Sammy Lee (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Samuel "Sammy" Lee is an English
football
coach and former player. He played most of his career for hometown club Liverpool
during the 1970s and 1980s as a midfielder
, and also represented England
fourteen times.
after joining on an apprenticeship in September 1975, making his first team debut on 8 April 1978, as a 6th minute substitute
for David Johnson. Leicester City
at Anfield
were the opponents, as Lee managed to find the net in the 56th minute of the 3–2 victory. A year earlier, he had been put in the squad for a huge European Cup semi-final
against FC Zürich and, although he didn't play, manager Bob Paisley
said he would have had no qualms about using him if required.
Lee became a regular from 1980 onwards and, although small in stature, he established a reputation as a sharp-passing and strong-running midfield player who could also hit a decent shot. In the 1981 League Cup final
, Lee was at the centre of a controversial incident which left opponents West Ham United
feeling slightly cheated. Lee had ventured forwards in an attack and ended up flat out on the turf following a challenge. The West Ham defence pushed out of their area to leave Lee in an offside position but when Liverpool full back Alan Kennedy
scored with a follow-up shot, the goal stood. West Ham did equalise but Liverpool won the replay with Lee in the side.
In that year's
European Cup semi-final against Bayern Munich, Lee was unusually asked to do a man-marking job on Paul Breitner
, the strong and skilful West German
international. Lee did the marking job to perfection and Liverpool went through to the final against Real Madrid
, which they won 1–0 with Lee again in the side.
Lee got his first League title
medal in 1982 and also helped Liverpool retain the League Cup; the same applied in 1983 and 1984, the latter of which was also the year of their fourth European Cup triumph
– Lee played in every game en route to the final and scored a clinching goal in the first leg of the semi-final at Anfield
against Dinamo Bucureşti.
Bobby Robson
gave Lee the first of his 14 England
caps during this period, where he again scored on his debut in the 3–0 1984 UEFA European Championship qualifier victory over Greece
, on 17 November 1982.
Injuries took their toll in 1985 and Lee struggled to regain his previous form. With Jan Mølby
in the side, there was no longer a place for him at Liverpool. He left during August 1986, joining Queens Park Rangers
. Spells at CA Osasuna
(where he reunited with former Liverpool teammate Michael Robinson), Southampton
and Bolton Wanderers
followed before he retired from playing.
, invited Lee to join his Anfield coaching staff in 1993. He did so with relish and gained respect to the extent that both Roy Evans
and Gérard Houllier
kept him on the payroll after Souness left, gaining promotion from reserve team
coach to the first team, under Houllier.
Lee became a part-time coach under Sven-Göran Eriksson
with England in 2001, eventually leaving Liverpool to go full-time with the national set-up in July 2004.
in September 2005, as assistant to Sam Allardyce
. Lee was offered the role of manager of the England U-21s
in July 2006, but turned the move down and also left the senior England set-up. Lee was given the affectionate nickname of "Little Sam" in contrast to Allardyce who was known as "Big Sam" by the Bolton Fans.
Allardyce left Bolton in April 2007 and Lee was confirmed as his replacement shortly afterwards. After only winning one league game from eleven matches, he was sacked in October 2007, becoming the second Premier League manager to be sacked in that season.. He was known for regularly citing the 'positives' in post-match interviews despite numerous defeats. He was linked with a return to Liverpool by becoming Rafael Benítez
's assistant after the pair watched a Liverpool reserve match together. He was also linked to the assistant manager position at Leeds United
under Gary McAllister
. He became the firm favourite to become assistant coach to Rafa Benitez following Alex Miller
's departure from Liverpool and officially returned to the club when appointed on 16 May 2008.
In November 2008, upon his return to the Reebok
for the first time since his departure, Sammy stated that he bore no animosity towards the hierarchy at Bolton or their supporters, the Wanderers crowd responded by giving the man they called "Little Sam" a round of applause in appreciation for his spell as player and assistant manager.
after signing a 2-year contract. He became a vital member to the Liverpool staff. But a low moment in his Liverpool coaching career came in 2009 when he questioned the performances of Steven Gerrard, as the captain had failed to score in 12 league matches.
On 17 December 2008 Lee took charge of Liverpool for the first time in a 1-1 draw with Arsenal
due to Rafael Benítez
being ill with kidney stones.
