Ray Wilkins

{{Other people||Raymond Wilkins (disambiguation){{!}}Raymond Wilkins}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Ray Wilkins
MBE

| image = Ray Wilkins 18-10-2008 1.jpg

| caption = Wilkins in 2008

| fullname = Raymond Colin Wilkins{{Hugman|21097|access-date=22 April 2017}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1956|09|14|df=y}}

| birth_place = Hillingdon, England

| death_date = {{death date and age|2018|04|04|1956|09|14|df=y}}

| death_place = St George's Hospital, Tooting, England

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=8}}

| position = Midfielder

| youthyears1 = |youthclubs1 = Chelsea

| years1 = 1973–1979 |clubs1 = Chelsea |caps1 = 179 |goals1 = 30

| years2 = 1979–1984 |clubs2 = Manchester United |caps2 = 160 |goals2 = 7

| years3 = 1984–1987 |clubs3 = AC Milan |caps3 = 73 |goals3 = 2

| years4 = 1987 |clubs4 = Paris Saint-Germain |caps4 = 13 |goals4 = 0

| years5 = 1987–1989 |clubs5 = Rangers |caps5 = 70 |goals5 = 2

| years6 = 1989–1994 |clubs6 = Queens Park Rangers |caps6 = 154 |goals6 = 7

| years7 = 1994 |clubs7 = Crystal Palace |caps7 = 1 |goals7 = 0

| years8 = 1994–1996 |clubs8 = Queens Park Rangers |caps8 = 21 |goals8 = 0

| years9 = 1996 |clubs9 = Wycombe Wanderers |caps9 = 1 |goals9 = 0

| years10 = 1996–1997 |clubs10 = Hibernian |caps10 = 16 |goals10 = 0

| years11 = 1997 |clubs11 = Millwall |caps11 = 3 |goals11 = 0

| years12 = 1997 |clubs12 = Leyton Orient |caps12 = 3 |goals12 = 0

| totalcaps = 694 |totalgoals = 48

| nationalyears1 = 1972 | nationalteam1 = England Schoolboys | nationalcaps1 = 7 | nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 1974 | nationalteam2 = England Youth | nationalcaps2 = 6 | nationalgoals2 = 3

| nationalyears3 = 1975–1976 |nationalteam3 = England U23 |nationalcaps3 = 2 |nationalgoals3 = 0

| nationalyears4 = 1976 |nationalteam4 = England U21 |nationalcaps4 = 1 |nationalgoals4 = 0

| nationalyears5 = 1976–1986 |nationalteam5 = England |nationalcaps5 = 84 |nationalgoals5 = 3

| manageryears1 = 1994–1996 |managerclubs1 = Queens Park Rangers

| manageryears2 = 1997–1998 |managerclubs2 = Fulham

| manageryears3 = 1998–2000 |managerclubs3 = Chelsea (assistant)

| manageryears4 = 2000–2002 |managerclubs4 = Watford (assistant)

| manageryears5 = 2003–2005 |managerclubs5 = Millwall (assistant)

| manageryears6 = 2004–2007 |managerclubs6 = England U21 (assistant)

| manageryears7 = 2008–2009 |managerclubs7 = Chelsea (assistant)

| manageryears8 = 2009 |managerclubs8 = Chelsea (caretaker)

| manageryears9 = 2009–2010 |managerclubs9 = Chelsea (assistant)

| manageryears10 = 2013–2014 |managerclubs10 = Fulham (assistant)

| manageryears11 = 2014–2015 |managerclubs11 = Jordan

| manageryears12 = 2015 |managerclubs12 = Aston Villa (assistant)

}}

Raymond Colin Wilkins {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}} (14 September 1956 – 4 April 2018) was an English football player and coach.

Born into a footballing family with his father and three brothers involved in the game,{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/apr/04/ray-wilkins-obituary |title=Ray Wilkins obituary |work=The Guardian |access-date=4 April 2018 |date=4 April 2018 |first=Peter |last=Mason }} Wilkins played as a midfielder. He began his career at Chelsea, where he was appointed captain at the age of 18, and later played for clubs including Manchester United, AC Milan, Queens Park Rangers and Rangers. He won 84 caps for the England national football team from 1976 to 1986, playing at UEFA Euro 1980 and the 1982 and 1986 FIFA World Cups.

After his playing career ended, he worked as a television pundit, and as a coach and manager with Queens Park Rangers, Fulham and Chelsea. He managed Jordan at the 2015 AFC Asian Cup and his last coaching job was as the assistant manager of Aston Villa later that year.

Club career

=Early career=

Born in Hillingdon, Middlesex, Wilkins started his career with the Sunday League team Senrab that play in Wanstead Flats, East London.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/3580385.stm|title=Lessons from Senrab's soccer school|date=30 March 2004|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=4 April 2018}}

=Chelsea=

Wilkins made his name in the 1970s with boyhood club Chelsea, which he joined as an apprentice, progressing to his first team debut against Norwich City at the age of 17 on 26 October 1973 as a substitute in a 3–0 home league win.{{cite web |title=Ray WILKINS - Chelsea FC - League Appearances |url=http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football/chelsea-fc/ray-wilkins-9880/league-appearances_a19029/ |website=Sporting Heroes |access-date=4 November 2019}}

In 1975, following the club's relegation and the departure of many established players, an 18-year-old Wilkins was handed the captaincy of Chelsea by new manager Eddie McCreadie, taking it from long-time Blues captain John Hollins. He took to the role well, keeping it for four years. He emerged as Chelsea's key player of that period, leading a team of mainly young players to promotion again in 1976–1977 and, in the next season, consolidation of their place in the First Division.

