Don Revie almost plunged Leeds United into chaos in summer 1973. After finishing a distant 3rd in the league and losing the FA Cup final to Second Division Sunderland, rumours were swirling around the hotel in Greece that Milan had fixed the referee for the European Cup Winners’ Cup final, and Revie was leaving Leeds for Everton. The first was clear to anyone who watched the game the next day. The second was confirmed to his players by an emotional Revie, when a delegation confronted him in his room.

Everton didn’t get him, and the rest should have been history. In 1973/74 United were champions, losing just four times. Leeds had £2m in the bank and Revie had the England job. He told the board that if they gave the manager’s job to John Giles and let him run things then their success would continue for years to come. Few clubs had ever been left such a rich legacy as Leeds after Revie’s thirteen years building Elland Road from nothing.

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