Joseph Jordan (born 15 December 1951) is a Scottish former football player and manager. A forward, his strong, fearless and committed play created his fearsome "Jaws" persona.
Jordan started his senior football career with Greenock Morton. With Leeds United, he won the 1973–74 Football League First Division and was runner-up in the 1973 European Cup Winners' Cup final and the 1975 European Cup final. With Manchester United, he was runner-up in the 1979 FA Cup Final. He won the 1982–83 Serie B title with Milan and was runner-up in the 1984 Coppa Italia Final with Hellas Verona. He helped Southampton to their second highest league finish of fifth in 1984–85, for what would have qualified for the 1985–86 UEFA Cup had English clubs not been banned following the Heysel stadium disaster. He then ended his playing career with Bristol City, where he also became player-manager.
Jordan gained 52 full Scotland caps scoring 11 goals. He is the only Scot to score in three World Cups, (in 1974, 1978 and 1982.) For his playing efforts for club and country, he was a Scottish Football Hall of Fame 2005 inductee.
As well as at Bristol City (twice), he has managed or coached Heart of Midlothian, Celtic, Stoke City, Northern Ireland, Portsmouth, Tottenham Hotspur, Queens Park Rangers, Middlesbrough and most recently AFC Bournemouth.
Early life
Jordan was born in the village of Cleland, Lanarkshire That win clinched Morton's place in the new 'British Cup' tournament, the Texaco Cup. Four days later he was involved in the build up for Bobby Collins' goal, clinching a 2–0 win at Rangers. Jordan described Collins as his 'footballing godfather'. Jordan recalled the Rangers game in his book: "I got involved in the move that resulted in a goal for Collins, my hero and, as it turned out, the man who put in the word that carried me to where I wanted to be, at the top of the professional game."
In the 135 league games that Jordan played for Leeds, he scored 39 goals. for Manchester United on 4 January 1978 for £350,000. Jordan reached the 1979 FA Cup final, losing 3–2 to Arsenal. Winners were Liverpool, who for 15 years from the mid 1970s succeeded Leeds as England's team to beat. Jordan top scored for United that season with 13 goals, all in the league. United's second place finish qualified them for the 1980-81 UEFA Cup, as did Bobby Robson's Ipswich Town who finished third. United were eliminated in the UEFA Cup first round by Widzew Łódź on away goals after drawing 1-1 at home and then 0-0 in Poland. Ipswich won the UEFA Cup that season. the first of which was the opener in a 7 November 1981, 1-1 home draw v Como.
In the 1981-82 Coppa Italia, Milan finished third in the five team group behind group winners, Internazionale, and Hellas Verona. Jordan's header put Milan 2-1 ahead v Inter in the 49th minute. Walter Novellino had put Milan ahead before Alessandro Altobelli equalised. Giuseppe Bergomi though added a second Inter equaliser in the 89th minute for 2-2 final score.
Milan won the 1981/82 Mitropa Cup. Their opponents in the 4 team round-robin competition were TJ Vítkovice, Haladás and NK Osijek.
Milan went into the last game of the league season in 14th; the third of the relegation places in the 16 team division. To avoid relegation they needed to catch Genoa who were better off by both of two points (two points for a win), and a goal difference of four. After 63 minutes, Genoa were losing 2-1 at SSC Napoli. Milan though were losing 2-0 at AC Cesena. Jordan scored in the 67th minute to ignite a comeback to lead 3-2 after 81 minutes. Genoa though equalised in the 85th minute to draw 2-2. With no further goals in either of these 2 games, Milan were relegated.
In the 1982-83 Coppa Italia six team group stage Milan lost only once in their five games, to two Paolo Rossi Juventus goals. Jordan scored for Milan in that away 2-1 defeat. Another of Jordan's Coppa goals was in the group stage home win versus Serie A club Genoa. 2-0 down to a Mauro Tassotti own goal and a René Vandereycken strike, Jordan's 43rd minute goal sparked a comeback. Serena added two for a 3-2 win. In the quarter-final, Milan played against Hellas Verona, riding high that season to a fourth place Serie A finish and UEFA Cup qualification. Milan drew the first leg 2-2 away to their opponents from the division above. In the 2nd leg in Milan, Jordan put his team 3-1 ahead in the 54th minute (Baresi had opened the scoring with a penalty). However, after Domenico Penzo made it 3-3 in the 89th minute, Milan were eliminated 5-5 on away goals.
