Don Revie
Encyclopedia
Donald George 'Don' Revie, OBE
, (10 July 1927 – 26 May 1989), was an English
footballer who played for Leicester City
, Hull City
, Sunderland
, Manchester City
and Leeds United
as a deep-lying centre forward. After managing Leeds United (1961–1974) he managed England
from 1974 until 1977. He later managed in the Middle East
at international and club level.
on 10 July 1927. He signed as a footballer for Leicester City in 1944. Leicester City originally thought him not good enough to turn professional, but he was taken under the wing of Leicester player Sep Smith
who began to mentor Revie on many of his ideas about the game. He also learned the rudiments of the bricklaying trade outside football. From there he went on to play for Hull City in 1949 (transfer fee £20,000), Manchester City in 1951 (£25,000), Sunderland in 1956 (£22,000) and Leeds United in November 1958 (£12,000). The combined transfer fees paid over his career were at the time (1958) a record in English football.
Revie won six caps for England
, was Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year
in 1955 and won an FA Cup
winners medal with Manchester City in 1956. At Manchester City the playing tactic of using a deep-lying centre forward (Revie's position, evolved from the more traditional inside right), and based on the style of the successful Hungarian national team
, and in particular Nándor Hidegkuti
, who invented the role. This helped Manchester City to a 3–1 victory over Birmingham
in the 1956 FA Cup Final
, a game best known for goalkeeper Bert Trautmann
playing the last 15 minutes of the match with a broken neck.
, following the resignation of Jack Taylor
. He had initially planned to apply for the vacant job at Bournemouth
, but was persuaded by a local journalist to pursue the Leeds job. He immediately began to institute radical changes such as the implementation of a youth policy, and a change of kit from the traditional blue and yellow to an all-white strip. He also constructed a family
ethos around the club's staff and players.
Although his tenure did not get off to a flying start he won the Football League Second Division
within three years as manager. During this time Leeds broke their record transfer payment to re-sign John Charles
from Juventus, only to sell him on for the same amount to A.S. Roma
after only a few matches. Revie developed a close working relationship with the chairman Harry Reynolds who was keen to assist the manager in building Leeds into a powerful force. In 1964 Leeds won promotion to the First Division
, topping the Second Division with 63 points.
Once promoted Revie took Leeds to second in the league
and the FA Cup final in their first season in the top division. In the early years much of the team's attack was based around the South African winger Albert Johanneson
. Revie added to his squad by signing Johnny Giles
from Manchester United
and Bobby Collins
from Everton
, both of whom had fallen out of favour with their managers. Revie had inherited Jack Charlton
and Billy Bremner
from the previous manager, and both players became cornerstones
of the team during Revie's reign. In 1966 following a serious injury to Collins, Bremner was made captain.
All in all, Revie guided Leeds to two Football League First Division
titles, one FA Cup
, one League Cup
, two Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
titles, one Football League Second Division
title and one Charity Shield
. He also steered them to three more FA Cup Finals, one more Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Final and one Cup Winners' Cup
Final. In 1973 despite strong rumours linking him with a move to take over at Everton
, a wealthier club which drew larger crowds, Revie chose to remain in Leeds.
Leeds 1–0 defeat to Sunderland
in the 1973 FA Cup Final was seen by some as marking an end of Leeds' spell at the top. Revie was particularly disappointed by the defeat because Sunderland were managed by Bob Stokoe
, a critic of Revie. There was a widespread belief that Revie would have to rebuild his team for following season, but Revie instead chose to continue with largely the same line-up. He was rewarded as Leeds won another league title, beating Liverpool by five points.
Following his departure in 1974, Revie was succeeded by Brian Clough
, one of his major rivals. Clough had been outspoken in his attacks on Leeds' style of football and he was an unpopular choice with the players who would have preferred Johnny Giles to get the post. After a brief reign Clough departed and was replaced by Jimmy Armfield
. The team enjoyed a final flourish, reaching the 1975 European Cup Final
which they lost to Bayern Munich before the side began to break up. A succession of Leeds managers was unable to prevent the club dropping down the table, as attendances fell. By 1982 the club were in the Second Division
again.
Just before departing from Leeds for the England job, Revie was a special guest on the TV guest show This Is Your Life
.
. The previous manager Alf Ramsey
had just departed after England had failed to qualify for the 1974 World Cup following a draw with Poland
. In July 1974, Revie accepted the manager's job after Joe Mercer
had turned it down because of his advanced years. The FA, particularly Ted Croker
, were impressed with Revie's personality and ideas.
