Danny Blanchflower

Robert Dennis Blanchflower, known as Danny Blanchflower (February 10, 1926 in Belfast - December 9, 1993) was a footballer and journalist who captained Spurs during their double-winning season of 1961.

Related Topics:
February 10 - 1926 - Belfast - December 9 - 1993 - Footballer - Journalist - Spurs - 1961

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He began his professional football career at the end of the Second World War when he was signed by Belfast side Glentoran. In 1949, Barnsley F.C. paid £6,000 to transfer him to England, and two years later Aston Villa bought him for £15,000. His time at Aston Villa didn't go well, unhappy with the club and the way training was conducted, instead becoming one of the first to propose that players should train with a ball as opposed to merely undertaking physical exercise. In 1954 he was bought by Spurs for the huge fee of £30,000, and during his ten years at White Hart Lane he made 337 league appearances.

Related Topics:
Second World War - Glentoran - 1949 - Barnsley F.C. - Aston Villa - 1954 - White Hart Lane

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The highlight of his time at Spurs came with the 1960-61 season. With Blanchflower as captain Spurs won their first 11 games, and eventually ran out as league champions by 8 points. They then beat Leicester City in the final of the FA Cup to become the first team to win the league and cup double since Aston Villa in 1897.

Related Topics:
Leicester City - FA Cup - 1897

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In 1962 he again captained Spurs to victory in the FA Cup, only narrowly missing out on a second double when they finished second in the league to Ipswich Town, and in 1963 he captained his side to victory over Atletico Madrid in the final of the European Cup Winners' Cup, the first British side to win a European trophy.

Related Topics:
1962 - Ipswich Town - 1963 - Atletico Madrid - European Cup Winners' Cup

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Between 1949 and 1963, he earned 56 caps for Northern Ireland, often playing alongside his brother Jackie, and in 1958 captained his country when they reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

Related Topics:
Northern Ireland - Jackie - 1958 - World Cup

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After retiring as a player in April 1964, he withdrew from football for several years, returning briefly as manager of Northern Ireland in 1978, and as manager of Chelsea in 1978-1979.

Related Topics:
1964 - Northern Ireland - 1978 - Chelsea - 1979

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He was one of only a handful of players to have been awarded the title of English Footballer of the Year on two occasions, winning in both 1958 and 1961. In 1961, he also became the first person to turn down the invitation to appear on This Is Your Life, simply walking away from host Eamonn Andrews live on air.

Related Topics:
English Footballer of the Year - This Is Your Life - Eamonn Andrews

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In the later years of his life, he suffered from Alzheimer's Disease, and died at his home in December 1993 aged 67. He is remembered as one of the great tacticians in the history the game, renowned for his passing and as an outstanding right-half.

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