Jordan played two seasons for Milan, scoring 12 goals in his 52 league games.
On the eve of a return to the club in a Champions League game in 2011, as a coach with Tottenham, Jordan said the move to Milan, one of the biggest clubs in the world, was the best move of his career. He opined that it gave him experience he had always wanted, namely a chance to play abroad.
Hellas Verona
Aged 31, in 1983 Jordan transferred to fellow Serie A club, Hellas Verona. While Jordan had been in Serie B with Milan, Verona finished fourth in the 1982–83 Serie A, earning a UEFA Cup berth. Jordan played three Verona 1983-84 UEFA Cup games. He subbed on in the first round, first leg 1-0 home win v Red Star Belgrade as part of a 4-2 aggregate win. He thus became the first Scotsman to play for an Italian club in UEFA organised competition. In the second round, he played all 90 minutes of the 2-2 home draw and subbed on in the 0-0 away draw v SK Sturm Graz. Verona were thus eliminated on the away goals rule without having lost a game over 90 minutes in that season's UEFA Cup.
Jordan played 24 league and cup Verona games. His appearances were limited by a combination of his injuries and the good form of Maurizio Iorio (21 goals) and Giuseppe Galderisi (13 goals) that season. Jordan subbed on six times in his 12 Verona Serie A games. Verona finished the 1983–84 Serie A season sixth on equal points with Sampdoria and Jordan's ex-club, Milan.
Jordan scored once in nine 1983-84 Coppa Italia games, opening the scoring in the semi-final first leg 2-1 win at SSC Bari. Jordan subbed on in both legs of the 1984 Coppa Italia final, which they lost for the second season in a row, this time to AS Roma. After drawing the first leg 1-1 at home, they lost 1-0 in Rome. That defeat in Rome was Jordan's last Verona game. He was the first Scotsman to play in a Coppa Italia final.
Despite his limited game time, Jordan's season with Verona is looked back upon as successful. Verona fans immediately loved Jordan, appreciating his passion and commitment on the pitch. They displayed a large Scottish flag in the Curva Sud because of him. He is credited with passing on valuable experience to Iorio, Galderisi and other young players at the club ahead of their campaign the next season. Replacing Jordan the season after with Preben Elkjaer up front, Verona were Italian football league champions for the first time in their history in 1985 (including seasons before the 1929 re-brand to Serie A). Jordan played for Saints in that season's UEFA Cup, drawing 0–0 at home against Hamburger SV before elimination after an away leg 2–0 defeat to goals by Manfred Kaltz and Mark McGhee. Southampton finished fifth in the Football League First Division that season. Jordan was their league top scorer with 12 goals from his total league and cup tally of 16. Moran's 18 was higher when totalling league and cup strikes. This is Southampton's second highest ever league finish (surpassed only by finishing second the season before). Fifth would have earned a UEFA Cup place. However, English clubs started a ban that season following the Heysel Stadium Disaster.
In summer 1985, McMenemy left, replaced by Chris Nicholl who Jordan "didn't know" and would "never get to know". Jordan then severely damaged his knee in a training ground collision with reserve goalkeeper Phil Kite. Cartilage and medial-ligament injury meant he was out of the first team until March. He then lost his place in the first team in summer 1986 when the club signed Colin Clarke. Jordan scored for Saints in the 1986-87 Football League Cup September 3–0 home win versus Swindon Town. That was his only game in Southampton's run to that season's semi-final.
Bristol City
Aged 35, in February 1987
On 26 September 1973, Jordan scored with a diving header for the winning goal in a 2–1 comeback win against Czechoslovakia at Hampden Park. That win clinched Scotland qualification for the 1974 FIFA World Cup in West Germany. That was Scotland's first World Cup qualification since 1958, having failed in three attempts since '58. Scotland finished the group unbeaten, but were eliminated at that stage on goal difference. Czechoslovakia were reigning European champions at the time. Scotland wrapped up qualification in Liverpool. The Welsh FA in favour of higher gates receipts from the Tartan Army, opted to play Wales v Scotland at Anfield. The match is remembered for, "an infamous penalty decision 12 minutes from time." Jordan and Welsh defender David Jones challenged for the ball in the Welsh penalty area, from a throw-in by Scotland's Willie Johnston. The referee judged hand ball against Jones for a Scotland penalty. TV replays showed that it was though, Jordan's hand that connected with the ball (and also that he kissed his hand once the penalty was awarded). This was the most dubious of three Scots penalty claims in the game. Don Masson converted the penalty putting Scotland 1-0 ahead.
