Danny Bergara
Encyclopedia
Daniel Alberto "Danny" Bergara de Medina (July 24, 1942 – July 25, 2007) was a Uruguay
an footballer and manager
.
in the Uruguayan First Division
, picking up a handful of under-21 caps for Uruguay
, before moving to Spain in 1962 where he was top scorer for Real Mallorca for four seasons and Sevilla
for two seasons. While playing in Spain Bergara married an English
travel guide, Jan, and when he retired from playing football they moved to England
.
and Sheffield United
before getting his first managerial job at Rochdale in August 1988. Bergara is often wrongly referred to as the first foreign manager in English football – he was in fact preceded by managers such as the South Africa
n Peter Hauser
, who managed Chester City
between 1963 and 1968 – but he is believed to be the first Football League manager who did not speak English as a first language. He was also the first manager born outside the British Isles
to lead an English club out at Wembley
, when he took Stockport County
to the 1992 Autoglass Trophy
final.
. He ensured their Fourth Division
survival that season
and prevented them from slipping into the GM Vauxhall Conference
. They reached the playoffs in 1989-90
, only to suffer a heavy defeat by Chesterfield
in the semi-final. In 1990-91
he guided County to promotion from the Fourth-Division, missing out on the title by a single point. In 1991-92
, County took the Third Division
by storm beating Swansea City 5-0 on the opening day, County reached Wembley
twice in the space of 10 days in the Play-Offs and Autoglass Trophy, losing 2-1 to Peterborough United
in the play-offs and 1-0 to Stoke City
in the Football League Trophy
.
1992-93
brought a similar season for Bergara and Stockport County. The club lost in the Semi-Final play-off 2-1 to Port Vale
. Stockport County lost to the same opponents in the Autoglass Trophy Final
, 2-1.
1993-94
was his last full-season in charge of The Hatters another trip to Wembley losing to Burnley 2-1 again, referee David Elleray controversially sending off two Stockport players Mike Wallace and Chris Beaumont. The only time the same side has ever had two players sent of at Wembley.
Just before the end of the 1994-95
, Bergara stepped down as Stockport manager and handed over the reins to coach Dave Jones
Just 306 days after his passing, County put on a brilliant tribute to the man, beating another of his former clubs Rochdale 3-2 at Wembley
, a place Danny never managed to win in four attempts, with goals from Liam Dickinson
, Anthony Pilkington
and an own-goal by Rochdale's Nathan Stanton
.
After his death County fans sung Danny Bergara's Blue and White army in his tribute.
and the England Under-18 and Under-20 sides, with a World Youth Cup win also to his name.
Shortly after leaving Stockport, Bergara joined Sheffield Wednesday
as assistant to new manager David Pleat
, but after one season departed to become manager of Rotherham United
, during this stint, Rotherham had one of their worst seasons ever on record. Bergara left following the poor season. His replacement was Ronnie Moore, and the club have never looked back.
A brief spell at Doncaster Rovers
followed, during which time the club were featured in the 1998 Channel 5 'fly-on-the-wall' documentary "They Think It's All Rovers".
For the 1998-99 season
, he was named manager of Grantham Town
, who had just won promotion to the Southern League Premier Division. A string of poor results saw Bergara become the club's Director of Football and the club's Chief Scout, Tony Kenworthy
, becoming manager. Later he scouted for Sunderland
.
In an emotionally charged atmosphere, before kick off a powerful and hearty rendition of "My Way
" by Frank Sinatra
was played at Edgeley Park as it was Danny's favourite song. Managers of both teams, Jim Gannon
(Stockport) and Dave Jones (Cardiff City
; coincidentally the man who had succeeded Bergara as Stockport manager 12 years earlier) paid their tributes by laying down a bunch of flowers which spelt 'DANNY' in front of his beloved Cheadle End.
Before the match there was a specially designated two minutes for the fans to sing a rendition of "Danny Bergara's Blue 'n White Army", which ended up continuing for over half-an-hour. Stockport won the spectacular friendly 6-4.
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
an footballer and manager
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
.
