LUFC - Revie - Gone but never forgotten

Today marks the 20th anniversary of the death of the greatest manager in Leeds United`s history.

Donald George Revie passed away on May 26th 1989 after losing his battle against Motor Neurone disease.

Revie was only 61 years of age and passed away in his home town of Edinburgh.

Revie originally came to Leeds as a player in 1958 making over 75 appearances before being named player/manager in 1961.

Revie hung up his boots in 1962 and started to rebuild Leeds United from a struggling second Division side to one of the greatest club sides in English football history during his thirteen year reign.


'The Don` as he was affectionately known led Leeds United from the Old Second Division where they won the title in 1964 to two League titles, one FA Cup, One League Cup and two inter cities fairs cup.

In their first season back in the top flight of English football Leeds finished runners up and lost the FA Cup final in extra time.

It could have been so much more with the club not finishing outside the top four in the top division in a ten year period between 1964 and 1974, they finished runners up on five separate occasions.

They was beaten finalists in the FA Cup on three occasions and were controversially beaten by AC Milan 1-0 in the Cup Winners Cup final in 1973, Leeds are currently forming a petition to have the result overturned after it was alleged that the referee took a bribe, he was actually banned after the game from refereeing by UEFA.

Leeds were denied the chance of completing the League and cup double in 1972 when they was forced to play their final League game of the season at Wolves just two days after beating Arsenal in the FA Cup Final, Leeds lost 2-1 when a draw would have been enough to secure the title.

In 1973/74 Leeds set a then League record of remaining unbeaten in their first 29 League games of the season on the way to the title, it was to remain intact until Liverpool equalled the feat in 1988 and then Arsenal beat it in 2004.

In the days when Leeds set the record there was nine or ten teams who were capable of winning the title and not the three or four in the modern era which made the achievement more remarkable.



Leeds earned the tag of 'Dirty Leeds` during his reign which was unacceptable as the team played during an era when players were allowed to tackle and the likes of Tommy Smith and Ron 'Chopper` Harris plied their trade on the football pitch.

Don created a side that was more like a family than a football side and if you wanted to upset one player then you had to take on eleven.

Fans of opposing clubs are quick to forget some of the fantastic football Leeds played under the Don; fans of that era will never forget the demolition of Southampton when the opposition couldn`t get near the ball in a 7-0 rout for the Whites.

In the previous home game the side had put five past Man Utd, a side that included Charlton, Law and Best.

Revie won the manager of the year on three separate occasions in 1969, 1970 and 1972.

He was also awarded an OBE in 1970.


The club renamed the Kop end at Elland Road after his death and it`s now known as the 'Don Revie Stand`.

Leeds fans will never forget the legacy that was left by the great man.



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