Further Reading: Python for Football Analytics

Python Fundamentals

"Fluent Python" by Luciano Ramalho Advanced Python patterns including decorators, generators, and the data model. Essential for writing Pythonic code.

"Effective Python" by Brett Slatkin 90 specific ways to write better Python. Excellent for intermediate programmers looking to level up.

Python Documentation (docs.python.org) The official documentation, especially the tutorials and library reference.

Pandas Mastery

"Python for Data Analysis" by Wes McKinney Written by pandas' creator, this is the definitive guide. Covers all core functionality with real examples.

"Effective Pandas" by Matt Harrison Focuses on idiomatic pandas code, method chaining, and performance optimization.

Pandas Documentation (pandas.pydata.org) Comprehensive reference. The "User Guide" section is particularly valuable.

"Modern Pandas" Blog Series by Tom Augspurger Deep dive into pandas best practices from a core contributor.

NumPy and Performance

"NumPy Documentation" (numpy.org) Essential reference for vectorized operations and array computing.

"High Performance Python" by Micha Gorelick & Ian Ozsvald Strategies for making Python code faster, including profiling, Cython, and parallel processing.

"From Python to NumPy" by Nicolas Rougier Free online book focused on vectorization patterns.

Software Engineering for Data Science

"Clean Code" by Robert C. Martin Principles for writing readable, maintainable code. Not Python-specific but universally applicable.

"The Pragmatic Programmer" by Hunt & Thomas Timeless advice on software development practices.

"Test-Driven Development with Python" by Harry Percival Introduction to testing practices with Python examples.

Development Tools

VS Code Python Extension Documentation Guide to setting up VS Code for Python development.

Black Documentation (black.readthedocs.io) The uncompromising Python formatter. Learn to love it.

pytest Documentation (pytest.org) The best Python testing framework. Essential for reliable code.

Online Courses

"Python Data Science Handbook" by Jake VanderPlas (free online) Covers NumPy, pandas, matplotlib, and scikit-learn with Jupyter notebooks.

Real Python (realpython.com) High-quality tutorials on Python topics. Many are free.

Kaggle Learn: Python & Pandas Courses Free, hands-on courses with immediate practice.

Community Resources

Stack Overflow When you're stuck, someone has probably asked the same question.

r/learnpython (Reddit) Active community for Python learners.

Python Discord Real-time help and discussion.