Nickname: BallyChant: Who's the greatest of them all...
Alan Ball started his football career at Ashton United, a team then managed by his father.
He was soon spotted and snapped up by Blackpool after initially being rejected by teams such as Bolton Wanderers and Wolves.
Did You Know? Alan Ball was a bit of a pioneer as he was the first player to wear white football boots at a time when all the players wore black boots!
Ball did well for Blackpool and was called up by England and after impressing in the famous 1966 World Cup Everton were alerted to the talents of Alan Ball and he signed for £112,000.
He went on to form a formidable midfield partnership with Howard Kendall and Colin Harvey and the trio became known as “The Holy Trinity!”
Everton reached the 1968 FA Cup Final, but lost to West Bromwich Albion and were knocked out by Manchester City in the semi-finals the following year. Ball was instrumental in the team which won his first and only major domestic honour in the game as Everton took the 1969–70 Football League Championship title, seeing off a late challenge from Leeds United.
Back at club level, Everton again capitulated in the semi-finals of the FA Cup in 1971, with Ball's opening goal overhauled by two strikes from Merseyside rivals Liverpool, who went on to lose the final to "double"-chasing Arsenal. Ball later picked up his 50th England cap in a match against Northern Ireland.
He was then transferred to Arsenal much to the dismay of many Evertonians and played 177 games for the Gunners before seeing out his career with spells at several clubs including Southampton, Vancouver Whitecaps and a return to Blackpool.
Ball then went into management most notably managing Manchester City, Southampton, Blackpool and Portsmouth.
