Jimmy Armfield was a legendary figure in English football, who played, managed and commentated on the game for over six decades. He was born in 1935 in Denton, Manchester, and moved to Blackpool during the Second World War. He joined Blackpool FC at the age of 17 and spent his entire playing career there, making a club record 627 appearances and captaining them for 10 years. He was also a key member of the England national team, earning 43 caps and leading them in 15 games. He was part of the 1966 World Cup-winning squad, although he did not play in the final due to injury.
After retiring from playing in 1971, Armfield became a manager and took charge of Bolton Wanderers and Leeds United. He led Leeds to the 1975 European Cup final, where they lost to Bayern Munich in controversial circumstances. He was widely respected for his tactical acumen and his gentlemanly conduct. He later became a popular and insightful commentator for BBC Radio Five Live, covering several World Cups and European Championships. He was awarded an OBE in 2007 for his services to football. He died in 2018, aged 82, after a long battle with cancer.
- Former Leeds United manager passes at age of 82 – Read more