However, Revie was unable to reproduce the success he had enjoyed at Leeds. Revie's England failed to qualify for the 1976 European Championships and for the 1978 World Cup Finals. Criticism mounted over Revie's old fashioned and abrupt style of management and his failure to qualify for tournament football. He is one of the least successful managers of the England national team.
. This was the first time a manager of England had resigned from the position. The circumstances of Revie's departure immediately provoked controversy. Revie snubbed the FA
by selling news of his resignation to the Daily Mail
, where the story broke before the FA had received his letter of resignation. Some football supporters were incensed at reports of Revie's lucrative contract with the UAE team (£340,000 for four years), and accused him of acting selfishly and disloyally. The FA suspended Revie from football for 10 years on a charge of bringing the game into disrepute. Revie contested his suspension in a lawsuit against the FA, and the court overturned the suspension. After leaving the UAE coaching role in 1980 he took over management of Al-Nasr
, followed in 1984 by the Egypt
ian club Al-Ahly
of Cairo.
Revie then retired to Scotland where he and his wife enjoyed playing golf and being with family members.
where he intended to retire. In September that year, he started feeling pains in his legs after playing golf. After tests, he was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease
in May 1987. Revie publicly announced his illness that summer, but was still able to walk out to the Elland Road pitch in September 1987, where he watched Leeds beat Manchester City 2-0.
Revie made his last public appearance in May 1988 at Elland Road in a wheelchair. He died in a Murrayfield Hospital in Edinburgh
on May 26, 1989, aged 61, and was cremated four days later at Warriston Crematorium in Edinburgh.
The FA did not send any officials to the funeral, nor was a minute's silence held at any football match in his memory, nor did any teams wear black armbands. However, even the Daily Mirror newspaper, once one of Revie's fiercest critics, slammed the FA for not sending any representatives to the funeral.
Those who did attend the funeral included Allan Clarke
, Eddie Gray, Jack Charlton
, Billy Bremner
, Johnny Giles
, Billy Bingham
, referee Jack Taylor
, Kevin Keegan
, Brian Moore
and Lawrie McMenemy
.
Revie was however a controversial figure in his time, his team being criticised for their perceived overly physical style of play and alleged gamesmanship, which lead to the team famously being nicknamed 'Dirty Leeds'. One of Revie's most notable critics was Brian Clough
(who like Revie hailed from Middlesbrough) who branded his Leeds side "cheats" and called for the club to be relegated to the Second Division on disciplinary grounds.
March 2011 marked 50 years since Don Revie became player-manager at Elland Road. Stars from his Leeds United days sent their tributes to official Leeds United site, while the BBC's Late Kick-OFF show broadcast a special tribute video of his career highlights.
Although Revie's legacy is still the subject of controversy, the former Leeds United and England manager remains a hero at Elland Road where a supporters group is currently raising funds for a statue to be made in his honour.
were published in the Daily Mirror newspaper claiming that Revie had unsuccessfully attempted to bribe Wolverhampton Wanderers players before a match during the 1971-72 league title run-in and that he had also similarly tried to bribe Nottingham Forest players before another crucial match. The allegations were based on claims made by three Wolves players, the Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Jim Barron
and, most shockingly, Revie's own goalkeeper at Leeds Gary Sprake
. Revie responded by denying the allegations and initiating libel proceedings against the Daily Mirror but he later dropped the libel action without explanation. Some years later Billy Bremner
successfully sued another newspaper, the Sunday People, for repeating claims that he had been the "go-between" in one alleged bribery attempt (although Bremner had never sued the Daily Mirror when they had made the original allegations, nor taken any action against the players who had originated the claims). Sprake was ostracised by many of his former teammates who claimed he had only made the bribery allegations for personal profit after the Mirror offered him a substantial amount of money for his story.
Sprake later withdrew his allegations around the time of the Bremner libel trial but has since reversed his stance and repeated his original claims along with making some new bribery allegations against Revie. Additionally Bob Stokoe
would later claim that while managing Bury
in 1962, Revie had offered him a bribe to "go easy" on his Leeds side who were at the time struggling against relegation to the Third Division and that he had become enraged when Revie responded to his refusal to accept the bribe by asking "in that case, may I speak to your players?". Most recently, Frank McLintock
claimed in his autobiography that Revie once offered him a bribe before a league match (although McLintock also states that aside from this incident his memories of Revie are good ones). Aside from Sprake, Revie's former players at Leeds have generally denied and poured scorn on claims that their manager attempted to fix matches although Norman Hunter, when asked about the allegations during a 2004 interview, stated that "he (Revie) may have bent the rules a bit, and I noticed certain things myself, but I still think he was the best manager I've ever seen. Well, I heard those things that Bob Stokoe said, and there's no smoke without fire...I never knew of money changing hands, not that I'd tell you if I did." However Revie was never formally charged with any offence relating to these allegations by either a footballing authority or the police (despite the fact that the Daily Mirror claimed they had delivered a 300-page dossier to the F.A detailing the evidence of attempted match-fixing against Revie, a dossier which the F.A later claimed was not in their possession) and none of the claims have ever been proven. Despite this, journalist Roy Greenslade
claims that the allegations of match-fixing were the real reason the F.A. banned Revie from any involvement in football for ten years.
in the film The Damned United
, which treats Brian Clough
's ill-fated 44-day reign as manager of Leeds United in 1974 following Revie's departure for the England job.
