Mike Bassett: England Manager

Mike Bassett: England Manager is a 2001 satirical comedy film directed by Steve Barron. The film follows Mike Bassett (Ricky Tomlinson), who is appointed England manager from a lower football league after managing an obscure team that wins the League Cup. It received mixed reviews.A faux-documentary (mockumentary), the film follows Bassett as he starts his international management career. after England's football manager has a heart attack. Journalist Martin Bashir provides voice-over, and the film features satirical cameo appearances from prominent figures such as Pelé and Atomic Kitten. Minimal use of on-field action is employed, with the focus centered on behind-the-scenes events in boardrooms and the locker room. Embracing the embarrasment of England's football record, the film makes use of fan violence, tabloid assassination of the team, and the often amateur nature of English football. After qualifying for the World Cup on a technicality, Bassett and the team head to Brazil for the tournament. The film was followed by a television series, Mike Bassett: Manager in 2005. In 2014 a second film, Mike Bassett: Interim Manager, attempted to get £250,000 funding on the website Kickstarter. After the time limit for the funding expired, the campaign was cancelled, and there has since been no further news of this second film.