Ex-England Manager Ron Greenwood Dies

Ron Greenwood, one of the most widely respected and best loved figures in football, has died at his home in Suffolk at the age of 84 after a long period of illness.

As an attacking centre half with Brentford, Chelsea and Fulham, Ron never made the full international side, but he was appointed England manager in 1977 in succession to Don Revie and working in partnership with Don Howe he took England to World Cup qualification in Spain five years later.

But it was as manager of West Ham United in the 1960s that he made his greatest contribution to the England team and to English football in general. It was a golden age for the Hammers as they swept to victory in the F.A. Cup in 1964 and the European Cup Winners’ Cup a year later, playing a brand of attacking football which, like their coach was years ahead of its time. Above all, it was a team remembered for Bobby Moore, Martin Peters and Geoff Hurst, whose contribution to England’s World Cup triumph in 1966 will never be forgotten.

Ron too will always be remembered with great affection – for his honesty and integrity, and for being one of the most innovative coaches and one of the foremost thinkers in world football.