Danny Blanchflower

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Blanchflower was born on 10 February 1926 in the Bloomfield district of Belfast, the first of five children. He was educated at Ravenscroft public elementary school and awarded a scholarship to Belfast College of Technology. He left early to become an apprentice electrician at Gallaher's cigarette factory. He joined the Air Raid Precautions and in 1943 lied about his age to join the RAF. As a trainee navigator he was sent to St Andrews University and in spring 1945 posted to Canada for further training. By 1946 he was back in Belfast and building a reputation as an outstanding footballer. His younger brother Jackie was also a Northern Irish international and played for Manchester United before his career was ended by injuries from the Munich air disaster. Blanchflower signed for Glentoran in 1946, then Barnsley for £6000 in 1949, then Aston Villa for £15,000, making his debut in March 1951. He made 155 senior appearances for Villa before being sold during the 1954–55 season. In 1954 he was bought by Tottenham Hotspur for £30,000, making 337 League appearances and 382 total appearances (scoring 21 goals). He captained Spurs to the 1960–61 double, won the FA Cup in 1962, and the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1963. He earned 56 caps for Northern Ireland and captained them to the 1958 World Cup quarter-finals. He retired on 5 April 1964 at age 38, having played nearly 400 games for Spurs. He briefly came out of retirement in 1965 to play three times for Durban City.

In Their Own Story

On 4 December 1957, Blanchflower captained Northern Ireland against Italy in Belfast in a bad-tempered game that came to be known as the 'Battle of Belfast'. He attempted to keep the peace as the game turned nasty. In 1958 he captained his country when they reached the quarter-finals of the FIFA World Cup. He was the first Northern Irishman to achieve a half century of caps when he played against Wales in 1962. At Spurs, the highlight came with the 1960–61 season: with Blanchflower as captain, Spurs won their first 11 games, a record for the top flight of English football, and eventually won the league by 8 points. They then beat Leicester City in the FA Cup final to become the first team in the 20th century to win the League and Cup double. In 1962 he helped Spurs win the FA Cup again, scoring a penalty in the final against Burnley. In 1963 he captained his side to victory over Atlético Madrid in the final of the European Cup Winners' Cup.

Reader's Guide

Blanchflower played as a defensive midfielder at right half, known for accurate passing, dictating tempo, and inspiring leadership. After retiring, he coached at Spurs for several years. He became manager of Northern Ireland in 1976 and then Chelsea, but won only five of 32 games and left in September 1979. He later worked as a football journalist and commentator.

Did You Know?

• Blanchflower was the first Northern Irishman to earn 50 caps, achieved against Wales in 1962.
• He was one of only a handful of players to be named FWA Footballer of the Year twice, in 1958 and 1961.
• He captained Northern Ireland in the 'Battle of Belfast' against Italy on 4 December 1957.
• He was the first person to turn down an invitation to appear on This Is Your Life, calling it an invasion of privacy.
• He said: 'The game is about glory, it is about doing things in style and with a flourish.'