Viv Anderson

First black England international and European Cup winner with Nottingham Forest.

Vivian Alexander Anderson (born 29 July 1956) is an English former professional footballer who played as a right-back. He is best known for his ten-year stint with Nottingham Forest, with whom he won the First Division title in 1978, as well as the European Cup in 1979 and 1980. In 1978, he became the first black footballer to play for England's senior men's national team, and from 1980 to 1988, was selected in the England squad for four major tournaments. He also had a short-lived managerial career with Barnsley, before joining Middlesbrough as assistant manager to Bryan Robson, where he remained until 2001.

Quick Facts

Fullname: Vivian Alexander Anderson
Born: 29 July 1956
Birthplace: Clifton, Nottingham, England
Height: 1.82 m / 6 ft
Position: Right-back
Totalcaps: 594
Totalgoals: 38

Lore & Background

Anderson was born in Clifton, Nottingham. His parents, Audley and Myrtle, were both from Jamaica. Audley came to England in 1954, while Myrtle arrived in 1955. Despite racial tensions, Anderson has said his childhood was relatively untroubled by discrimination. He spent a year as a schoolboy with Manchester United before being released. He returned to Nottingham where at school he sat and passed three CSEs. He then worked for three weeks as a silkscreen printer, describing himself as 'a glorified tea boy' and 'just a dogsbody.'

Reader's Guide

Anderson broke into the Nottingham Forest team during 1974 and became a regular after Brian Clough's arrival in January 1975. He was part of the side that won promotion to the First Division in 1977, winning the title and the League Cup a year later. He regularly suffered racial abuse from fans. He was part of the Forest team that retained the League Cup (though he missed the final through injury) and won the European Cup in 1979 and 1980. In summer 1984, he moved to Arsenal for £250,000. At Arsenal, he scored 15 goals in 150 appearances over three seasons. He then signed with Manchester United after a tribunal agreed a £250,000 fee, becoming Alex Ferguson's first signing. At Manchester United, he helped the team finish second in 1987–88 and won the FA Cup in 1990 (though not in the squad for the final). He joined Sheffield Wednesday on a free transfer in January 1991, helping them to promotion from the Second Division, and captained the side on many occasions. He helped Wednesday reach the FA Cup and League Cup finals in 1993, losing both to Arsenal. For England, he made his debut in November 1978 against Czechoslovakia. He scored his first international goal in an 8–0 win over Turkey and his second against Yugoslavia. He won his 30th and final cap in a Rous Cup game against Colombia. He was selected for four major tournaments but never played a minute in any of them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Viv Anderson?

Viv Anderson was an English professional footballer who played as a right-back, spending a decade with Nottingham Forest during their most successful era. He is celebrated for his defensive skills and leadership on the pitch.

What are Viv Anderson's key achievements?

He helped Nottingham Forest win the First Division title in 1978 and secured back-to-back European Cup victories in 1979 and 1980. Additionally, he was a crucial member of the squad that earned promotion to the top flight in 1977.