Source: PA
City mourn Allison
Former Manchester City manager Malcolm Allison has died, it was announced today. He was 83.
The club paid tribute to `Big Mal' on its website, describing him as "flamboyant, brilliant and larger than life".
"Malcolm will be sorely missed by everyone at the club and beyond," said the statement on City's website.
Allison joined the Blues in 1965 as assistant manager to Joe Mercer before taking up the top job in 1972. He also had a spell back at the club from 1979 to 1980.
Club ambassador Mike Summerbee said: "Malcolm changed football by making us train like athletes, in that respect he was ahead of his time and he was a great tactician as well.
"He was also one of the lads - in effect he was the 12th player from the sidelines but he knew how to crack the whip and we respected him. He was a great psychologist; he knew how to handle me and how to get more out of me. He did the same for Colin Bell, Francis Lee, Neil Young and all of that great side."
