Former West Brom boss Vic Buckingham named in elite list
Legendary Albion manager Vic Buckingham has been named as one of the top 50 coaches of all time.
Buckingham nearly pulled off an historic double with the Baggies in 1954, guiding them to the FA Cup and second place in the First Division.
He spent six years at The Hawthorns before leaving for Ajax, where he spotted a young Johan Cruyff and handed him a debut at the age of 17.
Buckingham, who also managed Barcelona, is one of the founding fathers of the total football concept developed by Cruyff.
And he’s now been recognised by France Football magazine in their list of top 50 managers of all time.
Buckingham placed 36th on the list, and is the third-highest Englishman behind Brian Clough (15th) and Herbert Chapman (24th).
France Football said: “In order to make its choice and establish its Top 50, France Football has chosen three main criteria – the club winners, the trace and the legacy left on the game, the personality – to which is added, implicitly, a fourth: the duration and the impact of the career.”
Buckingham signed a number of Albion greats during his tenure, including Graham Williams, Bobby Robson and Derek Kevan.
He also managed Sheffield Wednesday, Fulham, Sevilla and Olympiakos.
But it was his time at Ajax and Barcelona which earned him a reputation on mainland Europe, and in particular his focus on keeping the ball and promoting youth players that inspired the likes of Cruyff afterwards.
