Mick Mills

Michael " Mick " Denis Mills ( born January 4, 1949 in Godalming / Surrey, England ) is an English former footballer who holds the record for most games at Ipswich Town and captained the England team led to the 1982 World Cup.

Sports career

Mills joined as a student first FC Portsmouth, before the club disbanded his youth department and Mills moved to an exchange. Ipswich Town took over the young talent then and Mills made ​​his debut in 1966, at the age of only 17 years, in a 5-2 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

As a full-back who could in principle be used on both sides, but mostly on the left, Mills had in his other teenage years phases both within and outside the team, but was then in 1969 for regular players. In the same year the club finished his first season in the First Division after promotion the previous year. Another milestone in the club's history in 1969 should also be the arrival of new coach Bobby Robson.

Robson appointed Mills in 1971, the team captain and between the two there is a very close cooperation, which should have a beneficial effect for the following positive athletic development Ipswich in the next decade developed.

In 1973 Ipswich closed the First Division on a fourth down, also won the Texaco Cup and qualified for the UEFA Cup. During the same season allowed coach Alf Ramsey in the 1-1 draw against Yugoslavia at Wembley Mills ' first international match. For England he should continue to play often contrary to his fixed left position at Ipswich, as in this game at right-back.

Ipswich played nearly complete at this time in the upper table portion of the First Division and also took part in European competitions, where they stayed initially denied a significant success. Mills has developed into an experienced captain within a mostly young team that was established in 1977 Championship third parties. The year before, Mills also returned after a long absence against Wales back in the national team and had / 77 accumulated until the end of the 1976 season eleven internationals. The subsequent season should then bring the hitherto missing title in addition to a disappointment in the championship.

Ipswich finished the season first on a weak 16th place from, however, the club reached the final of the FA Cup, where he was able favorites Arsenal 1-0 defeat at Wembley. Mills took the trophy as captain in reception, which marked the first title win for Ipswich after 16 years of drought.

While he had with his club now won a title, Mills stagnated National team career. Under Don Revie he came to some international matches at left-back, including the 4-1 win in the first qualifier for the 1978 World Cup in Argentina against Finland and the following 0-2 defeat against Italy, with Mills but struggle with competitors on both full-back positions had. When Ron Greenwood took over as coach, this first preferred Phil Neal from Liverpool FC as a right and Trevor Cherry Leeds United as a left defender and Mills was only intended as a substitute for both positions. In the remaining qualifiers for the World Cup, the missed England, Mills was subsequently applied in any game used.

During the year 1978, Mills returned regularly to the England team back, though his position remained unclear. During his eight internationals this year, he played six times on the left side with Neal on the right position and even twice on the right side and on the opposite according to Neal. In the last game of the year against Czechoslovakia, he left his place debutant Viv Anderson of Nottingham Forest, which became known as the first black player in the England team in history.

With Kenny Sansom another newcomer target on the left -back position up and thus fueled the speculation that the future of Mills was to be found on the right side. Nevertheless, Mills established during qualifying for the European Championships in Italy in 1980 as a left defender. Sansom was appointed by Greenwood in the squad for the European Championship, but at this time, Sansom developed into an established alternative and Greenwood decided in the first two group games for Sansom. After England had played there against Belgium only draw and lost to Italy, Mills returned in the last group match against Spain in the team back. Despite a victory there England eliminated in the connection from the tournament.

Ipswich played at a high level and closed seasons 1978-1982 always among the top five teams and reached in 1981 a further highlight. After the championship and the FA Cup have been missed, the club won the UEFA Cup after a final victory against AZ Alkmaar.

Mills graduated four caps for England in 1981, the qualifying matches for the 1982 World Cup were all, with Greenwood built in the friendly matches to the less experienced Anderson and Sansom. When England then beat Hungary in the final qualifying round and thus the first World Cup participation after twelve years made ​​perfect, while Mills came to his 35th international match.

Mills, who continues castled in the national team between the two sides came in only two preseason games for use, but has been nominated as a replacement for the injured Kevin Keegan as captain and right-back for the World Cup tournament. In these functions, Mills came in a 3-1 victory in the first match against France in Bilbao used and was still in the team that won the next two group matches, although he did in the last game moved to the left side to use a Neal to enable on the right track.

Greenwood returned in the second round to Mills and Sansom as full-back pair, with England after two goalless draw against Germany and Spain, despite the comeback of Keegan, retired.

In the same year Robson told the 33 -year-old Mills that his expiring contract would not be renewed at Ipswich, so that Mills was transferred for a fee of £ 40,000 for Southampton FC in November 1982. After Robson had taken over the post of national coach, also Mills international career was over. For Ipswich Mills graduated in 17 years, 741 games and came up with 42 international matches, where he was able to achieve no results and also in the club only came on 22 goals.

Despite his advancing age Mills played regularly in Southampton during the next three years and was awarded the Order of the British Empire as the MBE for his services to football. In 1985, Mills moved to Stoke City, four years to work there in the capacity of player coach until his dismissal.

Mills was then a talent scout at Sheffield Wednesday and then moved to Birmingham City to be Kotrainer there and temporarily to lead the team after the resignation of Trevor Francis.

Achievements

  • UEFA Cup winners: 1981
  • FA Cup Winners: 1978
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