Book Review: 'Vieira - My Autobiography'

It seems from what has been written here that Real Madrid made a rather vague approach in 2003 but nothing concrete became of it. Reading between the lines it was primarily agents' talk in the early years. When Madrid approached again in 2004 they were altogether more serious but Arsenal, obviously, were not interested in selling. Pat however took it seriously enough to keep quite and find out more about Real's real intent. He claims he also thought, at the time, that if he didn't go to Madrid at this point in his career he would play out his days at Arsenal. So seemingly Arsenal didn't want to sell but cut a deal with Madrid anyway. Pat at this stage was very sure he wanted to go and was told to make his mind up for certain one way or the other before the start of the season. In the end after talking to his mum, to Cheryl, to Wenger, to Makelele, to Zidane and about half the world he decided not to go. His choice probably surprised everyone, not least of all himself and his team mates, who come across here as wanting what was best for Pat rather than themselves.

Contrastingly when he left for Juve he claims not to have know about the deal which was sorted between the two Clubs. Principly he jumped ship because when David Dein advised him about the offer from Juve Dein only indicated that the Club was ‘neutral' about the deal. He obviously felt the Club should have begged him to stay even though he'd messed them around the previous season. I can only speculate that Wenger probably wanted him to stay but if you mess your employers around they are not normally going to hang about waiting for you to dictate to them, they are clearly going to cut the best deal they can for themselves. In reality, as Vieira admits here, this was just a typical football situation where the Club does what's best for them and the player does what's best for himself, it's just the way things are in football.

Although we the fans still think in terms of loyalty that has never been the way of things. Footballers are out to improve their careers if they can either by playing in better teams or by fighting for better contracts, or both. For every player that shafts a Club there are probably ten players who've been shafted by that same Club and so it goes. Indeed Vieira lists more than a few that have come and gone in his time as Highbury and it's a sizeable list. In truth, having delved into the chapters relating to the transfer sagas, I didn't think I'd be overly interested in the remainder of the book but found that as Pat observed the Wenger revolution from the inside since before Le Boss' arrival it had quite a lot to offer.

Trophies are regarded as the norm for Vieira and he's certainly won his share both with Arsenal and France and both the campaigns and tournaments are well covered here. Hearing his views on both Adam's captaincy and the role he played himself in the role was interesting, as is his insider viewpoint of major tournaments. His trials with referees, always well documented by the gutter press, are given reasonable perspective in a chapter devoted to the topic. Also, because he regards it as the major aspect of his time at Arsenal, there is an entire chapter to cover the Club's ongoing battles with Manure. His views on the noxious Manure centre forward have aleady been well aired in the press but are a pleasure to read again, if only to confirm what we already know about the snide, obnoxious ‘son of a bitch' whom Vieira regards as low life. A view that is seemingly endorsed by Van Diver's own ex Club captain if I'm interpretting Pat correctly.

Granted this volume is a fairly standard ghosted football autobiography but it does happen to be about a seriously exceptional footballer by any measure that you care to judge him. The book ends with a brief chapter of Wenger's thoughts on Pat. A piece on Patrick's views on other Arsenal players past, present and future and finally the thoughts of his mum, Lilian Thuram and Dennis Bergkamp on the man himself. Incidently his friendship with Thuram certainly appears to have been a factor in his move to Juventus.

You'll be able to order it from any decent bookshop if you quote the following ISBN number: 0 75287 260 5 or alternatively check out your favourite online bookstore.

Vieira My Autobiography
By Patrick Vieira with Debbie Beckerman
Priced £18.99 Published by Orion 2005