Alan Mullery
Encyclopedia
Alan Patrick Mullery MBE
(born 23 November 1941, Notting Hill
, London
) is a former English
football
player and manager. After enjoying a successful career with Fulham
and in the 1960s and 1970s, he became a manager working with several different clubs. He is now employed as a television pundit. He is also famous for being the first ever England player to be sent off in an international match.
as a youngster, making his debut in 1958. Within a year he was made captain after an injury to Johnny Haynes
, though the special day turned into a nightmare when he scored an own goal.
After one game short of 200 for the Cottagers, Mullery joined Tottenham in March 1964 for £72,500 and settled quickly into the team. He was awarded his first England cap
in Amsterdam
as England drew 1-1 with Holland in December of that year.
Mullery was an experimental choice by manager Alf Ramsey
and didn't feature in subsequent England
squads, nor was he selected for the final 22 who competed at the 1966 World Cup. But at Tottenham, his reputation as a strong midfield general and natural leader was beginning to emerge.
Tottenham won the FA Cup
in 1967 after beating Chelsea
2-1, with Mullery's penetrating run from deep and blocked shot setting up the opening goal for Jimmy Robertson. In the same month, Mullery got his second England cap in an 2-0 victory against Spain
at Wembley
and stayed in the team ahead of his main rival, World Cup winner Nobby Stiles
, as England progressed through the 1968 European Championship, reaching the last four.
Disaster and ignominy then struck Mullery, as he lashed out in retaliation at some constant fouling from England's opponents from Yugoslavia
and became the first player ever to be sent off in a full England international match. England lost the semi-final 1-0. Stiles
played in the third place play-off victory over USSR
as Mullery served his suspension, but Ramsey
kept faith with Mullery afterwards and had him back in the side for most of the friendly matches which would prepare England for their defence of the World Cup in Mexico
.
Mullery, now Tottenham captain following the departure of Dave Mackay, won his 28th England cap when the tournament kicked off with a straightforward 1-0 win over Romania
in Guadalajara
. He stayed in the side for the remaining group games - a defeat against Brazil
and a win over Czechoslovakia
, which took England into the quarter finals, where they would meet the side they beat in the 1966 final, West Germany
.
Mullery was involved quickly, scoring his first England
goal with a powerful near-post shot in the first half which put his side ahead, but England ultimately lost 3-2 (this despite going 2-0 up) and went out of the competition.
Ramsey
continued to select Mullery after the tournament, but with the likes of Colin Bell
and Peter Storey
coming through, Mullery played what turned out to be his 35th and final England
game in 1971, just a month short of his 30th birthday, in a 3-2 victory over Switzerland
as England began their qualification campaign for the 1972 European Championships. Earlier in 1971, Mullery lifted the League Cup
as Tottenham captain after a 2-0 win over Aston Villa
at Wembley. A year later, Mullery proudly held aloft the UEFA Cup
after a 3-2 aggregate win over Wolverhampton Wanderers
. Mullery scored the crucial Spurs goal in the second leg which separated the teams.
Mullery moved back to Fulham
afterwards and scored what was later voted the BBC
's Goal of the Season with an arching, swiping volley from 25 yards (22.9 m) during an FA Cup tie against Leicester City
in January 1974. A year later, Fulham reached the final (despite being out of the First Division
) with Mullery and his old England skipper Bobby Moore
in the side, but they lost 2-0 to Moore's old club West Ham United
. Mullery was subsequently awarded the MBE
.
, taking them to two promotion campaigns and then keeping them in the First Division. He also managed Charlton Athletic (1981-1982)
, Crystal Palace
, QPR
, before returning for a second spell at Brighton, before giving up day-to-day involvement in the game. He later served Barnet
as Director of Football during 1996-1997.
During his first spell at Brighton, he stoked the fire on an already-brewing rivalry between Albion and Crystal Palace. After some controversy involving a Brighton penalty being forced to be re-taken (the re-take was missed, the original kick was scored), Mullery publicly blasted the Palace management.
When he was appointed Palace manager, in 1982, many fans were angered, and attendances massively decreased at Palace games.
He once coached ATM FA
in the Malaysian Premier League
.
He now works as a pundit for Sky Sports
, and in September 2005 also took a role with Conference club Crawley Town as a 'football consultant'.
Today, Mullery is a match day host at White Hart Lane
His cousin is married to the cricketer John Murray
.
He once went to Rome in an attempt to sign the Parma striker Gattuso Pope.
He had a brief stint as player/manager at Sussex non-league side Southwick
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 23 November 1941, Notting Hill
Notting Hill
Notting Hill is an area in London, England, close to the north-western corner of Kensington Gardens, in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
) is a former English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player and manager. After enjoying a successful career with Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
and in the 1960s and 1970s, he became a manager working with several different clubs. He is now employed as a television pundit. He is also famous for being the first ever England player to be sent off in an international match.
