View source for Malcolm Allison

{{short description|English footballer and manager}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Malcolm Allison
| image = Malcolm Allison.jpg
| caption = Allison in [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] colours during the 1970s
| fullname = Malcolm Alexander Allison<ref name="Hugman" />
| birth_date = {{birth date|1927|9|5|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Dartford]], England
| death_date = {{death date and age|2010|10|14|1927|9|5|df=y}}<ref name="Hugman" />
| death_place = [[Trafford]], England<ref name="Hugman">{{Hugman|id=260|access-date=17 March 2020}}</ref>
| height = 
| position = [[Centre half]]
| youthyears1 = {{0|0000}}–1945
| youthclubs1 = [[Erith & Belvedere F.C.|Erith & Belvedere]]
| years1 = 1945–1951
| clubs1 = [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]
| caps1 = 2
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 1951–1957
| clubs2 = [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]]
| caps2 = 238
| goals2 = 10
| years3 = 1960–1962
| clubs3 = [[Romford F.C.|Romford]]
| caps3 = 49
| goals3 = 1
| totalcaps = 289
| totalgoals = 11
| manageryears1 = 1963–1964
| managerclubs1 = [[Bath City F.C.|Bath City]]
| manageryears2 = 1964
| managerclubs2 = [[Toronto City]]
| manageryears3 = 1964–1965
| managerclubs3 = [[Plymouth Argyle F.C.|Plymouth Argyle]]
| manageryears4 = 1965–1971
| managerclubs4 = [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] (assistant)
| manageryears5 = 1971–1973
| managerclubs5 = [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]
| manageryears6 = 1973–1976
| managerclubs6 = [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]]
| manageryears7 = 1976–1977
| managerclubs7 = [[Galatasaray S.K. (football team)|Galatasaray]]
| manageryears8 = 1978–1979
| managerclubs8 = [[Plymouth Argyle F.C.|Plymouth Argyle]]
| manageryears9 = 1979–1980
| managerclubs9 = [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]
| manageryears10 = 1980–1981
| managerclubs10 = [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]]
| manageryears11 = 1981
| managerclubs11 = [[Yeovil Town F.C.|Yeovil Town]]
| manageryears12 = 1981–1982
| managerclubs12 = [[Sporting Clube de Portugal|Sporting CP]]
| manageryears13 = 1982–1984
| managerclubs13 = [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]
| manageryears14 = 1984
| managerclubs14 = [[Willington F.C.|Willington]]
| manageryears15 = 1985–1986
| managerclubs15 = [[Kuwait national football team|Kuwait]]
| manageryears16 = 1986–1988
| managerclubs16 = [[Vitória F.C.|Vitória de Setúbal]]
| manageryears17 = 1988
| managerclubs17 = [[S.C. Farense|SC Farense]]
| manageryears18 = 1989
| managerclubs18 = [[Fisher Athletic F.C.|Fisher Athletic]]
| manageryears19 = 1992–1993
| managerclubs19 = [[Bristol Rovers F.C.|Bristol Rovers]]
}}
{{quote box|width=30%|fontsize=95%|align=right|quote="''I'd been a professional for two and a half months and Malcolm had taught me everything I know.... When Malcolm was coaching schoolboys he took a liking to me when I don't think anyone else at West Ham saw anything special in me... I looked up to the man. It's not too strong to say I loved him."''<br />[[Bobby Moore]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://spartacus-educational.com/WHallisonM.htm |title=Malcolm Allison |publisher=Spartacus Educational |access-date=2 September 2010}}</ref>}}
'''Malcolm Alexander Allison''' (5 September 1927&nbsp;– 14 October 2010) was an English [[association football|football]] player and [[manager (association football)|manager]]. Nicknamed "'''Big Mal'''", he was one of [[English football]]'s most flamboyant and intriguing characters because of his panache, [[fedora]] and [[cigar]], controversies off the pitch and outspoken nature.