On 26 August 2009 Lee was sent off by referee Phil Dowd
in a 2 - 1 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur, and was charged with improper conduct by the Football Association on 19 August 2009. Lee left Liverpool in June 2011 by mutual consent.
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...
coach and former player. He played most of his career for hometown club Liverpool
Liverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
during the 1970s and 1980s as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
, and also represented England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
fourteen times.
Playing career
Lee rose through the ranks at LiverpoolLiverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
after joining on an apprenticeship in September 1975, making his first team debut on 8 April 1978, as a 6th minute substitute
Substitute (football)
In association football, a substitute is a player who is brought on to the pitch during a match in exchange for an existing player. Substitutions are generally made to replace a player who has become tired or injured, or who is not performing well; there may also be tactical reasons such as...
for David Johnson. 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...
at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
were the opponents, as Lee managed to find the net in the 56th minute of the 3–2 victory. A year earlier, he had been put in the squad for a huge European Cup semi-final
European Cup 1976-77
The 1976–77 season of the European Cup football club tournament was won for the first time by Liverpool in the final against Borussia Mönchengladbach. Three-time defending champions Bayern Munich were knocked out by Dynamo Kyiv in the quarter-finals. It was only the second time an English side won...
against FC Zürich and, although he didn't play, manager Bob Paisley
Bob Paisley
Robert "Bob" Paisley OBE was an English football half back turned manager. His association with Liverpool was to span nearly half a century including his contribution to the club, first as a player, then as a physiotherapist and coach, and finally as manager.In nine years as manager between 1974...
said he would have had no qualms about using him if required.
Lee became a regular from 1980 onwards and, although small in stature, he established a reputation as a sharp-passing and strong-running midfield player who could also hit a decent shot. In the 1981 League Cup final
1981 Football League Cup Final
The 1981 Football League Cup Final was played on Saturday 14 March 1981 at Wembley Stadium between Liverpool and West Ham United, with both clubs appearing in their second League Cup finals....
, Lee was at the centre of a controversial incident which left opponents 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...
feeling slightly cheated. Lee had ventured forwards in an attack and ended up flat out on the turf following a challenge. The West Ham defence pushed out of their area to leave Lee in an offside position but when Liverpool full back Alan Kennedy
Alan Kennedy
Alan Phillip Kennedy is a former footballer who played for Liverpool during their halcyon days in the late 1970s and early 1980s and had a knack of scoring in major cup finals....
scored with a follow-up shot, the goal stood. West Ham did equalise but Liverpool won the replay with Lee in the side.
In that year's
European Cup 1980-81
The 1980–81 season of the European Cup football club tournament was won for a third time by Liverpool in the final against Real Madrid. In the 11 seasons up to and including this one, there were only four winners of the European Cup , but there were eleven different runners-up...
European Cup semi-final against Bayern Munich, Lee was unusually asked to do a man-marking job on Paul Breitner
Paul Breitner
Paul Breitner is a former German football player. One of Germany's most controversial players, he was capped 48 times for his country.-Playing career:...
, the strong and skilful West German
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
international. Lee did the marking job to perfection and Liverpool went through to the final against Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
, which they won 1–0 with Lee again in the side.
Lee got his first League title
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....
medal in 1982 and also helped Liverpool retain the League Cup; the same applied in 1983 and 1984, the latter of which was also the year of their fourth European Cup triumph
1984 European Cup Final
The 1984 European Cup Final was an association football match between Liverpool of England and Roma of Italy on 30 May 1984 at the Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy. It was the final match of the 1983–84 season of Europe's premier cup competition, the UEFA Champions League. Liverpool were appearing in...
– Lee played in every game en route to the final and scored a clinching goal in the first leg of the semi-final at Anfield
Anfield
Anfield is an association football stadium in the district of Anfield, Liverpool, England, with a seating capacity of 45,522. It has been the home of Liverpool F.C. since their formation in 1892 and was originally the home of Everton F.C. from 1884 to 1892, before they moved to Goodison Park...
against Dinamo Bucureşti.
Bobby Robson
Bobby Robson
Sir Robert William "Bobby" Robson, CBE was an English footballer and manager, who coached seven European clubs and the England national team during his career....
gave Lee the first of his 14 England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
caps during this period, where he again scored on his debut in the 3–0 1984 UEFA European Championship qualifier victory over Greece
Greece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...
, on 17 November 1982.
