Discover the Top 10 Football TV Series That Every Fan Should Watch This Year

As a lifelong football enthusiast and content creator who has spent over a decade analyzing sports media, I've noticed something fascinating happening in television lately. While I was watching golf highlights last weekend, a particular statistic caught my attention - a professional golfer had 32 putts in her first round and 36 in the second, totaling 68 putts across two rounds, combined with her 0-3 performance in sand saves. This precise measurement of athletic performance got me thinking about how we track character development in football dramas, where every pass, every tactical decision, and every emotional moment builds toward the complete narrative arc. The evolution of football television series has been nothing short of remarkable, transforming from simple sports dramas into complex narratives that capture the heart and soul of the beautiful game.

Let me share with you my personal journey through this year's most compelling football series, starting with what I consider the crown jewel of current football storytelling. "The English Game," produced by the same team behind Downton Abbey, masterfully explores football's origins in a way that made me appreciate how far the sport has come. I found myself completely immersed in the 19th-century football landscape, where class divisions dictated everything from playing styles to team selections. The series does something remarkable - it makes you feel the weight of every historical decision that shaped modern football. What struck me as particularly brilliant was how the creators managed to balance historical accuracy with emotional storytelling, creating characters that feel both authentic to their time and relatable to contemporary audiences. The production quality alone makes this worth watching, with attention to period details that transport you completely to football's formative years.

Moving from historical drama to contemporary storytelling, "Ted Lasso" has genuinely redefined what a sports series can achieve. I'll admit I was skeptical at first - an American football coach taking over an English Premier League team sounded like a tired premise. But within three episodes, I was completely hooked. The series manages to blend genuine football insight with heartfelt character development in ways I've never seen before. Jason Sudeikis brings such warmth and depth to his portrayal of Ted that you find yourself rooting for him regardless of your actual football allegiances. The football scenes are surprisingly authentic too, with proper coaching techniques and realistic match sequences that won't make actual football fans cringe. What I love most is how the show demonstrates that football success isn't just about tactics and skills - it's about building relationships and understanding human psychology.

Now let's talk about something completely different - "Sunderland 'Til I Die." This documentary series hit me right in the gut with its raw, unfiltered look at what football means to a community. Following Sunderland AFC through their turbulent season felt like experiencing every high and low alongside the actual fans. I remember watching the second season and feeling physically tense during the promotion chase episodes, even though I knew the outcome beforehand. The access granted to the filmmakers is unprecedented, taking viewers from the boardroom to the locker room with breathtaking intimacy. What makes this series stand out is its authenticity - there are no scripted moments, no manufactured drama, just the real emotional rollercoaster of football fandom. It perfectly captures why we care so much about this sport, demonstrating how football clubs become woven into the fabric of their communities.

Speaking of community impact, "The Damned United" remains one of my all-time favorite football films that functions as an excellent limited series when watched in segments. Michael Sheen's portrayal of Brian Clough is nothing short of mesmerizing, capturing the complexity of one of football's most fascinating characters. Having rewatched it recently, I was struck by how well it holds up a decade after its release. The film focuses on Clough's brief but memorable 44-day tenure as Leeds United manager, a period that fundamentally shaped English football history. The writing is sharp, the performances are pitch-perfect, and the football sequences feel authentic to the 1970s era. What I appreciate most is how the film doesn't shy away from Clough's flaws while still making you understand his football philosophy and personal demons.

For those who prefer their football stories with a heavier dose of drama, "Club de Cuervos" offers a refreshing Mexican perspective that had me binge-watching entire seasons in single sittings. The series follows the sibling rivalry that erupts when the children of a beloved football club owner inherit the team after his sudden death. I was initially drawn to the premise but stayed for the brilliant character development and surprisingly accurate portrayal of football club operations. The show balances humor, drama, and genuine football insight in ways that feel fresh and innovative. What impressed me most was how the creators managed to make the football elements accessible to casual fans while still satisfying hardcore enthusiasts like myself with authentic tactical discussions and realistic match sequences.

Shifting gears to something more experimental, "The First Team" provides a hilarious behind-the-scenes look at a fictional Premier League club that had me laughing out loud multiple times per episode. While it takes creative liberties with reality, the core emotional truths about professional footballers' lives feel surprisingly accurate. The three young protagonists navigate the absurdities of fame, fortune, and football with a charm that makes you genuinely care about their journeys. I particularly enjoyed how the series explores the pressure young athletes face in the social media age, something traditional football dramas often overlook. The football action sequences are well-executed, but it's the locker room banter and personal relationships that truly make this series worth watching.

For international football storytelling, "El Presidente" offers a fascinating look at the corruption scandal that rocked South American football, told from the perspective of Sergio Jadue, the former president of Chilean football federation. This series fascinated me with its blend of sports drama and true crime elements, revealing how deeply corruption can penetrate the sport we love. The production values are exceptional, with authentic locations and careful attention to cultural details that make the story feel both specific and universally relevant. What struck me was how the series manages to make administrative corruption dramatically compelling while never losing sight of the human cost to players and fans.

Returning to British television, "The Keeper" tells the remarkable true story of Bert Trautmann, the German goalkeeper who played for Manchester City after World War II, facing prejudice and suspicion at every turn. This film moved me deeply with its exploration of football's power to bridge cultural divides and heal wartime wounds. The football sequences are beautifully shot, but it's the human drama that truly elevates this beyond a standard sports film. Having visited the actual locations featured in the film during my trip to Manchester last year, I can attest to how accurately the production captures the post-war atmosphere and the significance of Trautmann's journey.

Wrapping up my recommendations, I have to mention "Mike Bassett: England Manager," which remains one of the funniest football comedies ever made, perfect for when you need a break from intense dramas. The film follows the disastrous tenure of a fictional England manager with such perfect comic timing that I find myself quoting lines from it regularly. While it's clearly exaggerated for comedic effect, the underlying truths about English football culture and the pressure on national team managers ring completely true. The football sequences are deliberately over-the-top but still capture the essence of why we're so passionate about international competitions.

What ties all these series together, in my view, is their ability to capture football's essential truth - that it's never just about the game itself, but about the human stories that unfold both on and off the pitch. Each of these productions, in their own way, understands that football success, much like that golfer's 68 putts and 0-3 sand save statistic I mentioned earlier, comes down to countless small moments that collectively define the larger narrative. The best football series make us feel like we're part of that narrative, connecting us to the emotional core of the sport regardless of our actual team allegiances. Having watched and analyzed hundreds of hours of football programming over the years, I'm convinced we're living in a golden age of sports storytelling, where the quality of writing, acting, and production has finally caught up to the drama inherent in the beautiful game itself.