Allison's managerial potential become apparent while in his youth at [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]], where he became a reliable [[defender (association football)|defender]] and acted as a mentor to the younger players including future England World Cup winning captain [[Bobby Moore]]. His playing career was cut short in 1958 when he had to have a lung removed because of [[tuberculosis]].

As a coach, he is remembered for assisting manager [[Joe Mercer]] in the transformation of the team he supported as a young boy – [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]].<ref name="mirror" /> During the 1960s and early 1970s, Allison won six major trophies in seven years with Mercer.<ref name="mirror">{{Cite web |url=http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/archive/Malcolm-Allison-article3947.html |title=Malcolm Allison&nbsp;– Archive |publisher=MirrorFootball.co.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107001911/http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/archive/Malcolm-Allison-article3947.html |archive-date=7 January 2010 |access-date=2 September 2010}}</ref> After Mercer left, he managed the club on two occasions whilst offering his managerial services for a third time in 1989. He also managed several other English clubs including [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]] and [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]], as well as three in Portugal and the [[Kuwait national football team|Kuwait national team]].

==Early life==
The son of an electrical engineer, Allison was born in [[Dartford]] in September 1927.<ref name="teleobituary">{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/sport-obituaries/8067232/Malcolm-Allison.html |title=Malcolm Allison&nbsp;— Obituary |date=15 October 2010 |access-date=27 October 2010 |publisher=telegraph.co.uk}}</ref> He was educated at [[secondary modern]] schools rather than [[grammar school]] after deliberately failing the [[11-plus]] exam so he could play football, not [[Rugby football|rugby]].<ref name="teleobituary" />

==Playing career==
Allison started his career with [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]] but struggled to make an impact on the pitch, playing just twice in six years. Matters off the pitch led to his transfer, after letting club coaches know that their training methods – which were normally nothing more than running up and down the terracing – were outdated.<ref name="teleobituary" />

Allison joined [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] in February 1951, after seven seasons at Charlton Athletic. At West Ham he gained experience not only as a footballer but also as a future coach, and he often stayed behind after training with anyone interested in football to discuss and devise new tactics.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Penney |first=Ian |title=Manchester City: The Mercer-Allison Years |publisher=Breedon |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-85983-608-8 |page=186}}</ref>

A promising career as a centre-half was ended prematurely by a bout of [[tuberculosis]] as he fell ill after a game against [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] on 16 September 1957 and had a lung removed in hospital. This turned out to be his last senior game for West Ham, and although he battled on in [[West Ham United F.C. Reserves and Academy#Reserves|their reserve team]] he struggled with the inability to achieve full fitness. For a period he left football altogether, and worked first as a car salesman, then as a professional gambler and nightclub owner.<ref>Ward, ''The Manchester City Story'', p68</ref> He came back to football to play a final season for non-league [[Romford F.C.|Romford]] in 1963. He played briefly for Toronto City FC in May and June 1964 as the team's player-coach.

==Managerial career==
Allison's first taste of coaching was at West Ham, where&nbsp;– under [[Ted Fenton]]&nbsp;– he took charge of coaching sessions and acted as mentor to a young [[Bobby Moore]] and was a leading figure in the establishment of [[The Academy of Football|the academy principles]] at the club.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.whufc.com/articles/20101015/malcolm-allison-remembered_2236884_2185338 |title=Malcolm Allison remembered |publisher=www.whufc.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209201152/http://www.whufc.com/articles/20101015/malcolm-allison-remembered_2236884_2185338 |archive-date=9 February 2013 |access-date=15 October 2010 }}</ref>
After gaining further experience of coaching at [[Cambridge University]], Allison moved into management at non-league [[Bath City F.C.|Bath City]]. He replaced the veteran Bob Hewson, who had retired.<ref>Book, ''Maine Man'', p41.</ref> One of his first moves was to double the number of training sessions. The players, who held full-time jobs outside football, were required to train four times every week.<ref name="Book, Maine Man, p42">Book, ''Maine Man'', p42.</ref> Allison's first season as a manager was a moderate success; he led the club to a third-place finish in the league, and to a third round F.A.Cup tie with First Division Bolton Wanderers. City were leading 1–0 at Twerton Park until a late equaliser from the penalty spot. They lost the replay 3–0.

