The Damned United (2009) | Movie Recap | Summary | Explained #recapped

Get ready to relive the drama, passion, and  controversy of one of the most infamous managerial   stints in football his-story. Join us as we recap  Michael Sheen's electrifying performance as the   legendary Brian Clough in the gripping film, The  Damned United. Strap in for a rollercoaster ride   of e-motions as we delve into the tumultuous  44-day reign of Clough at Leeds United, a story   that will leave you on the edge of your seat until  the very end. Don't miss out on this unforgettable   tale of ambition, ego, and redemption. Soh, At the start of the film,   a depiction of the challenging matches in the  England Football League is presented. In 1974,   the England National Football Team faced  elimination from the World Cup. This led   to a press conference featuring Don Revie, who  announced his departure from Leeds United to   become the coach of the England national football  team. Meanwhile, Brian Clough, seen participating   in a television interview, consistently speaks  negatively about Don Revie. Despite the fact that   Don Revie previously coached Leeds United and  Brian took over as his successor at the club,   Brian's disparaging remarks towards Don Revie  persist. Following the televised interview, Brian   pays a visit to the Leeds United training ground  at the behest of the club's directors, aiming to   address his contentious comments about Don Revie.  The directors caution Brian against involving   personal grievances at the club, but Brian asserts  his independence from their authority, expressing   his desire to outshine Don Revie and reform the  perception of Leeds supporters. Brian's intense   animosity towards Don Revie is revealed to have  originated six years prior, specifically in 1968.  During that period, Brian served as the manager  of Derby County, a team in the 2nd division, with   Peter Taylor as his assistant coach. Despite Derby  County's low position in the League standings,   Brian's attention was piqued when they had  the chance to play against Leeds United,   the top-ranked team in the 1st division of the  England Football League under the guidance of   Don Revie. Brian felt a sense of respect towards  the esteemed opponent they were about to face,   going as far as preparing team greetings and a  bottle of wine to share with Don Revie. However,   upon Leeds United's arrival, Brian and his team  were dismayed to find that the tradition of   stopping 100 yards before the opponent's gate  was not upheld; the Leeds players passed them   without exchanging pleasantries, leaving  Brian feeling slighted and unappreciated. Throughout the match, Brian's frustration  escalated due to the aggressive and dubious   tactics displayed by the Leeds players, including  diving to secure a penalty that led to a goal.   Feeling deceived, Brian's resentment grew when Don  Revie failed to acknowledge him after the game,   departing without partaking in the customary  post-match wine-drinking session in the Premier   League management room. Despite Brian's thorough  preparations, his hopes of seeking revenge During   the encounter with Leeds, Brian vowed to avenge  the perceived disrespect by defeating Don Revie's   team. However, this seemed unattainable as Derby  County was a division below Leeds. Determined to   elevate his team's performance and close the gap,  Brian and Peter Taylor strategized on bolstering   the squad. Peter embarked on a mission to scout  for potential players and came across Dave Mackay,   a seasoned player from Tottenham offered  a coaching role with the Scottish team. Initially hesitant due to Dave's age, Brian  eventually relented, persuaded by Peter's   belief that Dave could inject new energy  and tactics into the team. They traveled   to London to recruit Dave, and further extended  the team by acquiring Alan Hinton, Dave Mackay,   and John O'Hare, despite facing opposition  from the club management. Through Brian's   bold decisions and strategic signings, Derby  County triumphed in the Division 2 competition,   while Leeds United secured the Division  1 championship in the same year. Fast forward to 1974, Brian embarked  on a new challenge as the head coach   of Leeds United. However, the transition  was far from smooth sailing as obstacles   and challenges loomed ahead  for the experienced manager. Brian's attempts to implement fairer and less  aggressive tactics were met with resistance from   the seasoned players at Legend United, as they  were accustomed to their rough style of play.   Additionally, Brian's words had a negative  impact on the morale of the Leeds United   players. Reverting back to 1969, a crucial meeting  between Derby and Leeds United took place. Despite   Brian's efforts, the initial season did not yield  immediate success for Derby. In the debut match,   Derby suffered a demoralizing 5-0 loss, further  fueling Brian's frustration. Determined to turn   the tide, Brian took matters into his own  hands by bringing in new players without   seeking approval from the club management, despite  Peter cautioning about the club's existing debts.   Unperturbed by financial concerns, Brian pressed  on, convinced that the on-field performance   should take precedence over administrative  issues. Despite facing challenges and clashes,   Brian eventually succeeded in recruiting  a promising new player named Colin. Subsequently, Derby County faced  off against Leeds United once more,   with Brian orchestrating a winning strategy and  entrusting Peter with a pivotal role during the   match. Through strategic planning and team  effort, Derby County emerged victorious,   igniting a surge in confidence and performance  that propelled them from the bottom of the   standings to the top. This upward trajectory  culminated in Derby County's historic triumph   in the 1st division league in 1972, solidifying  their status as a respected and revered team in   the eyes of the British public. Fast-forward to  1974, where Leeds United clashed with Liverpool   in a highly anticipated match, drawing the  attention of fans and former coach Don Revie,   now at the helm of the England National Football  team. However, tensions escalated during the game   as Leeds United players engaged in unsportsmanlike  conduct towards their opponents, resulting in   one player being ejected from the field. The  match ultimately ended in Liverpool's favor. In a further blow to Leeds United, the player  faced disciplinary action from the FA Disciplinary   Commission, leading to a 10-game suspension  