| Trevor Francis | ||
| Personal information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Trevor John Francis | |
| Date of birth | 19 April 1954 | |
| Place of birth | Plymouth, England | |
| Playing position | Striker | |
| Senior clubs1 | ||
| Years | Club | App (Gls)* |
| 1971–1979 1978–1979 1979–1981 1981–1982 1982–1985 1985–1987 1987–1988 1988–1991 1991–1994 |
Birmingham City → Detroit Express (loan) Nottingham Forest Manchester City Sampdoria Atalanta Rangers Queens Park Rangers Sheffield Wednesday Total |
280 (119) 38 (39) 70 (28) 26 (12) 68 (17) 21 (1) 18 (0) 32 (12) 89 (9) 642 (237) |
| National team | ||
| 1976–1986 | England | 52 (12) |
| Teams managed | ||
| 1988–1990 1990–1995 1996–2001 2001–2003 |
Queens Park Rangers Sheffield Wednesday Birmingham City Crystal Palace |
|
|
1 Senior club appearances and goals |
||
Trevor John Francis (born 19 April 1954 in Boxhill, Plymouth, England), is a former footballer who won 52 caps for England. Events 1012 - Martyrdom of Alphege in Greenwich London. 1529 - At the Second Diet of Speyer Year 1954 ( MCMLIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar) See also Box Hill Boxhill is a steep hill in the English city of Plymouth. Plymouth ( is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England about south west of London. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a Team sport played between two teams of eleven players and is widely considered A cap is an appearance for a select team such as a school county or international team in sports The English national football team represents England in international football and is controlled by The Football Association, the governing body for football He was England's first £1 million player. The Pound Sterling ( symbol £; ISO code: GBP) subdivided into 100 pence (singular penny) is the Currency He has also been a football manager. Francis is now working as a pundit with Al Jazeera Sports. Al Jazeera Sports (الجزيرة الرياضية is a popular Arabic-language sports channel launched in November 2003 by the well-known Al Jazeera network England manager Fabio Capello labelled Francis as the best English player to have ever played in Serie A. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Fabio Capello (born 18 June 1946 in Pieris, San Canzian d'Isonzo, Gorizia) is an Italian football manager and former professional Serie A (officially known as the Lega Calcio Serie A TIM for Sponsorship reasons is a professional league competition for football clubs located
Contents |
Playing career
Francis was educated at Plymouth's Public Secondary School for Boys. He was an agile and skillful forward and joined Birmingham City as a schoolboy. Strikers, also known as forwards and attackers, are the players on a team in Association football (soccer in the row nearest to the opposing Birmingham City Football Club is an English Professional football club based in the city of Birmingham. He quickly rose in status, making his debut appearance for its first team in 1970, aged just 16. Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. His talent was noted when, before his 17th birthday, he scored four goals in one game. He ended his first season with 15 goals from just 22 games.
