Don Revie (1974 - 1977)

Full Name:
Donald George Revie
Born:
10th July 1927, Middlesbrough
Notes:
Don Revie was renowned as a master of the deep-lying centre forward role during his playing career. Beginning at Leicester City, he went on to play for Hull City, Manchester City—where he was named FWA Footballer of the Year in 1955—Sunderland, and finally Leeds United. Over the course of 460 senior appearances, Revie scored 98 goals, adding another four in six appearances for England.
In March 1961, Revie became player-manager at Leeds United. Over 13 years at the helm, he turned the club into a major force, securing the Second Division title in 1964, First Division championships in 1969 and 1974, and an FA Cup in 1972.
After Alf Ramsey’s dismissal in 1974, Revie took over as England manager in July, following a brief caretaker spell by Joe Mercer. Under Revie, England won the 1974–75 British Championship and were well-placed in Euro '76 qualifying, but a defeat to Czechoslovakia and a draw with Portugal saw them fall short.
The pressure mounted as England aimed to qualify for the 1978 World Cup. Drawn into a group with Italy, Finland, and Luxembourg—where only the group winner advanced—England’s unspectacular victories over Finland and Luxembourg left them trailing Italy on goal difference, with the Italians still having a game in hand. Facing growing criticism, Revie sought an exit. When his request for contract termination was refused by the FA, he revealed—in an exclusive with the Daily Mail—that he wanted to step down as England manager to accept a lucrative four-year, £340,000-a-year offer from the United Arab Emirates. Revie had travelled secretly to negotiate the deal, publicly claiming to be on a scouting mission in Helsinki while skipping a friendly in Brazil. He resigned before the FA could dismiss him, but the FA responded by banning him from football for ten years, a punishment later overturned in court.
Revie coached the UAE national team until 1980, then managed Al-Nasr in the UAE League, followed by a stint with Egypt’s Al-Ahly. After returning to England in 1985, he did not work in football again. He spent his retirement in Scotland, where he died from Motor Neurone Disease on 26 May 1989.

England Match Statistics

  • Match Type
  • Played
  • Won
  • Drawn
  • Lost
  • For
  • Against
  • FriendlyFR 8 3 4 1 8 6
  • World Cup QualifierWCQ 4 3 0 1 11 4
  • European Championship QualifierECQ 6 3 2 1 11 3
  • British Home ChampionshipHC 9 4 2 3 16 9
  • US Bicentennial Cup TournamentUSBI 2 1 0 1 3 3
  • Competitive 21 11 4 6 41 19
  • Home, Away or Neutral
  • Played
  • Won
  • Drawn
  • Lost
  • For
  • Against
  • Home 13 7 3 3 30 10
  • Away 14 6 5 3 16 12
  • Neutral 2 1 0 1 3 3
  • Totals
  • 29
  • 14
  • 8
  • 7
  • 49
  • 25

Sources

  • 96 sources from 29 matchesSelect from match list to see sources.

Match List