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English Football Legends Series

Bill Nicholson joined Tottenham as a 16-year-old, and was a member of Arthur Rowe's great 'push and run' side that won the title in 1951.

Bill Nicholson

Managed:
Tottenham Hotspur

Honours:
League Championship, 1
FA Cup, 3
UEFA Cup, 1
Cup Winners Cup, 1

A loyal servant who dedicated his life to Spurs, he is best remembered as the club's greatest ever manager.

Tottenham Manager

Nicholson retired as a player in 1955 and took a Football Association coaching course. He joined the coaching staff at Tottenham and rose quickly through the ranks to become first team coach in 1955.

In 1958 he assisted England manager Walter Winterbottom at the World Cup, and in October that year he was appointed Tottenham manager.

He inherited a side struggling in the lower reaches of the First Division, but made an immediate impact. In his first game Spurs beat Everton 10-4 at White Hart Lane.

That year they finished 18th, the following season they were third.

"Any player coming to Spurs, whether he's a big signing or just a ground staff boy, must be dedicated to the game and to the club. He must never be satisfied with his last performance, and he must hate losing."
Bill Nicholson

The Double

Then in the 1960/61 season Spurs became the first club in the twentieth century to do the Double, cruising to the title by eight points, before dispatching Leicester City in the FA Cup final.

The following year they won the FA Cup again, and narrowly missed a place in the European Cup Final, losing out to Benfica in the semi.

European Triumph

In 1962-63, Spurs made history again, becoming the first British club to win a European trophy, after thrashing Atletico Madrid 5-1 in the European Cup Winners Cup.

A third FA Cup was won in 1967, Spurs edging Chelsea 2-1 in the first-ever all-London final.

Nicholson wasn't done yet though, in 1971 he led the club to the League Cup, the UEFA Cup was won in 1972, and another League Cup followed in 1973.

Later Career

Nicholson stepped down as Tottenham manager during the 1974/1975 season and took a job as an advisor at West Ham.

He later returned to Spurs as a consultant and is credited with recommending Graham Roberts, Tony Galvin, Gary Mabbutt and Glenn Hoddle, among others, to the club.

He continued to work as a consultant until 1991, when he was awarded the title of Club President.

Death and legacy

Nicholson was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2003.

He died on 23 October 2004 after a long illness.

An approach road to White Hart Lane has been re-named Bill Nicholson Way in his honour.

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