Billy Bremner

William " Billy" John Bremner ( born December 9, 1942 in Stirling, Scotland, † December 7, 1997 in Doncaster, England) was a Scottish football player. As a longtime captain of Leeds United in the 1960s and 1970s, he was inducted into both the Hall of Fame for Scottish athletes ( " Scottish Sports Hall of Fame" ) as well as in the English "Hall of Fame" of football and is valid for a choice among supporters of Leeds United in this club as the best player of all time.

Leeds United ( 1959-76 )

The early road to the south

Bremner, who, though in adolescence diminutive, but very physical acted as a midfielder, was in Scotland early on a talent seeker of Leeds United during a school game. The day after his 17th birthday Bremner signed his first contract at Elland Road. Growing up he was previously in Raploch - Located south of Stirling - and had the Catholic school attended St.Mary ' s. With Arsenal and Chelsea also already two prominent London clubs Bremner had rejected as too small.

The first game in the first team of Leeds United played Bremner during a 3-1 victory at Chelsea on January 23, 1960 In the now following 15 years, he was then permanently -. Interrupted only by injury breaks or locks - key players in the Elf Don Revie. He was primarily for his strong tackling and physical presence of a central figure in the game of Leeds United. More often passed his physical play way against primary technical savvy opponents the limit of the rules is permissible. The other strengths Bremners lay in the endurance and accuracy of fit. In addition, he scored especially in crucial situations goals, including four winning goal in the semi-finals of major competitions.

The first successes

In the early 1960s, the second division Leeds United was the beginning of an athletic recovery and Billy Bremner as a central player developed with his midfield partner and Irish national player Johnny Giles, who in 1963 came from Manchester to the heart of the team of Don Revie newly established. After winning the second division championship in 1964, the team from West Yorkshire established immediately in the English top flight and missed Bremner Leeds United with the "Double" from the English league and FA Cup just barely. In the season 1964/65 to Leeds United were beaten to the point same title holders Manchester United only because of the poorer Torquotienten. In the FA Cup final for the game went against Liverpool after a goalless 90 minutes into overtime, in the meantime Bremner 0-1 Although leveled with a volley, followed in turn, but the winning goal for Liverpool by Ian St. John followed.

During this time, the team of Leeds United had, especially in the London press landscape reputed to owe their success alongside the playful skill especially in unfair play, which mainly Bremner among other very physical active players, such as Norman Hunter, for representative was. A famous photograph from this time shows 1966 young Bremner after a foul on the Scottish midfielder Dave Mackay, who grabbed him by the collar, while Bremner complaining his innocence. Mackay had just returned after his second broken leg in the operation of gambling and stood in front of this scene spectacular Bremner on.

As with Bobby Collins of the team leader of Leeds United during a Fairs Cup game against AC Torino drew upon a broken femur on October 6, 1965, the captaincy was passed on to Bremner. The team went through in the late 1960s further positive development stages and Bremner led the club in 1968 both to victory in the League Cup as well as for winning the Fair Cup. The following year, the team was crowned with Bremner as " Captain of the crew " this success phase by winning the English Championship. In the season 1968/69 Leeds United had thereby lost only two of 42 league games.

Achievements and missed opportunities: The 1970s

In the season 1969/70 Bremner played with Leeds United to a "triple" from the English Championship, FA Cup and European Champion Clubs' Cup, which had previously been reached yet no English club. Finally, the crew was, however, left empty-handed because the league title at the Everton FC and the FA Cup win after a defeat in the final replay went to Chelsea. In addition, Leeds lost the European Cup semi-final of the Scottish representatives Celtic Glasgow.

Despite the successes achieved with Bremner Leeds United, the title yield was influenced during this time by many missed opportunities. In addition to the two English championships in 1969 and 1974, the team missed at least three more seasons, winning the title more or less scarce. Bremner graduated four FA Cup finals, of which he but only one could make victorious. In the final of the European Cup Winners' Cup competition of the 1972/73 season " owed " Leeds United the 0-1 defeat against AC Milan in Thessaloniki a controversial performance of the Greek referee. Two years later, the now somewhat dated Leeds team was again inferior unhappy in the final of the European national champion competition against Bayern Munich, as the scarce offside Bremners prevented the first goal of Peter Lorimer.