At the end of the English season Allison accepted an offer to coach in North America over the summer, with [[Toronto City]].<ref name="Book, Maine Man, p42" /> After a matter of weeks he was back in England. His success at Bath had alerted a number of Football League clubs, and in May 1964 he joined [[Plymouth Argyle F.C.|Plymouth Argyle]], where he had been offered a £3,000 per annum salary. He soon returned to Bath to sign full-back [[Tony Book]]. However, Allison knew the Argyle board would be reluctant to permit the purchase of a player with no League experience, who was approaching his thirtieth birthday. Allison encouraged Book to doctor his birth certificate, making him appear two years younger.<ref>Book, ''Maine Man'', p46.</ref>

===Manchester City===
[[Joe Mercer]] was named [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] manager in July 1965. As ill health had hindered him in his previous job as manager of [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]], Mercer sought a younger, energetic man to be his assistant. He offered the position to Allison, whom he knew from coaching courses at [[Lilleshall Hall|Lilleshall]].<ref>James, ''Manchester City&nbsp;– The Complete Record'', p248</ref> Allison was due to meet [[Raich Carter]] to discuss a position at [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]], but Mercer was able to arrange a meeting the day before, and persuaded Allison to accept his offer.<ref>Penney, ''Manchester City: The Mercer-Allison Years'', p14</ref>

The Mercer–Allison era is believed to be the strongest in Manchester City's history before the 2010s. They were surprise winners of the First Division in [[1967–68 in English football#First Division|1967–68]] against the odds, with some at a long 200–1 for City to win the league at the start of the season.<ref name="aheadofhistime">{{Cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-city/6206811/Manchester-Citys-glory-days-are-returning-says-hero-of-1968-Mike-Summerbee.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/manchester-city/6206811/Manchester-Citys-glory-days-are-returning-says-hero-of-1968-Mike-Summerbee.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Manchester City's glory days are returning, says hero of 1968 Mike Summerbee |last=White |first=Jim |date=18 September 2009 |via=www.telegraph.co.uk}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In the following seasons they won the [[1969 FA Cup Final|1969 FA Cup]], the [[1970 Football League Cup Final|1970 League Cup]] and [[Cup Winners' Cup]], with a team including [[Colin Bell (footballer, born 1946)|Colin Bell]], [[Mike Summerbee]] and [[Francis Lee (footballer)|Francis Lee]]. Allison turned down an offer to manage [[Juventus]] on the understanding that Mercer would move aside and let him become full-time Manchester City manager&nbsp;– however, Mercer steadfastly refused to stand down. Their relationship disintegrated and eventually Allison won the power struggle – Mercer was sidelined and quit to take over at [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]] in the summer of 1972. Allison was left in sole charge at City, but the team struggled and in March 1973 he resigned.

===Crystal Palace===
On 31 March 1973, Allison was appointed manager of [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]]. The club had struggled in the top flight throughout the [[1972–73 Football League|1972–73]] season and he replaced [[Bert Head]]. Despite his arrival Palace were relegated, losing five out of their last seven games.

Allison immediately instigated a huge stylistic shift both on and off the field, raising Palace's profile with his charismatic media appearances, replacing the club's rather homely nickname 'The Glaziers' with 'The Eagles', and ending the 68-year association with claret-and-blue kits.<ref name="Palace">{{Cite web |url=http://www.croydonguardian.co.uk/sport/eagleeye/8460465.Remembering_Malcolm_Allison/ |title=Remembering former Palace manager Malcolm Allison |date=19 October 2010 |publisher=www.croydonguardian.co.uk |access-date=1 November 2010}}</ref> Palace's highly recognisable red-and-blue striped home kit was introduced, and later, the all-white strip with red and blue sash, changes which still reflect in the character of the club today.