Birmingham City
Birmingham City was an average team in the 1970s, reaching the occasional domestic semi-final but failing to make a great impact in the First Division championship, so the ability and achievements of Francis were made more notable as a result. This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. The Football League First Division was the highest division of The Football League between 1993 and 2004 and the highest division of English football overall between
On 30 October 1976 he scored one of Birmingham's most famous goals, when he turned away from the touchline and cut inside four QPR defenders, constantly being forced backwards, before suddenly unleashing a 25-yard shot which caught the goalkeeper off guard. Events 637 - Antioch surrenders to the Muslim forces under Rashidun Caliphate after the Battle of Iron bridge. Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English football club, based in Shepherds Bush in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in West London In Association football (soccer a defender is a player who tries to prevent the other team from scoring In many team Sports a goalkeeper (termed goaltender netminder, goalie, or keeper in some sports In 1977, he was given his first England cap by Don Revie. The English national football team represents England in international football and is controlled by The Football Association, the governing body for football Donald George 'Don' Revie, OBE, ( 10 July 1927 - 26 May 1989) was a football player for Leicester City, England were beaten 2-0 by Holland. The Netherlands national football team is the national football team of the Netherlands and is controlled by the Royal Netherlands Football Association
Francis negotiated a secondment from Birmingham in 1978 to play for the Detroit Express in the fledgling North American Soccer League (NASL), where he scored 22 goals in 19 league matches and was named to the NASL first XI alongside Franz Beckenbauer and Giorgio Chinaglia before returning home to the Midlands. Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) This article is about the original Detroit Express of the NASL. North American Soccer League (NASL was a professional soccer League with teams in the United States of America (U This article is mainly about the English Midlands For other uses see Midlands (disambiguation. However, in February 1979 came the moment which would define his career and leave his name permanently in football folklore. Year 1979 ( MCMLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1979 Gregorian calendar)
Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest, the reigning League champions and League Cup holders managed by Brian Clough, put in a bid for Francis which totalled just over £1 million. Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English professional football club based at the City Ground in West Bridgford, a suburb of Nottingham The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup, is an English football competition Brian Howard Clough, OBE ( 21 March, 1935 – 20 September, 2004) was a successful footballer and subsequently football No player had ever been sold between English clubs for a seven-figure fee before (the erstwhile record was less than half), and the deal was sealed, with Francis famously being introduced to the media by a manager impatient to play squash - Clough was in his white gym kit and carrying a racquet as he addressed the press conference. Squash is a racquet sport that was formerly called squash racquets, a reference to the "squashable" soft ball used in the game (compared with the A racquet (or racket) is a sports implement consisting of a handled frame with an open hoop across which a network of cord is stretched tightly
While recognised as the first million pound player,[1] the actual transfer fee for the player was £999,999 - £1 short of the million mark as Brian Clough wanted to ensure this milestone mark did not go the player's head, although with taxes the total fee exceeded £1. 1m. [2]
Nottingham Forest retained the League Cup shortly afterwards (though Francis was ineligible), and made progress in the European Cup to the extent that they reached the semi-finals, at which point Francis was permitted by registration rules to take part. They won their semi-final, and in May 1979 Forest took on Swedish side Malmö in the final in Munich, and a major instalment of the huge investment money was repaid just before half time. "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. Malmö FF is a Swedish football club located in Malmö. The club formed 24 February 1910, has been awarded 15 national championship Munich (München; Minga is the capital city of Bavaria, Germany.
The ball was spread to Forest's lugubrious but skilful winger John Robertson wide on the left and he took on two defenders at once to reach the byline and curl an awkward, outswinging cross towards the far post. In certain sports such as football, Field hockey, Ice hockey, handball, Rugby union, and Rugby league, the term winger John Neilson Robertson (born 20 January, 1953 in Uddingston) is a former Scottish footballer. In football, a cross is a delivery of a ball from either side of the field across to the front of the goal by applying various kicking techniques Francis had already begun to sprint into position, but even he had to increase his pace to reach the cross as it dropped, and ended up throwing himself low at the ball. He connected with his head and the ball diverted powerfully into the roof of the net. Forest won the match 1-0 and footage of the goal was used in the opening titles to Match of the Day for some years afterwards. Match of the Day (sometimes abbreviated as MOTD) is the BBC 's main football Television programme A giant picture of Francis stooping to head the ball remains on display in the main entrance and reception area of Forest's stadium. A modern stadium (plural stadiums or stadia in English is a place or venue for (mostly outdoor Sports Concerts or other events consisting Even though the season ended there, Francis duly headed back to Detroit for another summer playing in the NASL where once again he was named to the first XI alongside Johan Cruyff (LA) and Giorgio Chinaglia (NY) despite playing only half the season. In his brief NASL career Francis scored 36 goals in 33 regular season matches and had 18 assists, placing him one spot ahead of Pele on the all time scoring list, despite playing 23 fewer games.