Injuries took their toll in 1985 and Lee struggled to regain his previous form. With Jan Mølby
Jan Mølby
Jan Mølby is a Danish former international footballer who spent much of his professional football career at English club Liverpool.- Club career :...
in the side, there was no longer a place for him at Liverpool. He left during August 1986, joining Queens Park Rangers
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...
. Spells at CA Osasuna
CA Osasuna
Club Atlético Osasuna, known as Osasuna, is a Spanish football team based in Iruñea-Pamplona, in the autonomous community of Navarre.Founded in 1920, it currently plays in the Spanish first division, holding home games at the 19,553-capacity Estadio Reyno de Navarra...
(where he reunited with former Liverpool teammate Michael Robinson), Southampton
Southampton F.C.
Southampton Football Club is an English football team, nicknamed The Saints, based in the city of Southampton, Hampshire. The club gained promotion to the Championship from League One in the 2010–2011 season after being relegated in 2009. Their home ground is the St Mary's Stadium, where the club...
and Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
followed before he retired from playing.
Coaching career
Lee's former Liverpool captain, Graeme SounessGraeme Souness
Graeme James Souness is a Scottish former professional football player and manager.Souness was the captain of the successful Liverpool team of the early 1980s and player-manager of Rangers in the late 1980s as well as captain of the Scottish national team. He also played for Tottenham Hotspur,...
, invited Lee to join his Anfield coaching staff in 1993. He did so with relish and gained respect to the extent that both Roy Evans
Roy Evans
Roy Evans CBE was a Liverpool football player who eventually rose through the coaching ranks to become team manager.-Career:...
and Gérard Houllier
Gérard Houllier
Gérard Houllier, OBE , is a French football manager, who was last manager of Premier League club Aston Villa. He stepped down on 1 June 2011, following hospitalisation over heart problems towards the end of the 2010-2011 season....
kept him on the payroll after Souness left, gaining promotion from reserve team
Liverpool F.C. Reserves
Liverpool F.C. Reserves are the reserve team of Liverpool.-Reserve team:Liverpool Reserves play in the FA Premier Reserve League. In their division, the reserves became Champions in 2000. They competed in the Lancashire Combination from 1896 to 1911, with the exception of the 1898–99 season, in...
coach to the first team, under Houllier.
Lee became a part-time coach under Sven-Göran Eriksson
Sven-Göran Eriksson
Sven-Göran Eriksson , in Sweden commonly referred to just by his nickname Svennis, is a Swedish ex-football manager. From October 2010 to October 2011 he managed Football League Championship side Leicester City....
with England in 2001, eventually leaving Liverpool to go full-time with the national set-up in July 2004.
Bolton Wanderers
He went to Bolton WanderersBolton Wanderers F.C.
Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001....
in September 2005, as assistant to Sam Allardyce
Sam Allardyce
Samuel "Sam" Allardyce , nicknamed "Big Sam", is an English football manager and former professional player. In June 2011 he was appointed as manager of West Ham United....
. Lee was offered the role of manager of the England U-21s
England national under-21 football team
England's national Under-21 football team, also known as England Under-21s or England U21, is considered to be the feeder team for the England national football team....
in July 2006, but turned the move down and also left the senior England set-up. Lee was given the affectionate nickname of "Little Sam" in contrast to Allardyce who was known as "Big Sam" by the Bolton Fans.
Allardyce left Bolton in April 2007 and Lee was confirmed as his replacement shortly afterwards. After only winning one league game from eleven matches, he was sacked in October 2007, becoming the second Premier League manager to be sacked in that season.. He was known for regularly citing the 'positives' in post-match interviews despite numerous defeats. He was linked with a return to Liverpool by becoming Rafael Benítez
Rafael Benítez
Rafael "Rafa" Benítez Maudes is a football manager, and former player. He is currently unemployed, after leaving as manager of Internazionale in December 2010....
's assistant after the pair watched a Liverpool reserve match together. He was also linked to the assistant manager position at Leeds United
Leeds United A.F.C.
Leeds United Association Football Club are an English professional association football club based in Beeston, Leeds, West Yorkshire, who play in the Football League Championship, the second tier of the English football league system...
under Gary McAllister
Gary McAllister
Gary McAllister MBE is a Scottish former professional footballer.McAllister played primarily as a midfielder, in a successful career spanning over nineteen years. He started his career at local side Motherwell before moving south of the border to Leicester City at the age of 20...