and posing a challenge for Brian as he sought   a replacement. Despite turning to his friend  Peter for assistance, Brian's efforts were met   with disappointment as Peter expressed hurt over  Brian's previous words and actions. Overcome with   guilt and remorse for undervaluing his friend,  Brian found himself in a state of distress. Reflecting back to 1973, Derby County  achieved success on the European stage,   earning them the privilege of representing  England in international competitions. As   the team management stressed the importance  of focusing on these prestigious events,   a significant domestic league fixture  against their fierce rivals, Leeds United,   loomed on the horizon. This crucial match sparked  tension between Brian and the club management,   as they clashed over the decision to field  substitute players instead of their main   squad against such formidable opponents. The  disagreement further strained the relationship   between Brian and the team management, setting  the stage for a challenging period ahead. Brian's increasing arrogance led him to belittle  the team management and attribute Derby County's   accomplishments solely to his own efforts.  Despite this, Derby County ultimately fielded   their main squad against Leeds United in a bid  to secure victory over their rival. However,   their efforts fell short, with key players  sustaining injuries due to the rough play   of the Leeds team. Forced to switch to their  second-string lineup for the subsequent match,   Derby County suffered another defeat, ending  with a 3-1 loss against their rivals. Brian's   frustration with the team management reached a  boiling point, resulting in his assistant coach,   Peter Taylor, experiencing a heart  attack and requiring hospitalization. In an impulsive move, Brian tendered a resignation  letter to the team management, aiming to leverage   the situation to elevate his position to general  management. Unexpectedly, the management accepted   Brian's resignation, contrary to his intentions  to stay with Derby County. Despite pleas from   supporters urging him to remain, the decision was  final, prompting the appointment of Dave Mackay   as the new coach for Derby County. Subsequently,  Brian and Peter transitioned to coaching roles   at Brighton, a 3rd division club. Although  initially reluctant to coach at that level,   Peter's persuasion coupled with competitive  compensation swayed Brian's decision. Shortly after assuming coaching positions at  Brighton, a representative from Leeds United   approached Brian with an offer to join their  coaching staff. Simultaneously, Don Revie had   been appointed as the coach of the England  national team. Intrigued by the opportunity,   Brian considered the offer and extended an  invitation to Peter to join Leeds United. However,   Peter declined, citing their brief tenure  at Brighton and the lack of contributions to   the club's management team. Despite Peter's  reservations, Brian remained determined to   pursue greater opportunities, deeming the current  club too limiting for his ambitions. Ultimately,   Brian made the decision to leave, while  Peter chose to stay with the Brighton club,   diverging their paths in the football world. These two companions eventually went their   separate ways, even distancing themselves from  each other due to hurtful remarks made by Brian   towards Peter, accusing him of lacking courage in  critical situations. In 1974, Brian, as the head   coach and team manager, initiated player transfers  for Leeds United due to their poor performance at   the start of the season. However, this decision  was met with disapproval from the Leeds United   players who deemed it wasteful. Additionally, the  players began to distance themselves from Brian,   believing he did not respect the culture of  Leeds. Comparisons to Don Revie's coaching   practices fueled Brian's anger, as he harbored  disdain towards Revie. Following defeats against   QPR and Luton, the public outcry for Brian's  dismissal from Leeds United grew, particularly   after his strategy of transferring three players  failed to yield positive results for the club. Subsequently, Brian faced scrutiny from the team  directors for his managerial decisions that failed   to foster team cohesion. Despite Brian's attempts  to defend his actions, mounting pressure coupled   with negative public sentiment ultimately led to  his dismissal from Leeds United, making headlines   in the media. In a notable turn of events, Brian  found himself in an interview alongside his   rival Don Revie, with tensions underscoring  their historic animosity. While the rivalry   even initially stemmed from personal issues, the  interview escalated into a heated debate between   Don Revie and Brian, with Revie critiquing Brian's  coaching methods and tactics at Leeds United. Brian's hurtful words further deteriorated the  team's unity, sparking discord among the players.   In response to criticisms, Brian retaliated by  alleging that, under Don Revie's leadership,   Leeds had the worst disciplinary record, resorting  to unethical practices to secure victories. The   clash of opinions between the two coaches was  unavoidable. Reflecting on past grievances,   Brian recounted an incident where Don Revie  displayed disregard towards him by refusing   to shake his hand before a match. In return,  Don Revie claimed he was unaware of Brian   Clough's identity at the time, asserting  that had he known, the interaction would   have been different. He characterized Brian  as a troublemaker who stirs controversy in   every club he joins. The debate concluded with  a mutual challenge set for the next five years. Following the contentious interview, Brian  contemplated the events and resolved to   visit his former friend, Peter, extending  a heartfelt apology for his past conduct.   This reconciliation paved the way for  their reunion and renewed friendship,   setting the stage for a fresh start.  Together, they embarked on a new chapter,   assuming coaching roles at Nottingham  Forest and achieving remarkable triumphs,   winning the Premier League in 1978 and claiming  back-to-back European championships in 1979 and   1980. In contrast, Don Revie, who failed to  secure a coaching position with the England   national team and became embroiled in a financial  scandal. This narrative encapsulates the journey   of an ambitious coach who navigated his team from  the 2nd division to victorious champions in the   prestigious 1st division of the Premier League.  And the End, Bye bye, like, comment and subscribe.