FA Cup
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, (10 July 1927 – 26 May 1989), was an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
footballer who played for Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
, Hull City
Hull City A.F.C.
Hull City Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Kingston upon Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, founded in 1904. The club participates in the Football League Championship, the second tier of English football...
, Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
, Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
and Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
as a deep-lying centre forward. After managing Leeds United (1961–1974) he managed England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
from 1974 until 1977. He later managed in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
at international and club level.
Playing career
Revie was born in MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
on 10 July 1927. He signed as a footballer for Leicester City in 1944. Leicester City originally thought him not good enough to turn professional, but he was taken under the wing of Leicester player Sep Smith
Sep Smith
Septimus 'Sep' Smith was an English footballer who played as a creative wing half and originally as an inside forward...
who began to mentor Revie on many of his ideas about the game. He also learned the rudiments of the bricklaying trade outside football. From there he went on to play for Hull City in 1949 (transfer fee £20,000), Manchester City in 1951 (£25,000), Sunderland in 1956 (£22,000) and Leeds United in November 1958 (£12,000). The combined transfer fees paid over his career were at the time (1958) a record in English football.
Revie won six caps for England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
, was Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year
Football Writers' Association
The Football Writers' Association is an association of England football journalists and correspondents writing for newspapers and agencies, founded in 1947....
in 1955 and won an FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
winners medal with Manchester City in 1956. At Manchester City the playing tactic of using a deep-lying centre forward (Revie's position, evolved from the more traditional inside right), and based on the style of the successful Hungarian national team
Hungary national football team
The Hungary national football team represents Hungary in international football and is controlled by the Hungarian Football Federation....
, and in particular Nándor Hidegkuti
Nándor Hidegkuti
Nándor Hidegkuti was a Hungarian football player and manager. He played as a forward or attacking midfielder and spent the majority of his playing career at MTK Hungária FC. During the 1950s he was also a member of the Hungarian National Team team known as the Golden Team...
, who invented the role. This helped Manchester City to a 3–1 victory over Birmingham
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
in the 1956 FA Cup Final
1956 FA Cup Final
The 1956 FA Cup Final was the final match of the 1955–56 staging of English football's primary cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, better known as the FA Cup. The showpiece event was contested between Manchester City and Birmingham City at Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday...
, a game best known for goalkeeper Bert Trautmann
Bert Trautmann
Bernhard Carl "Bert" Trautmann, OBE is a German former professional footballer who played for Manchester City from 1949 to 1964. Brought up during times of inter-war strife in Germany, Trautmann joined the Luftwaffe early in the Second World War, serving as a paratrooper...
playing the last 15 minutes of the match with a broken neck.
Leeds United
Revie was made player-manager at Leeds United in March 19611960-61 in English football
The 1960–61 season was the 81st season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season was a historic one for domestic football in England, as Tottenham Hotspur F.C. became the first club in the twentieth century to "do the Double" by winning both the League and the FA Cup competitions...
, following the resignation of Jack Taylor
Jack Taylor (footballer)
John "Jack" Taylor was an English footballer who became a manager.-Career:Taylor was a full-back who started his playing career with Wolverhampton Wanderers in 1931. He made his senior debut on 1 February 1936 in a 0-5 loss at Brentford...
. He had initially planned to apply for the vacant job at Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth
A.F.C. Bournemouth is an English football club currently playing in Football League One. The club plays at Dean Court in Kings Park, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset and have been in existence since 1899....
, but was persuaded by a local journalist to pursue the Leeds job. He immediately began to institute radical changes such as the implementation of a youth policy, and a change of kit from the traditional blue and yellow to an all-white strip. He also constructed a family
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
ethos around the club's staff and players.
