Jimmy Adamson

In 1962, Jimmy Adamson had the world at his feet: FA Cup finalist, Footballer of the Year and invited to become England manager. But Adamson said 'no'. Having foreseen Burnley as the 'Team of the Seventies', controversy and disillusionment soon saw Adamson turn his back on the game. The story of an enigma, of broken dreams and what might have been.

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Jimmy Adamson was a football enigma, revered by some, disliked by others - a supremely elegant player of the '50s and early '60s, a title winner and a respected coach, but a manager whose spirit was ultimately shattered. In 1962, Adamson had the world at his feet: FA Cup finalist, Footballer of the Year and invited to become England manager, having been assistant at the World Cup in Chile. But Adamson said 'no'. In 1970 he predicted that Burnley would become the 'Team of the Seventies', but despotic chairman Bob Lord's selling policy saw the vision fade and die. Controversially sacked in 1976, Adamson moved to Sunderland and then endured two torrid years at Leeds United before turning his back on the game. This is a poignant story of broken dreams, failed ambitions and personal tragedy, ending in estrangement from the club he loved. A story of what might have been.