View source for Billy Bremner

{{Short description|Scottish footballer (1942–1997)}}
{{other people}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
|           name = Billy Bremner
|          image = Billy Bremner (1971).jpg
|        caption = Bremner lining up for [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] in 1971
|       fullname = William John Bremner<ref name="FRER"/>
|     birth_date = {{birth date|1942|12|9|df=y}}<ref name="FRER"/>
|    birth_place = [[Raploch]], [[Stirling]], Scotland<ref name="FRER"/>
|     death_date = {{death date and age|1997|12|7|1942|12|9|df=y}}<ref name="BBC97"/>
|    death_place = [[Clifton, Doncaster]], England<ref name="BBC97"/>
|         height = {{height|ft=5|in=5}}<ref name="NFM" />
|       position = [[Midfielder]]
|    youthyears1 = 1959–1960
|    youthclubs1 = [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]]
|         years1 = 1960–1976
|         clubs1 = [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]]        
|          caps1 = 587
|         goals1 = 91
|         years2 = 1976–1978
|         clubs2 = [[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]]            
|          caps2 = 61
|         goals2 = 6
|         years3 = 1980–1982
|         clubs3 = [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]]
|          caps3 = 5
|         goals3 = 0
|      totalcaps = 653
|     totalgoals = 97
| nationalyears1 = 
|  nationalteam1 = Scotland Schoolboys
|  nationalcaps1 = 4
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 1963
|  nationalteam2 = Scotland XI
|  nationalcaps2 = 1
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 1964–1965
|  nationalteam3 = [[Scotland national under-21 football team|Scotland U23]]
|  nationalcaps3 = 4
| nationalgoals3 = 1
| nationalyears4 = 1965–1975
|  nationalteam4 = [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]]
|  nationalcaps4 = 54
| nationalgoals4 = 3
|  manageryears1 = 1978–1985
|  managerclubs1 = [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]]
|  manageryears2 = 1985–1988
|  managerclubs2 = [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]]
|  manageryears3 = 1989–1991
|  managerclubs3 = [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]]
}}
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'''William John Bremner''' (9 December 1942 – 7 December 1997)<ref name="FRER">{{cite web |url=https://collections.stir.ac.uk/billybremner/ |title=Fae Raploch to Elland Road |publisher=University of Stirling |access-date=7 August 2024}}</ref><ref name="BBC97">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/37663.stm |title=Soccer star Billy Bremner dies |work=BBC Sport |date=9 December 1997 |access-date=2 January 2016}}</ref> was a Scottish professional [[Association football|footballer]] who played for [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]], [[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]], and the [[Scotland national football team|Scotland national team]]. He also managed [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]] (twice) and Leeds United. Regarded as one of football's great [[midfielder]]s, Bremner combined precision passing skills with tenacious tackling and physical stamina. He played for Leeds United from 1959 to 1976, serving as captain from 1965 through the most successful period in the club's history, and winning two [[English football champions|League Championship]] medals and one [[FA Cup]]-winners medal. In total, he played 773 games for Leeds, scoring 114 goals.

Having been a Scotland Schoolboys international, Bremner went on to play in 54 full internationals for Scotland, scoring three goals. He was the captain of Scotland's [[1974 FIFA World Cup squads#Scotland|1974 FIFA World Cup squad]], playing in all three of their games in the tournament. He was named as the [[FWA Footballer of the Year]] in 1970, and was included in the ''[[Football League 100 Legends]]'', published in 1998.

Following a serious bout of [[pneumonia]], Bremner died of a suspected [[myocardial infarction|heart attack]] on 7 December 1997, two days before his 55th birthday. He has since been voted Leeds United's [[Leeds United A.F.C. players#Leeds United's 100 greatest players|greatest player of all time]] and, in his honour, the club has erected a statue of him outside the south-east corner of its [[Elland Road]] stadium.

==Early life==
===Family and education===
Billy Bremner was born in [[Stirling]] on 9 December 1942. His parents, John William ('Pop') and Bridget ('Bess'), lived in the [[Raploch]] district, reputedly a "tough area" in the shadow of [[Stirling Castle]].{{sfn|Bale|1998|p=2}}<ref name="Brock">{{cite web |url=https://collections.stir.ac.uk/broch-of-raploch/ |title=Brock of Raploch |work=Fae Raploch to Elland Road |publisher=University of Stirling |access-date=8 August 2024}}</ref> His father was a storeman working for the [[Ministry of Defence]] at its 'Back-O-Hill' army barracks, located near Raploch.{{sfn|Harrison|2010|p=8}}<ref name="Gowan">{{cite web |url=https://collections.stir.ac.uk/gowanhill-utd/ |title=Gowanhill United |work=Fae Raploch to Elland Road |publisher=University of Stirling |access-date=16 August 2024}}</ref>

Bremner, whose childhood nickname was 'Brock', attended St Mary's Primary School, which was "literally round the corner" from the family's home, till he was eleven.{{sfn|Harrison|2010|p=8}} He played for the school's [[association football|football]] team from the age of nine.{{sfn|Harrison|2010|p=8}} In 1954, aged eleven, he left St Mary's and went to [[St Modan's High School]], also near his home, and continued to develop as a footballer.{{sfn|Bale|1998|p=5}} Even as a boy, Bremner exhibited the sort of skill and determination that would become the hallmark of his professional career.{{sfn|Harrison|2010|p=8}} He joined a local club called Gowanhill United when he was thirteen and soon earned a place in its under-21 team. Gowanhill's home ground was a piece of spare land called Shell Park which was between Raploch and the barracks.<ref name="Gowan"/>

===Scotland Schoolboys===
In November 1957, Bremner was one of two St Modan's boys given a trial for the Stirling Schoolboys County team. He was mentioned in a notice that appeared in the ''[[Edinburgh Evening News]]'' issue of 15 November 1957. He was selected to play for the county and his performances in those matches led to selection for Scotland Schoolboys. He made his international debut, aged fifteen, against Northern Ireland Schoolboys at [[Windsor Park]] on 28 March 1958. The match, played under floodlights, ended in a 2–2 draw.<ref name="School">{{cite web |url=https://collections.stir.ac.uk/scotlandschoolboys/ |title=Scotland Schoolboys |work=Fae Raploch to Elland Road |publisher=University of Stirling |access-date=18 August 2024}}</ref>

Bremner played in three more matches for Scotland Schoolboys in the spring of 1958. His second appearance was against Wales Schoolboys at [[Somerton Park]] on 4 April, and this also ended 2–2. Next, on 26 April, Bremner made his first of many visits to [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]], playing against England Schoolboys, whose team included [[Terry Venables]], [[Phil Chisnall]], and [[Ronnie Boyce]]. According to the ''[[The Evening News (London newspaper)|Evening News]]'', there was a crowd of over 90,000. England Schoolboys won 3–1 but Bremner, playing at [[inside left]] was praised for his quick through-ball passing and for his "remarkable stamina".<ref name="School"/> He was interviewed by the ''[[News Chronicle]]'' after the match and surprised the reporter by saying that he wanted to join an English club, because "English football is faster". Bremner added that, if he didn't become a professional footballer, his choice of career would be [[glazier]].<ref name="School"/> Bremner's last match for Scotland Schoolboys was on 18 May, a return against England Schoolboys at [[Ibrox Stadium]]. It ended in a 2–2 draw and Bremner again received praise for his efforts. The ''News Chronicle'' said the midfield tussle between Venables and the "wee but tough Willie Bremner was one of the highlights".<ref name="School"/>

