A Leeds United Player Profile: Johnny Giles
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- Опубліковано 21 жов 2024
- Giles was spotted in Dublin playing for the famous Nursery Stella Maris Football Club in Drumcondra he began his English career with Leeds's rivals Manchester United, joining in 1957. He was given an early first-team debut in 1958 after eight of the team died in the Munich air disaster. He was in the Republic of Ireland team before his 19th birthday.
Giles was a regular first team player over the next four years, playing alongside Bobby Charlton and Denis Law. Manchester United won the FA Cup in 1963, where Giles played the defence-splitting pass which started the move towards a winning goal by David Herd.
He asked for a transfer shortly after that and joined Leeds for £33,000. He soon showed his worth, as Leeds won the Second Division title in his first season. In 1965 he was in the team which came close to a League championship and FA Cup "double" but which missed out on both, to Manchester United and to Liverpool respectively.
Giles formed a glittering partnership with Billy Bremner as Leeds manager Don Revie built a new team around them. The players had similarities in their styles and were a tremendous foil for one another. Giles was known as the creative force and Bremner as the ballwinner, but each was capable of doing the other's prime job. Despite his craft, Giles was later pinned down as one of the tougher and dirtier players in what was an often uncompromising Leeds side.
In the 1967--1968 season Leeds won both the League Cup and the Fairs Cup. That was the first season in which Giles was affected by injury. In 1970 Giles again had a magnificent season as Leeds chased three trophies but lost all three, the League went to Everton on the last day; the FA Cup to Chelsea after a replay; and the European Cup campaign ended at the hands of Celtic in the semi finals.
In the fifth round of the 1971 FA Cup when Leeds were unexpectedly beaten 3-2 by Colchester United, Giles scored Leeds's second goal as they almost came back from 3-0 down. Leeds regained the Fairs Cup but lost the League title on the last day, with Arsenal getting the victory they needed to earn the championship and form one half of a successful "double" bid.
Leeds won their first FA Cup and Giles his second when they defeated Arsenal 1-0 at Wembley in 1972, yet again they missed out on the League on the final day of the season after defeat to Wolves. Sunderland and A.C. Milan beat Leeds in the finals of the FA Cup and the European Cup Winners Cup in 1973, rendering Leeds trophyless again. Jack Charlton's retirement in 1973 also left Giles as the most senior member of the squad. In the same year he started to combine his Leeds duties with a spell as player-manager of his country.
In 1974, a 29-match unbeaten run at the start of the season helped Leeds coast to their second title, but then controversy reigned around Giles after Revie quit to take over the England team.
Revie recommended to the Leeds board of directors that Giles, nearly 34 and approaching the end of his playing career, should be his successor. The board instead appointed Brian Clough, a brilliant manager but a controversial choice as he had been publicly critical of Leeds in the past and was not an admirer of Revie.
Clough and the players never got on - the players had wanted Giles too - and the board realised their error, dismissing Clough with a big pay-off after just 44 days in charge. Giles still didn't get the job though (that went to Jimmy Armfield) and concentrated on playing as Leeds chased a place in their first European Cup final.
Giles was outstanding in Leeds' European campaign but was no longer an automatic fixture in the side. After appearing in the 1975 final, which Leeds lost 2-0 to Bayern Munich, Giles accepted an offer from West Bromwich Albion to become their player manager, while still playing for and managing the Irish team. He left Leeds after 12 years, 521 appearances and 114 goals, a quantity of which came from the penalty spot.
West Bromwich Albion fan here.
Giles was a brilliant player and more importantly an intelligent player. We don't get many tactically aware footballers today... :(
I often see John as a pundit on RTE for Irish football matches, and I've heard of how good of a player he was.. My da always says that he is one of the greatest players he's ever seen. So I look him up and wow, was he great. A truly gifted player and one of the best I've ever seen.
The finest ever midfielder from The Republic and that included Roy Keane.
legend of the game
Cont:1
Johnny Haynes(Fulham) was also using Soccer balls that were much heavier than today & also had those laces on the top of the ball. If you want further confirmation of this read articles given by Jimmy Greaves & the late Bobby Robson about the man.
John Giles(Leeds) was really the next man to take up the mantle left by Johnny Haynes(Fulham).Coming from again from that period were the balls were heavier & still were using lacing on top of the ball. Giles mastered passing of a soccer ball.