Playing career
Mullery was a tough but quick central midfield player who came through the ranks at FulhamFulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
as a youngster, making his debut in 1958. Within a year he was made captain after an injury to Johnny Haynes
Johnny Haynes
John Norman "Johnny" Haynes was an English footballer, best known for his 18 years at Fulham. He played a club-record 658 games and scored 158 goals for the club between 1952 and 1970...
, though the special day turned into a nightmare when he scored an own goal.
After one game short of 200 for the Cottagers, Mullery joined Tottenham in March 1964 for £72,500 and settled quickly into the team. He was awarded his first England cap
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
as England drew 1-1 with Holland in December of that year.
Mullery was an experimental choice by manager Alf Ramsey
Alf Ramsey
Sir Alfred Ernest "Alf" Ramsey was an English footballer and manager of the English national football team from 1963 to 1974. His greatest achievement was winning the 1966 World Cup with England on 30 July 1966...
and didn't feature in subsequent England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
squads, nor was he selected for the final 22 who competed at the 1966 World Cup. But at Tottenham, his reputation as a strong midfield general and natural leader was beginning to emerge.
Tottenham won the FA Cup
FA Cup
The Football Association Challenge Cup, commonly known as the FA Cup, is a knockout cup competition in English football and is the oldest association football competition in the world. The "FA Cup" is run by and named after The Football Association and usually refers to the English men's...
in 1967 after beating Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
2-1, with Mullery's penetrating run from deep and blocked shot setting up the opening goal for Jimmy Robertson. In the same month, Mullery got his second England cap in an 2-0 victory against Spain
Spain national football team
The Spain national football team represents Spain in international association football and is controlled by the Royal Spanish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Spain. The current head coach is Vicente del Bosque...
at Wembley
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
and stayed in the team ahead of his main rival, World Cup winner Nobby Stiles
Nobby Stiles
Norbert "Nobby" Peter Stiles MBE is a retired English footballer. He was born in Collyhurst, Manchester.Stiles played for England for five years, winning 28 caps and scoring 1 goal. He played every minute of England's victorious 1966 FIFA World Cup campaign...
, as England progressed through the 1968 European Championship, reaching the last four.
Disaster and ignominy then struck Mullery, as he lashed out in retaliation at some constant fouling from England's opponents from Yugoslavia
Yugoslavia national football team
The Yugoslavia national football team represented the Kingdom of Yugoslavia and the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in association football. It enjoyed a modicum of success in international competition. In 1992, during the Yugoslav wars, the team was suspended from international...
and became the first player ever to be sent off in a full England international match. England lost the semi-final 1-0. Stiles
Nobby Stiles
Norbert "Nobby" Peter Stiles MBE is a retired English footballer. He was born in Collyhurst, Manchester.Stiles played for England for five years, winning 28 caps and scoring 1 goal. He played every minute of England's victorious 1966 FIFA World Cup campaign...
played in the third place play-off victory over USSR
USSR national football team
The Soviet Union National Football Team was the national football team of the Soviet Union. It ceased to exist after the break up of the Union...
as Mullery served his suspension, but Ramsey
Alf Ramsey
Sir Alfred Ernest "Alf" Ramsey was an English footballer and manager of the English national football team from 1963 to 1974. His greatest achievement was winning the 1966 World Cup with England on 30 July 1966...
kept faith with Mullery afterwards and had him back in the side for most of the friendly matches which would prepare England for their defence of the World Cup in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
.
Mullery, now Tottenham captain following the departure of Dave Mackay, won his 28th England cap when the tournament kicked off with a straightforward 1-0 win over Romania
Romania national football team
The Romania national football team is the national football team of Romania and is controlled by the Romanian Football Federation.Romania is one of only four national teams, the other three being Brazil, France, and Belgium, that took part in the first three World Cups.However, after that...
in Guadalajara
Guadalajara, Jalisco
Guadalajara is the capital of the Mexican state of Jalisco, and the seat of the municipality of Guadalajara. The city is located in the central region of Jalisco in the western-pacific area of Mexico. With a population of 1,564,514 it is Mexico's second most populous municipality...
. He stayed in the side for the remaining group games - a defeat against Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
and a win over Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia national football team
The Czechoslovakia national football team was the national association football team of Czechoslovakia from 1922 to 1993. At the dissolution of Czechoslovakia at the end of 1992, the team was participating in UEFA qualifying Group 4 for the 1994 World Cup; it completed this campaign under the name...
, which took England into the quarter finals, where they would meet the side they beat in the 1966 final, West Germany
Germany national football team
The Germany national football team is the football team that has represented Germany in international competition since 1908. It is governed by the German Football Association , which was founded in 1900....
.
Mullery was involved quickly, scoring his first England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
goal with a powerful near-post shot in the first half which put his side ahead, but England ultimately lost 3-2 (this despite going 2-0 up) and went out of the competition.