Francis arguably did not achieve his full potential as a Forest player. This may partly be due to Clough frequently playing Francis on the right wing, rather than in his preferred position as a central attacker. He was in the side which lost the League Cup final to Wolves in 1980 but missed the European Cup final against Hamburg SV due to an injury to his Achilles tendon. Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) Hamburger SV is a German multi Sport club ("Traditionsverein" based in Hamburg, its largest branch is the football department. Somehow the success of his Forest career never quite reflected his huge fee, he scored only 14 league goals in the 1979-80 season and six in the eighteen games that he played for Forest in the next. Although still a regular for England (his Achilles injury prevented him being in the squad for the 1980 European Championships), his scoring record in club football was not spectacular. The 1980 UEFA European Football Championship final tournament was held in Italy.
Manchester City
Francis' injury kept him out of the game for over six months, and after playing fewer than twenty more games for Forest, he was sold to Manchester City in 1981 (again for £1 million - the fee had become commonplace after the initial purchase opened the floodgates), where he scored 12 goals in 26 games and made the squad for the 1982 World Cup in Spain. TalkManchester City FC before changing verbs to singular --> Manchester City Football Club is an English professional football club Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 The 1982 FIFA World Cup, the 12th staging of the World Cup was held in Spain from June 13 to July 11. Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. He duly scored goals in the group games against Czechoslovakia and Kuwait, but when England needed goals in the second group phase, he and the other strikers hit a barren spell. The Czechoslovakia national football team was the national football team of Czechoslovakia, before the country was split into the Czech Republic The Kuwait National Football Team is the national team of Kuwait and is controlled by the Kuwait Football Association. England was eliminated after two goalless draws.
Sampdoria
Later that summer, Francis was approached by Italian giants Sampdoria, who paid Manchester City £700,000 for his services. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Unione Calcio Sampdoria (commonly nicknamed Blucerchiati, blue-ringed is a football club based in Genoa, Italy. He helped win the Coppa Italia in 1985. For the Italian rugby competition see Coppa Italia (rugby The Coppa Italia ( Italy Cup, officially known as TIM Cup Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar)
Atalanta
He joined Atalanta for £800,000, where he played twenty-one times but only managed one goal. Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio, commonly known as just Atalanta, Atalanta Bergamo or the abbreviation Atalanta BC, is an Italian football In 1986, he made his 52nd and final appearance for England in a victory over Scotland. Year 1986 ( MCMLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar) The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. He had scored eleven goals for the national side.
Rangers
Francis returned to Britain in 1987 and joined Rangers F.C. under Graeme Souness, as part of his self-styled "English invasion" at Ibrox. Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) Rangers Football Club are an Association football team based in Glasgow Scotland, who currently play in the Scottish Premier League. Graeme James Souness (ˈsuːnɨs (born 6 May, 1953 in Edinburgh) is a Scottish former professional football player and manager Francis cost just £75,000 and won the Scottish League Cup in 1987. The Scottish Football League Cup is an Association football competition open to all Scottish Football League and Scottish Premier League clubs Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar)
Queens Park Rangers
He signed as a player for Queens Park Rangers in 1987 and took over as manager in November 1988 when Jim Smith moved to Newcastle. Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English football club, based in Shepherds Bush in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in West London Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) Events in November All Saints' Day (formerly All Hallows Day a Christian holy day is celebrated on November 1, the day after Halloween Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) Jim Smith may refer to Jim Smith (animator, Texan animator and co-writer on The Ren and Stimpy Show Jim Smith (cricketer, Newcastle United Football Club (also known as The Magpies or The Toon) is an English football club based in Newcastle upon He left after a year in charge, with a previously effective QPR side now in danger of relegation.
Management career
Sheffield Wednesday
Francis left QPR in 1990 to play for Sheffield Wednesday, winning the League Cup in 1991 as a non-playing substitute, prior to promotion back to the top flight. Year 1990 ( MCMXC) was a Common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar) Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. A substitute is a player in Association football who is brought on to the pitch during a match in exchange for an existing player He later took over as manager after the departure of Ron Atkinson and guided Wednesday to an excellent third place finish in 1992. Ronald Franklin Atkinson, commonly known as "Big Ron" and (earlier in his managerial career "Bojangles" (born 18 March, 1939 Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) The following year, Wednesday reached the FA Cup and League Cup finals, losing both to Arsenal, the former after a replay. The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after In 1994, Francis finally retired as a player. Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) He was sacked as manager a year later after Wednesday finished 13th in the Premiership, and many people still feel that his dismissal - the result of one relatively bad season - was the cause of a subsequent decline from which the club has still not fully recovered.