The following season, [[1973–74 in English football|1973–74]], was even more disastrous because of a second successive relegation.<ref name="Palace" />
Allison completely restructured the side in an attempt to halt the club's decline and he angered many fans with his decision to replace favourite [[John Jackson (footballer, born 1942)|John Jackson]] in the Palace goal. Allison's larger than life image was a mixed blessing in [[Football League Third Division|Division Three]] for it raised hopes and aspirations of supporters while also serving to motivate other clubs when they visited [[Selhurst Park]]. Palace defender [[Jim Cannon (footballer, born 1953)|Jim Cannon]] said: "Malcolm Allison put Palace on the map. No other man could single-handedly take a club from the First Division to the Third Division and still become an instant hero".<ref>{{cite news |title=Big Mal, the Legend dies at 83 |url=https://ozzienews.com/sport/big-mal-the-legend-dies-at-83/ |work=Ozzie News |date=18 October 2010}}</ref>

However [[1975–76 in English football|1975–76]] ended up the most successful season for Allison at Selhurst Park as he spurred Palace on to an [[FA Cup]] semi-final appearance,<ref name="Palace" /> after brilliant victories against higher league opposition in the shape of [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]], [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] and [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]. The eventual winners [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] proved too strong in the semi-final which was played at [[Stamford Bridge (stadium)|Stamford Bridge]]. The FA Cup run was also notable for the first appearance of Allison's trademark fedora hat during a third-round game at [[Scarborough F.C.|Scarborough]] and his use of the [[Sweeper (association football)|sweeper]] system in football which, at the time, was a relatively new idea.<ref name="Palace" />

With the team failing to reach [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]] and win promotion (despite building up a big lead in the league table in the early part of the season) Allison resigned in May 1976.<ref name="Palace" /> He returned to the club in [[1980–81 in English football|1980–81]] for a two-month period in a doomed attempt to avoid relegation from the top flight.

===Return to Manchester City===
In 1979, Allison was offered the chance to return to Manchester City by then-chairman [[Peter Swales]]. City's only success since Allison left in 1972 was [[1976 Football League Cup Final|League Cup victory in 1976]], although the club had been doing reasonably well under long-term manager Tony Book, finishing second in the league in the 1976–77 season and runners-up in the League Cup in 1974.

Allison was given a sizeable war chest to build his team&nbsp;— this time without Joe Mercer. Allison controversially sold crowd favourites [[Peter Barnes (footballer)|Peter Barnes]] and [[Gary Owen (footballer)|Gary Owen]] and replaced them with players including [[Michael Robinson (footballer)|Michael Robinson]] and [[Steve Daley]] – who became the [[Progression of British football transfer fee record|British transfer record for £1,450,000m]].

Daley turned out to be an expensive flop, and Allison always said that he had agreed a much lower fee with the Wolves manager for Daley. Allison later said Swales intervened on a chairman to chairman basis and secured the transfer instantly but at a much higher, possibly [[rip-off]] price.<ref name="swales">{{Cite news |last=Hodgson |first=Derek |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/peter-swales-obituary-1346086.html |title=Peter Swales: Obituary |date=7 May 1996 |access-date=3 September 2010 |work=The Independent |location=London}}</ref> Allison later admitted on his first meeting with chairman Swales: "I looked at him, saw the comb-over, the England blazer and the suede shoes and thought 'this isn't going to work'".<ref name="wildstories">{{Cite web |url=http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/blogs/mirror-football-blog/Manchester-City-legend-Malcolm-Allison-dies-10-wild-stories-including-Christine-Keeler-Serena-Williams-Sally-Ann-Highley-Great-Train-Robber-Buster-Edwards-Kray-Twins-Luis-Figo-Jose-Mourinho-Joe-Mercer-Tony-Coleman-Peter-Swales-Steve-Daley-Charlton-West-Ham-Crystal-Palace-Middlesbrough-Juventus-Gillingham-article602795.html |title=Playboy bunnies, the Kray Twins and 23 bottles of champagne: The wild life of Malcolm Allison |date=17 October 2010 |publisher=mirrorfootball.co.uk |access-date=27 October 2010}}</ref> Allison left a year later in 1980 with City struggling in the league. He later got involved in a verbal scrap with his successor and fellow maverick manager, [[John Bond (footballer)|John Bond]].

