Former Leeds Boss Passes Away

Last updated : 22 January 2018 By .

Former England and Blackpool captain Jimmy Armfield has been described as "a national hero", following his death at the age of 82.

Armfield, who played a club record 627 times for Blackpool, missed England's 1966 World Cup victory through injury.

He went on to manage Bolton and Leeds in a career that also saw him work with the Football Association and BBC Radio.

Professional Footballers' Association chief Gordon Taylor said that football "is much diminished with our loss".

Armfield had been receiving treatment for cancer, after the illness returned.

Armfield, who played for Blackpool for 17 years, was captain for more than a decade at Bloomfield Road.

The right-back made the first of 43 international appearances in 1959 and was England skipper for 15 matches between 1962 and 1966.

He was made England captain in 1962 and looked set to skipper Alf Ramsey's team at the World Cup in 1966 but a toe injury meant he did not play as England went on to win the tournament.

Armfield was given a winners' medal by Fifa 43 years later.

As well as his achievements as a player, Armfield enjoyed success as a manager.

He won promotion to the old Second Division with Bolton Wanderers in 1973.

Two years later, he succeeded Brian Clough at Leeds and guided them to a European Cup final, where they were beaten 2-0 by Bayern Munich.