===Trial matches===
After the schoolboy internationals, Bremner received invitations from [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] and [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] to play in trial matches. They both offered terms and Bremner went back to Scotland while he considered his options.{{sfn|Bale|1998|p=12}}<ref name="Early">{{cite web |url=https://collections.stir.ac.uk/earlydaysatleeds/ |title=Early Days at Leeds |work=Fae Raploch to Elland Road |publisher=University of Stirling |access-date=19 August 2024}}</ref> He was then approached by both [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] and [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]]. He favoured Celtic but agreed to talk to Rangers first. After learning that Bremner was a [[Catholic Church|Catholic]], however, Rangers [[Rangers F.C. signing policy|ended their interest]].{{sfn|Bale|1998|p=13}} Bremner's father then stepped in and told him he should not join either of the two clubs because of their [[Old Firm|sectarian antipathy]]. Bremner said later that his father's final words on the matter were: "You're going to England, and that's that".{{sfn|Bale|1998|p=14}}

In early 1959, soon after his 16th birthday, Bremner was invited to join [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] by team manager [[Bill Lambton]].{{sfn|Sutcliffe|2011|p=16}} Bremner accepted and joined the Leeds ground staff along with his friend [[Tommy Henderson (footballer, born 1943)|Tommy Henderson]], who had also played for Scotland Schoolboys.{{sfn|Bale|1998|p=13}} Lambton had recently signed [[Don Revie]] from [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]].{{sfn|Sutcliffe|2011|p=52}}

==Professional career==
===Leeds United===
====Ground staff to First Division====
Leeds had been promoted from the [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] in [[1955–56 in English football|1955–56]], the season in which [[Jack Charlton]] became a first team regular, but they had struggled since [[John Charles]] left in 1957,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Charlton |first1=Jack |last2=Byrne |first2=Peter |title=The Autobiography |publisher=Partridge Press |year=1996 |isbn=978-1-8522-5256-4}}</ref> and were relegated after the [[1959–60 in English football|1959–60 season]].<ref name="FLT60">{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/engpaul/FLA/1959-60.html |title=Season 1959-60: League Division 1 |work=Football Statistics Archive |publisher=RSSSF |access-date=6 August 2024}}</ref>

[[Jack Taylor (footballer, born 1914)|Jack Taylor]] replaced Bill Lambton as team manager on 1 May 1959.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|pp=54–55}}</ref> One of Taylor's first junior signings was fifteen-year-old [[Norman Hunter (footballer)|Norman Hunter]], who arrived at [[Elland Road]] in the summer and joined Bremner on the club's ground staff.{{sfn|Hunter|Waters|2004|pp=10–11}} Bremner signed a professional contract with Leeds on 12 December 1959, soon after his seventeenth birthday.<ref name="FRER"/> Six weeks later, on 23 January 1960,<ref name="FRER"/> Taylor gave Bremner his first team debut at [[outside-right]] in a 3–1 win against Chelsea at [[Stamford Bridge (stadium)|Stamford Bridge]]. Bremner played alongside Revie, who was the team's [[inside-right]].<ref name="DT59">{{cite web |last=Tomlinson |first=Dave |url=http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/seasons/195960.htm |title=Season 1959/60—Billy the Kid and a fall from grace |work=The Definitive History of Leeds United |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240305075101/http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/seasons/195960.htm |archive-date=5 March 2024 |access-date=6 August 2024}}</ref> ''[[Yorkshire Evening Post]]'' reporter Phil Brown noted that Bremner showed "enthusiasm, guts, intelligence, most accurate use of the ball and unselfishness" despite poor weather conditions.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=19}}</ref> Regular outside-right [[Chris Crowe (footballer)|Chris Crowe]] was sold to [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]] in March 1960, allowing Bremner to take his place on a permanent basis.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=20}}</ref>

Returning to the [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] for the [[1960–61 Football League|1960–61]] season, Leeds were beaten by future rivals  [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] at [[Anfield]] in the opening match, after which Bremner was dropped from the team. He won his place back later in the season after meeting with Jack Taylor to explain his frustration at being left out.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=21}}</ref> In March 1961, with the team in the lower half of the Second Division table, Taylor resigned and Revie took over as [[player-manager]] until March 1962 when he retired as a player and became the full-time manager.<ref>Sutcliffe 2010, pages 56 & 69.</ref> This was significant for young players like Hunter and Bremner because Revie initiated a youth development policy which was the basis of the club's future success. Among others who graduated were [[Paul Reaney]], [[Peter Lorimer]], [[Terry Cooper (footballer, born 1944)|Terry Cooper]], [[Eddie Gray (footballer, born 1948)|Eddie Gray]], and [[Paul Madeley]].<ref>Sutcliffe 2010, page 60.</ref>

Revie rejected an offer{{when|date=August 2024}} of £25,000 from [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]] for Bremner, despite the player wanting to return to Scotland to be with his fiancée.<ref name="page 26"/>{{better source needed|date=August 2024}}

Leeds struggled in the [[1961–62 Football League|1961–62]] campaign, finishing just three points above the relegation zone, despite 12 goals in 45 appearances from Bremner, who finished as the club's joint top-scorer with centre-half Jack Charlton.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=28}}</ref> In March 1962, Revie retired as a player and became the full-time manager.<ref>Sutcliffe 2010, page 69.</ref> In the same month, Revie signed [[Bobby Collins (footballer)|Bobby Collins]] from [[Everton F.C.|Everton]].{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

Collins helped to create the "win-at-all-costs" attitude that defined Leeds and Bremner throughout the rest of Revie's 13 years as manager.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=30}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=August 2024}}

Revie introduced some of the club's promising youngsters in the [[1962–63 Football League|1962–63 season]]; Hunter and Reaney made their debuts against [[Swansea City F.C.|Swansea Town]] at [[Vetch Field]] on 8 September 1962, Leeds winning 2–0.<ref name="LUOB">{{cite web |url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/team-news/26547/rip-norman-hunter |title=RIP Norman Hunter |publisher=Leeds United FC |date=17 April 2020}}</ref> Revie's policy paid dividends as the team finished fifth, only four points behind promoted Chelsea.<ref name="FLT63">{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/engpaul/FLA/1962-63.html |title=Season 1962-63: League Division 2 |work=Football Statistics Archive |publisher=RSSSF |access-date=6 August 2024}}</ref> Bremner, however, was limited to 24 appearances. He was out of form and was dropped from the first team during the end of season run-in, which included a disproportionately high number of matches that had been postponed during the [[Winter of 1962–63 in the United Kingdom|harsh winter conditions of early 1963]].<ref name="page 32">{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=32}}</ref>

