Former England manager Greenwood dies aged 84

Former England soccer manager Ron Greenwood has died at the age of 84 after a long illness.

Greenwood, who was awarded an MBE for his services to the game, was a highly respected football man who reached his managerial zenith in 1982 when he took England to the World Cup, the first time they had made it via the qualification process in 20 years.

As a player Greenwood appeared as a centre-half for Bradford Park Avenue, Brentford, Chelsea and Fulham. He won a Championship medal with Chelsea in 1955, though the closest he got to a cap was a solitary appearance for an England B team.

He established his managerial reputation with West Ham United in the 1960s with the Hammers winning the FA Cup under him in 1964, the European Cup Winners' Cup a year later, playing an attractive brand of attacking football.

West Ham trio Bobby Moore, Martin Peters and Geoff Hurst, all schooled by Greenwood, also played key roles when England won the World Cup in 1966.

He moved to a general manager's role at West Ham in 1974 and was on hand for a second FA Cup win under manager John Lyall a year later.

When Don Revie walked out on England in 1977 the avuncular Greenwood, despite being out of day-to-day management, was seen by the FA as a solid choice - ahead of the more controversial "people's favourite" Brian Clough.

Turnaround

He inherited a side who had failed to qualify for the 1974 and 1978 World Cups but quickly turned things round by taking them to the 1980 European championship, though they finished third in their finals group behind Italy and Belgium.

The 1982 World Cup qualifying campaign was something of a struggle but England eventually made it through in second place behind Hungary.

They travelled to Spain with high hopes and got off to a flying start when Bryan Robson scored after 27 seconds to set them on the way to a 3-1 win over France.

Wins over Czechoslovakia and Kuwait followed but England, hampered by injuries to key duo Kevin Keegan and Trevor Brooking, went out in frustrating circumstances when draws against hosts Spain and West Germany in the then-group stage second round allowed the Germans to advance to the semi-finals.

Greenwood retired after that tournament and was succeeded by Bobby Robson.

Inventive coach

"Everything he did he did with honesty," former England striker Trevor Francis told Sky Sports News.

"He was at his best on the coaching pitch and was always inventive.

"I thought in the 1982 World Cup campaign we were very unfortunate not to have gone further," added Francis.

Hurst said: "It would not be overstating the case to say that Ron Greenwood was the single most influential figure in my career.

"He opened the door to the world of modern football and I considered it a privilege to play for him," added Hurst, scorer of a hat-trick in England's 4-2 World Cup final victory over West Germany after being converted to a striker from midfield by Greenwood.

Brooking, who also learned his trade under Greenwood at West Ham, said: "He was one of the best coaches this country has ever produced.

"He had a lot of integrity and had a lot of respect from everyone.

"He had a huge effect on my development, he got me thinking about the game in a different way."

West Ham United have said their Premier League home game against Birmingham City on Monday will be preceded by a minute's silence.