What are we talking about? A new novel about the rise of Liverpool Football Club, and its manager, Bill Shankly – until his surprise resignation at the height of the club's success in 1974.

Rarely do professional footballers make public statements that zigzag anywhere near political engagement - so the appearance of West Ham's Matt Jarvis on the cover of Britain's best-selling gay magazine, Attitude, and his attempt to address homophobia, one of the beautiful game's last remaining stigmas (in 21 years of the Premier League not one footballer has come out), is to be welcomed. Here we select five other pros who have used their profile to political effect.

Manager calls on Sunderland to stick together in tradition of his mentor

George Entwistle's 54 days as the BBC's Director-General might be considered short, but he lasted longer than many others in high-profile jobs.

Liverpool manager, who faces former club today, learnt lessons from time at Madejski

Aston Villa have confirmed they have completed the signing of Chesterfield striker Jordan Bowery for an undisclosed fee on a three-year contract.

Genre of football writing grows in credibility with crowning of A Life Too Short as book of the year

World Cup legend Sir Geoff Hurst has claimed England are capable of reaching the Euro 2012 semi-finals with or without Roy Hodgson as their new manager.

Harry Redknapp insists he holds no grudges against Roy Hodgson, even though the West Brom boss is set to inherit the England role he craved.

Huddersfield manager axed after brief phone call despite superb record... but supporters not shocked

The actor Colin Tarrant was a permanent fixture on television for 12 years as the by-the-book, disciplinarian Inspector Andrew Monroe in The Bill. He took the role of Sun Hill police station's third most senior officer at the height of the programme's success, joining itin 1990, six years after it had been launched on ITV.

1 Danny Welbeck should start for England at Euro 2012

Martin O'Neill, the Sunderland manager, will do all he can to address the one glaring absence on his CV as he heads into his latest FA Cup campaign.

The Last Word