Terry Neill
William John Terence " Terry " Neill ( born May 8, 1942 in Belfast, Northern Ireland ) is a former Northern Irish football player and coach.
Playing career
In his youth, born in Belfast Terry Neill played for Bangor City in 1959 and moved to London, then on to act for Arsenal. Already on his debut against Sheffield Wednesday in December of 1960, he scored a goal and quickly established itself on the central half position ( engl: "center half" ) in the middle, which was later interpreted defensive in a central defensive position ( besides, he also came as a full-back for use ). Both in the club, and later in the Northern Ireland national team, he quickly gained the function of the team captain and was also at the age of only 20 years, the youngest player in the history of Arsenal in this office. Overall, he came in 255 appearances for Arsenal and in 59 appearances for Northern Ireland used.
Towards the end of the 1960s, Neill was always injury prone and he was suffering from jaundice, which in 1969 he missed the final of the League Cup - Arsenal lost there against Swindon Town with 1:3. Although he was only 28 years old, he decided in July 1970 to turn his back on the major league football and signed a contract in the second class Second Division at Hull City. There he worked as player-coach, and thus became one of the youngest coaches in the history of English football. Later he was in charge - also still relatively young age - the Northern Ireland national team. In 1973 Neill decided to final completion of his playing career and left Hull another year later to Tottenham Hotspur - ironically, the sharpest local rivals Arsenal - to begin the succession of coaches Bill Nicholson.
Coaching career
He oversaw the " Spurs " across two seasons and was only able to avoid relegation in his first year scarce. Since the second season had ended only with a mid-table, it was a surprise that the club's management decided to Arsenal in 1976, Neill select as the successor of Bertie Mee and youngest coach in the history of the club. With the signings Malcolm Macdonald and Pat Jennings but the team could do something to regain its former strength, reaching between 1978 and 1980 three FA Cup finals in series, only the 1979 final against Manchester United could be won with 3:2. For the club came under Neill directed to the final of the European Cup Winners' Cup and lost there on penalties against FC Valencia. However, these successes were in league everyday and not be confirmed after the departure of key players - such as Liam Brady and Frank Stapleton - and the injury-related loss of Malcolm Macdonald, the sporting perspective developed very negative. As a decisive factor for the lack of success in the English Championship from the start also assumed that Neill had problems with the handling of established players - such as Alan Ball, who left the club shortly after Neill's arrival, and with many years of support and sympathy carriers such as George Armstrong, fell out. After a regular series of Cup bankruptcies in the early 1980s - including most recently especially the League Cup defeat against Walsall FC on 29 November 1983 - the club's management dismissed him on 16 December of the same year.
Neill then withdrew completely from the business of football back and opened sports bars in Hendon and Holborn - Located in central London.
Statistical data
Club stations
As a player
- Arsenal FC (1959-1970)
- Hull City (1970-1973)
As coach
- Hull City (1970-1974)
- Tottenham Hotspur (1974-1976)
- Arsenal FC (1976-1983)
- Northern Ireland national team (1971-1975, part-time )
Achievements
- FA Cup winner: 1979 (as coach )