Revie moved Bremner to central midfield.{{when|date=August 2024}} He bought [[Johnny Giles]] from [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]].{{when|date=August 2024}} The combination of Bremner and Giles became arguably the most effective midfield partnership of the next twelve years.<ref name="page 32"/>

With Bremner, Collins, and Giles in midfield, Leeds went on to win promotion as Second Division champions in the [[1963–64 Football League|1963–64]] season.<ref name="page 32"/>

The club won no friends in doing so, however, and the following summer were labelled by [[the Football Association]]'s own ''FA News'' as "the dirtiest [team] in the [[English Football League|Football League]].<ref name="page 33">{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=33}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=August 2024}}

====1964–65====
In November of the [[1964–65 Football League|1964–65]] season Bremner featured heavily in a win at Everton that was marred by violent clashes on the pitch, the game was stopped for a short spell ten minutes before half-time as the referee felt that a spell of cooling down was needed to prevent further violence; despite the referee only giving 12 Leeds fouls to Everton's 19 the match helped to cement United's reputation as a dirty and overly physical team.<ref name="page 33"/>{{better source needed|date=August 2024}}

A run of victories put the club top by the new year. However, they lost the title on goal average to Manchester United after drawing their last game of the season against already-relegated [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]].<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=35}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=August 2024}} Leeds faced Liverpool in the [[1965 FA Cup Final]] at [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley Stadium]], and the game went to [[extra time]] after a 0–0 draw. Bremner scored a half-volley in the 100th minute to cancel out [[Roger Hunt]]'s opener, but [[Ian St John]] won the game for Liverpool in the 113th minute.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=37}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=August 2024}}

====1965–66 to 1968–69====
In October 1965, Leeds skipper Collins was badly injured in an [[Inter-Cities Fairs Cup]] game against [[Torino F.C.|Torino]]. Revie gave the captaincy to Bremner for the remainder of the season after initially offering it to Charlton, who turned it down because he had a superstitious ritual of being last out of the tunnel on match days.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=44}}</ref> Revie and Bremner had a strong bond of trust, and the manager had no doubts about Bremner's ability to lead the team.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=48}}</ref> Leeds finished second in the [[1965–66 Football League|1965–66]] league campaign, six points behind Liverpool.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=45}}</ref>

Leeds reached the [[1967 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Final]] against [[GNK Dinamo Zagreb|Dinamo Zagreb]] but lost 2–0 on aggregate; Zagreb won 2–0 at the [[Stadion Maksimir]] and held Leeds to a 0–0 draw at Elland Road.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=51}}</ref> Leeds enjoyed a double success next season, however, winning both the [[1968 Football League Cup Final]], against Arsenal at Wembley; and the [[1968 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Final]], in which they beat [[Ferencvárosi TC|Ferencvárosi]] 1–0 at Elland Road and held them to a 0–0 draw at the [[Ferenc Puskás Stadium (1953)|Népstadion]] to win the club's first European trophy.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=57}}</ref>

Revie targeted the title for the [[1968–69 Football League|1968–69]] campaign and played Bremner in every league game as Leeds finished six points clear at the top to become champions of England for the first time.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=59}}</ref> The title was secured with a 0–0 draw against Leeds' main rivals Liverpool, at Anfield on 28 April, after which Bremner led the players to applaud the Liverpool fans who responded by chanting "Champions, Champions, Champions".<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=66}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=August 2024}}

====1969 to 1973====
The [[1969–70 Football League|1969–70]] season opened with victory in the [[1969 FA Charity Shield]], as Bremner captained Leeds to a 2–1 victory over [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]].<ref name="page 70">{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=70}}</ref> With new arrival [[Allan Clarke (footballer)|Allan Clarke]] played upfront alongside [[Mick Jones (footballer, born 1945)|Mick Jones]] and [[Peter Lorimer]] Revie had to instruct Bremner and Giles to resist the temptation to get forward and attack.<ref name="page 70"/> It took the team some time to gel, as only two wins came from the opening eight league games, and Leeds eventually finished a distant second to champions Everton.<ref name="page 70"/> They chased Everton all season only to give up on the title after a home defeat by [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] late in the campaign.<ref name="page 75"/> In the [[European Cup]] Leeds recorded a club record 10–0 win over Norwegian side [[Lyn Fotball|Lyn]], with Bremner netting two of the goals.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=72}}</ref> However they exited the competition at the semi-final stage after two defeats to [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]; Bremner levelled the aggregate score by putting United 1–0 ahead in front of a competition record 136,505 spectators at [[Hampden Park]], but Celtic came back to win the game and the tie with two second half goals.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=78}}</ref> Further disappointment came in the [[1970 FA Cup Final]], where Leeds were beaten 2–1 by [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] in extra-time of the replay at [[Old Trafford]].<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=77}}</ref> Bremner was named as [[FWA Footballer of the Year]] for the season.<ref name="page 75">{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=75}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|"Leeds, like [[Sisyphus]], have pushed three boulders almost to the top of three mountains and are now left to see them all back in the dark of the valley."|''[[The Times]]'' correspondent Geoffrey Green summarised the club's unsuccessful chase of the [[Treble (association football)|Treble]] in 1969–70.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=80}}</ref>}}

The league title in the [[1970–71 Football League|1970–71]] season was decided in mid-April in front of the ''[[Match of the Day]]'' cameras at Elland Road, when Leeds lost their lead at the top with defeat by [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]].<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=83}}</ref> The Leeds players blamed the referee for costing them the title as offside was not given for [[Colin Suggett]] for [[Jeff Astle]]'s winner, and despite Bremner saying "But we fight on. Make no mistake about that, it is not over yet" Leeds could not overtake Arsenal, who went on to win the Double.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=84}}</ref> Success instead came in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, as Leeds knocked out [[Sarpsborg FK|Sarpsborg]] (Norway), [[Dynamo Dresden]] ([[East Germany]]), [[AC Sparta Prague|Sparta Prague]] ([[Czechoslovakia]]), [[Vitória F.C.|Vitória]] (Portugal) and Liverpool to reach [[1971 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Final|the final]] with [[Juventus FC|Juventus]] (Italy).<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=85}}</ref> Bremner recovered from an ankle injury just in time to face Liverpool in the semi-finals, and scored the only goal of the two-legged tie with a header at Anfield.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=86}}</ref> Leeds won the final on the [[away goals rule]] after recording a 2–2 draw at the [[Stadio Olimpico di Torino]] and then a 1–1 draw at Elland Road.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=87}}</ref>