Although his tenure did not get off to a flying start he won the Football League Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
within three years as manager. During this time Leeds broke their record transfer payment to re-sign John Charles
John Charles
William John Charles, CBE , commonly known as John Charles, was a Welsh international footballer best remembered for spells with Leeds United and Juventus. Rated by many as the greatest all-round footballer ever to come from Wales, he was equally adept at centre-forward or centre-back...
from Juventus, only to sell him on for the same amount to A.S. Roma
A.S. Roma
Associazione Sportiva Roma, commonly referred to as simply Roma, is a professional Italian football club based in Rome. Founded by a merger in 1927, Roma have participated in the top-tier of Italian football for all of their existence but one season in the early 50s...
after only a few matches. Revie developed a close working relationship with the chairman Harry Reynolds who was keen to assist the manager in building Leeds into a powerful force. In 1964 Leeds won promotion to the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
, topping the Second Division with 63 points.
Once promoted Revie took Leeds to second in the league
1964-65 in English football
The 1964–65 season was the 85th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:* After a three-way tussle for the League title between Manchester United, Leeds United and Chelsea, Manchester United came out on top and were crowned champions....
and the FA Cup final in their first season in the top division. In the early years much of the team's attack was based around the South African winger Albert Johanneson
Albert Johanneson
Albert Louis Johanneson was one of the first high-profile black players, of any nationality, to play top-flight football in England.-Career:Johanneson, a skilful and swift left winger, was recommended to Leeds United by a South African schoolteacher and joined the club in April 1961...
. Revie added to his squad by signing Johnny Giles
Johnny Giles
Michael John "Johnny" Giles is a former association footballer and manager best remembered for his time as a midfielder with Leeds United in the 1960s and 1970s...
from Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
and Bobby Collins
Bobby Collins
Robert Young "Bobby" Collins is a Scottish former football player, best known for his successful spells at Celtic, Everton and Leeds United...
from Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
, both of whom had fallen out of favour with their managers. Revie had inherited Jack Charlton
Jack Charlton
John "Jack" Charlton, OBE, DL is a former footballer and manager who played for Leeds United in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, and was part of the England team who won the 1966 World Cup...
and Billy Bremner
Billy Bremner
William John "Billy" Bremner was a Scottish professional footballer, most noted for his captaincy of the Leeds United team of the 1960s and 1970s. He has since been voted Leeds United's greatest player of all time and has a statue outside the South East corner of Elland Road...
from the previous manager, and both players became cornerstones
Cornerstones
Cornerstones Kumasi is a Ghanian football club, based in Kumasi and currently a member of the Middle League Zone II.-Notable players: Owusu Ampomah Isaac Asare Raymond Fenny Ben Koufie Emmanuel Kwame Nasir Lamine Frimpong Manso Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Tony Yeboah...
of the team during Revie's reign. In 1966 following a serious injury to Collins, Bremner was made captain.
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
titles, one FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
, one League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
, two Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup was a European football competition played between 1955 and 1971. The competition was the idea of Swiss pools supremo Ernst Thommen, Ottorino Barassi from Italy, and the English Football Association general secretary Stanley Rous, all of whom later became senior officials...
titles, one Football League Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
title and one Charity Shield
FA Community Shield
The Football Association Community Shield is English football's annual match contested between the champions of the previous Premier League season and the holders of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium. If the Premier League champions also won the FA Cup then the league runners-up provide the opposition...
. He also steered them to three more FA Cup Finals, one more Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Final and one Cup Winners' Cup
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup
The UEFA Cup Winners' Cup was a football club competition contested annually by the most recent winners of all European domestic cup competitions. The cup is one of the many inter-European club competitions that have been organised by UEFA. The first competition was held in the 1960–61 season—but...
Final. In 1973 despite strong rumours linking him with a move to take over at Everton
Everton F.C.
Everton Football Club are an English professional association football club from the city of Liverpool. The club competes in the Premier League, the highest level of English football...
, a wealthier club which drew larger crowds, Revie chose to remain in Leeds.
Leeds 1–0 defeat to Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
in the 1973 FA Cup Final was seen by some as marking an end of Leeds' spell at the top. Revie was particularly disappointed by the defeat because Sunderland were managed by Bob Stokoe
Bob Stokoe
Robert "Bob" Stokoe was an English footballer and manager who was able, almost uniquely, to transcend the traditional north-east rivalry between the region's footballing giants, Newcastle United and Sunderland....
, a critic of Revie. There was a widespread belief that Revie would have to rebuild his team for following season, but Revie instead chose to continue with largely the same line-up. He was rewarded as Leeds won another league title, beating Liverpool by five points.
Following his departure in 1974, Revie was succeeded by Brian Clough
Brian Clough
Brian Howard Clough, OBE was an English footballer and football manager. He is most notable for his success with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. His achievement of winning back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest, a traditionally moderate provincial English club, is considered to be...
