

This 300-minute marathon could well be dubbed the Lord of the Rings of professional football. The manager comes home with his head held high and changes his previous decision to resign in favour of staying with the Three Lions. England do not win the World Cup, but a respectable defeat to Brazil in the semi-final restores Bassett's reputation and ensures his family can once more leave the house without being abused and pelted with fruit. Whether its calling up two useless midfielders Benson and Hedges, due to a confusion stemming from a team list written on the back of a cigarette packet, or the star of the team getting romantically involved with a Brazilian transexual, nothing can go right for the hapless manager. Mike Bassett tells the story of an uncouth, foul-mouthed lower league coach who finds himself in England's top job, and all hell breaks loose as he prepares them for the World Cup.Ī comedy of errors ensues as the protagonist, played by a perfectly-cast Ricky Tomlinson, goes from disaster to disaster at the helm. Other were not so happy: Dave Mackay sued the producers over what he saw as an inaccurate portrayal in the film.Ī clever piece of cinema that revels in subverting the usual expectations of underdog sports movies. Michael Sheen is a force of nature in the main role, exposing Clough's insecurities and bluster as he struggled against the tide in his new club while keeping his human side intact. Already an unpopular figure with the Elland Road players and fans, the new manager's methods and abrasive personality led to almost open warfare in the dressing room, before he was sacked just over a month into his stay. The film tells the story of the 44 days Clough spent as manager of Leeds United in 1974, an era that has gone down as one of the most infamous, controversial spells in football history. The Damned United tries to capture both sides of the late ex-Nottingham Forest and Derby County trainer, focusing on one of the darkest eras of Cloughie's career. If done correctly, the ball should now be in your path as you sprint by the defender.Legendary English manager Brian Clough is remembered almost as much for his volatile, eccentric temperament as he is for his brilliance from the bench. With the ball running in front of you and the opposition player close to putting in a tackle, put your inside foot on top of the ball and roll it back slightly.Īt the same time, spin your body and roll the ball with your outside foot into the direction you’re turning towards. Zidane and Maradona often used it and looked effortless when they did.Īlso known as the 360, this soccer move uses a spin to create separation from defenders and win yourself some extra time and space. The roulette is a lot harder to pull off than it looks… Some will need great technique and trickery to execute, others will need a soft touch and a high amount of ball control…Īll of them require hours upon hours of practice in order execute them with confidence.īelow, I’ll break down 21 tricks you can use to get by even the toughest of defenders. There are hundreds of elite soccer moves to master.

Whether you’re pulling off a perfectly executed Cruyff Turn, an effortless Elastico, or using a blinding whirr of stepovers… Players who have close ball control, quick feet, and an endless bag of soccer tricks and moves are some of the most important players on a good soccer team.
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Being able to use soccer moves to beat defenders at will is a highly prized skill as coaches look for players who can unlock the tightest of defences.
