Allan Harris
Encyclopedia
Allan Harris was a footballer who played for Chelsea
, Coventry City
and QPR
. His brother Ron
was also a professional footballer.
Harris was a full-back and began his career with Chelsea, for whom he played 70 league games in his first stint with the club. He joined Coventry in 1964, spending two years there, before briefly returning to Chelsea again, where he played in their 1967 FA Cup final loss to Tottenham Hotspur
. In 1967 he moved to QPR as a replacement for Jim Langley
and made his debut in August that year against Portsmouth. Harris was a member of the 1967-68
side that won promotion to the First Division for the first time in the club's history.
Harris played 94 league games for QPR before transferring to Plymouth Argyle
in 1971, and later played for Cambridge United
. In 1974 he joined non-league Hayes
as player-manager until his dismissal in March 1975. He signed for St Patrick's Athletic
in February 1976 along with Terry Venables
and made his debut on the 22nd.http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1976/0223/Pg004.html#Ar00412:79CB997DDBAE72EBB4771BC98B8BA28FABB776AB99792BAE.
After retiring from playing Harris went on to be assistant manager to Venables at Crystal Palace
, QPR (helping the team reach the FA Cup Final in 1982
and win promotion to the First Division in 1982-83
) and FC Barcelona
(winning La Liga
in 1984-85 and reaching the 1986 European Cup Final
). He also led Egyptian giants Al-Ahly
to the African Cup as Champions from 1993 to 1995.
He was the coach of the Malaysian national team
from December 2000 to 2004.
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
, Coventry City
Coventry City F.C.
Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues owing to the traditional colour of their strip, are a professional English Football league club based in Coventry...
and QPR
Queens Park Rangers F.C.
Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in White City, Hammersmith and Fulham, west London. As the 2010-11 Football League Championship champions, they now play in the top tier of English football the Premier League, for the first time in 15 years...
. His brother Ron
Ron Harris (footballer)
Ronald Edward Harris , better known as Ron "Chopper" Harris, is a former English footballer who played for Chelsea in the 1960s and 1970s. Harris is widely regarded as one of the toughest defenders of his era - along with players such as Tommy Smith MBE and Norman Hunter - hence the nickname...
was also a professional footballer.
Harris was a full-back and began his career with Chelsea, for whom he played 70 league games in his first stint with the club. He joined Coventry in 1964, spending two years there, before briefly returning to Chelsea again, where he played in their 1967 FA Cup final loss to Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
. In 1967 he moved to QPR as a replacement for Jim Langley
Jim Langley
Ernest James "Jim" Langley , was an English association football player noted for his pacey, rampaging runs from the left fullback position and his long throw-ins...
and made his debut in August that year against Portsmouth. Harris was a member of the 1967-68
1967-68 in English football
The 1967–68 season was the 88th season of competitive football in England.-Honours:Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour. * indicates new record for competition-FA Cup:...
side that won promotion to the First Division for the first time in the club's history.
Harris played 94 league games for QPR before transferring to Plymouth Argyle
Plymouth Argyle F.C.
Plymouth Argyle Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Plymouth, Devon, that plays in Football League Two.Since becoming professional in 1903, the club has won five Football League titles, five Southern League titles and one Western League title. The 2009–10 season was the...
in 1971, and later played for Cambridge United
Cambridge United F.C.
Cambridge United Football Club is a professional football club from Cambridge, England. They are currently playing the 2011-2012 season in the Conference National, the fifth tier of the English league system, where they have competed since 2005 following their relegation from the Football League...
. In 1974 he joined non-league Hayes
Hayes F.C.
Hayes F.C. was an English football club based in Hayes, in Greater London. The club started out as Botwell Mission in 1909 taking its present name in 1929. The team nickname, The Missioners was a salute to the history of the team. The club played in the Conference South for their last few seasons...
as player-manager until his dismissal in March 1975. He signed for St Patrick's Athletic
St Patrick's Athletic F.C.
St Patrick's Athletic Football Club is a football club from Dublin, Ireland. They compete in the League of Ireland Premier Division. Founded in 1929, they are based in the Dublin suburb of Inchicore and play their home matches at Richmond Park. They have won the League of Ireland title 7 times and...
in February 1976 along with Terry Venables
Terry Venables
Terence Frederick "Terry" Venables , often referred to as "El Tel", is a former football player and manager, as well as being a media pundit. During the 1960s and 70s, he played for various clubs including Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Queens Park Rangers, and gained two caps for England...
and made his debut on the 22nd.http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1976/0223/Pg004.html#Ar00412:79CB997DDBAE72EBB4771BC98B8BA28FABB776AB99792BAE.
After retiring from playing Harris went on to be assistant manager to Venables at Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
, QPR (helping the team reach the FA Cup Final in 1982
1982 FA Cup Final
The 1982 FA Cup Final took place on 22 May 1982 at Wembley Stadium. It was contested between Tottenham Hotspur and Queens Park Rangers.Spurs were the holders of the trophy, and were hot favourites, while unfancied QPR had just missed out on promotion from the Second Division.After three and a half...
and win promotion to the First Division in 1982-83
1982-83 in English football
The 1982–83 season was the 103rd season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Bob Paisley's last season as Liverpool manager ended on a high as they topped the First Division with a comfortable lead. Bob Paisley retired as Liverpool manager with a record 21 prizes in nine years. His...
) and FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
(winning La Liga
La Liga
The Primera División of the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Profesional , commonly known as La Liga or, for sponsorship reasons, Liga BBVA since 2008, is the top professional association football division of the Spanish football league system...
in 1984-85 and reaching the 1986 European Cup Final
1986 European Cup Final
The 1986 European Cup Final was a football match held at the Estadio Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán, Seville, on 7 May 1986, that saw Steaua Bucureşti of Romania defeat Barcelona of Spain in an extraordinary penalty shoot out, after 120 minutes of play could not separate the two sides...
). He also led Egyptian giants Al-Ahly
Al-Ahly
Al-Ahly Sports Club , commonly known as simply Al-Ahly, is an Egyptian sporting club. Founded in April 1907, Al-Ahly was named in 2000 by the Confederation of African Football as the "African Club of the Century"...
to the African Cup as Champions from 1993 to 1995.
He was the coach of the Malaysian national team
Malaysia national football team
The Malaysian national football team nicknamed Harimau Malaya, as the Malayan Tiger, is the national team of Malaysia and is controlled by the Football Association of Malaysia...
from December 2000 to 2004.