Joe Jordan

Joseph Jordan (born 15 December 1951) is a Scottish former football player and manager. Playing as a forward, his strong, fearless and committed play contributed to him being nicknamed "Jaws".

Jordan started his senior football career with Greenock Morton in 1968. With Leeds United, he won the 1973–74 Football League First Division and was runner-up in the 1972–73 European Cup Winners' Cup and the 1974–75 European Cup. With Manchester United, he was runner-up in the 1978–79 FA Cup. He won the 1982–83 Serie B title with Milan and was runner-up in the 1983–84 Coppa Italia with Hellas Verona. He helped Southampton to their second highest league finish of fifth in 1984–85, which would have qualified the team for the 1985–86 UEFA Cup had English clubs not been banned following the Heysel Stadium disaster. He ended his playing career with Bristol City, where he also became player-manager.

Jordan gained 52 full Scotland caps, scoring 11 goals. He is the only Scot to score in three World Cups (1974, 1978 and 1982). For his playing efforts for club and country, he was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2005.

He has managed or coached Bristol City (twice), Heart of Midlothian, Celtic, Stoke City, Northern Ireland, Portsmouth, Tottenham Hotspur, Queens Park Rangers, Middlesbrough and most recently AFC Bournemouth.

Early life Jordan was born in the village of Cleland, Lanarkshire That win clinched Morton's place in the new Texaco Cup. Four days later he was involved in the build-up for Bobby Collins' goal which clinched a 2–0 win at Rangers. Jordan described Collins as his "footballing godfather". Jordan recalled the Rangers game in his book: "I got involved in the move that resulted in a goal for Collins, my hero and, as it turned out, the man who put in the word that carried me to where I wanted to be, at the top of the professional game".

In the 135 league games that Jordan played for Leeds, he scored 39 goals. on 4 January 1978 for £350,000. The club reached the 1979 FA Cup final, losing 3–2 to Arsenal. The winners were Liverpool, who for 15 years from the mid-1970s succeeded Leeds as England's team to beat. Jordan top scored for United that season with 13 goals, all in the league. United's second place finish qualified them for the 1980–81 UEFA Cup, alongside Bobby Robson's Ipswich Town who finished third. United were eliminated in the UEFA Cup first round by Widzew Łódź on away goals after drawing 1–1 at home and 0–0 in Poland. Ipswich won the UEFA Cup that season. the first of which, on 7 November 1981, was the opener in a 1–1 home draw against Como.

In the 1981–82 Coppa Italia, Milan finished third in the five-team group behind group winners Internazionale and Hellas Verona. Jordan's header put Milan 2–1 ahead against Inter in the 49th minute. Walter Novellino had put Milan ahead before Alessandro Altobelli equalised. Giuseppe Bergomi added a second Inter equaliser in the 89th minute for a 2–2 final score.

Milan won the 1981/82 Mitropa Cup. Their opponents in the 4 team round-robin competition were TJ Vítkovice, Haladás and NK Osijek.

Milan went into the last game of the league season in 14th, the third of the relegation places in the 16 team division. To avoid relegation they needed to catch Genoa who were better off by two points (with two points for a win) and a goal difference of four. After 63 minutes, Genoa were losing 2–1 at SSC Napoli. Milan though were losing 2–0 at AC Cesena. Jordan scored in the 67th minute to ignite a comeback to lead 3–2 after 81 minutes. Genoa though equalised in the 85th minute of their match to draw 2–2. With no further goals in either match, Milan were relegated.

In the 1982–83 Coppa Italia group stage, Milan's only loss in five games was a 2–1 away defeat to Juventus. Jordan scored Milan's goal, with Paolo Rossi scoring both Juventus goals. Jordan also scored in the group stage home win against Serie A club Genoa. 2–0 down to a Mauro Tassotti own goal and a René Vandereycken strike, Jordan's 43rd minute goal sparked a comeback. Serena added Milan's second and third goals for a 3–2 win. In the quarter-final, Milan played against Hellas Verona, who would finish fourth in Serie A that season and qualify for the UEFA Cup. Milan drew the first, away leg 2–2. In the second leg in Milan, Jordan put his team 3–1 ahead in the 54th minute. However, after Hellas made it 3–3 in the 89th minute, Milan were eliminated 5–5 on away goals.

