While there are plenty of great soccer-related movies out there, not all of them are free to view on YouTube. If you are at the office and have time to kill, or just want to watch a good soccer flick while on the laptop at home, YouTube is a solid place to start. Listed below are seven outstanding, and free, soccer movies to watch on YouTube.
1. Mike Bassett: England Manager
This 2001 “mockumentary” follows Norwich City manager Mike Bassett and his rise to lead the England national team in the upcoming World Cup. Bassett (played by Ricky Tomlinson), who is both brash and dimwitted, puts together a band of interesting footballers once he is appointed manager of the national team (including an alcoholic and a former prolific striker that hadn’t scored a goal in two years). The funny film is seen as sort of a cult classic, despite its mixed reviews.
2. United
Made just over three years ago, United tells the true story of the Manchester United “Busby Babes” team during the mid-to-late 1950’s. The drama includes the aftermath of the tragic 1958 Munich air crash that claimed 23 total lives, including eight United players and three United staff members. This film is a must-see, even for non-Manchester United supporters.
3. The Class of ’92
Another Manchester United related film, The Class of ’92 focuses on six gifted United players that came through the first team ranks together: David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, and Gary and Phil Neville. The documentary follows the group from their beginnings in 1992, to their triumph in the Champions League final during the 1999 season (a campaign in which the Red Devils won the Champions League, Premier League, and the FA Cup).
4. The Damned United
Based on David Pearce’s best-selling book The Damned Utd, this British drama is centered around Brian Clough’s time as the manager of Leeds United during the 1974 season. Clough, a former star striker for Middlesbrough and Sunderland, lasted just 44 days as the Leeds United manager. (Note: this movie on YouTube is broken down into 10 shorter clips).
5. The Two Escobars
Heading into the 1994 World Cup, the Colombian national team was considered to be one of the favorites to win the title. Cartel kingpin Pablo Escobar was thought to have heavily financed the national team and this story intertwines stories of both Pablo and Andres Escobar (no relation), a defender for the Columbian team.
The defender was unfortunately blamed for Colombia’s early exit from the World Cup due to an own goal during a match against the USA. Less than 10 days following the goal, Andres Escobar was shot to death in his home country. 30 for 30 has yet to make a bad film, and The Two Escobars may be one of their better projects.
6. Thierry Henry: Legend
Arguably one of the most dominant and talented players in Premier League history, Arsenal’s Thierry Henry talks about his immensely successful eight-year career with the Gunners in this documentary. The Frenchman scored an astounding 226 total goals for Arsenal, and helped guide the Gunners to seven trophies during his time in north London (including a gold Premier League trophy during the unbeaten 2003-04 season).
7. Kicking It
Kicking it is a 2008 documentary that follows six people as they train for a soccer tournament known as the “Homeless World Cup”. These residents (from Afghanistan, America, Ireland, Kenya, Russia, and Spain) compete in the 2006 version of the Homeless World Cup, held in South Africa. 48 squads, and a total of 500 people, were involved in the tournament that year. The annual soccer competition began in Austria in 2003.
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