The Next Big Thing tells the stories of 15 footballers who were tipped for the top as youngsters yet were unable to fulfil their potential. With each player exclusively interviewed and insight provided by former team-mates, coaches and expert journalists, Ryan Baldi explores the pitfalls facing young players and what happens when plans go awry.

The stories of fifteen footballers tipped for a degree of success as youngsters which never came are used here to illustrate the factors that keep the much-hoped-over prodigious entrants to the top flight from finding a lasting place: addiction, temptation, injury, bad decisions and more.