Jordan completed two seasons at Milan, scoring 12 goals in his 52 league games.

In 2011, on the eve of a return to the club as a coach with Tottenham, Jordan said that the move to Milan was the best move of his career. He opined that it gave him an experience he had always wanted, namely a chance to play abroad.

Hellas Verona Aged 31, Jordan transferred to fellow Serie A club Hellas Verona in 1983. While Jordan had been in Serie B with Milan, Verona finished fourth in the 1982–83 Serie A season, earning a UEFA Cup berth. Jordan played three games in the 1983–84 UEFA Cup campaign. He came on as a substitute in the first round first leg 1–0 home win against Red Star Belgrade as part of a 4–2 aggregate win. He thus became the first Scotsman to play for an Italian club in UEFA-organised competition. In the second round, he played all 90 minutes of the 2–2 home draw and came on as a substitute in the 0–0 away draw against SK Sturm Graz. Verona were thus eliminated on the away goals rule without having lost a game over 90 minutes in that season's UEFA Cup.

Jordan played 24 league and cup games for Verona. His appearances were limited by a combination of his injuries and the good form of Maurizio Iorio (21 goals) and Giuseppe Galderisi (13 goals) that season. Jordan made six substitute appearances in his 12 Verona Serie A games. Verona finished the 1983–84 Serie A season sixth on equal points with Sampdoria and Jordan's former club Milan.

Jordan scored once in nine 1983–84 Coppa Italia games, opening the scoring in the semi-final first leg 2-1 win at SSC Bari. Jordan came on as a substitute in both legs of the 1984 Coppa Italia final, which Verona lost for the second season in a row, this time to AS Roma. After drawing the first leg 1–1 at home, they lost 1–0 in Rome. The defeat in Rome was Jordan's last Verona game. He was the first Scotsman to play in a Coppa Italia final.

Despite his limited game time, Jordan's season with Verona is looked back on as a success. Verona fans appreciated his passion and commitment on the pitch. They displayed a large Scottish flag in the Curva Sud in tribute to him. He was credited with passing on valuable experience to Iorio, Galderisi and other young players at the club. Replacing Jordan with Preben Elkjaer up front, Verona were Italian champions for the first time in their history in 1985. Jordan played for the Saints in that season's UEFA Cup, drawing 0–0 at home against Hamburger SV before being eliminated after a 2–0 away leg defeat to goals by Manfred Kaltz and Mark McGhee. Southampton finished fifth in the Football League First Division that season. Jordan was their league top scorer with 12 goals from his total league and cup tally of 16. Moran outscored Jordan when including league and cup goals with a total of 18 goals. This remains Southampton's second highest ever league finish, surpassed only by finishing second the season before. Fifth would have earned a UEFA Cup place, but English clubs started a European ban that season following the Heysel Stadium Disaster.

In summer 1985, McMenemy left, replaced by Chris Nicholl who Jordan "didn't know" and would "never get to know". Jordan then severely damaged his knee in a training ground collision with reserve goalkeeper Phil Kite. Cartilage and medial ligament injury meant he was out of the first team until March 1986. He then lost his place in the first team in summer 1986 when the club signed Colin Clarke. Jordan scored for Saints in September 1986 in a 3–0 home win in the Football League Cup against Swindon Town. That was his only game in Southampton's run to that season's semi-final.

Bristol City

Aged 35, Jordan completed a free transfer to Bristol City in February 1987,

On 26 September 1973, Jordan scored the winning goal with a diving header in a 2–1 comeback win against Czechoslovakia at Hampden Park. That win confirmed Scotland's qualification for the 1974 FIFA World Cup in West Germany. It was Scotland's first World Cup qualification since 1958. Scotland finished the group unbeaten, but were eliminated on goal difference. Czechoslovakia were reigning European champions at the time. Scotland wrapped up qualification in Liverpool. The Welsh FA, in a bid to boost gate receipts, opted to host Scotland at Anfield. The match is remembered for a penalty decision 12 minutes from time. Jordan and Welsh defender David Jones challenged for the ball in the Welsh penalty area, from a throw-in by Scotland's Willie Johnston. The referee awarded a hand ball against Jones for a Scotland penalty. TV replays showed that it was Jordan's hand that connected with the ball. Don Masson converted the penalty, putting Scotland 1–0 ahead.

