You just wouldnt, unless another club had come in for you and made an offer you could not refuse. Real Madrid wanted a marquee signing, a player who would aid their domestic dominance, and provide the extra star quality needed to bring back the trophy that Madridistas have always seen as a birthright: the European Cup. She helps clients develop business articles, blog posts, white papers, research reports, and books that establish them as thought leaders in their fields. [12] Another statue by Ibbeson was unveiled in West Bromwich town centre in May 2019. "That's his judgement but for me it's more about what Laurie had to deal with coming over from England with no agents or support system like we have nowadays," he says. Read More Keane slams De Gea as 'like he's had a few drinks . After a prolonged negotiation period, Real Madrid made Cunninghams transfer official on 1 July 1979, for a club-record fee of 110 million pesetas so reported an El Pas article published at the time making Laurie the first British player to sign for the Spanish giants and the second black player to do so; the first being Brazilian World Cup-winning midfielder Waldry Didi Pereira, whose short stint at the club came 20 years earlier. His dazzling performances at Leyton Orient and West Brom saw him become the first black player to represent England at under-21 level in 1977. He had been discharged by the clubs doctor and didnt expect to be punished for spending his own time as he wished. They have got everything they need, medically, psychologically and socially to help them through anything they come across. while the player was on the field.) Laurie Cunningham. "He had his style, his grace and his pace. A left winger, he notably played in England, France and Spain, where he became the first ever British player to sign for Real Madrid . He just liked to dance. . Furthermore, at West Brom, under the tutelage of Atkinson, next to Cyrille Regis and Brendon Batson, he formed one-third of the famous Three Degrees strikeforce that took English football by storm. For a man who famously loved to express himself through dance, it would have been hard for Cunningham to avoid getting caught up in the spirit of a city learning how to express itself again after 40 years in chains. Albion featured two other players of African descent, Brendan Batson and Cyrille Regis, and the three of them were known as the "Three Degrees." The presence of three black players on one . Because obviously his connection was at West Bromwich Albion, one of the local teams that was in my area. Along with the broken toe, Laurie suffered a knee ligament injury and endured a series of botched operations that kept him out for the rest of the season, until the European Cup final versus Liverpool. Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? His defining moment of that season, though, and perhaps the event for which he is most widely remembered on Spanish shores, occurred on 9 February 1980, this time in a 2-0 away victory against Barcelona. ", Clubs Leyton Orient (1974-77), West Bromwich (1977-79), Real Madrid (1979-1984), Manchester United (1983, loan), Sporting Gijon (1983-84, loan), Marseilles (1984-85), Leicester City (1985-86), Rayo Vallecano (1986-87 and 1988-89), Charleroi (1987), Wimbledon (1988), Honours La Liga (1980), Copa del Rey (1980, 1981), FA Cup (1988), Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies. And Cunningham showed how much he could play in a Uefa Cup tie against Valencia on 6 December 1978, a game that changed his life. There he played alongside Cyrille Regis and Brendon Batson under coach Ron Atkinson, becoming only the second trio of black players to be fielded in the top flight of English football. They all took care of him but in Madrid they tried to police him instead and perhaps that wasn't the best way to handle him. Friday would have been Cunningham's 57th birthday had his life not been tragically cut short in a car crash in Spain in July 1989. . 2023 Cable News Network. On a grander scale, these were crazy, passionate times in the capital. Salary in 2020. Laurie Cunningham, the forgotten man. His final season as a footballer was back in the Spanish capital, a second stint with Rayo. He left Real after the 198283 season,[4] joining Sporting Gijn and subsequently Marseille.[7]. After four years at the Bernabeu, in 1983 Cunningham was reunited with Atkinson, now manager of Manchester United, when he went to Old Trafford on loan. Cunningham's pace and exciting style of play drew favorable attention and he became the first black player to represent England at any level when he played for the under-21s in a 1977 friendly. I would clutch the phone in terror and think of the embarrassment and shame if my wife, family and the public found out. Graceful, balletic, smooth, he was everything the purist would want in a footballer. ", Cunningham is remembered as one of West Brom's greatest players, The 1981 European Cup final was one of Cunningham's career highlights, Cunningham's style was in contrast to Wimbledon's approach, The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites. "I went out with him and the Vallecano president," he said. [8] Despite this club success, Cunningham was overlooked by England manager Ron Greenwood for a place in the England squad for Euro 1980.