, one of his major rivals. Clough had been outspoken in his attacks on Leeds' style of football and he was an unpopular choice with the players who would have preferred Johnny Giles to get the post. After a brief reign Clough departed and was replaced by Jimmy Armfield
Jimmy Armfield
James Christopher "Jimmy" Armfield, CBE, DL is an English former professional football player and manager who currently works as a football pundit for BBC Radio Five Live. He played the whole of his Football League career at Blackpool, usually at right back...
. The team enjoyed a final flourish, reaching the 1975 European Cup Final
1975 European Cup Final
The 1975 European Cup Final was a football match held at the Parc des Princes, Paris, on 28 May 1975 between Leeds United and Bayern Munich.-Background:...
which they lost to Bayern Munich before the side began to break up. A succession of Leeds managers was unable to prevent the club dropping down the table, as attendances fell. By 1982 the club were in the Second Division
Football League Second Division
From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams...
again.
Just before departing from Leeds for the England job, Revie was a special guest on the TV guest show This Is Your Life
This Is Your Life (UK TV series)
This Is Your Life is a British biographical television documentary, based on the 1952 American show of the same name. It was hosted by Eamonn Andrews from 1955 until 1964, and then from 1969 until his death in 1987 aged 64...
.
England
Following the 1973–74 season, when Revie and Leeds won their second championship in the first division, he was widely acknowledged to be one of the most successful managers in the country and was considered a leading candidate to manage the England national teamEngland national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
. The previous manager Alf Ramsey
Alf Ramsey
Sir Alfred Ernest "Alf" Ramsey was an English footballer and manager of the English national football team from 1963 to 1974. His greatest achievement was winning the 1966 World Cup with England on 30 July 1966...
had just departed after England had failed to qualify for the 1974 World Cup following a draw with Poland
Poland national football team
The Poland national football team represents Poland in association football and is controlled by the Polish Football Association, the governing body for football in Poland...
. In July 1974, Revie accepted the manager's job after Joe Mercer
Joe Mercer
Joseph 'Joe' Mercer, OBE was an English football player and manager.-Playing career:Mercer was born in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, the son of a former Nottingham Forest and Tranmere Rovers footballer, also named Joe. Joe Mercer senior died, following health problems resulting from a gas attack...
had turned it down because of his advanced years. The FA, particularly Ted Croker
Ted Croker
Edgar Alfred Croker was an English football administrator. He was Secretary of the Football Association from 1973 to 1989.-Life and Career:...
, were impressed with Revie's personality and ideas.
However, Revie was unable to reproduce the success he had enjoyed at Leeds. Revie's England failed to qualify for the 1976 European Championships and for the 1978 World Cup Finals. Criticism mounted over Revie's old fashioned and abrupt style of management and his failure to qualify for tournament football. He is one of the least successful managers of the England national team.
Middle East
In 1977, while still under contract to the English FA, he quit as England's manager to become coach to the United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab Emirates national football team
The United Arab Emirates national football team represents United Arab Emirates in association football and is controlled by the United Arab Emirates Football Association, the governing body for football in United Arab Emirates...
. This was the first time a manager of England had resigned from the position. The circumstances of Revie's departure immediately provoked controversy. Revie snubbed the FA
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
by selling news of his resignation to the Daily Mail
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily middle-market tabloid newspaper owned by the Daily Mail and General Trust. First published in 1896 by Lord Northcliffe, it is the United Kingdom's second biggest-selling daily newspaper after The Sun. Its sister paper The Mail on Sunday was launched in 1982...
, where the story broke before the FA had received his letter of resignation. Some football supporters were incensed at reports of Revie's lucrative contract with the UAE team (£340,000 for four years), and accused him of acting selfishly and disloyally. The FA suspended Revie from football for 10 years on a charge of bringing the game into disrepute. Revie contested his suspension in a lawsuit against the FA, and the court overturned the suspension. After leaving the UAE coaching role in 1980 he took over management of Al-Nasr
Al-Nasr
Al Nassr FC is a Saudi Arabian football club based in Riyadh. Formed in 1955 the club plays its home games at King Fahd Stadium and Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium. Its home colours are yellow and blue.-History:...
, followed in 1984 by the Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian club Al-Ahly
Al-Ahly
Al-Ahly Sports Club , commonly known as simply Al-Ahly, is an Egyptian sporting club. Founded in April 1907, Al-Ahly was named in 2000 by the Confederation of African Football as the "African Club of the Century"...
of Cairo.
Revie then retired to Scotland where he and his wife enjoyed playing golf and being with family members.
