Alan Ball (football player) Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
Alan Ball (born May 12 1945 in Farnworth, Lancashire) was an English football player of the 1960s and 70s who played in England's 1966 World Cup winning team. After retiring he went onto manage several clubs.Ball started his playing career at Blackpool and gained his first England cap at the age of 20. He was the youngest and least experienced player of the eleven which won the World Cup but his displays and attitude took him to international prominence, and he joined Everton shortly after the competition for a then-record fee of 110,000 pounds.
He became one third of a famous midfield trilogy during his time at Goodison Park, alongside Howard Kendall and Colin Harvey, while maintaining his place in the England side. He won the League title with Everton in 1970 before a record 220,000 pound offer from Arsenal, who had just won the 'double', saw his departure to Highbury in the winter of 1971.
At Arsenal, Ball became a legend, running the midfield for five seasons although they never won a single domestic honour during this period - the nearest they came was losing the 1972 FA Cup final to Leeds United. Ball remained in the England side too, although was sent off in a bad-tempered World Cup qualifier in Poland in 1973 - only the second England player ever to receive his marching orders. His last appearances for both Arsenal and England came in 1976 - he had won 72 caps.
Ball ended his playing days at Southampton, a club he would later manage. He also had stints in charge at Portsmouth (twice) and Manchester City.
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