Playing career
Born in Montevideo, Uruguay, Bergara began his playing career at the age of 16, playing for Racing ClubRacing Club de Montevideo
Racing Club de Montevideo is a football club from Montevideo in Uruguay. It currently play in the Uruguayan 1st Division.Racing Club is known as "La Escuelita" due to the excellent players that resulted from the team, it was like a player machine...
in the Uruguayan First Division
Primera División Uruguaya
The Liga Profesional de Primera División , also known as the Primera División Uruguaya or Primera División de Uruguay , is a professional football league in Uruguay at the top of the country's football league system. It is organized by the Uruguayan Football Association and is contested by 16 teams...
, picking up a handful of under-21 caps for Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
, before moving to Spain in 1962 where he was top scorer for Real Mallorca for four seasons and Sevilla
Sevilla FC
Sevilla Fútbol Club S.A.D. is a Spanish professional football club based in Seville, Spain that plays in the Spanish La Liga championship.They are one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football having won a 1 La Liga title, 5 Spanish "Copa del Rey" Cups, 1 Spanish Super Cup and 2 UEFA...
for two seasons. While playing in Spain Bergara married an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
travel guide, Jan, and when he retired from playing football they moved to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Managerial career
Bergara coached the reserve teams at Luton TownLuton Town F.C.
Luton Town Football Club is an English professional football club based since 1905 at Kenilworth Road, Luton, Bedfordshire. The club currently competes in the fifth tier of English football, the Conference National, for the third consecutive season during the 2011–12 season.Formed in 1885, it was...
and Sheffield United
Sheffield United F.C.
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional English football club based in the city of Sheffield, South Yorkshire.They were the first sporting team to use the name 'United' and are nicknamed 'The Blades', thanks to Sheffield's worldwide reputation for steel production...
before getting his first managerial job at Rochdale in August 1988. Bergara is often wrongly referred to as the first foreign manager in English football – he was in fact preceded by managers such as the South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n Peter Hauser
Peter Hauser
Peter Benjamin Hauser played professional football for Blackpool before becoming player-manager of Chester in 1963...
, who managed Chester City
Chester City F.C.
Chester City Football Club was an English football team from Chester. The club was founded as Chester F.C., and joined the Football League in 1931, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. They changed their name to Chester City in 1983. Chester won their first league title in 2004, the...
between 1963 and 1968 – but he is believed to be the first Football League manager who did not speak English as a first language. He was also the first manager born outside the British Isles
British Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
to lead an English club out at Wembley
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
, when he took Stockport County
Stockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
to the 1992 Autoglass Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
final.
Stockport County
In March 1989, after just seven months at Rochdale, he took over as manager of Stockport CountyStockport County F.C.
Stockport County Football Club is an English football club based in Stockport, Greater Manchester. The club formed in 1883 as Heaton Norris Rovers, shortly afterwards merging with Heaton Norris F.C., and adopted the current name on 24 May 1890 on the creation of the County Borough of Stockport...
. He ensured their Fourth Division
Football League Fourth Division
The Fourth Division of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season...
survival that season
1988-89 in English football
The 1988–89 season was the 109th season of competitive football in England.-Hillsborough disaster:On 15 April, a crowd crush at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Hillsborough killed 94 people and injured more than 300. A 95th Liverpool supporter died in hospital...
and prevented them from slipping into the GM Vauxhall Conference
Football Conference
The Football Conference is a football league in England which consists of three divisions called Conference National, Conference North, and Conference South. Some Football Conference clubs are fully professional, such as Luton Town, but most of them are semi-professional...
. They reached the playoffs in 1989-90
1989-90 in English football
-European competitions:English clubs were still banned from competing in European competitions following the Heysel Stadium disaster.- First Division :...
, only to suffer a heavy defeat by Chesterfield
Chesterfield F.C.