===Overseas===
Allison also managed overseas, in Turkey with [[Galatasaray S.K. (football team)|Galatasaray]] (1976–1977), and in Portugal with [[Sporting Clube de Portugal|Sporting]]. With the Lisbon club he won the league championship and the [[Cup of Portugal|Portuguese Cup]] in 1981–1982. That would be the last Championship title won by Sporting until the 1999–2000 season, which meant that Allison is fondly remembered by Sporting fans.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://leaodaestrela.blogspot.com/2008/09/parabns-mister-allison.html |title=Happy Birthday Mister Allison |publisher=LeaodaEstrela.blogspot.com |access-date=6 September 2008}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=July 2020}}

==Personality==
Allison was remembered as one of the most exuberant characters in football.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/9097490.stm |title=Why players adored Allison |date=15 October 2010 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=18 October 2010}}</ref> During his time as assistant to Joe Mercer at Manchester City, his reputation for unpredictability was well known. When Mercer was stopped by police in his car for erratic driving in the early hours of the morning after leaving a club function at [[Maine Road]], upon winding down his window Mercer quipped to the police officers: "OK chaps, what's Malcolm done now?"<ref name="wildstories" />

Whilst at City, Allison enjoyed winding up rivals [[Manchester United]]. At a reception, he called [[Matt Busby]] "Matt Baby"<ref name="wildstories" /> and when City beat United 4–1 in December 1970 he walked over to the [[Stretford End]] and held four fingers aloft to signify City's goal tally.<ref name="wildstories" /> Allison later said he had hired a [[steeplejack]] to lower the flag on top of Old Trafford's main stand to half-mast.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/oct/17/malcolm-allison-interview |title=Malcolm Allison: A man who lived life large to the last |date=17 October 2010 |work=The Guardian |access-date=27 October 2010 |location=London}}</ref>

Allison's outspoken nature and womanising were of great interest to tabloid newspapers and it was reputed that he had relationships with [[Christine Keeler]] of the [[Profumo scandal]], singer [[Dorothy Squires]] and two [[Miss UK]]s.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/may/22/seven-deadly-sins-football-lust-part-one |title=Seven deadly sins of football: Lust&nbsp;– Part One |date=22 May 2009 |work=The Guardian |access-date=3 September 2010 |location=London}}</ref> In 1976, Allison received a [[The Football Association|Football Association]] disrepute charge after a ''[[News of the World]]'' photograph appeared showing him in the Crystal Palace players' bath with porn star [[Fiona Richmond]] whom he had invited to a training session.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.onthisdayinsport.com/page/HallOfShameDetail/0,,10301~791990,00.html |title=Malcolm Allison's Playboy Palace |website=onthisdayinsport.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226175223/http://www.onthisdayinsport.com/page/HallOfShameDetail/0,,10301~791990,00.html |archive-date=26 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Tossell |first=David |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/forward-thinking-malcolm-allison-should-be-remembered-for-successes-as-well-as-excesses-bwjj73z2709 |title=Forward thinking Malcolm Allison should be remembered for successes as well as excesses |date=16 October 2010 |work=[[The Times]] |access-date=23 December 2017 |url-access=limited}}</ref> Then Crystal Palace player, [[Terry Venables]] later said of the incident, "I was in the bath with all the players and we heard the whisper that she was coming down the corridor. So far, so good. We all leapt out and hid, because we knew there'd be photos and that wouldn't go down too well. Malcolm and Fiona dropped everything and got in the bath."<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/4252551/Crystal-clear.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/4252551/Crystal-clear.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Crystal Clear |date=29 June 2000 |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=3 September 2010 |location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==After football==
In 1995, Allison was featured in a [[The Cook Report]] [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFjxYSC77ZQ&t=162s] episode on unpaid child maintenance, where it was found that he paid his ex wife Sally only six months wages for child support in over a decade. In 2001 it was revealed by his son that Allison was suffering from [[alcoholism]]<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/1319727.stm |title=Man City great in hospital |date=9 May 2001 |access-date=2 September 2010 |work=BBC News}}</ref> and in 2009 that he had developed [[dementia]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/8000414.stm |title=Book review: The Worst Of Friends |date=25 April 2009 |access-date=2 September 2010 |work=BBC News}}</ref>

