Ray Wilkins
Chelsea's youngest captain who went on to grace the game across Europe and England.
Raymond Colin Wilkins (14 September 1956 – 4 April 2018) was an English football player and coach. Born into a footballing family, Wilkins played as a midfielder. He began his career at Chelsea, where he was appointed captain at the age of 18, and later played for clubs including Manchester United, AC Milan, Queens Park Rangers and Rangers. He won 84 caps for the England national football team from 1976 to 1986, playing at UEFA Euro 1980 and the 1982 and 1986 FIFA World Cups.
- Period at Club
- 1984–1987
- Position
- Central Midfielder
- Appearances
- 105 (74 in Serie A)
- National Team
- England
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Wilkins scored a long-range strike in the 2–2 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion in the 1983 FA Cup Final (not the replay). He was voted player of the year by Manchester United supporters at the end of the 1983–1984 season. At Milan, he helped the team to victory over Inter in the Milan Derby in October 1984 and won a runner-up medal in the Coppa Italia. At Rangers, he scored a thunderous volley in a 5–1 win over Celtic on 27 August 1988 and won the league title that season, as well as the 1988 Scottish League Cup Final. He was later inducted into Rangers' Hall of Fame.
In Their Own Story
Wilkins' time at AC Milan was marked by both on-field triumphs and off-pitch turmoil. The pair of Englishmen, Wilkins and Hateley, helped secure a victory over rivals Inter Milan in the Milan Derby that October, earning plaudits from the Italian press and fans. However, the club suffered significantly when owner Giuseppe Farina absconded to South Africa amid accusations of bribery and theft. Wilkins' final season at Milan saw him play just 105 games overall as he fell behind Agostino Di Bartolomei and Alberigo Evani in the pecking order. Corriere della Sera later eulogized him as a 'serious and meticulous professional who was immediately appreciated for his long and precise passes.' His departure to Paris Saint-Germain in mid-1987 proved short-lived, as he failed to break into the team ahead of Gabriel Calderón and Safet Sušić, leading to a move to Scotland.
Reader's Guide
Wilkins began his career at Chelsea, making his debut at age 17 on 26 October 1973. He was handed the captaincy at 18 by manager Eddie McCreadie and kept it for four years, leading the team to promotion in 1976–1977. He signed for Manchester United in 1979 for £825,000. After five years, he moved to AC Milan in summer 1984. He played 105 games for Milan between 1984 and 1987. He then had a short spell at Paris Saint-Germain before joining Rangers in November 1987 for £250,000. He left Rangers in December 1989 to sign for Queens Park Rangers. Later, he played for Crystal Palace, Wycombe Wanderers, Hibernian, Millwall, and Leyton Orient before retiring.
Did You Know?
- Wilkins was the first Englishman to be sent off at a World Cup, for throwing the ball at the referee in a 1986 match against Morocco.
- He scored only two Serie A goals in his career, both in the 1985–1986 season for Milan.
- His elder brother Graham Wilkins also played for Chelsea.
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