His elder brother, Graham Wilkins also played for Chelsea.

=Manchester United=

In 1979, after Chelsea were relegated, Wilkins signed for Manchester United for a fee of £825,000,{{cite news|title=Ray Wilkins' career in numbers|url=http://sport.bt.com/football/ray-wilkins-career-in-numbers-S11364262449449|access-date=4 April 2018|agency=Press Association|publisher=BT Sport|date=4 April 2018|archive-date=5 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405024728/http://sport.bt.com/football/ray-wilkins-career-in-numbers-S11364262449449|url-status=dead}} the highest fee received for a Chelsea player at the time.{{cite web|url=http://www.chelseafc.com/news/latest-news/2018/04/ray-wilkins-1956-2018.html|title=Ray Wilkins 1956–2018|publisher=Chelsea FC|access-date=4 April 2018}} He scored ten goals in his five years with the Red Devils, including a long-range strike in the 2–2 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion in the 1983 FA Cup Final (United won the replay).

He was voted player of the year by the team's supporters at the end of the 1983–1984 season. His midfield performances drew the attention of Milan, who made United a £1.5 million offer for the player.Williams, Richard (2 June 2009). [https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2009/jun/02/chelsea-fa-cup-ray-wilkins Cup runneth over for Chelsea's most deserving No2]. The Guardian. Retrieved 4 April 2018.

=Milan, Paris and Rangers=

Wilkins signed with Milan in summer 1984. He later remarked that the most difficult part of adapting to the Italian game was the focus on fitness – the coaching staff made him work to reduce his body fat levels and Wilkins described the result as being in the best shape of his career.[http://www.chelseadaft.org/2017/09/ray-wilkins-talks-diego-costa-nemanja.html Ray Wilkins talks Diego Costa, Nemanja Matic and David Luiz.]. Chelsea Daft (August 2017). Retrieved 4 April 2018. The Italian team was struggling during this period, having suffered relegation in the 1981–82 Serie A season, and Wilkins was joined by fellow Englishman Mark Hateley (himself replacing another compatriot — Luther Blissett). The only foreign players in the squad, the pair helped the team to victory over rivals Inter Milan in the Milan Derby that October, winning plaudits from Italian press and the club's fans.Hodges-Ramon, Luca (20 November 2016). [https://www.theguardian.com/football/the-gentleman-ultra/2016/nov/20/milan-internazionale-mark-hateley-serie-a-derby Milan v Internazionale: the game that made Mark Hateley a Rossoneri hero]. The Guardian. Retrieved on 4 April 2018. In his first year there, Wilkins played 28 Serie A games to bring the team to fifth in the league and also won a runner-up medal in the Coppa Italia (having eliminated Inter in the semis).

The following season he remained a key player in Milan's midfield, appearing in 29 league games and scoring two goals – one late goal to salvage a draw at Avellino and another goal the following game against Sampdoria. These were the only Serie A goals of his career.[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/ital86.html Italy Championship 1985/86]. RSSSF. Retrieved 4 April 2018. Overall, the team struggled for goals, with Pietro Paolo Virdis's total of 13 making him the club's only goalscorer in double figures that year.[http://www.virtualcalcio.com/download/cd_milan.pdf A.C. Milan – La storia 1899–2005]. Campionati e Coppe (2005). The club also suffered off the pitch, with owner Giuseppe Farina absconding to South Africa following accusations of bribery and theft.[http://www.goal.com/en-india/news/1949/mondals-musings/2009/03/26/1176421/mondals-musings-how-silvio-berlusconi-mixed-milan-politics Mondal's Musings: How Silvio Berlusconi Mixed Milan & Politics]. Goal (26 March 2009). Retrieved 4 April 2018.

In Wilkins' final season there (1986–1987), he fell out of the first team structure, following the signing of Roberto Donadoni and the continued presence of both Agostino Di Bartolomei and Alberigo Evani. The team finished fifth in the league, beating Inter twice, in Silvio Berlusconi's first year as owner. Wilkins played 105 games (74 in Serie A) for Milan between 1984 and 1987. Corriere della Sera eulogised him as a "serious and meticulous professional who was immediately appreciated for his long and precise passes".{{cite news|title=Ray Wilkins, ex stella del Milan, del Chelsea e dell'Inghilterra, è morto|trans-title=Ray Wilkins, ex star for Milan, Chelsea and England, has died|url=http://www.corriere.it/sport/18_aprile_04/morto-ray-wilkins-ex-stella-milan-chelsea-dell-inghilterra-fa3bebe4-3809-11e8-8e5f-085098492e12.shtml?refresh_ce-cp|access-date=4 April 2018|work=Corriere della Sera|date=4 April 2018|language=it}}

Wilkins signed for Paris Saint-Germain in the middle of 1987, but this proved to be short-lived: he failed to break into the team ahead of Gabriel Calderón and Safet Sušić so he eagerly took the option to move to Scotland to sign for Rangers for £250,000 that November.

