Mike Bassett: England Manager is a 2001 satirical comedy film directed by Steve Barron, following the fortunes of the manager of Division One football (English football's second tier) club Norwich City, Mike Bassett, who having led his side to the 'Mr Clutch Cup', is appointed England manager.
The film takes the form of a fly-on-the-wall fictional documentary (mockumentary) following Bassett (played by Ricky Tomlinson) as he starts his international management career. Martin Bashir, well known as a journalist and presenter in real life, plays the interviewer and provides the voice-over, and the film features cameo appearances from Pelé and Ronaldo. The film satirises many targets, such as the mysterious figures who run the Football Association, the stereotypical view of an old-fashioned manager, and the tabloid press's unfailing habit of building the England team up so they can knock them down hard.
The world cup being played is referred to in the film as 'World Cup XVII'; the 17th World Cup was the tournament played in 2002.
The film was followed by a TV series, Mike Bassett: Manager in 2005.
Read more about Mike Bassett: England Manager: Plot, Cast, England Under Mike Bassett, Reception
Famous quotes containing the word england:
“Forced from home, and all its pleasures,
Afric’s coast I left forlorn;
To increase a stranger’s treasures,
O’er the raging billows borne.
Men from England bought and sold me,
Paid my price in paltry gold;
But, though theirs they have enroll’d me,
Minds are never to be sold.”
—William Cowper (1731–1800)