Ramsey
Alf Ramsey
Sir Alfred Ernest "Alf" Ramsey was an English footballer and manager of the English national football team from 1963 to 1974. His greatest achievement was winning the 1966 World Cup with England on 30 July 1966...
continued to select Mullery after the tournament, but with the likes of Colin Bell
Colin Bell
Colin Bell MBE , is a former English football player who was born in Hesleden, County Durham, England. Nicknamed "The King of the Kippax" , and Nijinsky after the famous racehorse , Bell is widely regarded as Manchester City's greatest ever player...
and Peter Storey
Peter Storey
Peter Edwin Storey is an English former football player.Storey spent most of his career at Arsenal, joining the club as an apprentice in 1961 and turning professional the following year...
coming through, Mullery played what turned out to be his 35th and final England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
game in 1971, just a month short of his 30th birthday, in a 3-2 victory over Switzerland
Switzerland national football team
The Swiss national football team is the national football team of Switzerland...
as England began their qualification campaign for the 1972 European Championships. Earlier in 1971, Mullery lifted the League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
as Tottenham captain after a 2-0 win over Aston Villa
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
at Wembley. A year later, Mullery proudly held aloft the UEFA Cup
UEFA Cup
The UEFA Europa League is an annual association football cup competition organised by UEFA since 1971 for eligible European football clubs. It is the second most prestigious European club football contest after the UEFA Champions League...
after a 3-2 aggregate win over Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.
Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club that represents the city of Wolverhampton in the West Midlands region. They are members of the Premier League, the highest level of English football. The club was founded in 1877 and since 1889 has played at...
. Mullery scored the crucial Spurs goal in the second leg which separated the teams.
Mullery moved back to Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
afterwards and scored what was later voted the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
's Goal of the Season with an arching, swiping volley from 25 yards (22.9 m) during an FA Cup tie against Leicester City
Leicester City F.C.
Leicester City Football Club , also known as The Foxes, is an English professional football club based at the King Power Stadium in Leicester...
in January 1974. A year later, Fulham reached the final (despite being out of the First Division
Football League First Division
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship....
) with Mullery and his old England skipper Bobby Moore
Bobby Moore
Robert Frederick Chelsea "Bobby" Moore, OBE was an English footballer. He captained West Ham United for more than ten years and was captain of the England team that won the 1966 World Cup...
in the side, but they lost 2-0 to Moore's old club West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
. Mullery was subsequently awarded the MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
.
Managerial career
In 1976, Mullery retired from playing and had a successful spell as manager of Brighton and Hove AlbionBrighton & Hove Albion F.C.
Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club are an English association football club based in the coastal city of Brighton & Hove, East Sussex. They currently play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system....
, taking them to two promotion campaigns and then keeping them in the First Division. He also managed Charlton Athletic (1981-1982)
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
, Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
, QPR
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
, before returning for a second spell at Brighton, before giving up day-to-day involvement in the game. He later served Barnet
Barnet F.C.
Barnet Football Club is an English football team from High Barnet, London, England, currently playing in Football League Two. The ground is in the town of Barnet within the London Borough of Barnet....
as Director of Football during 1996-1997.
During his first spell at Brighton, he stoked the fire on an already-brewing rivalry between Albion and Crystal Palace. After some controversy involving a Brighton penalty being forced to be re-taken (the re-take was missed, the original kick was scored), Mullery publicly blasted the Palace management.
When he was appointed Palace manager, in 1982, many fans were angered, and attendances massively decreased at Palace games.
He once coached ATM FA
ATM FA
The Angkatan Tentera Malaysia Football Association enters a team in Malaysian football competitions to represent the Angkatan Tentera Malaysia . The team's home stadium is the Majlis Perbandaran Selayang Stadium in Selayang, Selangor...
in the Malaysian Premier League
Malaysian Premier League
Malaysia Premier League is the second-tier football league in Malaysia. The league is currently named Astro Premier League Malaysia...
.
He now works as a pundit for Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
, and in September 2005 also took a role with Conference club Crawley Town as a 'football consultant'.
Today, Mullery is a match day host at White Hart Lane
His cousin is married to the cricketer John Murray
John Murray (cricketer)
John Thomas Murray MBE is a former English cricketer. He played in twenty one Tests for England between 1961 and 1967.-Life and career:...
.
He once went to Rome in an attempt to sign the Parma striker Gattuso Pope.
He had a brief stint as player/manager at Sussex non-league side Southwick
Honours
Tottenham HotspurTottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
- F.A. Cup winner - 19671967 FA Cup FinalThe 1967 FA Cup Final took place at Wembley on 20 May 1967, between Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea. It was the competition's first final to be contested between two teams from London, and is thus often dubbed the Cockney Cup Final. Tottenham won 2–1...
- League Cup winner - 19711971 Football League Cup FinalThe 1971 Football League Cup Final took place in February 1971 at Wembley Stadium. It was the eleventh Football League Cup final and the fifth to be played at Wembley.It was contested between Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa...
- UEFA Cup winner - 19721972 UEFA Cup FinalThe 1972 UEFA Cup Final was the final of the first ever UEFA Cup football tournament. It was a two-legged contest played on 3 May and 17 May 1972 between two English clubs, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Tottenham Hotspur....
External links
- Alan Mullery (playing career) at Soccerbase
- Alan Mullery (managerial career) at Soccerbase