He made his debut for Rangers on 28 November 1987 in a 3–2 win over Hearts at Ibrox.{{cite web |title=Ray WILKINS - Rangers FC - Biography of his Rangers career |url=http://www.sporting-heroes.net/football/rangers-fc/ray-wilkins-9880/biography-of-his-rangers-career_a12450/ |website=Sporting Heroes |access-date=4 November 2019}} He became an integral part of the team for the rest of the season, making twenty-nine appearances, which included both legs of the European Cup quarter-final against Steaua Bucharest. However, it would be the following season he would truly make his mark at Rangers. Reigning Scottish champions, and Old Firm rivals, Celtic played Rangers on 27 August 1988. With the score tied at 1–1, Wilkins scored a "thunderous volley" from the edge of the penalty box to put Rangers ahead, and his side eventually recorded an emphatic 5–1 win that day over their rivals.{{cite news |last=Halliday |first=Stephen |title=Classy Ray Wilkins set Rangers on the road to nine-in-a-row |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/rangers/in-full/classy-ray-wilkins-set-rangers-on-the-road-to-nine-in-a-row-1-4718765 |access-date=4 November 2019 |work=The Scotsman |date=5 April 2018}} Rangers went on to win the league title that season, the first of their eventual nine-in-a-row. Wilkins also played in Rangers' win over Aberdeen in the 1988 Scottish League Cup Final. He remained an important team member into season 1988–89, playing in almost every game for the first half of the season, but his family wished to return to London.{{cite web|title=Ray Wilkins|url=https://rangers.co.uk/club/history/hall-of-fame/ray-wilkins/|publisher=Rangers F.C.|access-date=4 April 2018}} As such, he left Rangers in December 1989 to sign for Queens Park Rangers. Following his last appearance for Rangers, Wilkins received a standing ovation from the 40,000 crowd. Despite only playing two seasons for the Glasgow club, he was later inducted into their Hall of Fame.

=Later career=

The longest stint of his late career was at Queens Park Rangers, for whom he was a regular first team player from November 1989 to 1994, including the team's first two Premier League seasons. He made his debut in the 3–0 away win versus Crystal Palace.[https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/news-photo/english-footballer-ray-wilkins-completes-his-debut-for-news-photo/104294807#/english-footballer-ray-wilkins-completes-his-debut-for-queens-park-picture-id104294807 Wilkins Debut For QPR]. Getty Images. Retrieved 5 April 2018. Wilkins left QPR in the summer of 1994 on a free transfer to join Crystal Palace as a player-coach under manager Alan Smith, but only made one appearance due to breaking his left foot on his debut.[https://www.croydonadvertiser.co.uk/news/croydon-news/former-manchester-united-qpr-chelsea-1418614 Why did former Manchester United, QPR and Chelsea legend Ray Wilkins only play one game for Crystal Palace?]. Croydon Advertiser (4 April 2018). Retrieved 4 April 2018.

Wilkins re-joined QPR as player-manager on 15 November 1994, following the exit of Gerry Francis. The rest of that season was a success with the team finishing eighth in the Premiership. However the close season of 1995 saw the departure of Les Ferdinand to Newcastle and the following season the team struggled and were relegated.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43644865 |title=Ray Wilkins: From Mexico to Milan, football says goodbye to 'an absolute gentleman' |first=Phil |last=McNulty |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=4 April 2018 |access-date=5 April 2018}} As player-manager, he appeared in a further 21 games for the club from 1994 to 1996. Wilkins left QPR by mutual agreement in September 1996 after the club was bought by media tycoon Chris Wright following their relegation from the FA Premier League.{{cite news |last=Moore |first=Tom |date=31 March 2018 |url=https://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/former-qpr-fulham-manager-ray-14478256 |title=Former QPR and Fulham manager Ray Wilkins in critical condition after suffering cardiac arrest |work=Get West London |access-date=4 April 2018}}

Wilkins played for four clubs in the 1996–1997 season. He played one game at Wycombe Wanderers before moving to Hibernian for a 16-game stint. Toward the end of the season he played three times for Millwall in the Second Division and, finally, three Third Division games for Leyton Orient before retiring.{{Cite web |url=http://www.neilbrown.newcastlefans.com/player/raywilkins.html |publisher=Neil Brown |title=Ray Wilkins |access-date=4 April 2018 }}

International career

Wilkins scored three goals in 84 games for England,{{NFT player|id=17103|access-date=4 April 2018}} captained the team on ten occasions,Williams, Richard (4 April 2018). [https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2018/apr/04/ray-wilkins-chelsea-captain-18-joy-to-watch The real and remarkable Ray Wilkins was always a joy to watch ]. The Guardian. Retrieved 4 April 2018. and played at the 1982 and 1986 World Cups.{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/news/y=2018/m=4/news=ex-england-captain-wilkins-passes-away.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405024604/http://www.fifa.com/news/y=2018/m=4/news=ex-england-captain-wilkins-passes-away.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 April 2018|title=Ex-England captain Wilkins passes away|work=FIFA.com|date=4 April 2018|access-date=4 April 2018}} Wilkins was called up to play for England for the first time in 1976 by coach Don Revie,{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ray-wilkins-chelsea-england-captain-died-age-61-obituary-a8289996.html|title=Ray Wilkins: International footballer who was handed the Chelsea captaincy at 18|date=5 April 2018|work=The Independent}} then made his debut on 28 May in a 3–2 win over Italy at the U.S.A. Bicentennial Cup Tournament in New York.