Illness and death
In 1986 Revie moved to ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
where he intended to retire. In September that year, he started feeling pains in his legs after playing golf. After tests, he was diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease
Motor neurone disease
The motor neurone diseases are a group of neurological disorders that selectively affect motor neurones, the cells that control voluntary muscle activity including speaking, walking, breathing, swallowing and general movement of the body. They are generally progressive in nature, and can cause...
in May 1987. Revie publicly announced his illness that summer, but was still able to walk out to the Elland Road pitch in September 1987, where he watched Leeds beat Manchester City 2-0.
Revie made his last public appearance in May 1988 at Elland Road in a wheelchair. He died in a Murrayfield Hospital in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
on May 26, 1989, aged 61, and was cremated four days later at Warriston Crematorium in Edinburgh.
The FA did not send any officials to the funeral, nor was a minute's silence held at any football match in his memory, nor did any teams wear black armbands. However, even the Daily Mirror newspaper, once one of Revie's fiercest critics, slammed the FA for not sending any representatives to the funeral.
Those who did attend the funeral included Allan Clarke
Alan Clarke (sports commentator)
Alan Clarke was a BBC Radio sports commentator from 1947-1969, who covered every major football event alongside Raymond Glendenning, Maurice Edelston, Brian Moore and Peter Jones. He was at the microphone as Geoff Hurst scored England's 4th in the 1966 FIFA World Cup Final. He died in May 1969 at...
, Eddie Gray, Jack Charlton
Jack Charlton
John "Jack" Charlton, OBE, DL is a former footballer and manager who played for Leeds United in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, and was part of the England team who won the 1966 World Cup...
, Billy Bremner
Billy Bremner
William John "Billy" Bremner was a Scottish professional footballer, most noted for his captaincy of the Leeds United team of the 1960s and 1970s. He has since been voted Leeds United's greatest player of all time and has a statue outside the South East corner of Elland Road...
, Johnny Giles
Johnny Giles
Michael John "Johnny" Giles is a former association footballer and manager best remembered for his time as a midfielder with Leeds United in the 1960s and 1970s...
, Billy Bingham
Billy Bingham
William Laurence "Billy" Bingham, MBE is a former international footballer and football manager. He is currently a scout for English Football League Championship side Burnley....
, referee Jack Taylor
Jack Taylor (referee)
John Keith "Jack" Taylor is an English former football referee, famous for officiating in the 1974 FIFA World Cup Final where he awarded two penalties during the first 30 minutes.-Refereeing career:...
, Kevin Keegan
Kevin Keegan
Joseph Kevin Keegan, OBE is a former international footballer and former manager of the England national football team and several English clubs, most notably Newcastle United....
, Brian Moore
Brian Moore (commentator)
Brian Moore was a British sports commentator.-Early life:Moore was born in Gillingham, Kent and educated at the Cranbrook School, Kent, which was also the school of fellow commentators Peter West and Barry Davies....
and Lawrie McMenemy
Lawrie McMenemy
Lawrie McMenemy MBE is a retired English football coach, best known for his spell as manager of Southampton Football Club...
.
Revie's legacy
Revie is best remembered for the important tactical innovations to which he contributed as a player and for the rugged and aggressively defensive style of football that brought success to Leeds United during his years as manager. He admitted in later years that he wished he had let his team "off the leash" earlier than he did.Revie was however a controversial figure in his time, his team being criticised for their perceived overly physical style of play and alleged gamesmanship, which lead to the team famously being nicknamed 'Dirty Leeds'. One of Revie's most notable critics was Brian Clough
Brian Clough
Brian Howard Clough, OBE was an English footballer and football manager. He is most notable for his success with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. His achievement of winning back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest, a traditionally moderate provincial English club, is considered to be...
(who like Revie hailed from Middlesbrough) who branded his Leeds side "cheats" and called for the club to be relegated to the Second Division on disciplinary grounds.
March 2011 marked 50 years since Don Revie became player-manager at Elland Road. Stars from his Leeds United days sent their tributes to official Leeds United site, while the BBC's Late Kick-OFF show broadcast a special tribute video of his career highlights.
Although Revie's legacy is still the subject of controversy, the former Leeds United and England manager remains a hero at Elland Road where a supporters group is currently raising funds for a statue to be made in his honour.
