WALTER WINTERBOTTOMIn the space of 16 years these days one might lose count of the number of different England managers, but in a very different era Sir Walter Winterbottom, who died on 16 February, 2002, spent this length of time in sole charge of the team.He became the England football team’s first ever manager in 1946 and was in the job until 1962, making him the longest-serving incumbent of the role. He oversaw the nation’s involvement in their first four World Cups and laid the groundwork for 1966.Mr Winterbottom had a brief playing career with Manchester United which was curtailed by injury. He then became a pioneer of coaching practises which helped the game enter the modern era.He was born in Oldham on 31 March, 1913. He trained to be a teacher and qualified in 1933. However, he was spotted playing for amateur side Mossley and signed professional terms with Manchester United in 1936. He played in the centre of defence and made a total of 26 appearances.While playing he continued to teach during the week, eventually being made a lecturer Carnegie Physical Education College. After a spinal disease forced him to retire as a player midway through the 1937/38 season, he was invited to join the FA’s staff.In 1946, after serving as a Wing Commander in the RAF during the war, he was given the title of National Director of Coaching which put him in charge of all England national team affairs except squad selection (which was done by FA committee) at the age of just 33.His first game in charge was a 7-2 drubbing of Northern Ireland. He had an impressive record during his 16 years in charge, winning 78 of his 139 games. His tenure saw the likes of Stanley Matthews, Tommy Lawton and Tom Finney appear in England shirts.His time in charge, as with all England bosses since, saw a few upsets, including a shock 1-0 defeat by the United States at the 1950 World Cup and a famous 6-3 thrashing by Hungary at Wembley in 1953. Mr Winterbottom used these defeats and poor World Cup performances as leverage with the FA to upgrade coaching facilities to match other countries.He also established the England youth teams, founded the national coaching centre at Lilleshall in Shropshire and wrote a seminal coaching manual in 1951. His influence was crucial in convincing sceptics as to the value of professional coaching in the sport.His colleague, secretary of the FA and later FIFA president, Stanley Rous, said: "Walter brought entirely new ways of thinking to the game, achieving remarkable success in changing attitudes."Mr Winterbottom left the FA after a 4-0 victory over Wales in November 1962 to become secretary of the Central Council for Physical Recreation, a position which he held for nine years. He was also appointed as the first director general of the Sports Council in 1965 where he continued to be a key advocate of high coaching standards.Sir Walter was married to Ann who survived him, as did their two daughters. He was predeceased by a son.He was awarded an OBE in 1963, a CBE in 1972 and was knighted in 1978 for services for British sport. What’s more, the coaching framework he established was the foundation of England’s World Cup win in 1966 under his successor Alf Ramsey.Another future England manager, Ron Greenwood, said: "Many people in the game now have no idea how much English football owes Walter. He launched our coaching system and gave it impetus and status."
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