Herbert Chapman began his managerial career with Northamption Town and Leeds City. He was embroiled in controversy when an accusation about financial impropriety was made by a former player and 5 Leeds City officials were banned from football for life - including Chapman. Chapman was working in the coke works at Selby when this ban was imposed but was later laid off and appealed against the ban, managing to overturn it by arguing that he was not directly involved in the financial impropriety. Chapman returned as manager of Huddersfield Town, signing players of the calibre of Clem Stephenson and George Brown. He won the FA cup in his first season in charge and went on to win the league championship in two successive seasons, before moving to Arsenal. His Huddersfield side and Arsenal side were based on a strong defence, pacey wingers who put in lots of crosses and a counter-attacking style of play with quick passing. At Arsenal, 30-31 and 32-33 were both title-winning seasons and he won the FA cup in 1930, after a slow start without any trophies for his first 5 years at the helm as he rebuilt a struggling club. He became the first - and one of only three managers since - to win the league title with two different clubs in the 20th century, alongside Brian Clough and Kenny Dalglish. Chapman will be remembered as Hudderfield's greatest manager and a very successful Arsenal manager who transformed them into a big club. He was also England's first professional manager, albeit on a temporary basis and fully merits his place inside the all-time top 30 British managers. Tragically, Chapman died of pneumonia while on a scouting mission. But for that, he may have won so much more.
British league champions: 4
Foreign league champions: 0
European cup: 0
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