Leeds finished second in the league for the third successive season in the [[1971–72 Football League|1971–72]] campaign, despite playing some of the best football in the club's history.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=90}}</ref> They knocked out [[Bristol Rovers F.C.|Bristol Rovers]], Liverpool, [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]], [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] and [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] to reach the [[1972 FA Cup Final]] with Arsenal; they then won the trophy for the first time in the club's history with Allan Clarke scoring the final's only goal.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=95}}</ref> Two days after the final Leeds could have secured the Double by winning a point against [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] at [[Molineux Stadium|Molineux]], but a 2–1 defeat handed the title to [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]].<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=113}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/wolverhampton-wanderers-fc/2015/06/29/classic-match-report-wolves-v-leeds/ |title=Classic match report - Wolves 2 Leeds 1, 1972 |work=Express & Star |date=29 June 2015 |access-date=4 February 2017}}</ref> On 3 February 1982, Bremner won £100,000 [[libel]] damages, along with legal costs, after he sued the ''[[Sunday People]]'' newspaper for publishing an article on 11 September 1977 that alleged he tried to fix football matches, including the May 1972 game at Wolves.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=114}}</ref> Bremner donated the damages to a Leeds Hospice.<ref>No Glossing Over It: How Football Cheated Leeds United - Gary Edwards - 2013</ref>

The title was nowhere near as close in the [[1972–73 Football League|1972–73]] season, which saw Leeds finish third, seven points behind Liverpool. However more runners-up medals came from the FA Cup and the [[European Cup Winners' Cup]]. After Bremner scored the only goal of the semi-final clash with Wolves, Leeds went on to lose the [[1973 FA Cup Final|FA Cup final]] 1–0 to Second Division [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]].<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=124}}</ref> They were then beaten 1–0 by Italian side [[A.C. Milan]] at the [[Kaftanzoglio Stadium]] in the [[1973 European Cup Winners' Cup Final|European Cup Winners' Cup Final]], though Bremner missed the final due to suspension.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=125}}</ref>

====1973 to 1976====
Revie instructed Bremner to be more attacking in the [[1973–74 Football League|1973–74]] campaign, and the result was 11 goals in 52 appearances, his biggest goal tally in 12 years.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=128}}</ref> The manager focused entirely on the league and told his team the aim was to go the season unbeaten, and although they lost three games they secured a second league title by a five-point margin on second-place Liverpool.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=130}}</ref> Bremner was named on the [[PFA Team of the Year]] and finished second in the FWA Footballer of the Year voting to [[Ian Callaghan]].<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=135}}</ref> At the end of the season he was given a [[testimonial match]] against Sunderland which raised him £32,500; he had chosen the opponents in an attempt to avenge defeat in the previous year's FA Cup final.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=136}}</ref>

Manager Don Revie took the [[England national football team|England]] management job in July 1974. Bremner applied for the vacant Leeds job after Johnny Giles had been named by Revie as his successor, but instead the board surprised everyone by appointing [[Brian Clough]], who went on to a disastrous 44-day spell in charge of Leeds at the start of the [[1974–75 Football League|1974–75]] season.<ref name="page 151">{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=151}}</ref> Revie's departure was tough for Bremner, who had a strong bond with his manager.<ref name="page 151"/> Leeds lost the [[1974 FA Charity Shield]] in a penalty shoot-out to Liverpool, but more significantly Bremner and [[Kevin Keegan]] were sent off for fighting and received eleven game suspensions.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=155}}</ref> By the time Bremner was allowed to play again [[Jimmy Armfield]] was the manager, though he refuted the accusation that he had attempted to undermine Clough as "ridiculous".<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=156}}</ref> Teammate [[Peter Lorimer]] insisted that the only criticism he had of Bremner was in applying for the management job against Giles, which had caused to board to look elsewhere for fear of dividing the dressing room by choosing between Bremner and Giles.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=157}}</ref> Results improved with Bremner back in the side, and though they ended the season in ninth place, they were only eight points behind champions Derby. The club's biggest aim would be success in the [[European Cup]], and they made it to [[1975 European Cup Final|the final]] after knocking out [[FC Zürich]] (Switzerland), [[Újpest FC]] (Hungary), [[R.S.C. Anderlecht|Anderlecht]] (Belgium), and [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] (Spain). Their final opponents at [[Parc des Princes]] were [[1974 European Cup Final|defending champions]] [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]] (Germany), who beat Leeds 2–0; United had a Lorimer goal controversially ruled out for an offside decision against Bremner and the tie ended in rioting by United fans.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=165}}</ref>

With most of the Revie built team retiring or moving on to other clubs, Armfield had to rebuild the squad, though Bremner would still play 38 games in the [[1975–76 Football League|1975–76]] campaign.<ref name="page 166">{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=166}}</ref> However, he missed a lengthy spell in the new year due to injury and results dipped during this time and ultimately ended the club's title hopes; they went on to end the campaign in fifth spot.<ref name="page 166"/>

===Hull City===
Bremner signed with [[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]] for a £25,000 fee on 23 September 1976, manager [[John Kaye (footballer)|John Kaye]] feeling that Bremner's experience would benefit his youthful Second Division side.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=171}}</ref> His debut at [[Boothferry Park]] came against Brian Clough's [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]], and Bremner was credited with scoring the winning goal of the game with a free-kick, though it seemed to have gone in with a significant deflection.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=173}}</ref> Despite the good start results dipped midway through the [[1976–77 Football League|1976–77]] season and the "Tigers" ended the season in 14th place. Despite suffering with a back injury Bremner was appointed as captain and played 32 games.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=174}}</ref>

He missed the [[1977–78 Football League|1977–78]] pre-season with a knee injury, but recovered well enough to make 36 appearances throughout the campaign.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=176}}</ref> Kaye was sacked after a poor start to the season, and was replaced by Bremner's former Leeds teammate [[Bobby Collins (footballer)|Bobby Collins]], who had joined the club as assistant manager in the summer; as at Leeds, Bremner had applied for the vacant managerial role, but was rejected.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=193}}</ref> After being turned down for the job he announced his intention to retire as a player at the end of his contract in June 1978.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=194}}</ref> The season was a disaster, and though Collins was sacked and replaced by youth coach [[Ken Houghton]] in February, results did not improve and Hull were relegated in last place, ten points from safety.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=199}}</ref>

==International career==
Bremner was well established in the Scotland set-up, playing in a trial match against the [[Scottish Football League XI]] and winning four [[Scotland national under-21 football team|under-23]] caps, before he made his senior debut for [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] in May 1965, in a 0–0 draw with [[Spain men's national football team|Spain]] at [[Hampden Park]].<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=39}}</ref> He went on to feature in [[1966 FIFA World Cup qualification|qualifying]] games for the [[1966 FIFA World Cup]], but defeats to [[Poland national football team|Poland]] and [[Italy national football team|Italy]] left Scotland second in [[1966 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 8|their group]], which was not enough to qualify.<ref name="page 40">{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=40}}</ref> He also played in friendlies against [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] and [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]], and received a black eye from [[Pelé]]'s elbow in a clash during a high ball; despite this being an accident it still demonstrated to Bremner how he had failed to intimidate Pelé as he had done to many other great players of the day.<ref name="page 40"/>

