Bradford Telegraph & Argus 16/3/11
Leeds United reach milestone since appointment of greatest manager
John Wray
Today marks the 50th anniversary of Don Revie’s appointment as Leeds manager – the start of a 13-year reign that took the club from the depths of the old Second Division to undreamed of glory at home and abroad.
Revie was famously handed the job by United chairman at the time Harry Reynolds, who drafted a letter recommending him to Bournemouth before deciding to appoint him instead.
Leeds narrowly avoided relegation to the Third Division in Revie’s first season in charge but the man of many superstitions – who had played with distinction for Leicester, Hull, Manchester City, Sunderland, Leeds and England – went on to manage United to trophies in the League Cup, FA Cup, Second Division Championship, League Championship, Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and Charity Shield.
He was manager of the year three times – in 1968-9, 1969-70 and 1971-2 – and became Sir Alf Ramsey’s successor as England boss on July 4 in 1974, six days before his 48th birthday.
Revie’s team was admired for its ability and undying spirit but largely loathed outside Yorkshire for a heavy reliance on physique to bring success in the early years.
Revie was never as successful in the England job as he had been as a club manager and quit in 1977 in controversial circumstances to become soccer supremo to the United Arab Emirates, accepting a contract reported to be worth £340,000 tax-free over four years.
He was sacked in the summer of 1980, receiving a reported £90,000 in compensation. He then joined Emirates club side Al Nasr but left in November 1984 because his wife Elsie could not settle in Cairo.
QPR started talks with him a month later but dropped their interest on hearing of his financial demands.
Revie died in Scotland in May 1989 aged 61 after a long battle against motor neurone disease. His ashes were scattered at Elland Road in a private ceremony attended by his family and Leeds went on to name their all-seater Kop after him.
There are plans to honour the greatest manager in the club’s history with a statue and it is testimony to his influence that his players Jack Charlton, Billy Bremner, Eddie Gray, Allan Clarke, Terry Cooper, Norman Hunter, Johnny Giles, Terry Yorath and Trevor Cherry all became managers.
Hunter said: “Don Revie was special. His ideas were well ahead of anybody else.
“He brought so many players through the youth system and knew how to get the best out of us. You cannot over-state what he did for Leeds United.
“Outside Yorkshire he isn’t as revered as he should be. He took a struggling team and made us one of the best in Europe.”
Clarke, scorer of the goal that defeated Arsenal at Wembley to take the FA Cup back to Leeds in 1972, added: “Don was so far in advance of other managers at that time.
“I was lucky to play for two of the greatest managers in Alf Ramsey and the gaffer. He built the club and I was part of the team which put Leeds United on the world map.
“What he created happens once in a lifetime. He was on a par with all the greats.”
Current Leeds boss Simon Grayson said: “As a manager, you try to emulate what Don did. If you get half as close to what he achieved, you will be a success.
“He is an inspiration to all those who have followed him in the job and he has left a fantastic legacy.”

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