He achieved one of his career highs after helping England qualify for the 1980 European Championships in Italy — the first tournament England had reached for a decade.[http://www.thefa.com/England/All-Teams/Players/W/Ray-Wilkins Ray Wilkins]. The FA. Retrieved on 4 April 2018. During a group game against Belgium, Wilkins scored a memorable goal when he lobbed the whole Belgian defence (thereby breaching the Belgians' obvious offside trap) and delivered a second lob, this time over the head of the goalkeeper and into the net to put England ahead. The Belgians swiftly equalised, however, and England failed to progress beyond the group stage.Croke, Ruaidhrí (3 May 2016). [https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/international/euro-moments-ray-wilkins-produces-moment-of-magic-as-english-fans-riot-1.2633286 Euro Moments: Ray Wilkins produces moment of magic as English fans riot]. Irish Times. Retrieved 4 April 2018.

Wilkins was a fixture in the England squad through a successful campaign to qualify for the 1982 World Cup in Spain, which England exited at the second group stage. Over the season 1983/84, Wilkins continued to play for England under new coach Bobby Robson but the team failed to qualify for the 1984 European Championships.

Wilkins remained an England regular during his spell at Milan and he was chosen for the squad which qualified for the 1986 World Cup in Mexico. He played in the opening defeat against Portugal.[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2016/06/02/1986-portugal-1-england-0--where-are-they-now/ray-wilkins-in-england-v-portugal-1986-world-cup-match/ 1986: Portugal 1 England 0 – where are they now?]. Daily Telegraph (2 June 2016). Retrieved 4 April 2018. Wilkins became the first Englishman to be sent off at the World Cup in a goalless draw with Morocco in 1986, for throwing the ball at Gabriel González. The ball hit the referee having been thrown in protest at being deemed offside.{{cite news|title=Wilkins off in England's disgrace|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2507&dat=19860607&id=tLZAAAAAIBAJ&pg=4318,1769842|access-date=4 April 2018|work=The Glasgow Herald|date=7 June 1986}} He was suspended for the next two games and was not reinstated by the time the quarter-final against Argentina came round, a game which England lost 2–1.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43644865 Ray Wilkins: From Mexico to Milan, football says goodbye to 'an absolute gentleman']. BBC Sport (4 April 2018). Retrieved on 4 April 2018.

Wilkins made his 84th and final England appearance in November 1986, against Yugoslavia.Mason, Peter (4 April 2018). [https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/apr/04/ray-wilkins-obituary Ray Wilkins obituary ]. The Guardian. Retrieved 4 April 2018.

Coaching career

=Early coaching career=

Wilkins was QPR manager from 1994 to 1996, and managed fellow West London club Fulham in 1997–1998.{{cite news|title=Wilkins gets Chelsea post|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/305167.stm|access-date=4 April 2018|publisher=BBC Sport|date=27 March 1999}} In March 1999, Wilkins was appointed Chelsea's first-team coach after Graham Rix was jailed for child sex offences. Wilkins and Rix were Chelsea's interim managers after the sacking of Gianluca Vialli at the start of the 2000–01 FA Premier League season, but both were sacked from the club on the orders of new manager Claudio Ranieri in November 2000.{{cite news|title=Chelsea explain sackings|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/1046305.stm|access-date=4 April 2018|publisher=BBC Sport|date=29 November 2000}}

When Vialli was hired by First Division club Watford, Wilkins again assisted him until their dismissal in June 2002.{{cite news|last1=Tallentire|first1=Mark|title=Vialli joins the Watford exodus|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2002/jun/15/worldcupfootball2002.sport8|access-date=4 April 2018|work=The Guardian|date=15 June 2002}} From 2003 to 2005, Wilkins assisted former Chelsea player Dennis Wise in his managing of Millwall, but announced his exit when he took exception at Dave Bassett being hired in the coaching staff.{{cite news|title=Millwall's summer of discontent|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2005/aug/07/newsstory.millwall|access-date=4 April 2018|work=The Guardian|date=7 August 2005}}

=England U-21=

From 2004 on Wilkins was assistant coach to Peter Taylor with the England under-21s until Taylor left in early 2007. Wilkins was not retained by incoming head coach Stuart Pearce.Wells, Darren (4 April 2018). [https://www.irishmirror.ie/sport/soccer/soccer-news/ray-wilkins-england-national-football-12302908 Remembering Ray Wilkins: Chelsea and Manchester United legend who was known as 'one of nicest men in the game']. Irish Mirror. Retrieved 4 April 2018.

