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Supported by Leeds United Supporters Club |
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Don Revie
| Category: | Manager |
| Year Inducted: | 2004 |
Profile by Robert Galvin, the author of Football's Greatest Heroes, the official book of the National Football Museum Hall of Fame:
Don Revie was ridiculed in the newspapers – and by some of his own players behind his back – when he publicly declared: ‘We are going to become a Real Madrid. One day, this club will rule in Europe .'
The sniggering was hardly surprising: in 1961, when he took the job at Elland Road, Revie had no experience in management, and Leeds United, a club of little pedigree, were languishing in the Second Division, where they'd been stuck for a generation.
Revie also announced that Leeds United would change their colours from blue and yellow to the all-white strip made famous by Real. ‘You could almost hear the laughter ringing throughout English football,' Norman Hunter, the Leeds defender, recalled.
Yet, for a brief period at least, Revie fulfilled his seemingly ludicrous promise. In the years between promotion in 1963-64 and his departure to take the England job in 1974, Leeds did win more trophies in Europe than the Madrid aristocrats.
The younger players ignored the jibes and derision directed at Revie. ‘I took it as read that Don's prediction would happen,' Norman Hunter said. ‘I totally and utterly believed in him.'
Revie brought to the task a tactical acumen developed during a playing career that took in spells at Leicester City , Manchester City , Sunderland and Leeds . A pioneer of the deep-lying centre-forward role in English football, he enjoyed the rare distinction of having a tactic named him: The Revie Plan, as the newspapers dubbed it.
Revie transformed Leeds into the most consistent team in England . For a decade they finished no lower than fourth in the First Division. In addition to their two championship titles, in 1968-69 and 1973-74, Leeds were runners-up five times. In Europe, Leeds twice won the Fairs Cup.
‘Don's greatest asset was his intensity,' Johnny Giles, the Leeds midfield player said. ‘When he took over the job he wanted to be the best manager Britain had ever known.'
His record at club level made Revie the FA's obvious choice as successor to Sir Alf Ramsey as England manager. Unfortunately, Revie's reputation would not survive the appointment in tact.
Faced with the prospect of England missing out on a second successive major tournament, Revie broke his contract during the qualifying stage for the 1978 World Cup in order to accept a lucrative and secret offer from United Arab Emirates.
English football was left with the legacy of his work in Yorkshire – the building of the outstanding Leeds side that went on to reach the final of European Cup final in 1975.
It was a losing swan song for a side that had developed a reputation for ruthlessness, discipline and aggression, particularly during the 1960s. Leeds players, in turn, argued that their opponents were almost always first to put the boot in. Some of their detractors went further, accusing them of relying too often on cynicism and gamesmanship. ‘We were very professional,' Hunter said.
Then, from 1969 onwards, there was a change of tone and style. Revie allowed his players greater freedom to express themselves, a change of method that culminated with their stylish march to a second title. ‘In four or five games up to 1974 we came as near to perfection as you can get,' Bremner said.