Nicholson became Tottenham Hotspur manager when they were struggling towards the foot of the top flight and rapidly turned around their fortunes. Within 3 seasons, Nicholson managed to win the first double in the 20th century and created a team of legendary elegance dubbed 'the push and run' team, which is widely regarded as the most attractive attacking side in Tottenham's history and also the most successful. He subsequently reached a European cup semi-final, won a second FA cup, became the first manager of a British club to win a major European trophy by winning the cup winners' cup in 1963 with a 5-1 victory over Athletico Madrid in the final and won a third FA cup. In the 70s, Nicholson won 2 league cups and a UEFA cup. He retired from football with great dignity, higlighting shifting attitudes in football such as negative tactics and cynicism, a lack of regard for style and flair - and increasing player power. Nicholson is remembered as a legend of the game by Spurs fans, having led them through their most successful era, combining a great work ethic with a commitment to pretty, attacking football: an ethos that pervades the club even to this day. Nicholson's ghost looms over White Hart Lane as their greatest ever manager and a true footballing idealist. Indeed, so great is his legacy, no Spurs manager has been considered quite good enough since Nicholson. He was - and is - a hard act to follow.
British league champions: 1
Foreign league champions: 0
European cup: 0
European cup winners cup: 1
UEFA cup: 1
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