=Return to Chelsea=

File:Raywilkinsoct2010.JPG]]

In September 2008, Wilkins was appointed assistant first team coach to Luiz Felipe Scolari at Chelsea, following Steve Clarke's departure to West Ham United. In February 2009, following Scolari's shock sacking,{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/7879638.stm

|title=Scolari sacked as Chelsea manager |publisher=BBC Sport |date=9 February 2009 |access-date=14 February 2009 }} Wilkins was appointed as Chelsea's caretaker manager for the Fifth round FA Cup tie with Watford.{{cite news|title=No split at Chelsea, says Wilkins |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/chelsea/7888199.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|date=13 February 2009|access-date=14 February 2009}} Chelsea won the game 3–1, through a Nicolas Anelka hat-trick, with the club's new manager Guus Hiddink watching from the stands.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/fa_cup/7872201.stm|title=Watford 1–3 Chelsea|website=BBC Sport|date=14 February 2009|access-date=14 February 2009|first=Saj|last=Chowdhury}}{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/7890917.stm|title=Wilkins warns of Chelsea threat |website=BBC Sport |date=14 February 2009|access-date=14 February 2009}}

On 11 November 2010, it was announced that Wilkins' contract with Chelsea "would not be renewed" and that he was to leave the club "with immediate effect".[https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/nov/11/ray-wilkins-leaves-chelsea "Ray Wilkins leaves Chelsea with immediate effect"]. The Guardian. 11 November 2010. On 1 December 2010, Wilkins reached what he described as a "harmonious conclusion" with Chelsea following his unexpected departure from Stamford Bridge. While appearing as a guest on Sky Sports Champions League coverage on 7 December 2010, Wilkins said that Chelsea still had not given him a reason for his sacking.[http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=847746&sec=england&cc=5739 "Ray Wilkins resolves Chelsea dispute"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101204082823/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=847746&sec=england&cc=5739 |date=4 December 2010 }}, ESPN Soccernet, 1 December 2010

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti, who was himself sacked at the end of the 2010–2011 season, wrote about Wilkins, in his autobiographical book The Beautiful Games of an Ordinary Genius: "Ray is one of those select few, always present, noble in spirit, a real blue-blood, Chelsea flows in his veins ... without him we wouldn't have won a thing."[https://web.archive.org/web/20121025215030/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=840883&cc=5739 "Mystery over Wilkins departure from Chelsea"] ESPN Soccernet, 11 November 2010

=Later coaching career=

On 30 December 2013, Wilkins was appointed assistant head coach of Fulham.[http://www.fulhamfc.com/news/2013/december/30/wilkins-appointed "Wilkins Appointed"] Fulham F.C. 30 December 2013 He and technical director Alan Curbishley were sacked on 17 February 2014 and the season ended with relegation.{{cite news|last1=Wilson|first1=Jeremy|title=Fulham sack Alan Curbishley and Ray Wilkins|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/fulham/10645222/Fulham-sack-Alan-Curbishley-and-Ray-Wilkins.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/fulham/10645222/Fulham-sack-Alan-Curbishley-and-Ray-Wilkins.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=4 April 2018|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=17 February 2014}}{{cbignore}}

On 3 September 2014, Wilkins was appointed as the new head coach of Jordan. He led Jordan at the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, where they were eliminated in the group-stages for the first time after two losses against Iraq and Japan and a win over Palestine.{{cite web|url=http://www.futbol24.com/international/AFC/Asian-Cup/2015/Group-D|title=AFC – Asian Cup — Results, fixtures, tables, statistics – Futbol24|access-date=30 June 2015}}

On 25 June 2015, Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood appointed Wilkins as his assistant manager. On 26 October 2015, Wilkins was sacked along with Tim Sherwood and the rest of the coaching team.{{cite web|url=http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~4828446,00.html|title=Wilkins joins backroom staff|publisher=Aston Villa F.C.|access-date=30 June 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150630163733/http://www.avfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10265~4828446,00.html|archive-date=30 June 2015}}

Media

In the 1990s Wilkins was part of the team that contributed to the Football Italia show that aired on Channel 4.{{cite web |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/remembering-football-italia-brilliant-show-12264274 |title=Remembering Football Italia as brilliant show is brought back to life in film |work=Daily Record |date=31 March 2018 |first=Graeme |last=Young |access-date=5 April 2018 }} Wilkins later appeared as a commentator for Sky Sports, particularly on their Champions League coverage.{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/showbiz/news/a853920/ray-wilkins-dies-obituary-sky-sports-england-footballer/|title=Ex-footballer Ray Wilkins has died, aged 61|date=4 April 2018|work=digitalspy.com|access-date=4 April 2018}} He also worked for Talksport. Wilkins was also featured as a commentator on the 1990s Tango soft drink commercials, 'You know when you've been Tango'd'.{{cite news |last1=Robinson |first1=Trevor |title=How we Tango'd Britain with the Orange Man |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media-network/2015/jun/15/how-we-made-you-know-youve-been-tango-orange-man-ad |access-date=16 February 2019 |work=The Guardian |date=15 June 2015}}

Personal life

File:Ray Wilkins Memorial Wall (27382762868).jpg]]

The son of professional footballer George Wilkins, he had two sisters and three footballer brothers: Graham Wilkins (born 28 June 1955 in Hillingdon), a former professional, who played in the Football League as a full-back for Chelsea, Brentford, and Southend United; former Brighton & Hove Albion manager and player Dean Wilkins; and Stephen Wilkins, who was signed by Chelsea and later made one appearance for Brentford, before playing for a number of non-League teams, including Dagenham and Hayes. Throughout his life, Wilkins was known by his childhood nickname of "Butch".{{cite which was bestowed on him by family friend

Sammy Keen when Ray was around 3 years old. web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/ray-wilkins-dead-former-manchester-14491635|title=Former England football star Ray Wilkins dies aged 61|first=Anthony|last=Woolford|date=4 April 2018|access-date=4 April 2018}}

Wilkins married Jackie (née Bygraves) in 1978. The couple had a son and a daughter.