Jordan scored in Scotland's 1982 World Cup 2–2 draw versus the Soviet Union.
In February 1989, City lost 2-1 on aggregate in the 1988–89 Football League Cup semi-final to eventual winners, Nottingham Forest. Among Jordan's signings was Bob Taylor from Leeds in March 1989. City bought Taylor for £250,000 plus Carl Shutt valued at £50,000. Taylor scored eight goals in the 12 City league games he played in that 1988–89 Football League season.
Taylor's 27 league goals made him the divisions leading scorer in the 1989–90 Football League. Taylor also scored seven cup goals for 34 in total that season. Robbie Turner was Taylor's strike partner. Alan Walsh, Mark Gavin and Dave Smith were the providers for the strikers. Taylor tore a hamstring in a 4-1 win at Crewe Alexandra. That caused to Taylor to miss the next six of the season's last seven games. In Taylor's six game absence, City managed only one win and three draws. In the last of they six games, City lost 3-0 at Bristol Rovers. Rovers over took City at the top of the table that day. City were promoted as runners-up to their Bristol rivals.
Hearts
In September 1990 Jordan was appointed manager of Edinburgh based Scottish Premier Division club, Heart of Midlothian. After a poor start to that season, Hearts had sacked their manager of eight years Alex MacDonald. They turned to Jordan as a high-profile ex-Scotland international striker. Jordan was not a popular choice amongst many Stoke fans after it seemed Denis Smith was to be appointed.
Middlesbrough
On 17 March 2017, Jordan was appointed as assistant first-team manager under caretaker manager Steve Agnew at Middlesbrough. Jordan left his post at the end of the 2016–17 season.
AFC Bournemouth
On 25 February 2021, AFC Bournemouth announced that Jordan had joined the coaching staff. Jordan left his role after the 2020–21 season, upon the expiration of his contract.
Recognition
In 2005, Jordan was one of 11 players inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame.
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|FA Cup
!colspan="2"|League Cup
!colspan="2"|Other
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="9"|Leeds United
|1970–71
|First Division
|1||0||0||0||0||0||2||0||2||0
|-
|1971–72
|First Division
|12||0||2||0||0||0||0||0||14||0
|-
|1972–73
|First Division
|26||9||1||0||2||0||7||3||34||12
|-
|1973–74
|First Division
|33||7||5||2||2||0||4||0||44||9
|-
|1974–75
|First Division
|29||4||6||0||4||0||9||2||48||6
|-
|1975–76
|First Division
|17||2||0||0||0||0||0||0||17||2
|-
|1976–77
|First Division
|32||10||5||2||1||0||0||0||38||12
|-
|1977–78
|First Division
|20||3||0||0||3||3||0||0||23||6
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!170!!35!!19!!4!!12!!3!!22!!5!!223!!47
|-
|rowspan="5"|Manchester United
|1977–78
|First Division
|14||3||2||0||0||0||0||0||16||3
|-
|1978–79
|First Division
|30||6||5||2||2||2||0||0||37||10
|-
|1979–80
|First Division
|32||13||2||0||2||0||0||0||36||13
|-
|1980–81
|First Division
|33||15||3||0||0||0||1||0||37||15
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!109!!37!!12!!2!!4!!2!!1!!0!!126!!41
|-
|rowspan="3"|Milan
|1981–82
|Serie A
|22||2||4||3||colspan="2"|–||4||1||30||6
|-
|1982–83
|Serie B
|30||10||6||4||colspan="2"|–||0||0||36||14
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!52!!12!!10!!7!!colspan="2"|–!!4!!1!!66!!20
|-
|Hellas Verona
|1983–84
|Serie A
|12||1||0||0||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||12||1