Allegations of impropriety
Revie's reputation suffered in the late 70s due to the UAE scandal and the Admiral shirt fiasco (where Revie commissioned a widely unpopular sponsored England kit from Admiral sportswear), as well as highly controversial allegations by a number of senior players and coaches that Revie had attempted to bribe opposition players and managers during his career. Exposes by journalist Richard StottRichard Stott
Richard Keith Stott was a British journalist and editor.Born in Oxford, he attended Clifton College in Bristol. He started his journalistic career in 1963...
were published in the Daily Mirror newspaper claiming that Revie had unsuccessfully attempted to bribe Wolverhampton Wanderers players before a match during the 1971-72 league title run-in and that he had also similarly tried to bribe Nottingham Forest players before another crucial match. The allegations were based on claims made by three Wolves players, the Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Jim Barron
Jim Barron
Jim Barron is an English former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He played over 400 games in the Football League for a number of clubs over a twenty year career.-Career:...
and, most shockingly, Revie's own goalkeeper at Leeds Gary Sprake
Gary Sprake
Gareth Sprake is a Welsh former professional footballer. A goalkeeper, he played for Leeds United and Birmingham City and also won 37 caps for Wales....
. Revie responded by denying the allegations and initiating libel proceedings against the Daily Mirror but he later dropped the libel action without explanation. Some years later Billy Bremner
Billy Bremner
William John "Billy" Bremner was a Scottish professional footballer, most noted for his captaincy of the Leeds United team of the 1960s and 1970s. He has since been voted Leeds United's greatest player of all time and has a statue outside the South East corner of Elland Road...
successfully sued another newspaper, the Sunday People, for repeating claims that he had been the "go-between" in one alleged bribery attempt (although Bremner had never sued the Daily Mirror when they had made the original allegations, nor taken any action against the players who had originated the claims). Sprake was ostracised by many of his former teammates who claimed he had only made the bribery allegations for personal profit after the Mirror offered him a substantial amount of money for his story.
Sprake later withdrew his allegations around the time of the Bremner libel trial but has since reversed his stance and repeated his original claims along with making some new bribery allegations against Revie. Additionally Bob Stokoe
Bob Stokoe
Robert "Bob" Stokoe was an English footballer and manager who was able, almost uniquely, to transcend the traditional north-east rivalry between the region's footballing giants, Newcastle United and Sunderland....
would later claim that while managing Bury
Bury F.C.
Bury Football Club is an association football team based in Bury, Greater Manchester. The team currently play in League One. The club's nickname is The Shakers which was bestowed upon them by club chairman JT Ingham, an industrialist and ironmonger of the late 1890s.-Formation of the club and the...
in 1962, Revie had offered him a bribe to "go easy" on his Leeds side who were at the time struggling against relegation to the Third Division and that he had become enraged when Revie responded to his refusal to accept the bribe by asking "in that case, may I speak to your players?". Most recently, Frank McLintock
Frank McLintock
Francis "Frank" McLintock MBE is a Scottish former football defender who played for Leicester City, Arsenal and QPR.-Leicester City:...
claimed in his autobiography that Revie once offered him a bribe before a league match (although McLintock also states that aside from this incident his memories of Revie are good ones). Aside from Sprake, Revie's former players at Leeds have generally denied and poured scorn on claims that their manager attempted to fix matches although Norman Hunter, when asked about the allegations during a 2004 interview, stated that "he (Revie) may have bent the rules a bit, and I noticed certain things myself, but I still think he was the best manager I've ever seen. Well, I heard those things that Bob Stokoe said, and there's no smoke without fire...I never knew of money changing hands, not that I'd tell you if I did." However Revie was never formally charged with any offence relating to these allegations by either a footballing authority or the police (despite the fact that the Daily Mirror claimed they had delivered a 300-page dossier to the F.A detailing the evidence of attempted match-fixing against Revie, a dossier which the F.A later claimed was not in their possession) and none of the claims have ever been proven. Despite this, journalist Roy Greenslade
Roy Greenslade
Roy Greenslade is Professor of Journalism at City University London and has been a media commentator since 1992, most notably for The Guardian....
claims that the allegations of match-fixing were the real reason the F.A. banned Revie from any involvement in football for ten years.
Portrayals
In 2009, Revie was portrayed by Colm MeaneyColm Meaney
Colm J. Meaney is an Irish actor widely known for playing Miles O'Brien in Star Trek: The Next Generation and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. He is second only to Michael Dorn in most appearances in Star Trek episodes. He has guest-starred on many TV shows from Law & Order to The Simpsons...
in the film The Damned United
The Damned United
The Damned United is a 2009 British sports drama film directed by Tom Hooper and adapted by Peter Morgan from David Peace's bestselling novel The Damned Utd, a largely fictional book based on the author's interpretation of Brian Clough's tenure as manager of Leeds United...
, which treats Brian Clough
Brian Clough
Brian Howard Clough, OBE was an English footballer and football manager. He is most notable for his success with Derby County and Nottingham Forest. His achievement of winning back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest, a traditionally moderate provincial English club, is considered to be...
