Mike Bassett: England Manager (2001) is a satirical comedy, following the fortunes of the manager of Division One football club Norwich City F.C., 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.

Synopsis

Bassett takes over the England team with them needing one win from three world cup qualifiers to get to the World Cup Finals in Brazil. With a squad featuring a pony-tailed goalkeeper, an alcoholic Geordie, a playboy midfielder and an extremely aggressive centre-back, he plays an old-fashioned 4-4-2 formation and attempts to bring football back to where it belongs. Unfortunately, he loses his first two games in charge and his managerial career is already on the rocks. Needing to beat Slovenia in the final qualifier to make it to Brazil, England can only manage a draw. However, a shock win by Luxembourg over Turkey sees them go through on goal difference.

So England are on their way to Brazil. When they arrive, progress is not smooth as they start their tour by brawling with the Scottish and Irish teams. A difficult group stage sees them on the verge of heading home after they can only manage a goalless draw with unfancied Egypt before losing heavily to Mexico. Captain Gary Wackett is jailed for taking part in hooliganism, star striker Tonkinson accidentally gets involved in a drunken tryst with a transsexual, and when Mike mixes flaming sambucas with anti-depressants, it seems things can get no worse. To turn it around and get through to the second round, all England have to do is beat the old enemy, Argentina...

Character inspirations

While Mike Bassett is an amalgam of all the worst characteristics of football managers, his style is probably most directly inspired by Kevin Keegan, who was generally seen as desperately short of tactical acumen during his tenure as England manager.

Many of the players are clearly inspired by real life characters. Gary Wackett is inspired by two footballing hard men, Stuart Pearce and Terry Butcher. Harpsie, supposedly with a glamorous wife and a playboy lifestyle, seems to be inspired by David Beckham. More obviously, Kevin Tonkinson, the Geordie footballing genius who's not renowned for his intelligence and has an unfortunate fondness for drink, owes his existence to Paul Gascoigne. The team's goalkeeper does not have a speaking role in the film, but bears a striking resemblance to David Seaman.

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