In January 2007, Crystal Palace fans organised a tribute to Allison, which they named 'Fedora Day'. Fans set up a campaign on www.cpfc.org, an unofficial forum dedicated to the club, to mark the 31st anniversary of the famous FA Cup run which Allison masterminded.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cpfc.org/forums/showthread.php?t=146886 |title=He Smokes Cigars and He Drinks Champagne...Fedora day: 26/01/2007 – CPFC BBS |website=www.cpfc.org |date=9 January 2007 |access-date=17 March 2020}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=July 2020}} The date chosen was that of the game against [[Preston North End]] in the 4th Round of the FA Cup on 27 January 2007. Fans sporting Allison's favoured Fedoras smoked cigars and drank champagne while cheering on their side.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theversed.com/50976/remembering-malcolm-allison-footballs-iconic-gaffer/ |title=Remembering Malcolm Allison: football's most iconic gaffer – CLICKON Soccer |date=23 June 2017 |website=The Versed |language=en-US |access-date=17 March 2020}}</ref> This generated major national press coverage. Crystal Palace&nbsp;– managed by [[Peter John Taylor|Peter Taylor]], a star of the 1976 side&nbsp;– were unable to match their predecessors and were knocked out of the cup 2–0.

Allison died in a nursing home on 14 October 2010 at the age of 83.<ref name="telegraph obituary">{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/sport-obituaries/8067232/Malcolm-Allison.html |title=Malcolm Allison |date=15 October 2010 |work=Daily Telegraph |access-date=16 October 2010}}</ref> He had six children.<ref name="telegraph obituary" /> His funeral took place on 27 October, with the cortege passing the [[City of Manchester Stadium]] on its way to a service at the Southern Cemetery.<ref name="funeral">{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-11635214 |title=Hundreds of Manchester City fans honour Malcolm Allison |date=27 October 2010 |website=BBC News |access-date=27 October 2010}}</ref> Around 300 people gathered to pay their respects and a round of applause from the assembled crowd greeted the arrival of the cars. A sky-blue Manchester City scarf was draped over his coffin next to an ice bucket containing a bottle of [[Moet et Chandon]] champagne.<ref name=funeral/>

===Legacy===
Allison was known as a great innovator in revolutionising training methods in [[English football]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/opinion/columnists/michael-calvin/Michael-Calvin-column-Why-Liverpools-living-nightmare-is-far-from-over-following-takeover-and-Big-Malcolm-Allison-was-ahead-of-his-time-article601745.html |title=Why Liverpool's living nightmare is far from over and Big Mal was ahead of his time |date=16 October 2010 |publisher=www.mirrorfootball.co.uk |access-date=18 October 2010}}</ref>