|-
|rowspan="4"|Southampton
|1984–85
|First Division
|34||12||3||2||7||2||1||0||45||16
|-
|1985–86
|First Division
|12||0||0||0||2||0||2||0||16||0
|-
|1986–87
|First Division
|2||0||0||0||1||1||1||0||4||1
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!48!!12!!3!!2!!10!!3!!4!!0!!65!!17
|-
|rowspan="5"|Bristol City
|1986–87
|Third Division
|19||3||0||0||0||0||5||4||24||7
|-
|1987–88
|Third Division
|28||4||1||0||2||0||6||0||37||4
|-
|1988–89
|Third Division
|9||1||0||0||6||0||0||0||15||1
|-
|1989–90
|Third Division
|1||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||1||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!57!!8!!1!!0!!8!!0!!11!!4!!77!!12
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!448!!105!!45!!15!!34!!8!!42!!10!!569!!138
|}
International
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"
|+ International statistics
|-
! National team !! Year !! Apps !! Goals
|-
|rowspan=11|Scotland
|-
|1973||6||1
|-
|1974||10||4
|-
|1975||1||1
|-
|1976||5||0
|-
|1977||5||1
|-
|1978||8||1
|-
|1979||5||1
|-
|1980||4||0
|-
|1981||4||1
|-
|1982||4||1
|-
! colspan=2 |Total||52||11
|}
:Scores and results list Scotland's goal tally first.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! # !! Date !! Venue !! Opponent !! Score !! Result !! Competition
|-
| 1 || 26 September 1973 || Hampden Park, Glasgow || || 2–1 || 2–1 || WCQG8
|-
| 2 || 18 May 1974 || Hampden Park, Glasgow || || 1–0 || 2–0 || BHC
|-
| 3 || 6 June 1974 || Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo || || 1–1 || 2–1 || Friendly
|-
| 4 || 14 June 1974 || Westfalenstadion, Dortmund || || 2–0 || 2–0 || WCG2
|-
| 5 || 22 June 1974 || Waldstadion, Frankfurt || || 1–1 || 1–1 || WCG2
|-
| 6 || 5 February 1975 || Estadio Luis Casanova, Valencia || || 1–0 || 1–1 || ECQG4
|-
| 7 || 21 September 1977 || Hampden Park, Glasgow || || 1–0 || 3–1 || WCQG7
|-
| 8 || 3 June 1978 || Córdoba || || 1–0 || 1–3 || WCG4
|-
| 9 || 7 June 1979 || Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo || || 1–0 || 4–0 || ECQG2
|-
| 10 || 9 September 1981 || Hampden Park, Glasgow || || 1–0 || 2–0 || WCQG8
|-
| 11 || 22 June 1982 || Estadio La Rosaleda, Málaga || || 1–0 || 2–2 || WCG6
|}
Managerial
{| class=wikitable style="text-align: center"
|+ Managerial record by team and tenure
|-
!rowspan=2|Team
!rowspan=2|From
!rowspan=2|To
!colspan=5|Record
|-
!!!!!!!!!
|-
|align=left|Bristol City
|align=left|16 March 1988
|align=left|1 September 1990
|-
|align=left|Heart of Midlothian
|align=left|10 September 1990
|align=left|3 May 1993
|-
|align=left|Stoke City
|align=left|10 November 1993
|align=left|8 September 1994
|-
|align=left|Bristol City
|align=left|15 November 1994
|align=left|24 March 1997
|-
|align=left|Portsmouth
|align=left|24 November 2005
|align=left|7 December 2005
|-
|align=left|Portsmouth
|align=left|26 October 2008
|align=left|28 October 2008
|-
!colspan=3|Total
|}
Honours
Leeds United
- Football League First Division: 1973–74
- European Cup runner-up: 1974–75
- European Cup Winners' Cup runner-up: 1972–73
- FA Charity Shield runner-up: 1974
Manchester United
- FA Cup runner-up: 1978–79
Milan
- Serie B: 1982–83
- Mitropa Cup: 1982
Hellas Verona
- Coppa Italia: runner-up 1984
Bristol City
- Football League Trophy runner-up: 1986–87
Heart of Midlothian
- Tennents' Sixes: 1991
Individual
- Scottish Football Hall of Fame, 2005 inductee
External links
- Manchester United career summary
- Manchester United career summary