Chelsea Boss John Hollins dies at age 76
Former Chelsea player and Boss John Hollins dies at age 76, been announced by club. John Hollins made almost 600 appearences as a player for the club, scoring 64 times during his two spells at Stamford bridge between 1963 and 1984. He was appointed as manager in 1985, a position he held for three years.
“He was a hero to the fans of this club, and very much that to me,” Chelsea board member Daniel Finkelstein said.
“He was at the heart of one of Chelsea’s greatest teams and, as well as contributing to its trophy success, he expressed its spirit. Mauricio Pochettino is about to set his career on the Chelsea club, by signing a three year deal contract to become their head coach until 2026.
“He lifted up the team with his play and lit up the Bridge with his smile. He gave a life of service to this club, as a player, as a manager and as a matchday ambassador. He was greatly loved and will be much missed.”
Hollins won one England cap at the age of 20 in 1967, starting in a friendly win over Spain. Two-time player of the year winner Hollins, a product of Chelsea’s youth system, made his first-team debut at the age of 17.
He lifted the FA Cup, Cup Winners’ Cup and League Cup during his first period at the club, leaving in 1975 and returning eight years later to help them earn promotion from the second tier. Brentford had a victory against chelsea with 2-0 as Azpilicueta had a own goal in the match.
Hollins’ 592 games place him fifth on Chelsea’s all-time appearances list behind John Terry, Frank Lampard, Ron Harris and Peter Bonetti. His playing career also featured time at fellow London clubs Queens Park Rangers and Arsenal
He also went on to manage Swansea City, with whom he won the fourth-tier title in 2000, Rochdale, Raith, Stockport, Crawley and Weymouth. Hollins’ son Chris, a former media person, tweeted: “My hero, best friend and dad left us today.
“He was so modest but I will say it: He was a great player, brilliant team-mate and one hell of a person. My Mum, sister and all his grandchildren will miss him so much.”
“John was always so modest about the role he played in Chelsea’s history.
“He was only 15 when he signed for the club and went on to win trophies in those incredible sides of the ’60s and ’70s.
“He had so many stories, but he always told us he just loved running out at the Bridge and wearing that famous blue shirt.
“We will miss him as a husband, a father and grandfather and will always be proud of what he achieved in the game.”
Former Chelsea and England captain John Terry tweeted condolences to the friends and family of Hollins, who was was described as a “smashing guy” by former Wales international John Hartson.
Ex-Scotland forward David Speedie, who played alongside and under Hollins at Chelsea, said: “Long before the days of big money, social media and billionaire owners, John cemented his place as an all time Chelsea FC legend. He’ll be missed by everyone who knew him.”
John Hollins player career
Hollins played in the first leg of the 3–2 aggregate victory over Leicester City in League Cup final in 1965 and the loss to Tottenham in the FA Cup final two years later. In 1970, he played a significant part in Chelsea’s hard-fought FA Cup final win over Leeds United, supplying the cross for Ian Hutchinson’s late headed equaliser at Wembley.
Chelsea eventually won 2–1 in the replay at Old Trafford. They won the Cup Winners’ Cup in Athens against Real Madrid a year later, again after a replay, but Hollins missed the second match due to an injury. He was Chelsea’s player of the year two years running. While at Chelsea, he also won a solitary England cap, against Spain, on 24 May 1967.
He had his most prolific goalscoring season for Chelsea in the 1971–72 season, finding the net 17 times. Chelsea also reached another League Cup final in 1972, losing to Stoke City, but declined thereafter, though Hollins remained until the side’s relegation to the Second Division at the end of the 1974–75 season, when he was sold to nearby Queens Park Rangers.