's ill-fated 44-day reign as manager of Leeds United in 1974 following Revie's departure for the England job.
As a player
Manchester CityManchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
- Winners: 19561956 FA Cup FinalThe 1956 FA Cup Final was the final match of the 1955–56 staging of English football's primary cup competition, the Football Association Challenge Cup, better known as the FA Cup. The showpiece event was contested between Manchester City and Birmingham City at Wembley Stadium in London on Saturday...
- Runners-up: 19551955 FA Cup FinalThe 1955 FA Cup Final was contested by Newcastle United and Manchester City at Wembley. Newcastle won 3–1, with goals from Jackie Milburn in the first minute , Bobby Mitchell and George Hannah. Bobby Johnstone scored City's goal...
As a manager
Leeds UnitedLeeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
| Honour | Winner | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| European Cup Winners' Cup | 1973 | |
| Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Inter-Cities Fairs Cup The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup was a European football competition played between 1955 and 1971. The competition was the idea of Swiss pools supremo Ernst Thommen, Ottorino Barassi from Italy, and the English Football Association general secretary Stanley Rous, all of whom later became senior officials... |
1968 1968 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Final The 1968 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Final was the final of the tenth edition of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. It was played on 7 August and 11 September 1968 between Leeds United of England and Ferencváros of Hungary. Leeds United won the tie 1–0 on aggregate.... , 1971 1971 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Final The 1971 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Final was the final of the eleventh and last Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. It was played on 28 May and 3 June 1971 between Juventus F.C. of Italy and Leeds United A.F.C. of England... |
1967 1967 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Final The 1967 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Final was the final of the ninth edition of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. It was played on 30 August and 6 September 1967 between Dinamo Zagreb of Yugoslavia and Leeds United of England... |
| Football League First Division Football League First Division The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship.... |
1968/69, 1973/74 | 1964/65, 1965/66, 1969/70, 1970/71, 1971/72 |
| Football League Second Division Football League Second Division From 1892 until 1992, the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football.This ended with the creation of the FA Premier League, prior to the start of the 1992–93 season, which caused an administrative split between The Football League and the teams... |
1963/64 | |
| FA Cup FA Cup The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's... |
1972 1972 FA Cup Final The 1972 FA Cup Final took place on 6 May 1972 at Wembley Stadium. It was the Centenary final and the 44th to be played at Wembley.... |
1965 1965 FA Cup Final The 1965 FA Cup Final took place on 1 May 1965 at Wembley Stadium. It was the 93rd year, 84th final and the 37th to be played at Wembley... , 1970, 1973 |
| Football League Cup Football League Cup The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis... |
1968 1968 Football League Cup Final The 1968 Football League Cup Final took place on 2 March 1968 at Wembley Stadium. It was the eighth final and the second to be played at Wembley. It was contested between Arsenal and Leeds United.... |
|
| English Manager of the Year | 1969, 1970, 1972 | |
| FA Charity Shield FA Community Shield The Football Association Community Shield is English football's annual match contested between the champions of the previous Premier League season and the holders of the FA Cup at Wembley Stadium. If the Premier League champions also won the FA Cup then the league runners-up provide the opposition... |
1969 1969 FA Charity Shield -References:... |
|
| Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Trophy Play-Off Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Trophy Play-Off The last Inter-Cities Fairs Cup was contested in the 1970-71 season before it was replaced by the UEFA Cup, and a new trophy. The old trophy had not been won by any club permanently, so a one-off play-off game was arranged between FC Barcelona, who were the original winners and had held the trophy... |
1971 |
Managerial statistics
| eam | at | rom | o | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| Leeds United Leeds United A.F.C. Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system... |
 |
March 1961 | July 1974 | 699 | 365 | 190 | 144 | 52.2 |
| England England national football team The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first... |
|
July 1974 | 11 July 1977 | 29 | 14 | 8 | 7 | 48.3 |
| United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates national football team The United Arab Emirates national football team represents United Arab Emirates in association football and is controlled by the United Arab Emirates Football Association, the governing body for football in United Arab Emirates... |
 |
1977 | 1980 | |||||
| Al-Nasr Al-Nasr Al Nassr FC is a Saudi Arabian football club based in Riyadh. Formed in 1955 the club plays its home games at King Fahd Stadium and Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium. Its home colours are yellow and blue.-History:... |
 |
1980 | 1984 | |||||
| Al-Ahly Al-Ahly Al-Ahly Sports Club , commonly known as simply Al-Ahly, is an Egyptian sporting club. Founded in April 1907, Al-Ahly was named in 2000 by the Confederation of African Football as the "African Club of the Century"... |
 |
1984 | 1985 | |||||