It’s a tough time to be a football fan — or any sports lover in general. All the world’s sports leagues are on hiatus. Tournaments have been canceled, and even the Summer Olympics have been delayed.
Nobody’s feeling this more than UK football fans. For the first time since World War II, it’s not possible to see any live games in any leagues.
While you still have to wait a little while for new matches, there are plenty of ways to quench your thirst for all things football. Here are five documentaries that will scratch the itch and satisfy all your football cravings.
Before We Get Started
Some of these titles may not be available in all countries. For example, some content is available in the UK only. So if you are away from home, then connect to a VPN server in the UK to access this content.
Note: Even if you are streaming from within the UK, you still may want to use a VPN to overcome bandwidth throttling from your ISP or other network issues.
1. The Keeper
The Keeper isn’t the most famous sports documentary. Still, if you’re a Man City fan (or even if you despise them), watching this dramatisation on the life of Bert Trautmann is a great way to get a little taste of classic Premier League football.
The Keeper is packed with suspense and follows all the ups and downs of Trautmann’s life. Love or hate Man City, few films give a better look into a fascinating football era.
You can stream it on Amazon Prime UK.
2. Diego Maradona
If The Keeper is an excellent look at the 1950s and 1960s of football, then Diego Maradona is a unique snapshot into the wild time of the 1980s. Everyone knows who he is. Maradona was the joint-winner with Pele of FIFA’s Player of the Century award. Many fans consider him as the greatest football player of all time.
The film follows his life story from his arrival in Naples as a star through troubles with drugs and an exciting career. What makes the story pop is the incredible archival and behind-the-scenes footage that has never been released before.
You can stream the documentary on All4 and Curzon Home Cinema.
3. Sunderland’ Til I Die
There’s so much content out there about the super club like Manchester United and Juventus. But real football fans see the game both through victories and losses. That’s what makes the Sunderland series so captivating — regardless of whether you’re a fan or not.
With two seasons out, there’s plenty to binge-watch. You can get a front-row seat watching the team’s struggles in the playoffs and the regular season. And, respect is due to the club for letting the cameras get the honest and not always flattering truth about them.
You can stream the series on Netflix.
4. An Impossible Job
Performance of the English team in the World Cup aside, it’s easy to take England’s premiere standing in international football for granted. That’s why it’s An Impossible Job is a must-watch for any fan out there.
It is one of the most famous football documentaries, following Graham Taylor’s time managing the team. Everyone knows what happens, but it’s still compelling to watch. Few films capture the agony and poetry of being a fan of any team or sport so well.
You can stream it on YouTube.
5. Dementia, Football, and Me
Heading has long been a considerable part of the game. In this series, former footballer Alan Shearer explores the potential links between football and dementia. New scientific reports have shown a relationship between the sport and the illness. And few people are better at helping fans wrap their minds around the consequences better than Shearer.
It’s not all grim, but a thoughtful look at the sport. And it asks probing questions about its future. It gets extra compelling when Shearer lets the doctors start performing the tests on him.
You can stream it on the BBC.
5 Fantastic Football Documentaries
Whether you’re looking for a short film or cinematic masterpiece, these five excellent documentaries have you covered. Without further ado, check out one of these incredible documentaries and get your football fix now.