He was a patron for the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young.{{cite web|title=Ray Wilkins MBE|date=8 January 2014 |url=https://www.c-r-y.org.uk/ray-wilkins-mbe/|publisher=Cardiac Risk in the Young|access-date=5 April 2018}} In 1993, he was made an MBE.{{cite news|title=Ray Wilkins on drink-driving charge|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-16986376|access-date=5 April 2018|publisher=BBC Sport|date=9 May 2012}}

In March 2013, he was stopped while driving and found to be "nearly four times" over the legal alcohol limit.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-23350642 |work=BBC News |title=Ray Wilkins guilty of drinking and driving |date=17 July 2013}} In February 2014, he said that he had ulcerative colitis.{{cite news|title=Ray Wilkins has Ulcerative Colitis |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/fulham/10648110/Ray-Wilkins-reveals-he-is-suffering-from-ulcerative-colitis-the-same-illness-as-Darren-Fletcher-after-drink-claims.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/fulham/10648110/Ray-Wilkins-reveals-he-is-suffering-from-ulcerative-colitis-the-same-illness-as-Darren-Fletcher-after-drink-claims.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |work=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=19 February 2014 |location=London |date=19 February 2014}}{{cbignore}} In July 2016, Wilkins was given a four-year ban for drunk driving.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/jul/25/ex-footballer-ray-wilkins-sentenced-for-drink-driving|title=Ex-footballer Ray Wilkins sentenced for drink-driving|date=25 July 2016|work=TheGuardian.com|access-date=4 April 2018}} In August 2016, he admitted he was an alcoholic.{{cite web|title=Ray Wilkins opens up about his battle with alcoholism on talkSPORT|url=https://talksport.com/football/ray-wilkins-opens-about-his-battle-alcoholism-talksport-160825207677|website=talkSPORT|access-date=4 April 2018|date=25 August 2016|archive-date=5 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405090709/https://talksport.com/football/ray-wilkins-opens-about-his-battle-alcoholism-talksport-160825207677|url-status=dead}}

Death

On 28 March 2018, Wilkins had a cardiac arrest, resulting in a fall, and was placed into an induced coma at St George's Hospital in Tooting.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/soccer/2018/03/30/ray-wilkins-england-hospital|title=Ray Wilkins reportedly in critical condition|magazine=Sports Illustrated|access-date=4 April 2018|date=30 March 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/ray-wilkins-induced-coma-cardiac-arrest-footballer-chelsea-manchester-united-england-a8282446.html|title=Ray Wilkins placed into induced coma after suffering heart attack|date=31 March 2018|newspaper=The Independent |first=Henry |last=Austin }} He died at the age of 61 on 4 April 2018.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43644529|title=Ray Wilkins: Former England captain dies in London hospital |date=4 April 2018|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=4 April 2018}}

Hours after his death, Milan played rivals Inter Milan in the Derby della Madonnina at the San Siro. His former captain Franco Baresi laid a bouquet of flowers next to Wilkins' shirt by the side of the pitch.{{cite news|title=Ray Wilkins 1956–2018: Franco Baresi leads tribute ahead of Milan derby|url=https://talksport.com/football/ray-wilkins-1956-2018-franco-baresi-leads-tribute-ahead-milan-derby-180404277936|access-date=4 April 2018|publisher=Talksport|date=4 April 2018|archive-date=5 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405025558/https://talksport.com/football/ray-wilkins-1956-2018-franco-baresi-leads-tribute-ahead-milan-derby-180404277936|url-status=dead}} A section of Milan fans held aloft a banner which read "Ciao Ray: Leggenda Rossonera" (English: "Goodbye Ray: Legend of the Red and Blacks").{{cite news|title='Ciao Ray' – Franco Baresi, AC Milan fans make touching tributes to Ray Wilkins|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/ray-wilkins-franco-baresi-ac-milan-fans-make-touching-tributes-ciao-ray-a3806061.html|access-date=5 April 2018|publisher=Evening Standard|date=4 April 2018}} During Chelsea's home game against West Ham United on 8 April, fans at Stamford Bridge gave a minute's applause in the eighth minute to pay tribute to Wilkins. They also held a banner which read "Ray was one those select few, he knew what it meant to be one of us a real blue blood. Chelsea flowed through his veins, may you rest in peace Ray."{{cite news|title=Chelsea pay tribute to former captain and coach Ray Wilkins|url=http://sport.bt.com/football/chelsea-pay-tribute-to-former-captain-and-coach-ray-wilkins-S11364263253818|access-date=8 April 2018|publisher=BT Sports|date=8 April 2018|archive-date=9 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180409044259/http://sport.bt.com/football/chelsea-pay-tribute-to-former-captain-and-coach-ray-wilkins-S11364263253818|url-status=dead}}

