Paul Power (footballer born 1953)
Paul Power ( born October 30, 1953 in Manchester ) is a former English footballer. The left-back and midfielder, who had his strengths in combat and in the flank runs and with long throw-ins, 13 years for Manchester City was active and won with Everton in 1987, the English Championship.
Sports career
Manchester City (1973-1986)
Right from his childhood on Power followers of Manchester City and in August 1973 he joined the club at a time when he was still studying at Leeds Metropolitan University law. Before he finished his training there, he was the "Citizens" first connected only to amateur basis, but after the signing of the first contract as a professional in July 1975 he urged immediately coached by Tony Book Erstligamannschaft. On August 27, 1975, he made his debut during a 0-1 away defeat against Aston Villa and a further 18 league appearances followed in the 1975/76 season, as well as the first goal in a 4-3 home win against Derby County. At the final success in the League Cup against Newcastle United ( 2-1 ), he remained, however, been taken into account, although he had a modest share of total success previously in the early rounds against Mansfield Town FC and Middlesbrough. In the following season 1976/77 is power then established in the starting lineup and next to an initial series of six games without defeat, he sniffed in the 1-0 first leg of the UEFA Cup against Juventus in the first round for the first time " European air " - the second leg ended 0:2. With just one point behind the new title holder FC Liverpool power eventually won the English runner.
The re- qualification for the UEFA Cup led for power one more time in a first round defeat - in this case against the Polish representatives Widzew Łódź. This caused a significant loss of shape and at the end, the club was with twelve points clear distance behind the new champion Nottingham Forest in fourth place again. Power operated mostly in the left side of midfield and with his interpretation, as if to hold the position of full-back, he gave a foretaste of what was to be known in later times as " Wing -back". The next highlight was for power in a 1978/79 season, the further case brought the League into midfield with him, reaching the quarter finals in the UEFA Cup, after he specifically the 2-2 in second-round match at AC Milan, the intermediate 2: 0 had achieved and thus laid the foundation for the next round (3-0 in the second leg ). After the coaching change to Malcolm Allison Power took over following a 0-1 League Cup defeat against AFC Sunderland captain's office and in a turbulent time in which the Citizens after 17 games without a win looked a possible relegation over, the team came under Powers guide - and with its own seven league goals, only one less than the yield of the Toptorjägers Michael Robinson - at the end with three wins from their last four games still to avoid relegation.
While his status cemented in the 1980/81 season, the team remained in the meantime, only four out of a possible 30 league points far below expectations, which again had Allsions result in dismissal. This contrasted with the finals in the FA Cup. In the previous rounds, power had there taken against Crystal Palace ( 4-0) and Norwich City ( 6-0 ) are each themselves and the " showdown " against Tottenham Hotspur, which ended in replay with a 2:3 defeat, he took the position in left midfield. Under Allison's successor, John Bond, the performance had stabilized in the league now and Christmas 1981 were the Citizens at the top. Power was afflicted at this time, however, an injury that put him just three months out of action and at the end of his club still slipped to tenth place from.
Recovered from his wounds went Power expectantly in the 1982/83 season, which began with a positive own goal in a 2-1 win away to Norwich City and the interim second place in early November 1982. Then, however, continued power and his men to a " nosedive " and together, the season ended in relegation zone - a coaching change to Bonds vormaligem wizard John Benson was not able to change anything. This power had long been missing seven games due to injury shortly after the turn of the year and in that time the Citizens had remained winless. Also in the first revival attempt at Benson's successor, Billy McNeill a violation of power, and his absence in April 1984 was partly responsible for that in the end reached only the fourth place and thus the season target was missed.
The second attempt in the following year succeeded after an initially slow start. After power had met in March 1985 in a 4-0 home win against Shrewsbury Town and led the team to the top spot, but benefits in the decisive phase subsided and only a 5-1 on the last match against Charlton Athletic made for the return to British House of Lords on the third place in the second division. Powers contribution was so highly regarded that he received after 1981 for the second time within the association, the award for the best players. Back in the Premier League came to power again 36 league operations and the goal for the season Klassernerhalt was secured after a turbulent year, almost on the 15th Place. To this end, he reached the final of the newly created Full Members Cup, which was then lost 4:5 against Chelsea. His performance against Newcastle United on 26 April 1986 was Powers last competitive game for Manchester City. For a fee of 65,000 pounds, he moved in June 1986 to Everton.
Everton FC (1986-1988)
In the team of coach Howard Kendall Power was immediately regulars who came on duty 52 games in the 1986/87 season. However, his obligation had the background that urgent action had arisen due to an injury crisis at the club, from the now benefited 32- year-old. In his first year for the " Toffees " he immediately won the English championship and the team served alongside first few times on the left-back position in other roles. It remained, however, in this brief excursion into the basic formation of a top team, for the following year, at the same time marked his last active year as a pro, he was under Kendall's successor Colin Harvey only twelve times in championship games in the starting XI.
After his retirement he worked for the club on the coaching staff before he lost his job after Kendall's return in 1990. Seven more years later, he returned to Manchester City, where he accepted a position in the youth work again.
Title / Awards
- English Championship ( 1): 1987
- Charity Shield (2): 1986, 1987