Chesterfield Football Club is an English football club based in Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The club currently plays in Football League One, the third tier of English football. Despite being the fourth oldest Football League club in England, they have spent most of their existence in the lower...
in the semi-final. In 1990-91
1990-91 in English football
The 1990–91 season was the 111th season of competitive football in England.- First Division :Arsenal won the league. Runners-up spot was achieved by Liverpool, who had led the table for much of the first half of the season but had been shell-shocked in February by the sudden resignation of manager...
he guided County to promotion from the Fourth-Division, missing out on the title by a single point. In 1991-92
1991-92 in English football
- First Division :The last-ever league championship before the creation of the Premier League was won by Leeds United who overhauled Manchester United thanks to the efforts of, among others, Gordon Strachan, Lee Chapman, David Batty, Gary Speed and Gary McAllister...
, County took the Third Division
Football League Third Division
The Football League Third Division was the 3 tier of English Football from 1920 until 1992 when after the formation of the Football Association Premier League saw the league renamed The Football League Division Two...
by storm beating Swansea City 5-0 on the opening day, County reached Wembley
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
twice in the space of 10 days in the Play-Offs and Autoglass Trophy, losing 2-1 to Peterborough United
Peterborough United F.C.
Peterborough United Football Club are a professional English football club based in Peterborough. Peterborough United formed in 1934 and played in the old Midland League, which they won six times; eventually being admitted to the Football League in 1960, replacing Gateshead. Their home ground is...
in the play-offs and 1-0 to Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
in the Football League Trophy
Football League Trophy
The Football League Trophy, currently known as the Johnstone's Paint Trophy for sponsorship reasons, is an annual English association football knock-out competition open to the 48 clubs in Football League One and Football League Two, the bottom two divisions in the four fully professional top...
.
1992-93
1992-93 in English football
The 1992–1993 season was the 113th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:This season saw the birth of the FA Premier League. This meant a break-up of the 104-year-old Football League that had operated until then with four divisions....
brought a similar season for Bergara and Stockport County. The club lost in the Semi-Final play-off 2-1 to Port Vale
Port Vale F.C.
Port Vale Football Club is an English football club currently playing in Football League Two. They are based in Burslem, Staffordshire — one of six towns that make up the city of Stoke-on-Trent. The club's traditional rivals in the city are Stoke City, and games between the two clubs are known as...
. Stockport County lost to the same opponents in the Autoglass Trophy Final
1993 Football League Trophy Final
The 1993 Football League Trophy Final was the 10th final of the domestic football cup competition for teams from Football League Second and Third Division, the Football League Trophy. The final was played at the Wembley Stadium in London on 22 May 1993. The match was contested by Port Vale and...
, 2-1.
1993-94
1993-94 in English football
The 1993-1994 season was the 114th season of competitive football in England.-Overview:From the start of this season, the FA Premier League would be sponsored by Carling Breweries - an association which would last for eight years...
was his last full-season in charge of The Hatters another trip to Wembley losing to Burnley 2-1 again, referee David Elleray controversially sending off two Stockport players Mike Wallace and Chris Beaumont. The only time the same side has ever had two players sent of at Wembley.
Just before the end of the 1994-95
1994-95 in English football
-Premiership:Blackburn Rovers ended their 81-year wait for the league title thanks to the strike partnership of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton which scored a total of more than 50 league goals. Manchester United would have made it three league titles in a row if they had been able to turn a 1-1 draw...
, Bergara stepped down as Stockport manager and handed over the reins to coach Dave Jones
Just 306 days after his passing, County put on a brilliant tribute to the man, beating another of his former clubs Rochdale 3-2 at Wembley
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
, a place Danny never managed to win in four attempts, with goals from Liam Dickinson
Liam Dickinson
Liam Michael Dickinson is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Southend United.-Early career:Dickinson began his career at Blackpool's Centre of Excellence where he was offered a contract, but he chose instead to sign for Bolton Wanderers before joining Blackburn Rovers...
, Anthony Pilkington
Anthony Pilkington
Anthony Neil James Pilkington is an Irish professional football player. He plays for Norwich City, and plays on either wing or as a forward.-Stockport County:...
and an own-goal by Rochdale's Nathan Stanton
Nathan Stanton
Nathan Stanton is an English professional footballer who currently plays for Burton Albion.A former Scunthorpe United trainee, Nathan made 243 appearances for the Iron in 7 seasons. He scored 1 goal for the club, his strike coming against Lincoln City in the 2003 League Two Play Off Semi Final...