==Quotes==
*"''A lot of hard work went into this defeat.''"<ref name="allisonbbc">{{Cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/9096162.stm |title=Former Manchester City boss Malcolm Allison dies |date=15 October 2010 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=27 October 2010}}</ref>
*"''You're not a real manager unless you've been sacked.''"<ref name="allisonbbc" />
*"''[[John Bond (footballer)|John Bond]] has blackened my name with his insinuations about the private lives of football managers. Both my wives are upset.''" – Allison on his successor at Manchester City in 1980.<ref name="allisonbbc" />
*"''A lot of people in football don't have much time for the press; they say they're amateurs.''"<ref name="allisonbbc" />
*"''I think I'm one of the luckiest guys in the world because I had a job I loved doing.''"<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.mcfc.co.uk/Video/Features/Malcolm-Allison-A-Tribute |title=Malcolm Allison: A tribute |date=26 October 2010 |website=Manchester City Football Club |publisher=mcfc.co.uk |access-date=28 October 2010}}</ref>
*"''We'll terrify the cowards of Europe''" – Allison following Manchester City's European Cup qualification in 1968.

==Managerial statistics==
{| class=wikitable style="text-align: center"
|+ Managerial record by team and tenure
|-
!rowspan=2|Team
!rowspan=2|From
!rowspan=2|To
!colspan=5|Record
|-
!{{abbr|P|Matches played}}!!{{abbr|W|Matches won}}!!{{abbr|D|Matches drawn}}!!{{abbr|L|Matches lost}}!!{{abbr|Win %|Win percentage}}
|-
|align=left|[[Plymouth Argyle F.C.|Plymouth Argyle]]
|align=left|1 May 1964
|align=left|30 April 1965
{{WDL|42|16|8|18|decimals=1}}
|-
|align=left|[[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]
|align=left|7 October 1971
|align=left|30 March 1973
{{WDL|43|14|12|17|decimals=1}}
|-
|align=left|[[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]]
|align=left|30 March 1973
|align=left|19 May 1976
{{WDL|146|52|45|49|decimals=1}}
|-
|align=left|Plymouth Argyle
|align=left|16 March 1978
|align=left|5 January 1979
{{WDL|34|12|12|10|decimals=1}}
|-
|align=left|Manchester City
|align=left|16 July 1979
|align=left|1 October 1980
{{WDL|50|12|17|21|decimals=1}}
|-
|align=left|Crystal Palace
|align=left|1 December 1980
|align=left|1 February 1981
{{WDL|9|1|3|5|decimals=1}}
|-
|align=left|[[Yeovil Town F.C.|Yeovil Town]]
|align=left|1 February 1981
|align=left|14 February 1981
{{WDL|4|0|1|3|decimals=1}}
|-
|align=left|[[Sporting Club de Portugal|Sporting CP]]
|align=left|1981
|align=left|1982
{{WDL|39|28|8|3|decimals=1}}
|-
|align=left|[[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]
|align=left|23 October 1982
|align=left|28 March 1984
{{WDL|70|21|23|26|decimals=1}}
|-
|align=left|[[Bristol Rovers F.C.|Bristol Rovers]]
|align=left|1 August 1992
|align=left|1 March 1993
{{WDL|36|8|8|20|decimals=1}}
|-
!colspan=3|Total<ref>{{soccerbase (manager)|id=921}}</ref>
{{WDLtot|434|136|129|169|decimals=1}}
|}

==Honours==

===Player===
'''West Ham United'''
*[[Football League Championship|Football League Second Division]]: 1957–58

===Coach===
'''Manchester City (as assistant)'''
* [[List of English football champions|Football League First Division]]: [[1967–68 Football League|1967–68]]
* Football League Second Division: [[1965–66 Football League|1965–66]]
* [[FA Cup]]: [[1969 FA Cup Final|1969]]
* [[League Cup]]: [[1970 Football League Cup Final|1970]]
* [[FA Community Shield|Charity Shield]]: [[1968 FA Charity Shield|1968]]; runner-up: [[1969 FA Charity Shield|1969]]
* [[European Cup Winners' Cup]]: [[1969–70 European Cup Winners' Cup|1970]]

'''Manchester City'''
*[[FA Community Shield|Charity Shield]]: [[1972 FA Charity Shield|1972]]

