Billy Bingham

Billy Bingham, who led Northern Ireland to the 1982 and 1986 World Cups, has died at the age of 90.

“Billy was a tricky winger in the days when such a position was revered, but there was more to him than wing play. He was everything that a Northern Ireland manager needs to be: tactically astute, innovative and inspirational. He then combined his first, four-year stint as Northern Ireland manager with jobs at Plymouth Argyle and Linfield before managing Greece for 18 months. He also had spells with Luton, Everton and Port Vale, where a broken leg forced him to retire from playing aged 33. Born in east Belfast, and an electrical engineer by trade, he was part of the Northern Ireland team that reached the quarter-finals of the World Cup in 1958. He passed away peacefully last night at 10.30pm in a care home in Southport. We are very proud of all our dad achieved.”

The Irish Football Association said it had learned of Bingham's death with "great sadness". "Billy holds a unique place in the football hearts of Northern ...

His 56 international caps was, at that time, a record he held jointly with Danny Blanchflower. In 1980, Billy Bingham was appointed manager of Northern Ireland for a second time and it was to prove a golden era for the team in green. Bingham's last match as Northern Ireland boss was a fractious 1-1 draw in a World Cup qualifier against the Republic of Ireland, the point earning the visitors a place in USA '94. He was in the Northern Ireland team which achieved stunning victories over Portugal and Italy to qualify for the 1958 World Cup finals, the first time the country had reached that stage, and played in all five games as Peter Doherty's men reached the quarter-finals in Sweden. Bingham also managed Everton and the Greek national team and played for Northern Ireland at the 1958 World Cup finals in Sweden. Northern Ireland were the last winners of the defunct British Championship, lifting the trophy in 1984.

The club is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former manager Billy Bingham, aged 90. Considered a Northern Ireland legend for his efforts as a ...

Billy Bingham's influence on Northern Irish football over the past 60 years was unparalleled. A veteran of three World Cup finals, one as a player and two ...

In 1982 a murder took place during the Troubles roughly once every three days. “But when you’re not expected to win, it’s even greater.” His international bow came in a 2-2 draw with France in 1951, Northern Ireland’s final game before Bingham’s “idol” Peter Doherty took charge. Bingham would later be one of Best’s pallbearers. He was successful too. He was willing to make bold calls too.

Bingham twice guided Northern Ireland to the World Cup finals, first in 1982 when they famously beat hosts Spain.

“His greatest achievement was probably the qualification of the team for the second phase of the World Cup in 1982 with the historic and unexpected victory over Spain in Valencia. “The thoughts of everybody at Everton Football Club are with Billy’s family and friends,” a club statement read. “He led the team to British Championship glory in 1980 and 1984, qualified for two World Cups in 1982 and 1986, and recorded the first home and away victories over West Germany in the qualification for the Euros in ’84. Born in East Belfast, Bingham, an outside right, was capped 56 times. “Billy holds a unique place in the football hearts of Northern Ireland in that he both played at and managed in World Cup final tournaments with Northern Ireland, being part of Peter Doherty’s historic team of 1958 in Sweden and then managing Northern Ireland in the 1982 and 1986 finals,” a statement on the Irish FA website read. The 1980 British Championship success was Northern Ireland’s first in 66 years and was followed by a memorable World Cup campaign and a 1-0 victory over Spain at the Mestalla in Valencia.