Northern Irish footballer who captained Tottenham Hotspur to the first 20th-century League and FA Cup double in 1961, winning 56 international caps.
Robert Dennis Blanchflower was born in Belfast on 10 February 1926. He played for Glentoran and Barnsley before joining Tottenham in 1954, where he became club captain and the driving force behind one of the greatest sides in English football history. An elegant, creative wing-half with exceptional vision, he captained Spurs to the iconic Double in 1960-61 — the first in the 20th century. He also led them to the FA Cup in 1962 and the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1963, the first British club to win a European trophy. He was named FWA Footballer of the Year twice (1958, 1961). For Northern Ireland, he earned 56 caps and captained them to the quarter-finals of the 1958 World Cup. He later managed Northern Ireland. Blanchflower died on 9 December 1993.
Captaining Tottenham to the first 20th century League and FA Cup double
He was named FWA Footballer of the Year twice and famously said: 'The great fallacy is that the game is first and last about winning. It is nothing of the kind. The game is about glory.'
Did You Know?How They Played
Elegant playmaker known for his passing ability, leadership, and tactical intelligence
Lasting Impact
Regarded as one of the greatest midfielders in British football history and an inspirational captain
Career Honours
- League Championship 1961
- FA Cup 2x
- European Cup Winners' Cup 1963
- First Division 1961
- FA Cup 1961
- FA Cup 1962
| Club | Period | Apps | Goals | Shirt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glentoran | 1945–1949 | 124 | 15 | #6 |
| Aston Villa | 1951–1954 | 26 | 6 | #23 |
| Barnsley | 1949–1951 | 65 | 5 | — |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 1954–1964 | 382 | 21 | #23 |
| Northern Irish | — | 56 | 2 | — |