Trevor Francis English footballer Date of Birth: 19.04.1954 Country: Great Britain

Trevor Francis Biography

Trevor John Francis was born on April 19, 1954, in Buxhill, Plymouth, England. He attended the Plymouth Boys Grammar School and showed great talent as a forward at a young age. Francis joined the professional football club Birmingham City and made his debut for the first team in 1970 at the age of 16. He quickly rose in status and became known for his speed and skills.

In his first season, Francis scored 15 goals in 22 games. Birmingham City was a mid-level team in the 1970s, but Francis's abilities and achievements helped raise its profile. One of his most famous goals came on October 30, 1976, when he dribbled past four defenders from Queens Park Rangers and scored with a powerful shot.

In 1978, Francis left Birmingham City to play for the Detroit Express in the North American Soccer League (NASL). He had a successful season, scoring 22 goals in 19 matches. Francis returned to England and joined Nottingham Forest in 1979. He became the first player to be sold between English clubs for £1 million, making him the highest-paid English player at the time.

Nottingham Forest won the League Cup and reached the semifinals of the European Cup with Francis in their team. In the final, Francis scored the winning goal with a header, securing the victory for his team. However, he did not fully realize his potential at Nottingham Forest, partly due to being played out of position as a right winger instead of a center forward.

Francis later played for Manchester City and Sampdoria in Italy, helping the latter win the Italian Cup in 1985. He then joined Atlanta in the United States and played his final game for the England national team in 1986. Francis returned to the UK and joined Rangers, winning the Scottish League Cup in 1987.

After retiring as a player, Francis became a football manager. He managed Queens Park Rangers, Sheffield Wednesday, and Birmingham City. He also worked as a television expert and achieved success in this field. In 2001, Francis led Birmingham City to the final of the League Cup but left his position as manager that same year.

Despite some controversies during his managerial career, Francis is still respected for his contributions to the game. He remains an influential figure in English football.