The Matador

As one of the most complete and compelling English midfield schemers of his generation, Tony Currie could pass the ball long or short with either foot, could dictate the pace of a game, and could surge past opponents with deceptive speed and contemptuous ease. He was strong, skillful, athletic, and difficult to dispossess in full flow—and he could score the kind of goals that mere mortal players could only dream of. In the 1970s, TC was the soccer equivalent of PT Barnum. In a career that took in spells with Watford, Sheffield United, Leeds United, QPR, and Torquay United, Currie was idolized by the supporters who flocked to see him play—and yet, like many of his era's so-called Mavericks, 17 international caps seemed scant reward for his lavish gifts. This breathtaking, inspirational, fully authorized tribute marks the first full-scale appreciation of Tony Currie's life, career, and achievements.