Jordan scored in Scotland's 2–2 draw against the Soviet Union at the 1982 World Cup,

In February 1989, City lost 2–1 on aggregate in the 1988–89 Football League Cup semi-final to eventual winners Nottingham Forest. Among Jordan's signings was Bob Taylor from Leeds in March 1989. City bought Taylor for £250,000 plus Carl Shutt, who was valued at £50,000. Taylor scored eight goals in the 12 City league games he played in the 1988–89 Football League season.

Taylor's 27 league goals made him the leading scorer in the 1989–90 Football League. Taylor also scored seven cup goals for a total of 34 that season. Robbie Turner was Taylor's strike partner, with Alan Walsh, Mark Gavin and Dave Smith the providers for the strikers. Taylor tore a hamstring in a 4-1 win at Crewe Alexandra, causing him to miss six of the season's last seven games. In Taylor's absence, City managed only one win and three draws. In the last of those six games, City lost 3–0 at Bristol Rovers, who overtook City at the top of the table that day. City were promoted as runners-up to their Bristol rivals.

Hearts In September 1990 Jordan was appointed manager of Edinburgh-based Scottish Premier Division club, Heart of Midlothian. After a poor start to that season, Hearts had sacked their manager of eight years Alex MacDonald. They turned to Jordan as a high-profile ex-Scotland international striker. Jordan was not a popular choice amongst many Stoke fans, who had expected Denis Smith to be appointed.

Middlesbrough On 17 March 2017, Jordan was appointed as assistant first-team manager under caretaker manager Steve Agnew at Middlesbrough. Jordan left his post at the end of the 2016–17 season.

AFC Bournemouth On 25 February 2021, AFC Bournemouth announced that Jordan had joined the coaching staff. Jordan left his role after the 2020–21 season upon the expiration of his contract.

Recognition In 2005, Jordan was one of 11 players inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame.

Jordan is described by The Herald as having crossed two eras in his career; having been a Scottish player at the time they were revered in the English game, he went on to coach in England as one of seven Scottish managers or coaches in the Premier League. He attributes this to a common determination and desire to win.

Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals

1970–71 First Division

1971–72 First Division

1972–73 First Division

1973–74 First Division

1974–75 First Division

1975–76 First Division

1976–77 First Division

1977–78 First Division

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1977–78 First Division

1978–79 First Division

1979–80 First Division

1980–81 First Division

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1981–82 Serie A

1982–83 Serie B

Hellas Verona 1983–84 Serie A

1984–85 First Division

1985–86 First Division

1986–87 First Division

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1986–87 Third Division

1987–88 Third Division

1988–89 Third Division

1989–90 Third Division

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448!!105!!45!!15!!34!!8!!42!!10!!569!!138

International

Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1 26 September 1973 Hampden Park, Glasgow 2–1 2–1 WCQG8 2 18 May 1974 Hampden Park, Glasgow 1–0 2–0 BHC 3 6 June 1974 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo 1–1 2–1 Friendly 4 14 June 1974 Westfalenstadion, Dortmund 2–0 2–0 WCG2 5 22 June 1974 Waldstadion, Frankfurt 1–1 1–1 WCG2 6 5 February 1975 Estadio Luis Casanova, Valencia 1–0 1–1 ECQG4 7 21 September 1977 Hampden Park, Glasgow 1–0 3–1 WCQG7 8 3 June 1978 Córdoba 1–0 1–3 WCG4 9 7 June 1979 Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo 1–0 4–0 ECQG2 10 9 September 1981 Hampden Park, Glasgow 1–0 2–0 WCQG8 11 22 June 1982 Estadio La Rosaleda, Málaga 1–0 2–2 WCG6

Managerial

Honours

Leeds United Football League First Division: 1973–74 European Cup runner-up: 1974–75 European Cup Winners' Cup runner-up: 1972–73

Manchester United FA Cup runner-up: 1978–79

Milan Serie B: 1982–83 Mitropa Cup: 1982

Hellas Verona Coppa Italia: runner-up 1983–84

Bristol City Football League Trophy runner-up: 1986–87

Heart of Midlothian Tennents' Sixes: 1991

Individual Scottish Football Hall of Fame, 2005 inductee