.
After his death County fans sung Danny Bergara's Blue and White army in his tribute.
Later career
Bergara also managed the Brunei National teamBrunei national football team
The Brunei national football team nicknamed Tebuan ,is the national team of the Brunei and is controlled by the Football Association of Brunei Darussalam.The team was founded in 1959 and joined FIFA in 1969.Their main regional rivalries are against Malaysia and Philippines.The...
and the England Under-18 and Under-20 sides, with a World Youth Cup win also to his name.
Shortly after leaving Stockport, Bergara joined Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
as assistant to new manager David Pleat
David Pleat
David John Pleat is an English football player turned manager and sports commentator.He is remembered by his contemporaries primarily for his career as manager of Tottenham Hotspur and Luton Town football clubs, and for an oft-televised clip of him running onto the pitch in 1983 to celebrate after...
, but after one season departed to become manager of Rotherham United
Rotherham United F.C.
Rotherham United Football Club are an English professional football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, who compete in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club's colours have traditionally been red and white, although these have evolved through history...
, during this stint, Rotherham had one of their worst seasons ever on record. Bergara left following the poor season. His replacement was Ronnie Moore, and the club have never looked back.
A brief spell at Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers F.C.
Doncaster Rovers Football Club is an English football club, based at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. The team currently competes in the Football League Championship, after being promoted via the League One play-offs in 2008, and have remained there since.The club was founded in...
followed, during which time the club were featured in the 1998 Channel 5 'fly-on-the-wall' documentary "They Think It's All Rovers".
For the 1998-99 season
1998-99 in English football
-Premier League:Manchester United overcame close competition from Arsenal, Aston Villa and Chelsea to win their fifth Premiership title in seven seasons thanks to the comeback of Roy Keane after his long-term injury and a transfer raid totalling nearly £30 million which netted Aston Villa striker...
, he was named manager of Grantham Town
Grantham Town F.C.
Grantham Town F.C. is a football club, based in Grantham, Lincolnshire, currently playing in the Northern Premier League Division One South. They are nicknamed The Gingerbreads and they play their home matches at the South Kesteven Sports Stadium . They were established in August 1874...
, who had just won promotion to the Southern League Premier Division. A string of poor results saw Bergara become the club's Director of Football and the club's Chief Scout, Tony Kenworthy
Tony Kenworthy
Anthony David "Tony" Kenworthy is an English former footballer who played as a central defender in the Football League for Sheffield United and Mansfield Town....
, becoming manager. Later he scouted for Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
.
Death
Bergara died after a short illness on July 25, 2007, one day after his 65th birthday. Following the news of his death, many Stockport County fans left their tributes in Edgeley Park's Cheadle End. On July 28, 2007 Stockport County arranged "Danny Day" when the team played Cardiff City in a pre-season friendly.In an emotionally charged atmosphere, before kick off a powerful and hearty rendition of "My Way
My Way (song)
"My Way" is a song popularized by Frank Sinatra. Its lyrics were written by Paul Anka and set to music based on the French song "Comme d'habitude" composed in 1967 by Claude François and Jacques Revaux, with lyrics by Claude François and Gilles Thibault. Anka's English lyrics are unrelated to the...
" by Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
was played at Edgeley Park as it was Danny's favourite song. Managers of both teams, Jim Gannon
Jim Gannon
James Paul "Jim" Gannon is a former footballer and football manager, who is now Director of football and manager of Conference National team Stockport County...
(Stockport) and Dave Jones (Cardiff City
Cardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
; coincidentally the man who had succeeded Bergara as Stockport manager 12 years earlier) paid their tributes by laying down a bunch of flowers which spelt 'DANNY' in front of his beloved Cheadle End.
Before the match there was a specially designated two minutes for the fans to sing a rendition of "Danny Bergara's Blue 'n White Army", which ended up continuing for over half-an-hour. Stockport won the spectacular friendly 6-4.