Leeds great Eddie Gray has paid tribute to Jimmy Armfield and claimed the club’s former manager deserved to win the European Cup.

Armfield, who has died aged 82, was appointed Leeds boss in 1974 following Brian Clough’s ill-fated 44 days in charge and guided them to the final against Bayern Munich the following year.

Leeds lost 2-0 in Paris but the game was overshadowed by the decisions of French referee Michel Kitabdjian, who controversially disallowed Peter Lorimer’s ‘goal’ and waved away two penalty appeals.

“It’s very sad,” said Gray, who has spent his entire career at the club, making over 450 appearances as a player and spending three years as manager.

“When Jimmy came to Leeds United it was a difficult time. Brian Clough had just left and it hadn’t gone too well and Jimmy completely turned things round.

“We got to the European Cup final that year, which we should have won and that would have been a great thing for Jimmy personally as a manager and something he probably deserved as a manager.

Jimmy Armfield took over from Brian Clough at Leeds
Jimmy Armfield took over from Brian Clough at Leeds (PA)

“Jimmy steadied the ship at Leeds when Brian Clough left. It was a difficult time for the club anyway with Don Revie having left and Brian coming in and things not going too well.

“It wasn’t an easy time for Jimmy to come in because the team were getting that bit older as well, but his manner, the way he conducted himself in and around the club was terrific.

“He turned the club around and he never got all the credit he deserved for doing that.”

Gray credits Armfield for prolonging his own playing career by 10 years after a thigh injury threatened to end it prematurely.

Eddie Gray credits Jimmy Armfield with extending his career
Eddie Gray credits Jimmy Armfield with extending his career (Peter Robinson/EMPICS)

“I had a lot to thank Jimmy for from the fact he got me back playing and I don’t know if that was in his mind,” Gray added.

“He asked if I wanted to coach the kids while I was thinking about retiring. He came along to watch me training with them and asked ‘would you like to have another bash with the reserves Eddie?’

“So I did and I got back in the first team and played for another nine or 10 years. He was terrific for me.

“That was his way. He’d been a great player and played at the highest level for Blackpool and England and I liked Jimmy a lot as a person.

“That’s the most important thing. I liked him very much and always got on very well with him.”

After retiring from football, Armfield trained as a journalist and became a popular fixture on BBC Radio 5 Live.

John Murray commentated alongside him and said: “This will be extremely sad news for everyone who knew Jimmy. He was such a popular man, such a friendly man.

Jimmy Armfield went on to work in the media
Jimmy Armfield went on to work in the media (Stephen Pond/EMPICS)

“He was the absolute epitome of a football man. He had a superb career as a footballer with Blackpool Football Club, and for England as well. Jimmy was quite proud of the fact that he’d worked as long in broadcasting about football as he did as a player or a manager. He was steeped in both sides of the game.

“Jimmy had a lovely radio voice; a youthful voice and also a very youthful approach. He was so enthusiastic and enthused by things that would happen in the modern game. He loved exciting players.

“This will be terribly sad for listeners to BBC Radio Sport. We send our condolences to his wife, Anne, and all his family as well. We will miss him terribly.”

World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst added: “So sad to hear of the passing of Jimmy Armfield. He was a terrific player for his only club Blackpool and an integral member of the squad in 1966.

“He became a brilliant broadcaster and I never ceased to be amazed how well he performed on radio when you consider he was around 80. But far beyond that he was a true gentleman both on and off the pitch. Our thoughts are with his wife Anne and his family at this time.”