
President of US Soccer, CEO of FIFA World Cup USA 1994, Chairman of FIFA Women's World Cup 1999, Founder of MLS.

"If you love soccer, you'll love this book. Nobody lives and breathes this sport like Tom Mulroy; his passion comes through on every page."
DAVE BARRY,
Pulitzer Prize Winning Columnist and Author

"Tom Mulroy deceived me, he made me think I was about to read a great soccer story but it's so much more - it's a great American success story…From his rough and tumble beginnings to his
soaring soccer success and his intense caring for kids of all skills and sizes this is truly a must-read story for anyone looking for inspiration. Great Job Tom!"
Brian Kilmeade
Co-host of Fox & Friends

"I fully enjoyed this memoir about the perseverance of a young Tom Mulroy who uses his success in soccer to build his self-confidence at a time when educators had little knowledge of how to truly help a kid who could barely read and struggled in school. His journey could have gone wrong at many turns, but soccer kept him on the right path. This is a great read for those looking for a model of how to overcome adversity."
Kevin Gailey,
Chair of the Board Learning Disability Association of America

"This is truly an inspirational story. "Soccer Tom" Mulroy's book 90 Minutes With The King is a wonderful read. It's motivating and a reality check for inspiring young players dreaming to make the professional ranks."
Jerry Yeagley
Coach Indiana University / National Soccer Hall of Fame Inductee

"Tom is a legendary part of the rich and colorful history of American soccer. He's a true American soccer original and his amazing story, on and off the field, explains why."
Alexi Lalas
US National Team/ World Cup USA 1994/ TV Studio Analyst