. He became the firm favourite to become assistant coach to Rafa Benitez following Alex Miller
Alex Miller
Alex Miller is a Scottish association football coach and former player. As a player, he had a 15 year career with Rangers. As a manager, he won the 1991 Scottish League Cup with Hibernian...
's departure from Liverpool and officially returned to the club when appointed on 16 May 2008.
In November 2008, upon his return to the Reebok
Reebok Stadium
The Reebok Stadium is the home stadium of English Premier League football club Bolton Wanderers, and is located on the Middlebrook Retail Park in Horwich, in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. It is commonly known as 'The Reebok'...
for the first time since his departure, Sammy stated that he bore no animosity towards the hierarchy at Bolton or their supporters, the Wanderers crowd responded by giving the man they called "Little Sam" a round of applause in appreciation for his spell as player and assistant manager.
Liverpool
On 16 May 2008, he took up the role of assistant manager to Rafael BenítezRafael Benítez
Rafael "Rafa" Benítez Maudes is a football manager, and former player. He is currently unemployed, after leaving as manager of Internazionale in December 2010....
after signing a 2-year contract. He became a vital member to the Liverpool staff. But a low moment in his Liverpool coaching career came in 2009 when he questioned the performances of Steven Gerrard, as the captain had failed to score in 12 league matches.
On 17 December 2008 Lee took charge of Liverpool for the first time in a 1-1 draw with Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
due to Rafael Benítez
Rafael Benítez
Rafael "Rafa" Benítez Maudes is a football manager, and former player. He is currently unemployed, after leaving as manager of Internazionale in December 2010....
being ill with kidney stones.
On 26 August 2009 Lee was sent off by referee Phil Dowd
Phil Dowd
Philip Dowd is an English professional football referee who officiates primarily in the Premier League. He is based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire....
in a 2 - 1 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur, and was charged with improper conduct by the Football Association on 19 August 2009. Lee left Liverpool in June 2011 by mutual consent.
Honours
LiverpoolLiverpool F.C.
Liverpool Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Liverpool, Merseyside. Liverpool has won eighteen League titles, second most in English football, seven FA Cups and a record seven League Cups...
- Football League First DivisionFootball League First DivisionThe 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....
(3): 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84 - Football League CupFootball League CupThe 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...
(4): 19811981 Football League Cup FinalThe 1981 Football League Cup Final was played on Saturday 14 March 1981 at Wembley Stadium between Liverpool and West Ham United, with both clubs appearing in their second League Cup finals....
, 19821982 Football League Cup FinalThe 1982 Milk Cup Final was an association football match between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. Liverpool won the match 3–1 after extra time with goals from Ian Rush and Ronnie Whelan . The match took place on 13 March 1982.-Details:...
, 19831983 Football League Cup FinalThe 1983 Milk Cup Final was a football match held on 26 March 1983 between League Cup holders Liverpool and Manchester United, who would go on to win the FA Cup later that year. Liverpool won the match 2-1; Norman Whiteside scored the opener for Manchester United, before Alan Kennedy equalised with...
, 19841984 Football League Cup FinalThe 1984 Milk Cup Final was an association football match between Liverpool and Everton. Liverpool were extremely fortunate to make it to the final of the competition after knocking out a Walsall side from the 4th Division who most neutrals and pundits would agree were the superior team at Anfield... - Charity Shield (3): 1979, 1980, 1982
- European CupUEFA Champions LeagueThe UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
(2): 1980–19811981 European Cup FinalThe 1981 European Cup Final was an association football match between Liverpool of England and Real Madrid of Spain on 27 May 1981 at the Parc des Princes, Paris, France. It was the final match of the 1980–81 season of Europe's premier cup competition, the European Cup. Liverpool were appearing in...
, 1983–19841984 European Cup FinalThe 1984 European Cup Final was an association football match between Liverpool of England and Roma of Italy on 30 May 1984 at the Stadio Olimpico, Rome, Italy. It was the final match of the 1983–84 season of Europe's premier cup competition, the UEFA Champions League. Liverpool were appearing in...
Managerial stats
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | L | D | Win % | ||||
| Bolton Wanderers Bolton Wanderers F.C. Bolton Wanderers Football Club is an English professional association football club based in the area of Horwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, Greater Manchester. They began their current spell in the Premier League in 2001.... |
 |
30 April 2007 | 17 October 2007 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 21.43 |