Trevor Francis
Trevor John Francis ( born April 19, 1954 in Plymouth ) is an English former football player and coach. During his playing days, he was the first player in English football history, the value of which exceeded the one - million - pound limit.
Playing career
Francis, a fast and technically skilful striker who began his career as a student at Birmingham City and arrived there in 1970 as a mere 16 -year-old to his first race. His talent came to light before his 17th birthday, when he scored four goals in a game. At the end of his first season he was able to record 15 goals in just 22 games.
Birmingham City was the rise since 1972 in the 70s, an average team in the English top flight. Aside from moving into the cup semi-final, Birmingham has seen no appreciable success, so that the services of Francis stood out all the more clearly.
In 1977, he scored one of the most famous goals in the history of Birmingham, as he pulled in the encounter against the Queens Park Rangers from the touchline from inside and while he was doing beset by four defenders, suddenly withdrew from about 23 meters and the keeper by surprise. In the same year he made his debut in the English national football team under then- coach Don Revie. England defeated in this game with 0:2 of the Netherlands.
Francis moved to an agreement with the club's management of Birmingham in 1978 in the American professional league to NASL Detroit Express and returned in the same year in the Midlands back. In February 1979, his career got a crucial initial spark.
Nottingham Forest, who was then reigning English champions and League Cup winners, coached by the legendary Brian Clough, Francis offered for over a million pounds. Previously, no player had tasted in a transfer between English clubs a seven-figure sum. The transfer was done perfectly on February 9, 1979, Francis was presented in a press conference legendary Clough. Clough appeared in his tracksuit including squash racket.
Nottingham defended shortly after the League Cup, although Francis was not eligible to play, and went in European Champions Cup until the semi-final a, as Francis was allowed to intervene in the action. They won the semi-finals and were in May 1979 the Swedish champions Malmö FF in Munich over, when the million investment paid off before the end of the first half.
The otherwise mostly hapless but Talented John Robertson won on the left side of the ball, drew two defenders and crossed toward the long post. Francis sprinted into the lead and finished powerfully by shallow diving header to make it 1-0. Nottingham won the game with this all-important goal and this scene for several years was used in the opening credits of the popular football show " Match of the Day ". A huge image that shows Francis in anticipation of this historic ball head is still visible in the main entrance and reception area of the home stadium today. Although the season was with this final victory to end, Francis went again then back to Detroit to play another summer in the NASL.
Francis was never over a longer period of time regular at Nottingham Forest. He belonged in 1980 to the team that defeated both in the League Cup against Wolves, but shortly afterwards defended the national champion Cup against Hamburger SV. However, he could never fulfill the expectations in the form that were asked by the high peel at him. He scored fourteen goals in the past season and only six in the following. Although he continued to play for the English national team, he could not participate in the European Championships in Italy in 1980 due to injury. In the English Championship for the top positions in Nottingham had fallen further and further away.
It was 1981 again sold for a fee of one million pounds to Manchester City ( a sum that was common, now that the limit was exceeded once ). There, he scored twelve goals in 26 games and was in the squad after the England team for the 1982 World Cup in Spain. There, he scored first goal against Czechoslovakia and Kuwait, but in the second group stage, he joined the storm lull his striker colleagues, so that England was eliminated after two goalless draw of the tournament.
In the further course of the summer was Francis of Sampdoria, climbers from the Italian second division courted, where he changed for 700,000 pounds. There he won in 1985, the Coppa Italia and was charged with nine -goal top scorer in this competition before, went for 800,000 pounds Atalanta Bergamo, again a climber, a lot of games here but only one gate where he did. In 1986 he completed for England his 52nd and last international match, which he won against Scotland. In total he scored eleven goals for England.
Francis returned to the island and joined for only 75,000 pounds Rangers under Graeme Souness in the course of his proclaimed him " British Invasion" at Ibrox Park. He won in 1988 the Scottish Cup and then went as player-coach to London at the Queens Park Rangers.
Although he continued to be an important player for QPR, he was under strong public criticism, the one accused him of great severity due to his coaching style. He refused one of his players to visit with his wife during the birth of the first child on the basis of a common important game. The player did not hold to the statement that was his wife at Francis and took him to both a fine and also criticized him publicly, which caused the public for incomprehension.
Francis left in 1990, the Queens Park Rangers to join the relegated from the English Premier League, Sheffield Wednesday to join. Sheffield won this season's League Cup, where Francis was not used. In addition, the direct re-emergence could be managed. After the separation from Ron Atkinson Francis took over the sporting management of the team and led Sheffield in the following season at a very good third place. In the subsequent 1992 Francis reached both the FA Cup final as well as the League Cup and was defeated in two games Arsenal. 1994 Francis announced his retirement as a player.
Coaching career and other activities
After his departure from Sheffield Francis worked as a football expert for television, what he had done with success in the course of his career and then went public in 1996 back to the starting point of his career, Birmingham City, as a coach to the team back in the highest English league to lead. Although Birmingham reached the play-offs, but then failed in the playoffs. In 2001 Birmingham moved into the League Cup final against Liverpool, however, which they lost. Francis left Birmingham in the further course of the year.
A short dedication he spent at Crystal Palace. The only notable incident during this period occurred there when he hit his reserve goalkeeper who laughed during a counter strike from Crystal Palace.
Francis, who is married to his childhood sweetheart Helen, is now working again as an expert on the media.
Achievements
- European Cup Winners ' Cup: 1979, 1980
- European Supercup winner: 1980
- Italian Cup Winners' Cup: 1985
- Scottish Cup winner: 1988