[[File:Billy Bremner and Johan Cruyff.jpg|thumb|left|Bremner and [[Johan Cruyff]] in 1971]]

The [[England–Scotland football rivalry]] was intense throughout his playing career, and so great media attention came upon Bremner and the rest of the Scottish players after they beat world champions [[England national football team|England]] 3–2 at Wembley to become the "[[Unofficial Football World Championships|unofficial world champions]]" on 15 April 1967.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=41}}</ref> Many teammates said that Bremner held this match as one of the proudest moments of his career.<ref name="page 69"/>

Placed in a tough [[1970 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 7|group]] for [[1970 FIFA World Cup qualification|qualification]] to the [[1970 FIFA World Cup]], Scotland failed to qualify after finishing in second place. Bremner captained his country throughout the process, having first taken up the armband in a friendly defeat by [[Denmark national football team|Denmark]] in [[Copenhagen]].<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=68}}</ref> He scored his first international goal in a 2–1 qualifying victory over [[Austria national football team|Austria]] at Hampden Park, his first game as captain.<ref name="page 69">{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=69}}</ref> This game was followed by two victories over [[Cyprus national football team|Cyprus]] and a 1–1 draw with [[Germany national football team|West Germany]], however a 3–2 defeat by West Germany in [[Hamburg]] ended their hopes of making it to the World Cup.<ref name="page 69"/> Bremner's second international goal came in a 3–2 win over [[Wales national football team|Wales]] in a [[British Home Championship]] game at the [[Racecourse Ground]].<ref name="page 69"/>

[[File:Billy Bremner cropped.jpg|thumb|Bremner playing for [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] at the [[1974 FIFA World Cup|1974 World Cup]]]]

Scotland were the only home nation to [[1974 FIFA World Cup qualification|qualify]] for the [[1974 FIFA World Cup]] after finishing ahead of [[Czechoslovakia national football team|Czechoslovakia]] and Denmark in [[1974 FIFA World Cup qualification – UEFA Group 8|their group]].<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=141}}</ref> However, Bremner was nearly not selected by manager [[Willie Ormond]] after Ormond found him drunk in a bar not long after [[Jimmy Johnstone]] had to be rescued by the [[Her Majesty's Coastguard|coastguard]] having gotten stranded in a rowing boat during a night out following a home international match against [[Northern Ireland national football team|Northern Ireland]].<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=142}}</ref> Having been selected, Bremner captained Scotland to a 2–0 win over [[DR Congo national football team|Zaire]] at the [[Westfalenstadion]].<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=143}}</ref> He was later accused by Zairian player [[Ndaye Mulamba]] of [[Racism|racially abusing]] him during this match, as well as spitting at Mulamba and [[Mana Mamuwene]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Kuper |first=Simon |title=Football Against the Enemy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7VHezB6iI1sC|chapter=12 |date=21 July 2011 |publisher=Orion |isbn=978-0752848778}}</ref> A highly creditable 0–0 draw against world champions Brazil left Scotland with high hopes of qualifying to the second round.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=144}}</ref> Yet a 1–1 draw with [[Yugoslavia national football team|Yugoslavia]] sent Scotland out of the competition unbeaten due to Brazil and Yugoslavia finishing level on points but with superior goal difference.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=146}}</ref>

Bremner's last cap came against Denmark on 3 September 1975. An incident in [[Copenhagen]] after the game where several players were ejected from a nightclub for an alleged fight led to a lifetime ban from international football by the [[Scottish Football Association]]; four other players, [[Willie Young (footballer, born 1951)|Willie Young]], [[Joe Harper]], [[Pat McCluskey]] and [[Arthur Graham]] also were banned for life (Graham and Harper later had their bans overturned).<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=148}}</ref> Bremner maintained his innocence, stating that the incident had been blown out of proportion by the SFA.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=149}}</ref>

==Playing style and personality==
Bremner began his Leeds career as a right winger but came into his own after Revie shifted him to a central midfield role. In that position, Bremner became a "fiery midfield dynamo" whose "tireless energy" made him a natural leader on the field, always spurring his team on to greater efforts.<ref name="NFM">{{cite web |url=https://nationalfootballmuseum.com/halloffame/billy-bremner/ |title=Billy Bremner |publisher=National Football Museum |access-date=6 August 2024}}</ref> In its Hall of Fame dedication to him, the [[National Football Museum]] said: "His priceless precision passing, stamina and skill led him to become a Leeds United legend and one of the game's greatest midfielders".<ref name="NFM"/>

In 2007, a ''[[Sunday Times]]'' article described Bremner as "[[Stone (unit)|10st]] of barbed wire" due to his tenacity and tough tackling.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2215721.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821145231/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/article2215721.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 August 2008 |last=Murphy |first=Alex |title=Football's 50 Greatest Hard Men |date=7 August 2007 |work=[[The Times]] |location=London  |access-date=26 April 2010}}</ref>

==Management career==
===Doncaster Rovers (1978–1985)===
Bremner was appointed manager of struggling [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] side [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]] in November 1978.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=201}}</ref> He oversaw a 1–0 win over [[Rochdale A.F.C.|Rochdale]] at [[Belle Vue (Doncaster)|Belle Vue]] in his first match in charge.<ref name="page 202">{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=202}}</ref> Results fluctuated during the [[1978–79 Football League|1978–79]] season, demonstrated by a 7–1 defeat by struggling [[AFC Bournemouth]] punctuating a run of five wins in six games.<ref name="page 202"/> Rovers ended the season in 22nd place, though 11 points ahead of [[Halifax Town A.F.C.|Halifax Town]] and [[Crewe Alexandra F.C.|Crewe Alexandra]], and successfully applied to the Football League for re-election.<ref name="page 202"/>

He introduced massages and changed the canteen and team kit for the [[1979–80 Football League|1979–80]] campaign.<ref name="Sutcliffe 2011 203">{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=203}}</ref> With no money available for transfers he was forced to turn to the youth team for new players, though he could afford to take on [[Ian Nimmo (footballer)|Ian Nimmo]], [[Hugh Dowd]], [[John Dowie (footballer)|John Dowie]] and [[Billy Russell (footballer, born 1959)|Billy Russell]] on free transfers.<ref name="page 204">{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=204}}</ref> He appointed former Leeds coach [[Les Cocker (footballer, born 1924)|Les Cocker]] as his assistant.<ref name="page 214"/> The season started poorly, but the squad bonded following Cocker's death on 4 October and went on a run of six straight wins, for which Bremner was credited with the [[Football League Fourth Division Manager of the Month|Fourth Division Manager of the Month]] award.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=205}}</ref> However a run of just one win in 15 games followed, for which Bremner blamed his small squad and lack of training facilities.<ref name="page 206">{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=206}}</ref> A mounting injury crisis caused him to make a return to playing on 29 March for the visit of Bournemouth, a game in which 16-year-old [[Ian Snodin]] was named on the bench.<ref name="page 206"/> Rovers ended the season in 12th place.

