Don Revie transformed Leeds United from a struggling Second Division club into one of the strongest sides in English and European football. Appointed player-manager in March 1961, he led Leeds to two First Division championships, the FA Cup, League Cup and two Inter-Cities Fairs Cups before leaving to manage England in 1974. He was also a talented and innovative player, who pioneered the role of the deep-lying centre forward in the “Revie Plan” at Manchester City. He was a controversial figure, who attracted criticism for his pragmatic and physical style of play, his loyalty to his players, and his abrupt departure from the England national team. He was, however, a visionary and a winner, who left a lasting legacy at Leeds and in the game.
Early life and playing career
Revie was born in 1927 in Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, and moved to Blackpool during the Second World War. He joined Leicester City as a teenager in 1944, and made his debut in the first division in 1946. He was a versatile and intelligent player, who could play in any position, but was mainly used as a right half. He moved to Hull City in 1949 before joining Manchester City in 1951. At City, he became renowned for his intelligent movement and ability to link midfield and attack.
The Revie Plan at Manchester City
At Manchester City, Revie became the focal point of the “Revie Plan”, a tactical system devised by manager Les McDowall, which involved Revie dropping deep from his centre forward position to link up with the midfield and create space for the wingers. This was a revolutionary idea at the time, as most teams played with a traditional centre forward who stayed close to the goal. Revie adapted to the role brilliantly, and became one of the best players in the country. He was named as the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year in 1955, and helped Manchester City win the 1956 FA Cup against Birmingham City. He also earned six England caps in the 1950s, scoring four goals.
From Sunderland to Elland Road
Revie left Manchester City in 1956, and joined Sunderland, where he scored 15 goals in 64 games. He then moved to Leeds United in 1958, where he scored 11 goals in 76 games, and became the club captain. He was nearing the end of his playing career, when he was offered the chance to become the player-manager of Leeds in 1961. Leeds were then a struggling second division club, who had never won a major trophy, and had a poor reputation and a small fan base. Revie accepted the challenge, and embarked on a remarkable transformation of the club.
Building the great Leeds United side
Revie built his team around a combination of players already at Leeds and emerging young talent. Billy Bremner and Jack Charlton were at the club before Revie became manager; Norman Hunter, Peter Lorimer and Eddie Gray were among the players who developed into major figures during his tenure. He also instilled a strong sense of discipline, loyalty, and professionalism in his players, and created a family atmosphere at the club. He was a master tactician, who studied the opposition and devised strategies to counter them. He was also an innovator, who introduced new ideas such as team tracksuits, dossiers, and motivational techniques. He led Leeds to the Second Division championship in 1963–64 and the First Division title in 1968–69, then secured a second top-flight championship in 1973–74. He also won the FA Cup in 1972, the League Cup in 1968, the FA Charity Shield in 1969, and the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1968 and 1971. He also guided Leeds to five more league runners-up finishes, three FA Cup finals, and two European finals. He made Leeds one of the most successful and feared teams in England and Europe, and also one of the most hated, due to their physical and often negative approach.
Two league championships and a golden era
After winning promotion as Second Division champions in 1963–64, Revie’s Leeds immediately challenged for the First Division title. They finished runners-up in 1964–65, losing out to Manchester United on goal average, and also reached the FA Cup final, where Liverpool beat them after extra time. It was the beginning of a remarkable period in which Leeds became regular contenders for the game’s biggest prizes.
The first major trophy of Revie’s managerial reign arrived in 1968, when Leeds defeated Arsenal in the League Cup final. They also won the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup that year, overcoming Ferencváros over two legs. In 1968–69, Leeds became champions of England for the first time, building their title-winning season on defensive strength, consistency and an exceptionally settled team.
Leeds won the Fairs Cup again in 1971, beating Juventus on away goals after two drawn legs, and lifted the 1972 FA Cup when Allan Clarke’s diving header defeated Arsenal at Wembley. Yet the era also featured painful near misses: defeat to Chelsea in the 1970 FA Cup final replay, the shock loss to Second Division Sunderland in the 1973 FA Cup final, and defeat to AC Milan in the 1973 European Cup Winners’ Cup final.
The 1973–74 title: Revie’s final triumph
Revie’s last season at Leeds was one of his finest. United opened the 1973–74 First Division campaign with 29 league matches unbeaten and went on to claim their second championship. It was a fitting final achievement for a manager who had transformed the club’s standing in little more than a decade.
At the heart of the side were captain Billy Bremner, Jack Charlton, Norman Hunter, Peter Lorimer, Eddie Gray, Allan Clarke and other players who became synonymous with Leeds United’s most celebrated period. Revie’s attention to opponents, emphasis on collective responsibility and strong personal relationships with his squad were essential parts of that success.
Admiration, criticism and controversy
Revie’s teams were admired for their organisation, skill and competitive consistency, but criticised by opponents for physical play and gamesmanship. The contrast between the team’s achievements and its often hostile reception outside Leeds remains an important part of the story. Some allegations made against Revie have been disputed; unproven claims should not be treated as established fact.
Revie left Leeds in July 1974 to become England manager. The notorious Charity Shield confrontation with Liverpool took place after his departure, under his successor Brian Clough. Clough’s reign lasted only 44 days, and Jimmy Armfield subsequently led much of Revie’s former squad to the 1975 European Cup final.
Don Revie and Brian Clough: the ITV interview
Following Clough’s dismissal after just 44 days as Leeds manager in September 1974, the two men appeared together in a remarkable ITV television interview. Their exchange offers a rare opportunity to hear Revie defend the team he built and Clough explain his criticisms of its approach. It is a fascinating primary-source companion to the contrasting stories of Revie and Clough.
England, later career and legacy
Revie’s England tenure was far less successful than his time at Leeds. England failed to qualify for the 1976 European Championship, and he left the national team job in 1977 before the unsuccessful 1978 World Cup qualifying campaign had concluded. His decision to take a coaching position in the United Arab Emirates caused considerable controversy.
Revie died in 1989, aged 61, after suffering from motor neurone disease. He had received an OBE during his lifetime and was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2004.
For Leeds supporters, his enduring legacy is the transformation of a struggling Second Division club into two-time English champions and European trophy winners. The scale of that achievement, and the loyalty he inspired among many of his players, make Don Revie a defining figure in Leeds United history.
- Don Revie: Loved in Leeds, but not in London. – Read more