A Game Of Three Biographies

GLENN HODDLE is not the first serving England coach to go into print nor the only member of this year's World Cup party to do so.

Bobby Robson wrote a book about the 1986 World Cup, in which he admitted lying about Bryan Robson's injury soon afterwards but stayed on to lead England to fourth place in the 1990 finals.

The coaches between Robson and Hoddle also cashed in with Graham Taylor being involved in the notorious video, The Impossible Job, and Terry Venables producing two books. Both did so after their jobs had ended but were not to know that when they began the projects.

At least two of the current team are bringing out books in the next few months: Tony Adams releases his autobiography next month and Teddy Sheringham follows in September. While both cover the World Cup only as part of a long career, Adams is understood to be critical of Hoddle and Sheringham has promised to reveal all about his controversial visit to a Portuguese nightclub during the World Cup build up.

Hoddle said yesterday he had no problem with his players writing books. Many have already penned their thoughts in ghosted paid-for newspaper columns.