A disappointing opening sequence of the [[1980–81 Football League|1980–81]] season was followed by six wins in six games in September, and Bremner won his second Manager of the Month award.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=210}}</ref> The good results continued for the rest of the campaign, and Rovers were promoted in third place.<ref>{{cite web|title=Division Four 1980/1981|url=http://www.doncasterrovers.co.uk/history/League%20Tables/League%20table%201980-1981.htm|publisher=doncasterrovers.co.uk|access-date=15 March 2015}}</ref> He signed [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]'s [[Colin Douglas (footballer)|Colin Douglas]] for the challenge of [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] football, but otherwise remained loyal to his promotion squad for the approaching [[1981–82 Football League|1981–82]] season.<ref name="page 214">{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=214}}</ref> Another strong September, six wins seeing the club rise to second in the table, won Bremner the [[Football League Third Division Manager of the Month|Third Division Manager of the Month]] award.<ref name="page 214"/> However a lean spell would follow, and from November to February Doncaster failed to win in the league.<ref name="page 215">{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=215}}</ref> Results again picked up with only two defeats in the last 14 games, and they ended the campaign in 19th spot, three points above the relegation zone.<ref name="page 215"/>

Strong competition promoted from the Fourth Division – [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]], [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] and [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]] – made the [[1982–83 Football League|1982–83]] campaign a tough prospect.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=216}}</ref> A weak defence saw an unusual sequence of high-scoring matches early in the season: 6–1 win over [[Exeter City F.C.|Exeter City]], 7–5 win over [[Reading F.C.|Reading]], 6–3 defeat by Wigan, and a 4–4 draw with [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]].<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=217}}</ref> Only seven wins from the last 36 games of the season left Doncaster relegated in 23rd place, 16 points behind 20th-place [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Orient]].<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=218}}</ref>

To try and win immediate promotion during the [[1983–84 Football League|1983–84]] season Bremner signed veteran forward [[Ernie Moss]] (who had won three promotions out of the division), [[Andy Kowalski]], left-back [[John Breckin]], experienced defender [[Bill Green (footballer, born 1950)|Bill Green]], and young midfielder [[Mark Miller (footballer)|Mark Miller]].<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=220}}</ref> Investment by new director Peter Wetzel allowed Bremner to spend £120,000 on three players in March: £60,000 on [[Stirling Albion F.C.|Stirling Albion]] defender [[John Philliben]], £25,000 on young Celtic midfielder [[Jim Dobbin (footballer)|Jim Dobbin]], and £35,000 on [[Shrewsbury Town F.C.|Shrewsbury Town]] defender [[Alan Brown (footballer, born 1959)|Alan Brown]].<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=221}}</ref> Promotion was secured in comfortable fashion, as they finished as runners-up to runaway champions [[York City F.C.|York City]], ten points above fifth-place [[Aldershot F.C.|Aldershot]].<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=224}}</ref>

Building for the [[1984–85 Football League|1984–85]] campaign, Bremner signed former Leeds striker [[Aiden Butterworth]] and winger [[John Buckley (footballer, born 1962)|John Buckley]] (£25,000 from [[Partick Thistle F.C.|Partick Thistle]]).<ref name="page 226">{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=226}}</ref> Doncaster won five of their opening seven games, and though they were unable to sustain a promotion push they showed their ability with a 1–0 win over eventual champions Bradford at [[Valley Parade]] on Boxing Day and a 1–0 [[FA Cup]] win over [[Football League First Division|First Division]] side [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] on 5 January.<ref name="page 226"/> Rovers finished the season in 14th place, some distance from the promotion and the relegation places.<ref>{{cite web|title=Doncaster Rovers 1984–1985: Table: Final Table|url=http://www.statto.com/football/teams/doncaster-rovers/1984-1985/table|publisher=Statto Organisation|access-date=2 January 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304125716/http://www.statto.com/football/teams/doncaster-rovers/1984-1985/table|archive-date=4 March 2016}}</ref>

To pay for stadium upgrades necessitated by the aftermath of the [[Bradford City stadium fire]] Doncaster were forced to sell Ian and [[Glynn Snodin]], who went to Leeds and [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]] and respectively for a total of £315,000.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=234}}</ref> To replace them he bought [[Dave Rushbury]] from [[Gillingham F.C.|Gillingham]] for £10,000 and spent £60,000 on [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]] defender [[Dave Cusack]].<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=235}}</ref>

===Leeds United (1985–1988)===
Bremner was appointed as Leeds United manager in October 1985, having impressed the boardroom with his work at Doncaster, particularly his negotiation skills during the sale of [[Ian Snodin]]; Leeds paid Doncaster £45,000 in compensation.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=238}}</ref> The club had declined during his absence; Leeds had dropped down into the [[Football League Second Division|Second Division]], sold [[Elland Road]] to the council to raise money, and club supporters picked up a reputation for violence after regular hooligan riots in the stands.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=240}}</ref> He quickly reinstated [[Don Revie]]'s philosophy and his little traditions, for example he reinstated the sessions of [[carpet bowls]] on Friday evenings.<ref>{{citation|last1=Swan|first1=Peter|first2=Andrew |last2=Collomosse|title=Swanny: Confessions of a Lower-League Legend|publisher=[[John Blake (journalist)|John Blake]]|year=2008|isbn=978-1-84454-660-2}}</ref> Despite this he appointed [[Ian Snodin]] as club captain, and dropped former captain and teammate [[Peter Lorimer]] from the starting line eleven.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=241}}</ref> He also moved on the young players signed by former manager and teammate [[Eddie Gray (footballer, born 1948)|Eddie Gray]], choosing to sign experienced players in their place.<ref name="page 242">{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=242}}</ref> Five key young players to leave the club were [[Scott Sellars]] (£20,000 to [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]]), [[Terry Phelan]] (free transfer to [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]]), [[Denis Irwin]], [[Tommy Wright (footballer, born 1966)|Tommy Wright]] and [[Andy Linighan]] (all to [[Oldham Athletic A.F.C.|Oldham Athletic]] for £60,000, £55,000 and £80,000 respectively).<ref name="page 242"/> The money raised allowed him to buy central defender [[Brendan Ormsby]] (£65,000 from [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]), and also sign [[David Rennie (footballer)|David Rennie]], [[Brian Caswell (footballer)|Brian Caswell]] and [[Ronnie Robinson (footballer)|Ronnie Robinson]].<ref name="page 245">{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=245}}</ref> Leeds struggled in the [[1985–86 Football League|1985–86]] season, but managed to steer away from the relegation zone to finish in 14th place.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=243}}</ref>

