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English Football Legends Series

A cultured full-back in the great Spurs 'push and run' side, Alf Ramsey went on to become England's greatest ever international manager.

Alf Ramsey

Managed:
Ipswich Town, England

Honours:
World Cup, 1
League Championship, 1
Division 2 Championship, 1
Division 3 South Championship, 1

Southampton, Spurs and Ipswich

Ramsey played over 300 games in a career that took in Southampton and Tottenham, where he won the title in 1951.

He was also capped 32 times for England between 1949 and 1954, and captained the national side on three occasions.

When his playing days ended, Ramsey took over as manager of Ipswich Town.

Within seven years he'd taken the unfashionable East Anglia club from the Third Division to champions of England.

England Manager

On the strength of this achievement he was appointed England manager in 1963, and began his tenure by promising to win the World Cup.

Ramsey was a firm but fair manager, respected by his players but often regarded as aloof and difficult by the press.

He was also a shrewd judge of talent and an excellent tactician.

Many of his ideas were revolutionary for the time, and his reliance on attacking midfielders, rather than conventional wingers, was probably the main reason behind England's World Cup triumph.

The 1966 World Cup

The World Cup campaign got off to a tepid start for England, as they were held to a 0-0 draw by Uruguay in the opening group game. In the next game they faced Mexico, and won 2-0.

Then, in the last group stage match, they beat France, to advance to the quarter-finals. However, this victory came at a price as Jimmy Greaves, England's greatest goal-scorer, was injured.

With Greaves out, Ramsey turned to the young Geoff Hurst for the quarter-final against Argentina. Hurst responded with the winning goal.

In the semi-final, England faced the skillful Portuguese side containing the tournament's top goal-scorer Eusebio. England won 2-1, thanks to a brace from Bobby Charlton.

Going into the final against West Germany, Ramsey was faced with a major decision, whether to the restore the fit-again Greaves to the starting line-up, or persevere with his replacement, Hurst.

Despite media pressure Ramsey decided to stick with Hurst.

On 30 July 1966, Ramsey's promise to make England world champions was fulfilled, as the hosts beat West Germany 4-2 in a thrilling final.

His faith in Hurst paid handsome dividends with the young striker getting a hat-trick.

In 1967, Ramsey was knighted in recognition of England's World Cup triumph.

"You've won it once. Now go out there and win it again."
Alf Ramsey's brief team talk before extra-time in the '66 World Cup final

1966-1973

After finishing third in the 1968 European Championship, England went to the 1970 World Cup in Mexico hoping to retain their crown.

Many believed that the 1970 squad was superior to that of 1966, but they were eliminated in the quarter-finals, Germany gaining revenge for their defeat of four years earlier.

The 1972 European Championship saw them again eliminated by the Germans and worse was to follow, as they they failed to qualify for the 1974 World Cup.

A few months later, Ramsey, who had acquired some powerful enemies at the FA, was fired.

Later Career and Death

In the later stages of his career Ramsey had a brief spell as director and caretaker manager of Birmingham City. He was also, for a time, a technical advisor to Panathinaikos.

On 9 June 1998, Sir Alf Ramsey suffered a massive stroke. He died less than a year later, on 28 April 1999. He was 79 years old.

Legacy

Ramsey was made an inaugural inductee to the English Football Hall of Fame in 2002.

Portman's Walk, a street near Ipswich Town's Portman Road Stadium, was re-named Sir Alf Ramsey Way in honour of his achievements at the club.

In 2000, a statue of Ramsey was erected on the corner of the street that bears his name.

Ramsey did not receive a winners medal after the 1966 World Cup, as they were only presented to the 11 England players who participated in the match.

In 2009, following an FA-led campaign, FIFA finally awarded medals to the other members of the squad, and to non-playing staff.

George Cohen accepted the medal on behalf of the former England manager.

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