A memorial service was held for Wilkins on 1 May at St Luke's Church, Chelsea, attended by many figures from the world of football. His son made a speech about Wilkins' struggles with depression and alcoholism.{{cite news|title=Ray Wilkins: Ex-England captain honoured with 90-minute memorial|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43970292|access-date=1 May 2018|publisher=BBC Sport|date=1 May 2018}} On 19 May, his widow Jackie was the guest of honour at the FA Cup final between two of Wilkins' former clubs, Chelsea and Manchester United. Chelsea won the match 1–0 and she presented the trophy to Gary Cahill, the winning captain.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}

Career statistics

=Club=

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !rowspan="2"\|Division !colspan="2"\|League !colspan="2"\|National Cup !colspan="2"\|Other !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition{{ENFA}}{{cite web \|title=Rangers - Wilkins, Ray \|url=http://www.fitbastats.com/rangers/player.php?playerid=1361 \|website=FitbaStats \|access-date=4 November 2019}}{{cite web \|title=Hibernian - Wilkins, Ray \|url=http://www.fitbastats.com/hibs/player.php?playerid=6365 \|website=FitbaStats \|access-date=4 November 2019}}
Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan="7"\|Chelsea \|1973–74 \|First Division \|6	0	1	0	0	0	7	0
1974–75 \|First Division \|21	2	2	0	1	0	24	2
1975–76 \|Second Division \|42	11	4	1	4	0	50	12
1976–77 \|Second Division \|42	7	2	0	6	2	50	9
1977–78 \|First Division \|33	7	3	1	4	1	40	9
1978–79 \|First Division \|35	3	0	0	1	0	36	3
colspan="2"\|Total !179	30	12	2	16	3	207	35
rowspan="6"\|Manchester United \|1979–80 \|First Division \|37	2	2	0	3	0	42	2
1980–81 \|First Division \|13	0	2	0	0	0	15	0
1981–82 \|First Division \|42	1	1	0	2	0	45	1
1982–83 \|First Division \|26	1	4	1	6	0	36	2
1983–84 \|First Division \|42	3	1	0	13	2	56	5
colspan="2"\|Total !160	7	10	1	24	2	194	10
rowspan="4"\|Milan \|1984–85 \|Serie A \|28	0	12	0	0	0	40	0
1985–86 \|Serie A \|29	2	6	1	6	0	41	3
1986–87 \|Serie A \|16	0	7	0	1	0	24	0
colspan="2"\|Total !73	2	25	1	7	0	105	3
Paris Saint-Germain \|1987–88 \|French Division 1 \|13	0	0	0	0	0	13	0
rowspan="4"\|Rangers \|1987–88 \|Scottish Premier Division \|24	1	3	0	2	0	29	1
1988–89 \|Scottish Premier Division \|31	1	6	0	8	2	45	3
1989–90 \|Scottish Premier Division \|15	0	0	0	7	0	22	0
colspan="2"\|Total !70	2	9	0	17	2	96	4
rowspan="6"\|Queens Park Rangers \|1989–90 \|First Division \|23	1	9	2	0	0	32	3
1990–91 \|First Division \|38	2	1	0	5	0	44	2
1991–92 \|First Division \|27	1	1	0	2	1	30	2
1992–93 \|Premier League \|27	2	1	0	4	0	32	2
1993–94 \|Premier League \|39	1	1	0	4	0	44	1
colspan="2"\|Total !154	7	13	2	15	1	182	10
Crystal Palace \|1994–95 \|Premier League \|1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
rowspan="4"\|Queens Park Rangers \|1994–95 \|Premier League \|2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
1995–96 \|Premier League \|15	0	1	0	3	0	19	0
1996–97 \|First Division \|4	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
colspan="2"\|Total !21	0	1	0	3	0	25	0
Wycombe Wanderers \|1996–97 \|Second Division \|1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Hibernian \|1996–97 \|Scottish Premier Division \|16	0	0	0	1	0	17	0
Millwall \|1996–97 \|Second Division \|3	0	0	0	1	0	4	0
Leyton Orient \|1996–97 \|Third Division \|3	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
colspan="3"\|Career total !694	48	70	6	84	8	848	62

=International=

National team	Year	Apps
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" \|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year{{cite web\|title=Ray Wilkins\|url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=22870\|publisher=Eu-Football.info\|access-date=4 April 2018}}{{cite news\|title=We are saddened to hear about the passing of former England captain Ray Wilkins\|url=http://www.thefa.com/news/2018/apr/04/ray-wilkins-040418\|access-date=4 April 2018\|publisher=The FA\|date=4 April 2018}}{{cite web \|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/eng-recintlp.html\|first1=Matthias \|last1=Arnhold \|first2=Roberto \|last2=Mamrud \|title=England – Record International Players\|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation\|access-date=14 February 2009}}
rowspan="11"\|England \|1976	3	0
1977	7	0
1978	8	0
1979	9	1
1980	8	1
1981	7	0
1982	12	1
1983	1	0
1984	10	0
1985	9	0
1986	10	0
colspan="2"\|Total	84	3

:Scores and results list England's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Wilkins goal.