'''Sporting CP'''
* [[Primeira Liga]]: [[1981–82 Primeira Liga|1981–82]]
* [[Cup of Portugal]]: [[Cup of Portugal#1938&nbsp;– present: Taça de Portugal|1981–82]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
*{{Cite book |last1=Book |first1=Tony |title=Maine Man |last2=David Clayton |publisher=Mainstream publishing |year=2004 |isbn=978-1-84018-812-7}}
*{{Cite book |last=Hogg |first=Tony |title=Who's Who of West Ham United |publisher=Profile Sports Media |year=2005 |isbn=978-1-903135-50-1 |page=18}}
*{{Cite book |last=James |first=Gary |title=Manchester City&nbsp;– The Complete Record |publisher=Breedon |year=2006 |isbn=978-1-85983-512-8 |location=Derby}}
*{{Cite book |last=Penney |first=Ian |title=Manchester City: The Mercer-Allison Years |publisher=Breedon |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-85983-608-8 |location=Derby}}
*{{Cite book |last=Ward |first=Andrew |title=The Manchester City Story |publisher=Breedon |year=1984 |isbn=978-0-907969-05-1 |location=Derby}}

==External links==
;Records
*{{soccerbase (manager)|id=921}}

;Biographical articles
*[http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/archive/Malcolm-Allison-previously-unseen-pictures-of-the-Manchester-City-and-West-Ham-legend-plus-original-Daily-Mirror-features-and-stories-from-our-archive-article3947.html '''Malcolm Allison – Flamboyant manager with the fedora hat'''] – Courtesy of ''mirrorfootball.co.uk''

;Obituaries and tributes
*[http://www.mcfc.co.uk/Video/Features/Malcolm-Allison-A-Tribute '''Malcolm Allison: A tribute''' at ''mcfc.co.uk''] – Video tribute courtesy of ''[[Manchester City Football Club]]''
*[https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/oct/15/malcolm-allison-obituary Obituary at ''guardian.co.uk''] – courtesy of ''[[The Guardian]]''
*[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/sport-obituaries/8067232/Malcolm-Allison.html Obituary at ''telegraph.co.uk''] – courtesy of ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]''
*[https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/malcolm-allison-inspirational-football-coach-who-struggled-to-repeat-elsewhere-the-success-he-enjoyed-at-manchester-city-2108247.html Obituary at ''independent.co.uk''] – courtesy of ''[[The Independent]]''

{{Navboxes
|title=Awards
|fg=navy
|bg=gold
|list1=
{{Primeira Liga winning managers}}
{{Taça de Portugal winning managers}}
{{Manchester City F.C. Hall of Fame}}
{{English Football Hall of Fame}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title= Malcolm Allison managerial positions
|list1=
{{Bath City F.C. managers}}
{{Plymouth Argyle F.C. managers}}
{{Manchester City F.C. managers}}
{{Crystal Palace F.C. managers}}
{{Galatasaray SK managers}}
{{Yeovil Town F.C. managers}}
{{Sporting Clube de Portugal managers}}
{{Middlesbrough F.C. managers}}
{{Kuwait national football team managers}}
{{Vitória F.C. managers}}
{{S.C. Farense managers}}
{{Bristol Rovers F.C. managers}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Allison, Malcolm}}
[[Category:1927 births]]
[[Category:2010 deaths]]
[[Category:Footballers from Dartford]]
[[Category:Erith & Belvedere F.C. players]]
[[Category:Charlton Athletic F.C. players]]
[[Category:West Ham United F.C. players]]
[[Category:Romford F.C. players]]
[[Category:Bath City F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Plymouth Argyle F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Manchester City F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Crystal Palace F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Galatasaray S.K. (football) managers]]
[[Category:Yeovil Town F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Sporting CP managers]]
[[Category:Middlesbrough F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Vitória F.C. managers]]
[[Category:Bristol Rovers F.C. managers]]
[[Category:English football managers]]
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[[Category:English Football Hall of Fame inductees]]
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[[Category:S.C. Farense managers]]
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[[Category:English football coaches]]
[[Category:20th-century English sportsmen]]