Anthony Keith Book was an English football player and coach who played as a right-back.
19 Facts About Tony Book
1.
2.
Tony Book spent a large part of his career in Non-League football with his home town club Bath City as well as other local sides Peasedown Miners and Frome Town FC, before entering league football with Plymouth Argyle.
3.
Tony Book had a five-year tenure as Manchester City manager from 1974 to 1979, and subsequently held various coaching roles at the club until 1996.
4.
Tony Book was born in Bath, but at the age of four moved to India when his father, an officer in the Somerset Light Infantry, was posted.
5.
Tony Book started secondary school in Bath, and gained his first experience in competitive football when he was selected to play for both Bath boys and Somerset boys.
6.
Tony Book showed his letter to a colleague, who played for Bath City of the Southern League.
7.
Tony Book in turn informed the Bath chairman, and Book signed for the club in January 1956.
8.
Tony Book spent seven and a half years at Bath, becoming captain in the latter part of his Bath career, and winning the Southern League title in 1960.
9.
Tony Book's first season as captain was a very successful one, leading Manchester City to their second league championship while playing every game.
10.
Tony Book retired from playing in 1974, passing the captaincy to Colin Bell.
11.
Tony Book made 242 football league appearances for the club, and for many years was City's most successful captain in terms of trophies won.
12.
In November 1973, Manchester City manager Johnny Hart resigned due to ill health, and Tony Book took temporary responsibility for first-team affairs, and was named assistant manager when Ron Saunders became the next permanent manager.
13.
At this point Tony Book retired from playing to concentrate on management.
14.
Saunders was sacked after less than six months, and Tony Book again took on the caretaker role, and was appointed permanent manager one game later.
15.
Tony Book remained manager until 1979, when he was replaced by his former mentor Malcolm Allison.
16.
Tony Book then became a loyal stalwart to the club in several other roles until 1997, including as caretaker manager again in 1993.
17.
Tony Book joined Huddersfield Town in 1997 as Chief Scout under Brian Horton.
18.
Tony Book was inducted into Manchester City's Hall of Fame in January 2004.
19.
Tony Book died on 13 January 2025, at the age of 90.