scope="col"\|No. !scope="col" data-sort-type="date"\|Date !scope="col"\|Venue !scope="col"\|Cap !scope="col"\|Opponent !scope="col"\|Score !scope="col"\|Result !scope="col"\|Competition !scope="col" class="unsortable"\|{{Abbr\|Ref.\|References}}
class="wikitable sortable" \|+ List of international goals scored by Ray Wilkins
align="center"\| 1	13 June 1979	Praterstadion, Vienna, Austria	24	{{fb\|Austria}}	align="center"\| 3–3	align="center"\| 3–4	Friendly	[http://englandstats.com/matches.php?mid=533 Austria 4 – 3 England]. England Stats. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
align="center"\| 2	12 June 1980	Stadio Comunale, Turin, Italy	33	{{fb\|Belgium}}	align="center"\| 1–0	align="center"\| 1–1	UEFA Euro 1980
align="center"\| 3	23 February 1982	Wembley Stadium, London, England	43	{{fb\|Northern Ireland}}	align="center"\| 3–0	align="center"\| 4–0	Home Championship	[http://englandstats.com/matches.php?mid=559 Match No. 559 – Tuesday, 23 February 1982]. England Stats. Retrieved 4 April 2018.

=Managerial statistics=

class=wikitable style="text-align: center" \|+ Managerial record by team and tenure
rowspan=2\|Team !rowspan=2\|From !rowspan=2\|To !colspan=5\|Record !rowspan=2\|{{abbr\|Ref\|Reference}}
{{abbr\|P\|Matches played}}	{{abbr\|W\|Matches won}}	{{abbr\|D\|Matches drawn}}	{{abbr\|L\|Matches lost}}	{{abbr\|Win %\|Win percentage}}
align=left\|Queens Park Rangers \|align=left\|15 November 1994 \|align=left\|4 September 1996 {{WDL\|80\|31\|13\|36}} \|
align=left\|Fulham \|align=left\|25 September 1997 \|align=left\|7 May 1998 {{WDL\|43\|20\|8\|15}} \|
align=left\|Chelsea (caretaker) \|align=left\|13 September 2000 \|align=left\|17 September 2000 {{WDL\|2\|1\|0\|1}} \|
align=left\|Chelsea (caretaker) \|align=left\|9 February 2009 \|align=left\|14 February 2009 {{WDL\|1\|1\|0\|0}} \|
align=left\|Jordan \|align=left\|3 September 2014 \|align=left\|1 July 2015 {{WDL\|15\|2\|2\|11}} \|{{Soccerbase manager\|id=1061\|name=Ray Wilkins}}
colspan=3\|Total {{WDLtot\|142\|56\|23\|63}}

class=wikitable style="text-align: center"

|+ Managerial record by team and tenure

rowspan=2|Team

!rowspan=2|From

!rowspan=2|To

!colspan=5|Record

!rowspan=2|{{abbr|Ref|Reference}}

align=left|Queens Park Rangers

|align=left|15 November 1994

|align=left|4 September 1996

align=left|Fulham

|align=left|25 September 1997

|align=left|7 May 1998

align=left|Chelsea (caretaker)

|align=left|13 September 2000

|align=left|17 September 2000

align=left|Chelsea (caretaker)

|align=left|9 February 2009

|align=left|14 February 2009

align=left|Jordan

|align=left|3 September 2014

|align=left|1 July 2015

|{{Soccerbase manager|id=1061|name=Ray Wilkins}}

colspan=3|Total

Honours

=Player=

Manchester United

FA Cup: 1982–83{{cite web |last=Haigh |first=Phil |date=4 April 2018 |url=http://metro.co.uk/2018/04/04/watch-ray-wilkins-fa-cup-final-goal-manchester-united-vs-brighton-1983-absolute-peach-7440892/ |title=Watch Ray Wilkins' FA Cup final goal for Manchester United vs Brighton in 1983 was an absolute peach |publisher=Metro |access-date=4 April 2018 }}
FA Charity Shield: 1983{{cite web |last=Butler |first=Cliff |date=4 April 2018 |url=http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Club-News/2018/Apr/former-manchester-united-midfielder-ray-wilkins-sadly-passes-away.aspx |title=United pay tribute to Ray Wilkins |publisher=Manchester United Football Club |access-date=5 April 2018}}

Rangers

England

Rous Cup: 1986[http://soccernostalgia.blogspot.co.uk/2017/01/stanley-rous-cup-part-2-1986.html Stanley Rous Cup-Part 2 (1986)]. Soccer Nostalgia (31 January 2017). Retrieved 4 April 2018.
British Home Championship: 1977–78, 1981–82, 1982–83{{cite news |last=Dillion |first=John |date=4 April 2018 |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/ray-wilkins-gentleman-of-football-much-loved-hero-game-london-will-be-missed-very-deeply-a3806026.html |title=The gentleman of football: Ray Wilkins, a much-loved hero of the game and of London, will be missed very deeply |work=London Evening Standard |access-date=5 April 2018}}

Individual

Chelsea Player of the Year: 1975–76, 1976–77{{cite web |url=http://www.chelseafc.com/the-club/history/style/statistics/annual-awards.html |title=Annual Awards |publisher=Chelsea Football Club |access-date=5 April 2018 }}
English Football Hall of Fame: 2013Walters, Mike (4 April 2018). [https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/ray-wilkins-dead-obituary-tribute-12295568 'If there was an award for nicest man in football, Ray Wilkins would have won it']. Mirror. Retrieved 4 April 2018.