
- Genre
- Film
- Released
- 2001
- Starring
- Ricky Tomlinson, Amanda Redman, Philip Jackson, Bradley Walsh, Phill Jupitus, Ulrich Thomsen, Robert Putt, Dean Lennox Kelly and others
- Writers
- Rob Sprackling and John R. Smith
- Director
- Steve Barron
- Producers
- Neil Peplow, Steve Barron, Robert Halmi Sr., Robert Jones, Nigel Green, Luc Roeg and Charles Finch
The manager of England's national football team unexpectedly succumbs to a heart attack, and the search is on for a replacement.
Most people who seem qualified for the position have the good sense to turn it down, and so the responsibility falls to Mike Bassett, a scruffy and loud-mouthed lout whose sole claim to football fame is - after a long and unremarkable playing career - having recently lead a previously undistinguished team to a league championship.
Bassett sets about training the team, bringing in some wildcard call-ups from the depths of his club management career: hopes are high, but when they only qualify for the upcoming World Cup in Rio de Janeiro by fluke, the nation's prospects don't seem quite so good.
As they battle on through losses against the most unlikely of small-fry nations, tensions grow and Bassett comes under increasing criticism at home - and ridicule abroad - for his antiquated tactics, the players' poor discipline, and a series of embarrassing debacles.
- Tagline
- He Knows F.A. About Football; The ever changing face of football has a got new mug...
- UK certificate
- 15
- Duration
- 89 minutes
- Release date
- Friday 28th September 2001
- Premiere
- Wednesday 26th September 2001
- Production company
- Laugh track
- None
Broadcast details
- Last repeat
- Tuesday 2nd June 2020 at 12:00am on ITV4
Website links

Supporters and subscribers get more
Additional content and tools are available across the site for Supporters and BCG Pro subscribers. On this page you can:
- View location details
Already a donor or Pro user? Sign in