Ronnie Allen

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ronnie Allen (15 January 1929 - 1 June 2001) was an English footballer.

Contents 1 Playing career 2 Management career 3 Bibliography 4 External links

[edit] Playing career

Born in Fenton, Stoke-on-Trent, he started his senior career with local club Port Vale F.C. as a right-winger, also playing for the Royal Air Force during his national service.

He was transferred to West Bromwich Albion F.C. in 1950 for GBP 15,000 and, though only 5 foot 8 inch (1.73 m) and barely 11 stone (70 kg), he emerged as a talented striker, helping to define the modern role of target man. His unconventional style limited his appearances for England to only five caps.

Allen scored twice in Albion's FA Cup victory of 1954 and, later the same year, once in England's 3-1 defeat of West Germany. In the latter game, he played in a forward line graced by Tom Finney and Stanley Matthews. He was First Division top scorer in 1954-55 with 27 goals.

After 458 games and 234 goals with West Brom, he moved to Crystal Palace F.C. in 1961.

[edit] Management career

• Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C., (1965 - 1968), winning promotion to the first division in 1967;
• Athletic Bilbao, (1968 - 1972), winning the Copa del Rey (1969);
• Sporting Clube de Portugal, (1972 - 1973);
• Walsall F.C., (1973 - 1977);
• West Bromwich Albion, (1977);
• Saudi Arabia national football team, (1977 - ??);
• Panathinaikos, (1980);
• West Bromwich Albion, (1981 - 1982).

On his return to the Hawthorns as manager, he succeeded Ron Atkinson - who had just moved to Manchester United. Two of Albion's finest players, Remi Moses and Bryan Robson, soon joined Atkinson at Old Trafford and this had a negative on Albion's previously good league fortunes. Albion did well in the cup competitions, reaching the semi finals of both the F.A Cup and the League Cup, although they suffered an early exit from the UEFA Cup. But Allen was unable to put together a good run of form in the First Division and Albion only stayed up after winning their final game of the season. He quit after just one season and was never employed as a manager again.

[edit] Bibliography

• Allen, R (1955) It's goals that count (COPAC record)

[edit] External links

• Obituary from The Guardian

Preceded by Bruno Pesaola

Panathinaikos Manager 1980

Succeeded by Andreas Papaemanouil