“You couldn’t write a script like this” is a line often tossed around by commentators in football’s most dramatic moments. Well, it turns out you can.
There are a host of football-inspired movies that have done exactly that, whether drawing on tales from the beautiful game or inventing their own. Either way, due to a general dearth of football films out there, these particular on-screen stories have often secured cult status among supporters.
Here are the best and most popular football movies on the market.
The boardroom meeting in which Escape to Victory was pitched must have been interesting.
The film centres around a prisoner of war camp in Germany during the Second World War, with the allied prisoners being forced to play an exhibition match against a German team. The production stars Michael Caine, Sylvester Stallone and, naturally, Pele. And yes, Pele actually does have dialogue.
The movie also stars legends Bobby Moore, Ossie Ardiles and Kazimierz Deyna as the prisoners attempt to claim victory in their on-field battle with the Germans in a match which is rigged in the favour of the home team.
Based very loosely on Nick Hornby’s excellent 1992 book, Fever Pitch combines the drama of Arsenal’s 1988/89 title-winning campaign with the feel-good romance most associated with its lead actor Colin Firth.
Firth plays Paul Ashworth, an English teacher who is entranced by his relationship with history teacher Sarah Hughes. However, Paul’s first love threatens to derail their relationship, with Sarah uncertain about his commitment to her over his beloved Gunners.
Football, martial arts and an engrossing underdog story – what’s not to like?
Shaolin Soccer concerns a former Shaolin monk who reunites with his five brothers shortly after the death of their master. Of course, they then apply their extraordinary martial arts ability to conquering the football pitch. Why not, eh?
Team Shaolin (the good guys) enter a Hong Kong cup competition but face an illegally doping Team Evil (unsurprisingly the bad guys) in the ultimate battle of superhuman football and martial arts ability.
Bend It Like Beckham is a unique offering in the world of football film, telling the inspiring tale of Jesminder Bhamra, played by Parminder Nagra, as she searches for a professional football career despite the disappointment it will cause her family.
After meeting Jules Paxton (Keira Knightley’s breakthrough role), who is also seeking to become a professional footballer, the two form a formidable friendship which is tested by the arrival of love interest Joe – a former Irish footballer whose career was ended early by injury.
The film navigates a myriad of social issues with a light-hearted grace, while also starring the likes of David Beckham, Gary Lineker and John Barnes.
If you’re looking for a football film with a little more grit – and plenty of cold-blooded violence – then The Football Factory may well be worth a watch. Starring a young Danny Dyer, the plot revolves around rival hooligan firms in London.
Offering a glimpse into one of the ugliest aspects of the beautiful game, Dyer’s character Tommy Johnson is a Chelsea supporter who lives for the weekend’s football. Tommy is keen to escape the danger and disillusion of his current lifestyle, but leaving the criminal world behind is a tough challenge.
Goal! certainly didn’t make a significant splash on its initial release in 2005 but it has since been embraced as a cult classic.
The film follows the trials and tribulations of Santiago Munez, a Mexican illegal immigrant living in the United States, as he is signed by Newcastle United after impressing at amateur level in Los Angeles. A tricky relationship with his father almost prevents the move but the youngster eventually arrives on Tyneside.
Things don’t go swimmingly at St James’ Park, however, with Munez struggling to make good on his potential, while feuds between him and team-mates threaten his career with the Magpies. Unsurprisingly, Munez finds form at just the right time as Newcastle chase a European place.
Offside is a powerful film and one that deserves to be seen by both football supporters and those completely uninterested in the beautiful game.
Centring around a group of Iranian women, it details their attempts to attend a 2006 World Cup qualifier between Iran and Bahrain. However, women are not allowed to attend football games in Iran and despite dressing as men to enter the arena, their cover regularly comes close to being blown.
Released in 2006, the film highlights the painful difficulties women face to be treated equally in Iran, and although women are now allowed to enter certain stadiums in the country, Offside remains as pertinent today as it was in the mid-noughties.
The Damned United is one of the industry’s most iconic football films and, much like Goal!, its popularity has skyrocketed since its initial release in 2009.
Michael Sheen plays legendary English manager Brian Clough and the film revolves around his torrid 44-day spell as head coach at Leeds United after replacing Don Revie. The Welsh actor offers an exceptional performance as the enigmatic yet flawed Clough, even if the film has been slated for its historical inaccuracies.
Of course, his spell at Leeds was followed by an exceptional period with Nottingham Forest, with Clough guiding the Midlands side to two European Cups.
Focusing on the horrific events of the Munich air disaster, British film United is a heart-breaking and heart-warming tale centred around the aftermath of tragedy. Returning home from a European Cup tie in Belgrade in 1958, a plane carrying the Manchester United team crashed, killing 20 people including players, journalists and supporters.
The film zooms in on the incredible relationship between United assistant manager Jimmy Murphy, played by the brilliant David Tennant, and legendary player Bobby Charlton, played by a young Jack O’Connell, in the weeks and months after the disaster as United find strength and unity in adversity.
Directed by New Zealand filmmaker and actor Taika Waititi, Next Goal Wins charts the remarkable real-life story of the American Samoa national team – widely considered one of the world’s worst sides – as they attempt to qualify for the 2014 World Cup.
American Samoa, who suffered a 31-0 defeat to Australia in 2001, appointed Thomas Rongen, played by Michael Fassbender, to turn the nation’s fortunes around, with the heart-warming film culminating in American Samoa’s search for a first-ever competitive victory in their clash with Tonga in 2011.
