Sheffield United v Millwall

UTB 51
management taking his
first job with Peterborough
United, then playing in
the Midland League. The
Posh won the league title
in 1958/59 and 1959/60
and were elected to the
Football League for the
start of the 1960/61 season.
Hagan subsequently led his
team to the Fourth Division
title in their first season as
a league club scoring 134
goals along the way.
Due to his success with
the Posh, clubs at a higher
level had noticed his
managerial abilities and he
became boss of top flight
side West Bromwich Albion
in April 1963, staying there
until May 1967.
Whilst with the Baggies,
he guided his team to glory
in the Football League Cup
when they beat West Ham
United 5-3 on aggregate in
the 1965/66 final.
There were some
players at Albion who
disagreed with his training
methods, especially
those adopted during
cold weather. However,
after leaving Albion and
having had a spell scouting
for Manchester City, he
became manager/coach
at top Portuguese club
Benfica in March 1970.
It was here in Lisbon
where he enjoyed even
greater triumphs than he
had experienced in his
managerial career to date.
▲ With his West Brom players after winning the League Cup in 1966
He led his team to three
consecutive league titles
in 1970/71, 1971/72 and
1972/73.
In the latter of those
triumphs, the team went
unbeaten throughout
their league campaign
winning 28 and drawing
just two of their 30 fixtures,
finishing 18 points ahead of
second place.
In addition to the league
titles, he helped Benfica
win the Portuguese Cup in
1972 beating Lisbon rivals,
Sporting, 3-2 in the final.
Hagan left Benfica
in September 1973,
subsequently taking
further management and
coaching roles in Kuwait
and Portugal, including
spells with Sporting
Lisbon, Boavista, Vitoria De
Setubal, Belenenses and
Grupo Desportivo Estoril
Pracia. There was one more
Portuguese Cup triumph for
him whilst he was in charge
at Boavista, when they
beat Sporting 1-0 in the
1979 final.
Reflecting on his style
of management, one of
Benfica and Portugal’s
greatest ever players,
Eusebio, who played under
Hagan, recalled he was
a “strong disciplinarian”
and that some of his
training schedules could
be “punishing”. However,
Eusebio said the players
appreciated the benefits his
training gave them during
the course of a season.
Eusebio also recalled
Hagan “knew how to handle
players well” and was highly
respected.
In summary, Hagan was
not only one of the Blades’
greatest ever players but
went on to become one
of the most successful
managers in Europe at
the time.
SHEFFIELD UNITED vs MILLWALL