THE DON

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTiIdbDBmZc from September 1974. Not an anniversary for everyone, (it is me and my better half) but what the heck?

AND Don Revie??? on July 12-13th 1977, The Daily Mail reported that "Revie quits over 'aggro' " AND "Revie hits jackpot".

Revie had been manager of England since 1974, leaving the Leeds Utd team in Clough's control. Many said that Clough should have run the national side! Not a chance with the FA making such decision.

He led the England team to 14 wins in 29 games with 7 defeats. The England side didn't make the finals of the European Championships. Prospects for competing in the 1978 World Cup were improbable.

At one point England had gone 6 games without a win, its worst run in 19 years.
Revie played for England 6 times, beginning his playing career at Leicester in 1944-9 where he should have played in the 1949 FA Cup Final v Portsmouth. He was injured and missed the game. He was then next going to Hull (1949-51) and Manchester City, where he was named Footballer of the Year in 1955, the year they were runners up in the FA Cup Final.
A year later his "deep lying centre-forward" scheme led his team to victory, named "Man of the Match".
He stayed there until 1956, playing nearly 150 times.

From City, Revie went to Sunderland (1956-8) where he did not fit. He nearly joined Middlesbrough where he would have come across Brian Clough and Peter Taylor.

Next came Leeds Utd (1958-62), who then were then teetering on the brink of the Third Division. Revie knew his playing days were over.

He took over as Leeds' player-manager, in 1961, with the average attendance at Elland Road 7,000. Things were grim!
The rugby league team was attracting 50,000. Times were tough. Radical changes were necessary and Revie soon based his progress on Billy Bremner and Jack Charlton, revitalising the playing squad, with youth players, such as Reaney, Hunter and Lorimer. The mature Bobby Collins was signed from Everton to bring stability to a youthful side.

He made many changes to the playing formula and he even regarded "birds" in the club as bad luck, so he got rid of the Owl on the club badge and also the nickname "The Peacocks". Leeds became known as "The Whites".

Revie invested in youth and even drove to Scotland to meet Billy Bremner's girlfriend to persuade her to encourage the Scot to move south.

Leeds eventually won two League championships and the FA Cup and were losing finalists three times.They reached the European Cup Final, losing to Bayern Munich and in 1971 they were runners up in the European Fairs Cup. This reign lasted until 1974. He was the most successful manager in  England and also the most divisive, disliked by many, who didn't like the way Leeds played. They were ruthless.

He then managed England from October 1974 through to June 15th 1977. On 12th March 1975, England hosted West Germany in a friendly to celebrate the 100th international at Wembley. Alan Hudson was man of the match!

With a crucial World Cup game against Italy, Revie resigned. There was Manchester United's vacancy with Tommy Docherty's hasty departure...anyone know why?....attracting him.....possibly BUT...

July 13th, 24 hours later, Revie was off to the Persian Gulf with a £340,000 tax free deal to manage the UAE National side from 1977-80).
The FA slapped a 10 year ban on Revie but he later successfully challenged that, although he stayed in the Gulf until 1985.

Needless to say Ladbrokes ran a "book" on who should be the next England manager....who else??
Brian Clough was the people's choice! Apparently 84% voted for him and Jackie Charlton got 6%.

Ron Greenwood...a safe bet??...was appointed by the England FA, on 7th September 1977!

Born in Middlesbrough on July 10th 1927, to a poor family, Revie had a tough start to life. Footbball was his "way out" and it worked.  He died on May 25th 1989.
Name them!