- Birthdate: 29 March 1937
- Birthplace: Preston, England
- Other clubs: Preston Amateurs, Morecambe, Preston North End (1956-60), Blackpool (1967-70), Wigan Athletic (1970-72)
- Signed from: Preston North End
- Signed for LFC: £16,000, 30.08.1960
- International debut: 08.05.1963 vs. Brazil
- International caps: 14/0 - 21.10.1964
- Liverpool debut: 31.08.1960
- Last appearance: 13.05.1967
- Debut goal: 20.09.1961
- Last goal: 11.02.1967
- Contract expiry: 13.05.1967
- Win ratio: 51.06% W:144 D:65 L:73
- Honours: League Championship 1963/64, 1965/66; Second Division 1961/62
- League games / goals: 236 / 17
- Total games / goals: 282 / 18
Player Profile
When Shankly bought Gordon Milne in his first full season as manager he knew the boy pretty well having been his dad's teammate at Preston for a few years. Milne's play was uncomplicated and others prospered around his unselfish and skilful play. He made the transition from Second Division to the First without any problems and he was a vital part on the right side of Shankly's midfield. He only missed a handful of League fixtures in three seasons as Liverpool won the Second Division in 1962, established themselves in the First Division and then won the League Championship in 1964. Milne's greatest disappointment was without a doubt missing out on the 1965 FA Cup final, just as his father, Jimmy, had missed Preston's cup win in 1938. Another League title followed in 1966 but he was two months out through injury which proved a setback to his chances of making the World Cup squad. Milne had played 14 internationals and had hoped to be one of Liverpool's four players with England in the 1966 World Cup, but he wasn't chosen for the final group.
Despite being a regular in the previous season 30-year-old Milne was sold to second division Blackpool in May 1967. Three years later he took on the role of player-manager at non-league Wigan Athletic. He was the England youth team manager for nearly 12 months before eight years as manager of Coventry City. After a four-year spell as manager of Leicester City, he moved abroad to coach Turkish club Besiktas and enjoyed great success with them, helping them to a hat-trick of championship wins in 1990, 1991 and 1992. Following a spell with Grampus Eight in Japan Milne became the Chief Executive of the League Manager's Association in 1995 before returning to management in Turkey. He took over as Director of Football at Newcastle United in 1999 working alongside Sir Bobby Robson until 2004 when he was appointed to the same post at Besiktas where he stayed until his retirement in 2007.
Appearances per season
Please note
A more detailed look at the player's appearances
Apps |
Minutes |
Opponent |
13 |
1146 |
Leicester City |
12 |
1080 |
West Ham United |
10 |
900 |
Arsenal |
10 |
890 |
Blackpool |
10 |
856 |
Everton |
10 |
844 |
Tottenham |
9 |
840 |
Burnley |
9 |
810 |
WBA |
9 |
810 |
Fulham |
9 |
810 |
Chelsea |
9 |
810 |
Stoke City |
9 |
785 |
Sunderland |
8 |
720 |
Aston Villa |
8 |
720 |
Manchester United |
8 |
720 |
Sheffield United |
8 |
720 |
Leeds United |
8 |
720 |
Nottingham Forest |
8 |
720 |
Sheffield Wednesday |
7 |
630 |
Blackburn Rovers |
6 |
540 |
Ipswich Town |
6 |
540 |
Leyton Orient |
5 |
480 |
Preston North End |
5 |
450 |
Wolves |
5 |
450 |
Southampton |
5 |
450 |
Derby |
4 |
360 |
Scunthorpe United |
4 |
360 |
Brighton & Hove Albion |
4 |
360 |
Luton Town |
4 |
360 |
Bolton Wanderers |
4 |
360 |
Manchester City |
4 |
360 |
Birmingham City |
3 |
300 |
Cologne |
3 |
270 |
Newcastle United |
3 |
270 |
Swansea City |
3 |
270 |
Rotherham United |
2 |
210 |
Port Vale |
2 |
180 |
Anderlecht |
2 |
180 |
KR Reykjavík |
2 |
180 |
Stockport County |
2 |
180 |
Honved |
2 |
180 |
Celtic |
2 |
180 |
Petrolul Ploiesti |
2 |
180 |
Watford |
2 |
180 |
Bristol Rovers |
2 |
180 |
Charlton Athletic |
2 |
180 |
Huddersfield Town |
2 |
180 |
Middlesbrough |
2 |
180 |
Plymouth Argyle |
2 |
180 |
Bury |
2 |
180 |
Walsall |
2 |
180 |
Norwich City |
1 |
120 |
Borussia Dortmund |
1 |
90 |
Ajax |
1 |
90 |
Northampton Town |
1 |
90 |
Standard Liege |
1 |
90 |
Wrexham |
1 |
90 |
Oldham Athletic |
1 |
90 |
Portsmouth |
1 |
90 |
Lincoln City |
Total |
Started/substitutions |
280 |
Started |
5 |
On the bench |
2 |
Substitute |
3 |
Substituted |
Total |
Venue |
139 |
Home |
137 |
Away |
6 |
Neutral |
Goals per season
Please note
A more detailed look at the player's goalscoring
Milestone Appearances
Milestone Goals
# |
Minute |
Date |
Against |
Stadium |
Competition |
1 |
10 |
20.09.1961 |
Newcastle United |
St James' Park |
League |
Related Articles
16 months after leaving the managerial seat at Liverpool, Shankly returned to watch his beloved Liverpool on the Kop among the Reds faithful on 22 November 1975.
Forty years ago Liverpool played their first European game at Anfield Road.
Forty years ago today Liverpool played their first European game in Iceland of all places.
Related Quotes
"It's impossible not to be aware of the changes that have taken place since those days. As I was living in Preston I borrowed an old green van from my father-in-law to travel to Melwood and it was the only vehicle in the car park. And the Kop didn't sing in those days. They just roared."
Gordon Milne reflecting on his playing days
Scrapbook
30 August 1960
England debuts for Liverpool trio - June 1963
Golden Greats line up in 15 years' anniversary of 1965 FA Cup final
Gordon Milne on the cover of Football Monthly July 1962
Gordon Milne on the cover of the Liverpool Echo on 9 December 1961
It's a gay Gordon - 19 October 1963
Joe Fagan on Gordon Milne in 1983
No place like Liverpool! - Football Monthly 1964
Poster of Gordon Milne - Football Monthly
Stars of Liverpool - Cover of Football Monthly June 1964
The little giant who gives England punch - October 1963
Where are they now? - Liverpool club magazine
Other Clubs
Club |
Season |
Club rank |
League apps |
League goals |
Total apps |
Total goals |
Preston Amateurs |
|
|
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Morecambe |
|
Lancashire Combination Division 1 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Preston North End |
1956-1957 |
England First Division |
5 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
Preston North End |
1957-1958 |
England First Division |
5 |
0 |
5 |
0 |
Preston North End |
1958-1959 |
England First Division |
30 |
1 |
33 |
1 |
Preston North End |
1959-1960 |
England First Division |
38 |
2 |
44 |
2 |
Preston North End |
1960-1961 |
England First Division |
3 |
0 |
3 |
0 |
Blackpool |
1967-1968 |
England Second Division |
34 |
2 |
39 |
2 |
Blackpool |
1968-1969 |
England Second Division |
21 |
2 |
23 |
2 |
Blackpool |
1969-1970 |
England Second Division |
8 |
1 |
10 |
1 |
Wigan Athletic |
1970-1972 |
Northern Premier League |
73 |
4 |
73 |
4 |
Total |
217 |
12 |
235 |
12 |