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FA Cup legend Ian Porterfield dead at 61
LONDON (AFP) - Ian Porterfield, who scored a legendary FA Cup final winner and later managed Chelsea and a string of national teams, died on Tuesday, his family said. He was 61.
Tributes were paid Wednesday to the Armenia manager, who was diagnosed with colon cancer earlier this year. He died in a hospice in Surrey, south-west of London.
Porterfield scored the only goal in the 1973 FA Cup final as second-tier Sunderland defeated English top-flight giants Leeds United 1-0 at Wembley, one of the biggest shocks in FA Cup final history.
"He may have been a football man all his life, but I know him best as a wonderful human being who was liked by everyone he came in contact with," his widow Glenda said.
"He had his wish to die in harness.
"Just over two weeks ago, we flew to Armenia for the Portugal game and I'll always remember what happened at the open training session at the stadium on the day before the game.
"The stadium was packed to see all the Portuguese stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Deco and the rest, but when Ian walked out, they all stood up and shouted his name.
"It was very moving."
Porterfield made his debut for Scotland's Raith Rovers in 1964 before switching to Sunderland in 1967.
He scorted 19 goals in 266 appearances for the Wearside club, including the famous strike that saw off Leeds.
Porterfield later played for Sheffield Wednesday before starting his management career at nearby Rotherham United, guiding them to the Division Three title.
He then took Sheffield United from Division Four into Division Two, before replacing Alex Ferguson at Aberdeen following his fellow Scot's departure for Manchester United in 1986.
Porterfield took over at Reading and then spent 20 months in charge of Chelsea, taking them to 14th in the top flight, before becoming an international-level manager.
In 1993 he was charged with rebuilding the Zambia team following an air crash tragedy that killed many of their best players.
He coached Saudi Arabia, Zimbabwe, Oman and Trinidad and Tobago, plus South Korean club Busan I'Park, before taking over as Armenia boss.
He was in charge for Armenia's creditable 1-1 draw with visitors Portugal in Yerevan in August.
"His death so young is a tragedy for his family and for football," said Ferguson, 65.
"It isn't long ago when he was coaching in Korea that I spoke with him with the intention of getting a few young players over to United.
"I played against him when he was with Raith Rovers. He was an exceptional footballer, blessed with a lot of natural talent."
Jimmy Montgomery, the Sunderland goalkeeper in the 1973 FA Cup final, said: "It's a very sad day indeed.
"I have known him since he first signed for the club and he was just a wonderful man, a gentleman who would do anything for anybody.
"We had not seen each other for quite a while because of his travels all over the world -- but whenever he came back he kept in touch.
"It's a great loss."
Sunderland chairman Niall Quinn said: "The word legend can be very much over-used in the modern era of football, but Ian is what I would call a true legend of the game.
"He is part of what can only be described as an institution in the long and proud history of Sunderland AFC -- the famous FA Cup-winning team of 1973."
The clubs he managed also paid tribute.
"Chelsea Football Club sends our condolences to Ian's family and friends," the Premier League title-hopefuls said.
"Aberdeen Football Club was very saddened to learn of the death of their former manager," said the Scottish outfit.
"Our thoughts are with his family."
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