Watch When English Football Ruled Europe

When English Football Ruled Europe is a gripping documentary series that tells the story of how English football clubs dominated the European competitions in the 1970s and 1980s. The series examines the teams, players, and managers who led the way as English teams established themselves as the best in the continent.

The series is made up of four hour-long episodes, each focused on a particular era in the history of English football in Europe. The first episode looks at the rise of English clubs in the early 1970s, when teams like Leeds United, Liverpool, and Tottenham Hotspur began to challenge the established European powers. The episode charts the fortunes of these teams as they made their way to the top of the European game, with Liverpool winning the first of their five European Cups in 1977.

The second episode focuses on the late 1970s and early 1980s, when English teams continued to dominate in Europe. This period saw the rise of Nottingham Forest, who won two consecutive European Cups under the legendary manager Brian Clough. The episode also features the tragic events of the 1985 European Cup final between Liverpool and Juventus, when 39 fans lost their lives in a stadium disaster in Brussels.

The third episode looks at the mid-1980s, when English teams faced a fresh challenge from the continent. The episode examines the rise of Michel Platini's Juventus, who won back-to-back European Cups in 1984 and 1985, and of Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid, who were beginning to assert themselves on the European stage.

The final episode focuses on the late 1980s and early 1990s, a period of transition for English football in Europe. The episode examines how English clubs coped with the ban on English teams in Europe that followed the tragic events at Heysel in 1985, and how they bounced back to win a series of European trophies in the early 1990s.

Throughout the series, viewers are treated to interviews with some of the biggest names in English football history, including Kenny Dalglish, Graeme Souness, Trevor Francis, and Steve McManaman. These interviews provide a fascinating insight into the tactics, personalities, and motivations of the players and managers who made English football such a force in Europe.

The series also features extensive archive footage of some of the most memorable moments in European football history. Viewers will see Liverpool's dramatic comeback against AC Milan in the 2005 Champions League final, Manchester United's incredible last-minute victory against Bayern Munich in the 1999 final, and Arsenal's triumph in the 1970 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup final against Anderlecht.

Overall, When English Football Ruled Europe is an engaging and informative series that will appeal to football fans of all ages. The series tells the story of a golden era in English football, when the country's teams were the envy of the continent and the world. Whether you're a fan of Liverpool, Manchester United, or any other English team, this series is guaranteed to have you on the edge of your seat.