{"product_id":"van-dijk-9781948585804","title":"Van Dijk","description":"\u003cb\u003eA Football-Lover's Guide to Virgil van Dijk.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003eQuick, composed and physically dominant - Virgil van Dijk is the defender who has it all. But from washing dishes while he tried to secure his first professional contract to facing rejection and serious illness, it didn't always seem as if Virgil was going to make it to the top. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis is the inspiring story of how a boy from Breda used his determination and self-belief to become one of the greatest defenders in the world. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis biography is one of the new titles in Leapfrog's \u003ci\u003eTales from the Pitch\u003c\/i\u003e series. These fast-moving reads offer a fresh take on the familiar football biography format. \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEach book focuses on one up-and-coming football superstar, often players who are still to reach the summit of their career. \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe players are from all walks of life and have faced failure, injury and rejection, making these moving and inspirational stories. \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe books are brimming with football banter that will have the knowing fans smiling. \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnd each players story is littered with football tricks and tips, so readers can learn the arts of the glorious game. \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAt only 120 pages long, \u003ci\u003eTales from the Pitch\u003c\/i\u003e are easy to read and very fast-paced reads. So meet the footballers behind the iconic tackles and goals, and find out what makes each of these players so special.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eHarry Coninx\u003c\/b\u003e is a football fanatic who started writing match reports at the age of eight, and hasn't stopped since. An amateur player, coach and referee, Harry currently works in sports data. A life-long West Ham supporter, Harry decided to write these books so all readers could celebrate the beautiful game.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Leapfrog Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50902331359506,"sku":"9781948585804","price":8.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_028d1e0f-4a11-40eb-b187-341d97b541d5.jpg?v=1738452600","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/van-dijk-9781948585804","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}