Manchester United is arguably England's finest soccer team (or football, as they call it across the Big Pond), making its members ideal instructors for this fun and entertaining DVD that offers more than a few worthwhile pointers for aspiring World Cup heroes. The team's current icons (Ruud van Nistelrooy, Ryan Giggs, David Bellion, and Darren Fletcher; superstar David Beckham, who recently moved on to Real Madrid, is not one of the teachers here) together with their skills development coach Rene Meulensteen take viewers through the finer points of the game, with instruction on routine aspects such as penalty and free kicks, as well as soccer moves such as the “Flick Behind,” “Step Over,” and “Roller Coaster.” In many ways, the real star here is Sir Alex Ferguson, the Glasgow-born manager who came to the team in 1986 and whose perseverance and imaginative leadership helped raise Manchester United from perennial underachievers into 1990s powerhouse titans. Ferguson is a charming and articulate presence, and it is not hard to imagine him inspiring a whole new generation of soccer champions just on this DVD alone. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: J, H, C, P. (P. Hall)
Manchester United: Play Like Champions
(2003) 112 min. DVD: $22.98. BBC Video (avail. from most distributors). Color cover. ISBN: 0-7907-9375-X. Volume 19, Issue 5
Manchester United: Play Like Champions
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