Soccer on Netflix: December 2016
If you suffer from Soccer Syndrome like I do then you will love this list of the current available soccer themed movies on Netflix for December 2017 in no particular order:
Trainer!
Since I am a youth soccer coach this movie Trainer! caught my eye. Here is how Netflix describes this soccer documentary "This behind-the-scenes sports documentary follows the careeres of three young German professional soccer coaches over the course of a single season."
Rated PD and originally released in 2013, Trainer! explores the highs and lows of coaching professional soccer while under the constant strain of a critical German media.
Sons of Ben
Being a HUGE fan of anything related to Major League Soccer or American soccer in general this documentary, Sons of Ben, immediately caught my eye. It chronicles a group of Philadelphia soccer fans that created a supporters group before their city even had an MLS club.
The Netflix description is as follows "Passion is an understatement. Meet the folks who wanted a Major League Soccer club in Philadelphia so badly, they became fans before it even existed."
This documentary is not rated and was released in 2016.
30 for 30: The Two Escobars
A few years back ESPN had a great series of soccer related 30 for 30 episodes. The Two Escobars delves into what happened to Colombian soccer star Andres Escobar following a World Cup loss to the United States in 1994.
Many soccer fans may not have known of the connection between Andres Escobar and one of the most notorious drug king pins of our century, Pablo Escobar.
As an American soccer fan I remember the joy of our country as the U.S. Men's National team advanced to the round of 16 for the first time since 1930. This documentary explores the consequences one unfortunate own goal had on a player, his family, and his country.
This film is not rated and was release by ESPN in 2010.
Next Goal Wins
This may be my favorite soccer documentary of all time. At first sight the movie is simply a documentary about the small island nation of American Samoa as they attempt to qualify for their first World Cup in 2014. But shortly into the 1 hour 37 minute documentary you find yourself drawn to the quirky, powerful, and motivating coach, Thomas Rongen.
Rongen leads what is essentially a modern day soccer version of the Bad News Bears as they attempt to remove the stigma in the soccer world as the worst pro team on the planet.
This movie was release in 2014 and is not rated.