Thinking Outside the Box: My Journey in Search of the Beautiful Game »

Goalkeepers have an unusual view of the world, but Brad Friedel's is more unusual than most. He realised that to work well in the box, you have to be able to think outside it: how do you improve the probability of saving a penalty? What's the difference between an 'improver' and 'importer' manager? And what can we learn from Victorian philanthropists?

Friedel endured a five-year battle to get to the top flight and earn his reputation as one the most highly rated keepers in the country. Yet he has little time for the materialistic culture that surrounds professional football and chooses instead to concentrate on his game. This is the inspirational and uplifting story of an unusual guy who thinks 'outside the box'.

1 The Box 1

2 The Wonder Years 7

3 The Call 19

4 California Dreamin' 31

5 Amigos Para Siempre 47

6 Bureaucrats 1 - Friedel 0 58

7 Globetrotting Goalkeeper for Hire 72

8 Gaffers in the Grey Area 83

9 Four Thousand Holes 97

10 The Cap Fits: International Duty 119

11 Up for the Cup 143

12 Hocus Pocus Focus 154

13 One Million Miles: A Goalkeeper's View of the World 171

14 There's No Business Like Good Business 207

15 Expect the Unexpected 220

16 The Wonder Years Part II 231

Index 241