TORONTO, Jan. 20,
2022 /CNW/ - Random House Canada today announced
the forthcoming publication of Playing the Long Game, a
memoir by soccer great Christine
Sinclair, The Best FIFA Special Award winner, working with
bestselling sportswriter and broadcaster Stephen Brunt. The book is represented by
literary agent Rick Broadhead at Rick Broadhead & Associates
Inc. in partnership with Envision Sports & Entertainment and
was acquired for Random House Canada by executive editor and VP
Anne Collins for publication in Fall 2022.
For the first time in depth and in public, Olympic soccer gold
medalist Christine Sinclair, the top
international goal scorer of all time and one of Canada's greatest athletes, reflects on both
her exhilarating successes and her heartbreaking
defeats. Playing the Long Game is a playbook of
earned wisdom on the value of determination, team spirit, and real
leadership that changed the landscape of women's soccer.
Christine Sinclair is
Canada's captain and one of the
world's most respected and admired athletes. Not only is she the
player who has scored the most goals on the international soccer
stage, male or female, but more than two decades into her soccer
career, she is still the heart of any team she plays on, captaining
both Canada's national team and
the top-ranked Portland Thorns FC in the National Women's Soccer
League. Sinclair continues to execute her game plan progressing
step-by-step to reach the top of the podium and inspiring her
teammates to long-term glory.
Working with Stephen Brunt, who
has followed her career for decades, the intensely private Sinclair
will share her reflections on the significant moments and turning
points in her life and career, the big wins and losses survived,
not only on the pitch. Her extraordinary journey, combined with her
candour, commitment and decency, will inspire and empower soccer
fans, and girls and women everywhere.
Anne Collins says, "I think
everyone in Canada carries an
indelible and inspiring image of Christine
Sinclair in our hearts, from winning Gold at the Tokyo
Olympics, or leading an underestimated team to bronze at the
London Games, or so many other
matches on the international stage. She is hugely respected and
admired, and it will be a complete privilege and a revelation to
publish a book that opens a door for readers on what most matters
to her and what inspires her."
Christine Sinclair says, "At this
point in my career, I am proud of many things but most of all, the
role my teammates and I have had in strengthening Canada's position in the sport world and
changing the landscape of women's soccer forever. I can't wait to
share my experiences in this book."
The timing of the book coincides with significant attention to
Christine Sinclair and to women's
soccer around the world. Sinclair has committed to playing for the
Portland Thorns FC in the NWSL and to captaining the Canadian squad
for the next two seasons leading up to FIFA Women's World Cup 2023.
Beyond titles and medals, Sinclair has set her sights on continuing
her impact on the game and the goal of equality with the men's and
women's game in Canada.
CHRISTINE SINCLAIR is
the long-time forward and captain of Canada's national soccer team and the Portland
Thorns FC of the National Women's Soccer League. An Olympic gold
medalist, two-time Olympic bronze medalist, CONCACAF champion, and
14-time winner of the Canadian Soccer Player of the Year award,
Sinclair is the all-time leader for international goals scored for
men or women, with 188 goals, and is one of the most-capped active
international footballers with more than 300 caps; she has played
and scored in five FIFA Women's World Cups. Born and raised in
Burnaby, BC, she lives in
Portland, Oregon.
STEPHEN BRUNT is an
award-winning writer and broadcaster with Rogers Sportsnet and the
author of many bestselling books including Facing
Ali, Searching for Bobby
Orr and Gretzky's Tears. His most
recent books are All the Way, written with Jordin Tootoo, and Now I'm Catching
On, written with Bob Cole. He is
the co-founder and artistic director of the Writers at Woody Point festival, and divides his time
between Hamilton, Ontario, where
he was born, and Newfoundland.
RANDOM HOUSE CANADA
publishes the finest books from Canadian and international writers,
be it new voices or beloved greats, non-fiction or fiction. These
books encompass a dazzling range of prize winners and bestsellers
that delight, surprise, and inspire Canadians, challenging the way
we think about the most important issues of our time. Random House
Canada is committed to fostering a literary culture that amplifies
an inclusive range of voices and perspectives.
RICK BROADHEAD & ASSOCIATES is a leading
literary agency with a proven track record for discovering literary
talent, developing books with strong commercial and media
potential, matching authors with publishers, and guiding authors
through the entire publishing experience. The agency's clients
include a wide range of thought leaders and experts including
New York Times bestselling
authors such as Chris Hadfield
(An Astronaut's Guide to Life on Earth), Alex Hutchinson (Endure), Dr.
William Davis (Wheat Belly)
and Timothy Winegard (The
Mosquito).
ENVISION SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT delivers sport
marketing partnerships for Christine
Sinclair and an exclusive roster of diverse athletes and
sports personalities including Bev
Priestman, Andre De Grasse,
Pierce Lepage, Alysha Newman, Cynthia
Appiah, Marissa
Papaconstantinou and other incredible athletes.
SOURCE Penguin Random House Canada Limited