Dominic Matteo: In My Defence the Autobiography

Synopsis

The Liverpool and Leeds United legend lifts the lid on life behind the scenes and reveals the highs and lows of Premier League football. Dominic Matteo has played alongside some of English football's biggest names. He has also played at some of Europe's finest stadia, while he remains one of the few internationals to have appeared for both England and Scotland. Here, Matteo charts the ups and downs of a career that began when he was spotted as a 10-year-old playing for his local boys' team by then Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish. He went on to spend 15 years at Anfield, six of which were in the first-team where his team-mates included Ian Rush, Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard, Jamie Redknapp, Jamie Carragher, David James and Michael Owen. Matteo then moved to Leeds United, a club which then seemed to be on the cusp of great things as David O'Leary's swashbuckling young side cut a swathe through the cream of Europe. Eighteen months after Matteo had been signed, Leeds had risen to the top of the Premier League only for the dream to quickly turn sour. Matteo was at Elland Road throughout the rise and fall that culminated in relegation, so has a unique insight into one of the most spectacular collapses in English football. He was the club captain as Leeds slid out of the Premier League and has strong views on just where it all went so badly wrong. Matteo went on to join Blackburn Rovers and then Stoke City before a serious back injury, which still troubles him today, brought a premature end to his career.