In February 1992, Francis brought former French International Eric Cantona back from the wilderness by inviting him for a trial at Sheffield Wednesday. Éric Daniel Pierre Cantona (born 24 May 1966 is a French former footballer of the late 1980s and 1990s However as the snowy conditions meant that he could only evaluate Cantona on astroturf, Francis requsted an extension to the trial to see whether Cantona could play on grass. [1]
An outraged Cantona walked out on The Owls and was signed (without a trial) by Leeds United, famously inspiring first them and then Manchester United to success. Leeds United Association Football Club, commonly referred to as simply Leeds United or informally Leeds, are an English professional football
Birmingham City
After leaving Wednesday, Francis spent time working as a television pundit (something which he had done throughout his career) before going back to his spiritual home of Birmingham City as manager in 1996, aiming to regain their position as a top team. Coach (baseball|Coach (basketball|Coach (ice hockeyIn Sports a coach or manager is an individual involved in the direction instruction and training of the operations Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) They continued to reach the play-offs but failed to be promoted. They also lost the 2001 Football League Cup Final to Liverpool. The 2001 Worthington Cup Final was a football match played between Liverpool and Birmingham City at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Liverpool Football Club are an English professional Association football club based in Liverpool England. Francis left later that year.
Crystal Palace
Francis had a short spell in charge of Crystal Palace. Crystal Palace FC is an English football club based in South Norwood, London. Under his managership, Palace defeated Liverpool in an FA Cup fourth round replay at Anfield in February 2003. Anfield is an all-seater Association football Stadium in the district of Anfield, in Liverpool, England Francis was dismissed shortly afterwards, with club chairman Simon Jordan commenting, ''"Trevor Francis didn’t take it very well. Simon Jordan (born 24 September 1967, Thornton Heath, United Kingdom) is the chairman of Crystal Palace Football Club, a football He just sat there quietly and said "But it’s my birthday". I had no idea. What could I do? I said, "Many happy returns, Trev", and gave him his P45. ".
Career Statistics
Honours
As manager
- 1993 F.A. Cup: finalist
References
- ^ Forest reach the summit | Champions League | guardian.co.uk Football
- ^ Clough, Brian. The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after Statistics of The Football League in season 1970 / 1971. Overview First Division Arsenal won the league championship at the end of a season Birmingham City Football Club is an English Professional football club based in the city of Birmingham. From 1892 until 1992 the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football. Statistics of The Football League in season 1971 / 1972. Overview First Division Brian Clough, 37 won the first major trophy Statistics of The Football League in season 1972 / 1973. Overview First Division Liverpool cruised to another championship triumph The Football League First Division was the highest division of The Football League between 1993 and 2004 and the highest division of English football overall between Statistics of The Football League in season 1973/1974 Overview First Division Don Revie marked his last season as Leeds United 's manager Statistics of The Football League in season 1974 / 1975. Overview First Division David Mackay guided Derby County to Statistics of The Football League in season 1975 / 1976. Overview First Division Liverpool won their first major trophy under Statistics of The Football League in season 1976/1977 Overview First Division Liverpool retained their league championship trophy and won their first Statistics of The Football League in season 1977 / 1978. Overview First Division Brian Clough 's Nottingham Forest The Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is an American soccer competition open to all United States Soccer Federation (USSF affiliated teams from amateur adult club teams all the Statistics of North American Soccer League in season 1978. Overview The league was made up of 24 teams This article is about the original Detroit Express of the NASL. North American Soccer League (NASL was a professional soccer League with teams in the United States of America (U The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after Statistics of The Football League in season 1978 / 1979. Overview First Division Bob Paisley won his third league title at Birmingham City Football Club is an English Professional football club based in the city of Birmingham. The Football League First Division was the highest division of The Football League between 1993 and 2004 and the highest division of English football overall between Statistics of The Football League in season 1978 / 1979. Overview First Division Bob Paisley won his third league title at Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English professional football club based at the City Ground in West Bridgford, a suburb of Nottingham The Football League First Division was the highest division of The Football League between 1993 and 2004 