During the 1986 close season, Bremner spent £125,000 on 29-year-old [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] striker [[Keith Edwards (footballer, born 1957)|Keith Edwards]], and a further £80,000 to bring in 31-year-old [[Carlisle United F.C.|Carlisle United]] defender [[Jack Ashurst]] and [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] defender [[Peter Haddock]].<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=244}}</ref> Other new arrivals were winger [[Russell Doig]] (£15,000 from [[East Stirlingshire F.C.|East Stirlingshire]]), goalkeeper [[Ronnie Sinclair]] (free transfer from [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]]) and midfielder John Buckley (£35,000 from Doncaster Rovers, having also signed him whilst at Doncaster).<ref name="page 245"/> Aiming for a promotion push in the [[1986–87 Football League|1986–87]] campaign, Leeds were stuck in mid-table by February after selling Snodin to [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] for £840,000.<ref name="page 252">{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=252}}</ref> This sale though allowed Bremner money for further signings and he took left-back [[Bobby McDonald]] from [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]], full-back [[Micky Adams]] from [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]] for £110,000, and striker [[John Pearson (footballer, born 1963)|John Pearson]] and defender [[Mark Aizlewood]] from [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]] for £72,000 and £200,000 respectively.<ref name="page 252"/> A 2–1 [[FA Cup]] Fifth Round victory over First Division side [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] then raised belief in the players, and they qualified for the play-offs by the end of the campaign.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=253}}</ref> The FA Cup run continued into the semi-finals, where they were knocked out 3–2 by Coventry City at [[Hillsborough Stadium|Hillsborough]] in a close-run game that ran into extra-time.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=255}}</ref> After overcoming Oldham in the play-off semi-final their opponents in the [[1987 Football League Second Division play-off Final|play-off final]] were Charlton Athletic, and after 1–0 home wins in both legs the tie went to a replay at [[St Andrew's (stadium)|St Andrew's]].<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=258}}</ref> [[John Sheridan (footballer)|John Sheridan]] put Leeds ahead in extra-time of the replay, but two late goals from [[Peter Shirtliff]] changed the game and denied Leeds promotion.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=259}}</ref>

Bremner signed a new three-year contract in the 1987 close season.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=261}}</ref> New arrivals at the club were [[Glynn Snodin]] (£150,000 from [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]]), winger [[Gary Williams (footballer, born 1960)|Gary Williams]] (£230,000 from [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]) and [[Bobby Davison]] (£350,000 from [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]]), as well as [[Jim Melrose]] and [[Ken DeMange]].<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=264}}</ref> A more significant new face was [[David Batty]], a key player of the future who was given his debut from the youth team.<ref name="page 265">{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=265}}</ref> United started the season inconsistently, but five straight wins in December won Bremner the [[Football League Second Division Manager of the Month|Second Division Manager of the Month]] award.<ref name="page 265"/> The inconsistent results returned however, and Leeds finished the [[1987–88 Football League|1987–88]] season in seventh place, eight points outside the play-offs.<ref name="page 265"/> Bremner did not enjoy a good relationship with the club's board, who felt him to be uncommunicative with them, and after a poor start to the [[1988–89 Football League|1988–89]] season he was sacked in September 1988.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=268}}</ref> His successor, [[Howard Wilkinson]], was given money to spend by the board and Leeds went on to win promotion in 1990.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=269}}</ref>

===Doncaster Rovers (1989–1991)===
In July 1989 Bremner went back as manager to [[Doncaster]], who had fallen back into the Fourth Division during his absence.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=270}}</ref> He signed [[Lincoln City F.C.|Lincoln City]] winger [[John McGinley (footballer)|John McGinley]] and Leeds midfielder [[John Stiles (footballer)|John Stiles]], and led the club to a 20th-place finish in [[1989–90 Football League|1989–90]], which represented a small improvement on the previous season.<ref>{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=272}}</ref> Greater success came in the [[EFL Trophy|Football League Trophy]], Rovers reaching the area finals, where they were beaten by Third Division leaders [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]].<ref name="page 273">{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=273}}</ref>

New additions for the [[1990–91 Football League|1990–91]] campaign were [[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]] goalkeeper [[Paul Crichton]], [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]] defender [[Andy Holmes (footballer)|Andy Holmes]] and [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] midfielder [[Eddie Gormley]], as well as his former Leeds captain [[Brendan Ormsby]].<ref name="page 273"/> Rovers were top of the table at the turn of the year, but injuries and lack of form caused results to fall away, as did hopes of promotion, and Doncaster finished the campaign in 11th place.<ref name="page 274">{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=274}}</ref> Rovers started the [[1991–92 Football League|1991–92]] season badly and Bremner tendered his resignation on 2 November, with the club sitting bottom of the Football League.<ref name="page 274"/>

==Personal life and later years==
===Family and post-football activity===
Bremner married Vicky Dick in November 1961.<ref name="page 26">{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=26}}</ref> He had a [[Ghostwriter|ghost-written]] column in ''[[Shoot (football magazine)|Shoot]]'' throughout the 1970s.<ref name="Sutcliffe 2011 203"/> After retiring from football in November 1991 he took up work as an [[after dinner speaker]].<ref name="page 276">{{harvnb|Sutcliffe|2011|p=276}}</ref>

===Illness and death===
[[File:Billy Bremner statue (8015019318).jpg|thumb|Billy Bremner statue in celebratory stance outside [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]]'s ground [[Elland Road]]]]
At the beginning of December 1997, Bremner was rushed to hospital after suffering from [[pneumonia]], but suffered a suspected [[myocardial infarction|heart attack]] at his [[Doncaster]] home in the small village of [[Clifton, Doncaster|Clifton]] and died.<ref name="BBC97"/> His funeral, attended by many of Bremner's former team-mates and other football players and coaches, was held four days later in the Yorkshire village of New [[Edlington]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-farewell-to-leeds-greatest-captain-1288338.html |title=Football: Farewell to Leeds' 'greatest captain' |first=Ian |last=Rodgers |work=The Independent |date=12 December 1997 |access-date=29 July 2018}}</ref> A statue by sculptor [[Frances Segelman]] of Bremner in celebratory pose was erected outside [[Elland Road]] in tribute in 1999.<ref>{{cite news|title=Meet the sculptor behind Leeds United's Billy Bremner statue|url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/news-features/consumer/meet_the_sculptor_behind_leeds_united_s_billy_bremner_statue_1_3101574|newspaper=[[Yorkshire Evening Post]]|location=Leeds|date=21 February 2011|access-date=24 January 2012}}</ref>

