Jimmy Greenhoff

Career Leeds United Greenhoff was born in Barnsley. He turned professional at the club in August 1963, and made his senior debut as a 16-year-old. Leeds finished the 1963–64 season as champions of the Second Division under Don Revie's stewardship. The "Peacocks" then went on to finish 1964–65 as First Division runners-up, with champions and hated rivals Manchester United finishing above them on goal average. Leeds again finished second in 1965–66, six points behind champions Liverpool; however, Greenhoff missed much of the season with an ankle injury and a head injury sustained from a car crash. including a memorable 7–0 victory over rivals Chelsea on 7 October. He went on to appear in the League Cup final in 1968 after recovering from a knee injury; United beat Arsenal 1–0 thanks to a strike from Terry Cooper. The transfer came as a surprise to many Leeds fans. which was a club record for Stoke. He made the switch despite late interest from Everton.

He played for the "Potters" at Wembley against Chelsea in the 1972 Football League Cup final, which ended in a 2–1 win for Stoke – the only major trophy in the club's history. He also helped the club to the FA Cup semi-finals in 1972, his goal at Old Trafford cancelling out George Best's effort and earning Stoke a replay, which they won. The win over Manchester United left Stoke again facing Arsenal in the semi-finals. A 1–1 draw at Villa Park led to a replay at Goodison Park; Greenhoff scored for City in the replay, but Arsenal won the game 2–1 after John Radford scored from a clear offside position. the move also meant that he would play alongside his brother, Brian Greenhoff. He scored 97 goals for Stoke in 338 league and cup starts, putting him ninth in the club's overall goalscoring charts. A legend at the club, many Stoke fans consider him to be the greatest England player never to win a senior cap.

He appeared in the 1977 FA Charity Shield, which ended as a goalless draw, leaving Manchester United and Liverpool to share the shield. Greenhoff finished the 1977–78 campaign with six goals in 28 games. Though this was as close as manager Dave Sexton would come to a major honour as United boss, Sexton did sign Joe Jordan, who would form a successful partnership with Greenhoff. Greenhoff had scored a total of 36 goals in 123 appearances (including four substitute appearances) for Manchester United. He played 38 games in 1981–82, but scored just three goals for the Fourth Division side as manager John McGrath played him out of position on the left. York manager and former Stoke teammate Denis Smith said that "it was a world-class goal".

He joined Rochdale in March 1983, where he was appointed player-manager. He played 17 games for the "Dale" but did not find the net. Under his management, the club avoided the re-election zone in 1982–83 but again struggled in 1983–84, and he left the club in March 1984, later returning to Vale Park for a brief spell as a coach and assistant manager under John Rudge.

Style of play Greenhoff could play with both feet and was known for his runs into the opposition penalty area.

Post-retirement Greenhoff suffered a financial crisis following a failed insurance venture and took up work in a warehouse. The crisis came about after discovering that his friend and business partner of nine years had been conning him out of large sums of money.

Career statistics

Playing statistics

Managerial statistics + Managerial record by team and tenureTeamFromToRecordRochdale 1 March 198312 March 1984Total

Honours Leeds United Football League Cup: 1967–68

Manchester United FA Cup: 1976–77; FA Charity Shield: 1977 (shared)