ARMENIA COACH IAN PORTERFIELD HAS DIED AGED 61

armradio.am
12.09.2007 11:33

Armenia coach Ian Porterfield has died aged 61. Porterfield had been
undergoing treatment for colon cancer, and he passed away on Tuesday
evening, UEFA official website informs.

Armenia had been steadily improving under Porterfield’s guidance
and he was in the dugout last month when the team achieved one of
the most remarkable results, a 1-1 draw with Portugal in qualifying
for UEFA EURO 2008. The Armenia job was the latest in a long line of
exotic postings for the Scottish manager, who will be best remembered
in Britain for what he achieved as a player rather than as a coach.

Born in Dunfermline, he started his career with Scottish side Raith
Rovers FC but moved south of the border to make his name in English
football during a spell at Sunderland AFC. He became a hero there by
scoring the winning goal against odds-on favourites Leeds United AFC
in the 1973 FA Cup final to secure one of the biggest shock results of
the age. Having finished his playing career at Sheffield Wednesday FC,
he moved on to manage Rotherham United FC and then Sheffield United FC,
helping them win two promotions before being dismissed in 1986. He
then coached Aberdeen FC and Reading FC before spending two seasons
as manager of Chelsea FC between 1991 and 1993.

That was to be his last English posting for a while as he stepped in
to take charge of the Zambian national team shortly after an air crash
had robbed the African nation of some of its finest players. After
spells as coach of Saudi Arabia and Zimbabwe, he made an ill-starred
return to England as assistant manager of Bolton Wanderers FC in 1996.

Subsequent seasons saw him take charge of Oman, Trinidad & Tobago and
Korean club side Busan I’Park before he being named Armenia manager
in April 2006.

"He had his wish to die in harness," The Times quotes Glenda,
Porterfield’s wife, as saying. "I’ll always remember the open training
session at the stadium on the day before the game [against Portugal].

The stadium was packed to see all the Portuguese stars like [Cristiano]
Ronaldo, Deco and the rest, but when Ian walked out, they all stood
up and shouted his name. It was very moving."