The season 1970/71 was variable for Bremner. The victory in the Fairs Cup was in the FA Cup against one of the biggest upsets in FA Cup history, as Leeds United Colchester United defeated the lower class in the fifth round. These drew Bremner in the title fight against Arsenal almost with only one point behind the short straw when the London with a win on the last game against Tottenham Hotspur took the first step for future double. The same contrasts were followed in the 1971 season / 72nd A 1-0 final win against Arsenal brought Leeds United the first FA Cup in the club's history, but the championship round ended in disappointment, as cited by Bremner Elf only a draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers needed in the last game, by a defeat but the title still lost to Derby County. Other runner-up title followed in 1973. The Final defeat in the European Cup Winners' Cup competition in Thessaloniki against AC Milan was accompanied by an FA Cup final defeat by second division side FC Sunderland.

The English Championship in the 1973/74 season marked the last major title win in the career of Billy Bremner. The team of Leeds United dominated the competition in such a way that they remained completely in the first 29 games of the season without defeat - this series of games unbeaten since beginning of the season was surpassed in 2004 by Arsenal FC. The subsequent season opened Leeds United in common with Liverpool in the Charity Shield match. There Bremner had to leave the pitch prematurely together with his opponent after a confrontation with the enemy Kevin Keegan.

The last career stations

After Revie in 1974 Leeds United left to take over the England team of Alf Ramsey, the era of success of the club was slowly coming to an end. Also Bremner returned in the late summer of 1976, his long-time club back and joined Hull City on. Overall, he played for Leeds United 772 games (of which 585 league games and 77 games at European level), only one less than Jack Charlton, the player with the most appearances for Leeds United.

The arrival Bremners in Kingston upon Hull was accompanied by a far-reaching media coverage and even though the two-time champion was in the twilight of his career were his two years for Hull City successfully. Next stop was the Doncaster Rovers, which he initially served as player-coach and continue after his retirement at the age of 39 years until 1985 as head coach. During this time he received in February 1982 also 100,000 pounds after he had successfully sued a Sunday newspaper to slander. This had previously accused him of manipulating endings, including the defeat of Leeds United against Wolves in May 1972, which had led to the loss of the league title on the final day.

Scottish national

Bremner was one of the central figures of the Scottish national team that experienced after a series of sporting disappointments at the beginning of the 1970s a boom. His debut he graduated in 1965 against Spain and two years later he was part of the team that could defeat the world champions England at Wembley Stadium 3-2. In 1974 Bremner led the Bravehearts as team captain during the 1974 World Cup in Germany. More than a year later the national team career ended ingloriously Bremner. After his last international match against Denmark in Copenhagen, the captain went with teammates a night club in the Danish capital, in which he allegedly after dawn curfew rampaged along with Willie Young, Joe Harper, Joe McCluskey and Arthur Graham and the restaurant was referred to. All six heavy drunken Scottish National Players should never come back to the Scottish Select it to use. With Ronald McKenzie also a staff member of the coaching staff at the carousal was involved. The official " life long " lock in 1976 pronounced against Bremner, national team career thus ended after 54 internationals and three gates. Despite this ignoble end Bremner should be included later still in the Hall of Fame of the Scottish football ( Scotland Football Hall of Fame ).

Manager of Leeds United

Bremner spent after his active playing career a turbulent time coach at Leeds United, after he had inherited his two former team-mates Allan Clarke and Eddie Gray in this office. His attempt to return the club after relegation in 1982 in the highest English league failed several times. His most successful season was the season 1986/87 when he lost his team barely in the play-off final against Charlton Athletic and was also inferior only in the FA Cup semi-final against the eventual Cup winners Coventry City.

In September 1988, Bremner was fired and replaced by Howard Wilkinson, the within four years, not only the return to the English First Division succeeded, but in April 1992 also brought the third English championship at Elland Road. Bremner was now changed to the Doncaster Rovers and until November 1991 exercised as coach.

The last few years and honors

In the 1990s, Bremner employed primarily as a columnist. In December 1997 he suffered in the small town of Clifton, where he had settled in the meantime, have a heart attack. Despite the immediate admission to a nearby hospital in Doncaster Bremner died two days before his 55th birthday. At the funeral across generations celebrities appeared in the field of Scottish football. Especially in the supporters of Leeds United said the loss of the former service provider produced a profound sadness.

In the following year Bremner was one of " 100 legendary players " that characterized the Football League Association on the occasion of its anniversary celebration. As another posthumous honor the English "Hall of Fame" of football Bremner took 2004 because of his athletic achievements.

Outside the Elland Road stadium also a statue was erected showing Billy Bremner in Jubelpose. This was intended to be a monument to the supporters of Leeds United, the club's best player and long-time team captain 's view.

Achievements

Fairs Cup winners: 1968, 1971
English Champion: 1969, 1974
FA Cup winner: 1972
English League Cup Winners: 1968
Charity Shield Winners: 1969

Publication

You get nowt for being second. Souvenir Press Ltd. , England 1969, ISBN 0-285-50264-6 ( autobiography)

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