Opta is the statistics firm that measures every single kick, flick, miss, and celebratory kiss of the Carling Premier League. From the winners at Man U to the losers at Sheffield Wednesday, every single piece of footballing action from the 1999-2000 season's been recorded and put into neat tables.

This makes the Opta Football Yearbook... the stattos' bible.

For example, did you know that Bradford City's Wayne Jacobs had a 51 per cent success-rate for tackles won? Or that Watford's David Perpetuini made 195 passes in the opposition's half, 57 per cent of which reached their intended target?

Probably not, and that's the point of Opta. In an age of digital television and scientific dissection of the beautiful game Opta gives us facts we simply Don't Need To Know, But Still Love To Know. With this tome stored in your bathroom library you can become the most knowledgeable football bore in the land.

Opta also reveals which players aren't quite pulling their weight – Howard 'Boring' Wilkinson reckons modern coaches use this to motivate players. As he says: 'There is no hiding place for players anymore.' Apart from in a cupboard, perhaps.

So thanks to Opta there are lies, damn lies and statistics. But not on the football pitch.

— Tom Morgan 23.08.00

Fancy being a statistician? Check out our guide here.
Need more stats? Check out Opta on Planet Football.
Need more sport? Go to the clinic.