Johnny Duncan

John Duncan (14 February 1896 – 14 March 1966), nicknamed "Tokey", was a Scottish football player and manager, who is most notable for his time at Leicester City.

He captained the club to its greatest ever league finishes of third and second place in the First Division in 1927–28 and 1928–29 respectively. While also carrying much of the backroom influence at the time as he asserted the club remained faithful to Peter Hodge's passing style. He later managed the club to its first ever major cup final in 1949. He has been described as "an indelible Leicester City great"

He also holds the (joint) club record at Leicester for the most goals in a single game, scoring six goals in a 7–0 victory over Port Vale on Christmas Day 1924 (this record was later equalled by Arthur Chandler, who scored the opening goal before Duncan hit his six against Port Vale).

Former Leeds United and England manager Don Revie, who played under Duncan at Leicester, dedicates an entire chapter of his autobiography to Duncan, entitled "My Debt to Johnny Duncan" claiming "Until you have heard Johnny Duncan talk about Soccer then your Football Education is sadly lacking."

Early career

He started his senior football career with Lochgelly United in the wartime Eastern League during World War I, scoring a hat-trick against Dunfermline Athletic on his debut. towards the end of his career at Raith, he played alongside the legendary inside-forward Alex James.

Duncan's influence on the side was described by a column in The Sunday Express at the end of the 1928–29 season: "The best football team have been Leicester City, who have approached nearer to the pre-war standard than any other in individuality and constructive cleverness. I attribute this largely to the influence of their Scottish captain, John Duncan, who has insisted that the way to success was by expert use of the ball than by helter-skelter methods."

He was sacked a few months later in October 1949 after another disagreement with the club's board, this time over transfer policy, specifically over a dispute in which he stated that he didn't believe in close season deals, as he couldn't judge a player's current form.

Duncan continued to run the Turk's Head pub in Leicester for several decades after his playing career ended, including while still as manager.

Personal life John's nephew Alexander was also a footballer and would represent the United States at the first FIFA World Cup in Montevideo. Alexander would follow in his uncle's footsteps when he joined Leicester City in 1933.

Honours As a Player Leicester City Football League First Division Runner-up: 1928–29 Football League Second Division Champions: 1924–25

Scotland British Home Championship Winner: 1926

As a Manager Leicester City FA Cup runner-up 1949