Football's Pioneering Managers: Vic Buckingham
Famous for his trilby hat and cigarette drooping from his bottom lip, Buckingham is remembered for his coaching feats abroad and for his success in England with West Bromwich Albion.
Born on 23 October 1915, Buckingham joined Tottenham Hotspur in 1934 making over 200 appearances for the Lilywhites before retiring in 1949. The most productive years of his career were interrupted by the Second World War in which he served in the RAF.
After his playing career concluded Buckingham earned a reputation as a progressive coach with amateur club Pegasus leading them to victory in the FA Amateur Cup at Wembley in 1951. He then spent two years managing Bradford Park Avenue before taking the reins at West Bromwich Albion in 1953.
In his first season in charge, he came close to leading the Black Country side to the first league and cup double of the 20th century after they beat Preston North End in the FA Cup Final and finished second by four points to local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers in the First Division.
Buckingham then led Ajax to the 1959/60 Eredivisie title. After taking Ajax to the Dutch Cup Final in his second season, he joined Sheffield Wednesday for the following campaign before returning to Ajax in 1964.
In his second spell as Ajax coach, Buckingham famously gave Johan Cruyff his senior debut at the age of 17. However, he was replaced by Rinus Michels in January 1965.
An unremarkable three-year spell in charge of Fulham and a brief stint in Greece with Olympiacos followed before Buckingham surprisingly became Barcelona coach in January 1970 with the club at a low ebb, finishing in 10th place in the Spanish League. No respecter of reputations, he reinvigorated a sense of identity in the players that they were at one of Europe’s top clubs.
His philosophy was to attack at every opportunity and only think of defensive shape when the team was out of possession. In his only full season in Catalonia in 1970/71, Buckingham had another double near miss when his side won the Copa del Generalissimo and finished a narrow second in the league to Valencia, finishing level on points but losing the title on head-to-head record.
A recurring back problem curtailed his spell with Barça at the end of that season when he was again replaced by Rinus Michels. He retired to England after spells at Sevilla and Olympiacos amongst others. He died in Chichester on 26 January, 1995.