Billy Bingham Wiki – Billy Bingham Biography
NORTHERN IRELAND’s most successful football manager, Billy Bingham, has died at the age of 90. Bingham achieved legendary status after leading the boys in green to the 1982 and 1986 World Cup finals, having himself played in the 1958 final.
William Laurence Bingham, MBE was a Northern Ireland international footballer and football manager. As a player, his first professional club was Glentoran, whom he played for between 1948 and 1950. Making the move to England, he then spent eight years with Sunderland, making 227 appearances. Wikipedia
Statement
The Irish Football Association said it had learned of Bingham’s death with “great sadness”.Northern Ireland’s football governing body issued the following statement: “Billy occupies a unique place at the heart of Northern Ireland football, having played and managed in the World Cup final tournaments with Northern Ireland, being part of Peter Doherty’s historic team from 1958 in Sweden and then managing Northern Ireland in the 1982 and 1986 finals.”
Bingham also enjoyed a successful playing career with some impressive spells at Sunderland, Luton Town and Everton.
The former striker retired in 1965 after a 17-year playing career and immediately moved into management.
Career
Bingham managed several notable teams including Everton, Greece, PAOK and more. He enjoyed two spells as Northern Ireland manager, the first between 1967 and 1971.
But his second-in-command turned out to be more successful when he took over the reins in 1980 until his departure in 1993.
He led Northern Ireland to one of the biggest upsets in the World Cup final in 1982 when they beat hosts Spain 1-0 with Gerry Armstrong’s winning goal.
Armstrong described Bingham as “the best manager in Northern Ireland” and expressed his “deepest condolences” to his family. And he added: “Who can forget the wonderful memories Billy has left us?”
Bingham will always be remembered for his ability to turn underdogs into winners, something he learned during his playing days. He once said in the book Spirit of ’58: “Winning is great, of course.
“But when you’re not expected to win, it’s even better.”
