There are more clashing personalities than competition on the field in "The Damned United."

More biopic than sports movie, it features only a few minutes of what most of the world calls football (and Americans call soccer) and a lot more about interpersonal relations, the perils of hubris and the bonds of loyalty.

Well-made, with a seamless interweaving of archival footage, "The Damned United" is a straightforward character study. What vaults the film above the standard sports movie is the stellar performance by Michael Sheen.

Sheen is given material by screenwriter Peter Morgan, with whom he worked on 2008's "Frost/Nixon" and 2006's "The Queen." Morgan has adapted David Peace's novel "The Damned United" and added fictional aspects to the real-life saga. Sheen's performance as abrasive and ambitious sports manager Brian Clough is as superb as his David Frost in "Frost/Nixon" and his Tony Blair in "The Queen."

Most of the action does not take place on the playing field, but what does involves several British football clubs with whom Clough is associated, primarily Derby and Leeds, and briefly, Brighton.

In the late 1960s, the dynamic and brash Clough manages the low-ranked Derby footballers and brings them up to first place. His fame takes a sudden jump, and he takes to the spotlight. Much of the success, however, also was because of the hard work of his assistant Peter Taylor (Timothy Spall).

But Clough hogs the glory. Despite being aware of how much he needs Taylor, Clough belittles his importance, which leads to a rift. Clough is eager to sing his own praises, though, telling a TV interviewer: "I wouldn't say I was the best manager in the country, but I'm in the top one."

Besides bravado, much of what fuels Clough is his enmity toward coach Don Revie (Colm Meaney) of rival Leeds United.

In 1974, Clough is hired to coach Leeds. But his tenure lasts for only a tumultuous 44 days. His cocky style doesn't sit well with the Leeds footballers, and their loyalty remains with their former coach.

As the movie portrays it, Clough's football rivalries were intensely personal. The film takes a light, sometimes jaunty tone that can keep a viewer from getting completely involved in the saga.

But what stands out is Sheen's masterful performance.