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Ray Wilkins CFC History & Tribute – Thanks For Your Loyalty and Service You Will be Missed

When I interviewed Ray Wilkins two years ago, I found him an interesting, intelligent and likeable individual. He, more than any other person I have talked with since starting out in the world of Journalism, has had the most profound influence on the way I work. His words of advice are still with me every time I write and report:

“Don’t worry about not being liked in this business. If you write with truth, you will make far more friends than enemies.”

Playing Career

Starting his Chelsea career in 1973, Wilkins was just too young to have played in Chelsea’s FA Cup winning side in 1970 and missed out on the Cup Winners’ Cup triumph the following year.

However, it didn’t stop him becoming a hero with supporters. After just two years in the first team he was given the captaincy, taking the armband from Ron Harris at the age of just 18.

But the 1970s were a time of austerity for the West London club. The building of the East Stand in 1974 (amongst other things) led to debts spiralling out of control and the need to sell off top assets. Wilkins was sold to Manchester United for £825,000 in 1979 following Chelsea’s relegation to the second division.

From there he went on to captain England on ten occasions, and his performances were so impressive at United that A.C Milan paid £1.5 million for his services in 1984. Three seasons in Italy didn’t bring the major silverware he craved, but cemented him as one of England’s great players.

Spells with various other clubs followed, including an ill fated time in France with Paris St. Germain, two years with Rangers in Scotland and time as player-manager of Queens Park Rangers.

Coaching Career

After managing Fulham for a year, Wilkins returned to Chelsea in 1998 as assistant to Gianluca Vialli. The two formed a superb bond on the sidelines, putting together a team which came close to winning the title and did win both domestic cup competitions, the Cup Winners’ Cup and UEFA Super Cup. The pair eventually led Chelsea to the Champions League for the first time in their history.

He left the club with Vialli in 2000, following the Italian to Watford where they shared less success.

After several years working in the media and enjoying the odd glass of wine, ‘Butch’ was back in the Chelsea dugout, this time with Luis Felipe Scolari as manager. It was felt that Wilkins was the perfect person to help the Brazilian coach settle in London and get to grips with English football.

When Scolari left after just five months, many thought Wilkins would follow, but ‘interim coach’ Guus Hiddink decided to keep him on and for good reason. Chelsea went on a fine run of form, eventually missing out on the Champions League final by mere seconds, and going on to win the FA Cup for a then fifth time in their history.

Yet another boss came in, but Wilkins remained. This time it was Carlo Ancelotti and the result couldn’t have been sweeter. A league and cup double at the first time of asking took the club to new heights, even higher than during Jose Mourinho’s whirlwind time as coach.

Ancelotti attributed a huge amount of the team’s success to his assistant, who used his fluent Italian to guide Ancelotti through what could have been a difficult time in his first season managing outside of Italy.

This season, the club found themselves five points clear of their nearest challengers in the league, having qualified for the knockout phase in the Champions League with four wins out of four (the club’s best record in the competition since the 2004/5 season).

It seems, however, that the club’s hierarchy wants to take a new direction and a man who has been a Chelsea supporter his whole life was dismissed from his number two spot. A strange decision with the balance and atmosphere at the club seemingly perfect from the outside.

Mr. Wilkins is not one to start talking to the press about his sacking as he is unlikely to start a war. Well liked by the media and all those who come into contact with him, it is clear that he is the perfect gentleman.

And as the saying goes; ‘a gentleman never tells’.

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Why Chelsea Should Move to Earls Court

There is a danger that the club could get left behind even further, as England’s World Cup bid for the 2018 competition could well be successful and result in huge investment in current stadiums up and down the country. Both Tottenham and Arsenal would host matches in London. Liverpool, Manchester City, Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest are also on the list. Chelsea are not. Chelsea supporters must look forward and not to the past. And as their current mantra goes, ‘making history, not reliving it’. Time to live up to that.