===Awards===
In 1988, the Football League, as part of its centenary season celebrations, included Bremner on its list of [[Football League 100 Legends|100 League Legends]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Sport: Football Legends list in full|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/144986.stm|publisher=BBC News|access-date=2 January 2016|date=5 August 1998}}</ref> He was inducted into both the [[English Football Hall of Fame]] and the [[Scottish Football Hall of Fame]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Billy Bremner track suit to be auctioned|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-18033614|publisher=BBC News|access-date=15 January 2015|date=11 May 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Billy Bremner|url=http://scottishfootballhalloffame.co.uk/billy-bremner-1942-1997/|publisher=Scottish Football Hall of Fame|access-date=15 January 2015}}</ref> He was inducted into the [[National Football Museum]] Hall of Fame in 2004, with the acknowledgement that: "his priceless precision passing, stamina and skill led him to become a Leeds United legend and one of the game's greatest midfielders" and that he "was not simply tough but a skilful player with an ability to score in crucial games".<ref name="Hall Of Fame">{{cite web |title=Billy Bremner Hall Of Fame profile |url=https://www.nationalfootballmuseum.com/halloffame/billy-bremner/ |website=National Football Museum |access-date=17 March 2022}}</ref> In 2006, he was voted Leeds United's [[Leeds United A.F.C. players#Leeds United's 100 greatest players|greatest player of all time]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www1.leedsunited.com/Greatest.asp?title=LLL+100+Greatest+Players&navlid=Club+Information+and+History |title=Leeds Leeds Leeds 100 Greatest Leeds Players |publisher=Leeds United F.C |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040831190312/http://www.leedsunited.com/Greatest.asp?title=LLL+100+Greatest+Players&navlid=Club+Information+and+History |archive-date=31 August 2004 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In September 2013 he was voted as the greatest captain in the Football League's history.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hay|first1=Phil|title=Billy Bremner voted the Football League's greatest ever captain|url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/leeds-united/latest-whites-news/leeds-united-billy-bremner-voted-the-football-league-s-greatest-ever-captain-1-6037923|access-date=15 January 2015|newspaper=Yorkshire Evening Post|location=Leeds|date=12 September 2013}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|Billy Bremner was one of Britain's most fiery, skilful and industrious footballers of the post-war years. An essential cog in the pragmatic, often over-robust yet frequently wonderfully entertaining Leeds United team of the Sixties and Seventies, he was also the red-haired dynamo in Scotland's international side, winning 54 caps.|Opening paragraph of Bremner's [[obituary]] in ''[[The Independent]]''<ref>{{cite news|last1=Fox|first1=Norman|title=Obituary: Billy Bremner|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/obituary-billy-bremner-1287661.html|access-date=15 January 2015|newspaper=[[The Independent]]|location=London|date=8 December 1997}}</ref>}}

===''The Damned United''===
Bremner was portrayed by [[Stephen Graham]] in the 2009 biographical drama film ''[[The Damned United]]'', directed by [[Tom Hooper]] and starring [[Michael Sheen]] as Brian Clough.<ref>{{cite news |last1=MacDonald |first1=Stuart |title=Anger at 'thug' Billy Bremner film |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/anger-at-thug-billy-bremner-film-gpqcq9t0r7k |access-date=18 March 2022 |work=[[The Times]] |date=1 June 2008 |language=en}}</ref>

==Honours==
===Player===
'''Leeds United'''
* [[Football League First Division]]: [[1968–69 Football League|1968–69]],<ref name="NFM"/> [[1973–74 Football League|1973–74]]<ref name="NFM"/>
* [[Football League Second Division]]: [[1963–64 Football League|1963–64]]<ref name="NFM"/>
* [[FA Cup]]: [[1971–72 FA Cup|1971–72]];<ref name="FACW"/> runner-up: [[1964–65 FA Cup|1964–65]],<ref>{{cite book |first1=Leslie |first2=Jack |last1=Vernon |last2=Rollin |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook 1977–78 |year=1977 |publisher=Brickfield Publications Ltd |location=London |isbn=0354-09018-6 |page=490}}</ref> [[1969–70 FA Cup|1969–70]],<ref name="FACW"/> [[1972–73 FA Cup|1972–73]]<ref name="FACW">{{cite book |first1=Leslie |first2=Jack |last1=Vernon |last2=Rollin |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook 1977–78 |year=1977 |publisher=Brickfield Publications Ltd |location=London |isbn=0354-09018-6 |page=491}}</ref>
* [[Football League Cup]]: [[1967–68 Football League Cup|1967–68]]
* [[FA Charity Shield]]: [[1969 FA Charity Shield|1969]]
* [[Inter-Cities Fairs Cup]]: [[1967–68 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup|1967–68]], [[1970–71 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup|1970–71]]
* [[European Cup]] runner-up: [[1974–75 European Cup|1974–75]]

'''Individual'''
* ''Rothmans Golden Boots Awards'': 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/1969-70-british-team-of-the-season.1794502/ |website=BigSoccer |date=31 July 2011 |title=1969-1970 British Team of the Season |access-date=17 April 2024 }}</ref>
* [[FWA Footballer of the Year]]: 1970
* ''Sport Ideal European XI'': 1973,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1974/01/03/pagina-9/995405/pdf.html |website=Mundo Deportivo|title=Sport 1973|access-date=4 June 2024 }}</ref> 1974<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1975/01/01/pagina-30/1005843/pdf.html |website=Mundo Deportivo|title=Sport 1974|access-date=4 June 2024 }}</ref>
* [[PFA Team of the Year]]: [[1973–74 Football League|1973–74 First Division]]
* [[Scotland national football team roll of honour]]: 1974

===Manager===
'''Doncaster Rovers'''
* [[Football League Fourth Division]] third-place promotion: [[1980–81 Football League|1980–81]]
* [[Football League Fourth Division]] second-place promotion: [[1983–84 Football League|1983–84]]

'''Individual'''
* [[Football League Fourth Division]] Manager of the Month: October 1979, September 1980
* [[Football League Third Division]] Manager of the Month: September 1981
* [[Football League Second Division]] Manager of the Month: December 1987

==See also==
* [[List of footballers in England by number of league appearances]] (500+)
* [[List of Scotland national football team captains]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book |last=Bale |first=Bernard |title=Bremner! The Legend of Billy Bremner |publisher=André Deutsch Ltd |location=London |year=1998 |isbn=978-0-2339-9477-2}}
* {{cite book |last=Harrison |first=Paul |title=Keep Fighting. The Billy Bremner Story |publisher=Black & White Publishing |location=Edinburgh |year=2010 |isbn=978-1-8450-2324-9}}
* {{cite book |last1=Hunter |first1=Norman |last2=Waters |first2=Don |title=Biting Talk |publisher=Hodder & Stoughton |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-3408-3082-6}}
* {{cite book |last=Sutcliffe |first=Richard |title=Bremner |publisher=Great Northern |year=2011 |isbn=978-1-9050-8091-5}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Scottish Sports Hall of Fame|billy-bremner}}

{{Scotland squad 1974 FIFA World Cup}}
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{{FWA Footballer of the Year}}
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{{Football League 100 Legends}}
{{Scottish Football Hall of Fame}}
{{English Football Hall of Fame}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bremner, Billy}}
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:1997 deaths]]
[[Category:People educated at St Modan's High School]]
[[Category:Footballers from Stirling]]
[[Category:Scottish men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Leeds United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Hull City A.F.C. players]]
[[Category:Doncaster Rovers F.C. players]]
[[Category:English Football League players]]
[[Category:Scotland men's under-23 international footballers]]
[[Category:Scotland men's international footballers]]
[[Category:1974 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:English Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Scottish Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
[[Category:Scottish football managers]]
[[Category:Doncaster Rovers F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Leeds United F.C. managers]]
[[Category:English Football League managers]]
[[Category:20th-century Scottish sportsmen]]