Jimmy Armfield

Jimmy Armfield (2012 )

James Christopher " Jimmy" Armfield ( born September 21, 1935 in Denton, Greater Manchester ) is a former English footballer. The projected world-class defenders of Blackpool FC, for whom he played from 1954 to 1971, began with the national team, for which he took up 1959-1966 a total of 43 times, participated in the World Championships of 1962 and 1966. In the 1970s he coached Bolton Wanderers and Leeds United, with whom he lost the 1975 European Cup final against Bayern Munich.

Sports career

Shortly after his birth in Denton, located on the outskirts of Manchester, he moved to Blackpool, which was to remain his home for a long time. In 1952, the domestic FC Blackpool became aware of Armfield and initially employed him as an amateur. His achievements on the position of right-back convinced the then-coach Joe Smith so that Armfield was awarded his first professional contract in September 1954.

On 27 December the same year, as Armfield yet simultaneously made ​​as a private in the British army his military service, he made his debut in the 0-3 defeat against FC Portsmouth. After a total of streaky first season, he could with his club in the 1955/56 season win the runner-up. In 1956 Armfield played for the first time then for the English U-23 selection.

On May 13 In 1959, the first game for the England national team, as the team lost before 120,000 spectators in Brazil Maracana against Brazil 0-2. In the same year he was awarded as the best young player.

As Blackpool in the 1960s went through a sporty difficult time and some could avoid relegation only with difficulty, Armfield was his club faithful and was by its strengths in tackling, in his combat power and the talent to motivate the players, substantially responsible for the league. These qualities ensured that he was given both in Blackpool and in the national team's captain responsibility.

At the World Cup in Chile in 1962 he was voted the best right defender of the tournament, but difference with England in the quarter- final against Brazil. Internationally, he was still awarded between 1962 and 1964 for his achievements and received in these three consecutive years the title of Europe's best defenders.

During the 1966 World Cup in his own country he was indeed in the squad, but did not due to injuries and has been used successfully represented by George Cohen from Fulham. His 43 caps to date, with whom he is to this day Blackpool 's most capped player, he could then also add any more more. When choosing to England's Footballer of the Year in 1966, he finished after just behind Bobby Charlton into second place.

It was followed by Blackpool another setback, when the club at the end of the season 1966/67 relegation to the second division. After two seasons in this class him with his club managed to rise again in 1970 and he finished in the following year on May 1, 1971 at 1:1 against Manchester United after a total of 626 appearances for Blackpool his career as a football player.

Coaching career and other pursuits

In 1971 he took over the third division side Bolton Wanderers, the sports management as a coach, the club led after two years in the second division in 1974 and was received with Bolton the class there.

He replaced the seventh match of the season 1974/75 when lying in 19th place reigning English champions Leeds United in the disgraced Brian Clough from, and led the club after a win against FC Barcelona in the semifinals in the final of the European Cup national champion against Bayern Munich. Leeds lost the game in Paris, often regarded as controversial circumstances with 0:2. He reached with Leeds until 1978 in the League ranks 9, 5, 10 and 9 start of the season 1978/79 was initially the Scotsman Jock Stein succeeded, but was soon replaced by Jimmy Adamson.

After this time, Armfield took various short-term obligations for the Football Association true now works regularly as a radio commentator and is known for its game summaries for the BBC.

Armfield continues to live in Blackpool and was honored in 2000 with the Order of the British Empire ( OBE) in 2010 and as Commander of the British Empire ( CBE).

Achievements

  • Football World Cup: 1966
  • National football team (England)
  • Football coach (England)
  • Football World Cup
  • Commander of the Order of the British Empire
  • English
  • Born in 1935
  • Man
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