Ron Greenwood
Manager who led West Ham to their first major trophies and England to World Cup qualification.
Ron Greenwood (11 November 1921 – 9 February 2006) was an English football player and manager. He managed West Ham United for 13 years, from 1961 to 1974, a time during which the club gained much of its fame. He coached the England national football team from 1977 until 1982, leading them to their first FIFA World Cup qualification in 12 years.
Quick Facts
- Role
- Manager (and former player)
- Primary club
- West Ham United
- Defining honour
- 1980 European Cup Winners' Cup
- Playing position
- Midfielder
- Later club
- Watford
Lore & Background
Greenwood played as a centre-half for Chelsea, Bradford Park Avenue, Brentford, Chelsea again, and Fulham. He never played for West Ham as a player. He managed West Ham from 1961 to 1974, then became general manager for three years, ending his 16-year association with West Ham in 1977. Under Greenwood, West Ham won the FA Cup in 1964 and the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1964–65. The 1980 FA Cup win occurred after he moved upstairs as general manager, with John Lyall in charge of the first team.
Reader's Guide
Greenwood's defining honours at West Ham were the FA Cup (1963–64) and the European Cup Winners' Cup (1964–65). He also led England to qualification for UEFA Euro 1980 and the 1982 FIFA World Cup, where England were unbeaten but eliminated in the second group stage. He retired after the 1982 World Cup.
Did You Know?
- Greenwood was never capped for England but made a single 'B' team appearance in 1952.
- He selected the first black player for England, Viv Anderson, in 1978.
- He was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2006.
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Elsewhere in Premier League
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