and the highest division of English football overall between The Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is an American soccer competition open to all United States Soccer Federation (USSF affiliated teams from amateur adult club teams all the Statistics of North American Soccer League in season 1979. Overview The league was comprised of 24 teams This article is about the original Detroit Express of the NASL. North American Soccer League (NASL was a professional soccer League with teams in the United States of America (U The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after Statistics of The Football League in season 1979/1980 Overview First Division Bob Paisley 's Liverpool retained their league championship Nottingham Forest Football Club is an English professional football club based at the City Ground in West Bridgford, a suburb of Nottingham The Football League First Division was the highest division of The Football League between 1993 and 2004 and the highest division of English football overall between Statistics of The Football League in season 1980/1981 Overview First Division Ron Saunders completed Aston Villa 's revival as they ended Statistics of The Football League in season 1981/1982 Overview First Division 3 points for a win was introduced for the first time in England Statistics of The Football League in season 1981/1982 Overview First Division 3 points for a win was introduced for the first time in England TalkManchester City FC before changing verbs to singular --> Manchester City Football Club is an English professional football club The Football League First Division was the highest division of The Football League between 1993 and 2004 and the highest division of English football overall between For the Italian rugby competition see Coppa Italia (rugby The Coppa Italia ( Italy Cup, officially known as TIM Cup Final classification Results References and Sources Almanacco Illustrato del Calcio - La Storia 1898-2004 Unione Calcio Sampdoria (commonly nicknamed Blucerchiati, blue-ringed is a football club based in Genoa, Italy. Serie A (officially known as the Lega Calcio Serie A TIM for Sponsorship reasons is a professional league competition for football clubs located Final classification Results References and Sources Almanacco Illustrato del Calcio - La Storia 1898-2004 Final classification Results References and Sources Almanacco Illustrato del Calcio - La Storia 1898-2004 Final classification Results References and Sources Almanacco Illustrato del Calcio - La Storia 1898-2004 Final classification Results UEFA Cup qualification Played on May 23 in Turin Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio, commonly known as just Atalanta, Atalanta Bergamo or the abbreviation Atalanta BC, is an Italian football Serie A (officially known as the Lega Calcio Serie A TIM for Sponsorship reasons is a professional league competition for football clubs located The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup, usually known as the Scottish Cup, is the national football cup competition of Scotland Statistics of the Scottish Football League in season 1987&ndash88. Rangers Football Club are an Association football team based in Glasgow Scotland, who currently play in the Scottish Premier League. The Scottish Premier League, currently known as the Clydesdale Bank Premier League for sponsorship reasons and often known as the Premier League or SPL The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football, run by and named after Statistics of The Football League in season 1987 / 1988. Overview First Division Liverpool won the league title with a comfortable Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English football club, based in Shepherds Bush in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in West London The Football League First Division was the highest division of The Football League between 1993 and 2004 and the highest division of English football overall between The Football League was contested through four divisions in the 1988-89 season Statistics of The Football League in season 1989 / 1990. Overview First Division Liverpool overhauled a greatly improved Statistics of The Football League in season 1989 / 1990. Overview First Division Liverpool overhauled a greatly improved The Football League First Division was the highest division of The Football League between 1993 and 2004 and the highest division of English football overall between Statistics of The Football League in season 1990/1991 Overview First Division Arsenal took their second league title in three seasons despite a season From 1892 until 1992 the Football League Second Division was the second highest division overall in English football. Statistics of The Football League in season 1991 / 1992. Overview First Division The last-ever league championship before the The Football League First Division was the highest division of The Football League between 1993 and 2004 and the highest division of English football overall between The Premier League, colloquially referred to as the Premiership, is an English professional league for football clubs The 1993 FA Cup Final was contested by Arsenal and Sheffield Wednesday at Wembley. Clough: The Autobiography, 1995, Corgi.
External links
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