[7]. This means that we may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. Though he may never have reached the heights many predicted after those scintillating seasons at West Brom, Cunninghams true legacy came off the pitch with how he inspired and led a generation of Black footballers. And although a paltry six England caps would suggest Cunningham did not entirely fulfil his own promise, he left a legacy more enduring than only a list of statistics and memories. He said: I was staggered. Cunningham came on from the bench in the second half of the game to feature for little over half an hour. Therefore, when John Metgod signed in July 1982, there was no way back into the team for Laurie. Joseph Cure: 1983 2015 31 years American actor and ice hockey player car Ennis, Montana: Slick conditions made for risky driving. Find Laurie Cunningham stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. Honoured: Laurie Cunningham, seen here playing for Real Madrid in 1980. . We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. Darren Moore vividly recalls sitting at home as an eight-year-old, staring at the television in wide-eyed amazement. Memories of Laurie Cunningham, killed in a car crash on the notorious bend of the La Corua road at Puerta de Hierro just northwest of the city in the small hours of Sunday July 16, 1989. The former soccer star is now a successful agent to a number of top players who are disbelieving of the once overt racism in the game. [14], Statue of the Three Degrees by Graham Ibbeson, in West Bromwich New Square, "Laurence Cunningham" redirects here. [4] He scored twice on his debut and helped Real win the league and cup double. Sign up to our daily newsletter - get the latest Scottish news to your inbox Born in London, Cunningham signed his first professional contract . Back with Real Madrid, his scored goals in the early rounds of the European Cup, but then he succumbed to injury, and required an operation on a broken toe. . Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in, Laurie Cunningham, the first man to play for both Manchester United and Real Madrid, had an incredible impact in Spain. David Beckham was a boy when Laurie Cunningham made his name at Real Madrid. "They started bidding at 250,000 and we started at 1.5m - nobody spoke the same language except for the translator so we would write a figure on a piece of paper, show it to them and they would cross them out and put in their offer. But few handled it better than Laurie did. Pierre Curie: 1859 . He was severely reprimanded by the clubs hierarchy; unfairly so, according to many. "He was so full of flair and ended up playing for the original long-ball side - it was a far cry from playing for Real Madrid against Barcelona to be playing at Plough Lane.". Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in, Please refresh your browser to be logged in, Laurie Cunningham: Tragic tale of the former Manchester United player, Extra 10% Nike discount code for students, 20% off selected items with this Footasylum discount code, 15% off when you sign up - New Balance newsletter discount, Extra 20% off selected fashion and sportswear at Very, Compare broadband packages side by side to find the best deal for you, Compare cheap broadband deals from providers with fastest speed in your area, All you need to know about fibre broadband, Best Apple iPhone Deals in the UK March 2023, Compare iPhone contract deals and get the best offer this March, Compare the best mobile phone deals from the top networks and brands. Delhi News | Asian News International | Tuesday February 28, 2023. Laurie's time at Real Madrid was bittersweet. Cunningham more than justified the 950,000 fee Madrid paid in the summer of 1979 by scoring twice on his debut (once more against Valencia) and helping them win a League and Cup Double, with that night in the Nou Camp a clear highlight. You have to remember that as a player when you play well everyone wants you. A year later, while in Madrid, he was involved in a fatal car crash. Spent 2 minutes with me at court because she had another case. Cunningham was killed in a car crash in Madrid on the morning of 15 July 1989, at the age of 33. 2. [4] He joined West Bromwich Albion in 1977, where, under manager Johnny Giles, he teamed up with another black player, Cyrille Regis, and the following year (under Ron Atkinson) with Brendon Batson. The scarcity of internet footage of Cunningham means younger fans wondering just how good he was have to rely on comparisons from those who knew him. The Camp Nou surrendered to a Real Madrid footballer during El Clasico held that afternoon on Barcelonas territory. Then came the awful news, on July 15, 1989, that he had died in a car crash . Having grown up winning dance tournaments throughout South Londons many discos, Laurie Cunningham was always ready to steal the limelight if the moment arose. Rejected by Arsenal, he began his professional career at Leyton Orient in 1974 and within five years he became the first Englishman to play for Real Madrid. Laurence Paul Cunningham (8 March 1956 - 15 July 1989) was an England international footballer. $1 Million - $5 Million. Striker Regis was one of the first black footballers to break through to the top level of English football when he made his debut for the Baggies in 1977. He later earned 6 caps for the full national team between 1979 and 1980, becoming one of the first ever black England internationals. Big Ron was later sacked by ITV after he broadcast a racial remark live on air about the Chelsea player Marcel Desailly. If we'd had a few, he could have started and if it had gone wrong, we could have put someone else on.". He would go on to make six appearances in total for his country, though agonizingly missed out on a place in the England squad for Euro 1980. "We couldn't do a Cantona and jump into the crowd, so instead you thought 'I'll hurt you with my ability'. Dermot's plan for 2016 is to crowdfund a book about Laurie Cunningham's amazing legacy for England's footballers. Perhaps the peak of his Real career came later that season in the reverse fixture against Barcelona at the Camp Nou.