A world class passer of the ball, of either short or long passing. Reminded me of Paul Scholes, but with more individual skill. Coul be ruthless in the tackle as well... But what a midfilder player. He passing was just as good as Glen Hoddle. One of the truley great passers of a football in English football.
As for the Glenn Hoddle comments that again is true. The whole world saw how good he was at passing a football with either foot from either 5 years to 70 yards. I & many other football lovers just as yourself (beanaldo) saw how he could open up a side with just one pass.
I was lucky enough to witness and watch the great Don Revie side from the 1970s, and saw with my own eyes what John Giles could do. Did you beanaldo?
I'm glad people from all divides can put down their loyalities & give credit where credit is due.
He was a truly gifted passer of the ball, as good as Glen Hoodle, & did have individual skill to go with it.
He had things going against him that would have put him in the World class bracket. First of all he wasn't born English. At the time his national team weren't as strong as they should have been. If they had qualified for more international tournments the world would have seen such as player
Im from N. Ireland where the divide is big. I Love LEEDS UTD and Rangers. All my friends say GILES is one of the BEST players they have ever seen. He could put his foot in too
I'm glad that people in general have put their loyalties aside when recognising one of the true great passers of a ball in Uk Soccer -John Giles.
However, Johnny Haynes(Fulham) was recognised as one of the first truly great passers of a football in Uk Soccer. Remember he was passing 70 to 80 yard passers with both feet so that you as a team member didn't have to stretch or move to receive the pass. The passing was also correctly weighted so that no stretching was required to reach it.
Cont:2
And finally one of the last true great passer of Soccer ball to come from Uk/English Soccer was Glen Hoddle. Only now in this present generation that we can see how "nice" it is to see a soccer ball passed with the correct weight and accuracy when Glen Hoddle was playing. In fact he could open your side up with one pass & with either foot. It was a shame that his national side didn't realise this gift.
But John Giles was just one of the reasons why Leeds United were so successful.
JOHN GILES =LEDGEND
Cont:4
Another truly gifted player was Terry Cooper(Leeds United), who was the "Ashley Cole" of the day (When Ashely COLE WAS AT ARSENAL!). A brilliant attacking full back. He would have played in the 1970 World Cup had he not broken his leg months before the tournament. He was a former out and out winger that got converted into a full back, and was a great attacking full back.
(Cont:3)
Another reason why Leeds United were considered a great side was that fact that the side could "play", and featured many unsung heroes in the form of Paul Madley and Terry Cooper for instance.
Madley for instance was comfortable with the ball on either foot, and played in every position for Leeds United except goalkeeper and Centre Forward for Leeds United. Even at International level for England, he played in many positions for his country.
i am barcelona supporter and cry with lorimer goal.
I'm a Spurs fan but even I would agree. I can't think of a better all-rounder than Gilesey.
Cont:1
Johnny Giles was the next Johnny Haynes(Fulham - who was the first real great passer of a ball in Uk Soccer) in that he could pass a ball from either 10 years right through to 70 yards; correctly weighted and right smack bang in front of you without you having to stretch for it. He was as good and some say better than Glen Hoddle in regards to passing and had great individual skill.
Instead of criticising some one who actually watched that great side from the 1970s & saw them in the flesh. Please show us by your intelligent comments on here about John Giles. Yes I made a mistake with the spelling of Eire I admit that, but everything is is true & correct that I have written here. & has not been sloten from anyone. My dad got me on to Johnny Haynes as that was he's man when he was in his prime, & then reading the autobioagraphies of Bobby Robson & Jimmy Greaves confirmed it.
I don't know if it's true or not , but somebody told me he never, ever went to the toilet
492086 - you have that wrong. After waht happened between West Ham United and Millwall about a 1 x week ago. Leeds United are far and away from being known as the scum of English football.
Leeds United were the Ist English side to have all their players as Internationals.
Another thing - Leeds United were the first Uk side to have 4 International captains playing in the same side.
Terry Yorath - Wales, Billy Bremner- Scotland, Johnny Giles - Eric and Trevor Cherry - England.
1.55 for a player profile?
Pathetic!
@QueenReigns1 who cares about liverfool?