Willie Cunningham (Northern Irish footballer)

William Edward Cunningham (20 February 1930 – 31 August 2007) was a Northern Ireland international footballer and manager.

For other people named Willie Cunningham, see Willie Cunningham (disambiguation).

William Cunningham
Personal information
Full name William Edward Cunningham[1]
Date of birth (1930-05-17)17 May 1930
Place of birth Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland
Date of death 31 August 2007(2007-08-31) (aged 77)
Place of death Dunfermline, Scotland
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Ardrossan Winton Rovers
1950–1954 St Mirren 61 (1)
1954–1960 Leicester City 127 (4)
1960–1963 Dunfermline Athletic 70 (4)
Total 258 (9)
International career
1951–1962 Northern Ireland 30 (0)
Managerial career
1964–1967 Dunfermline Athletic
1968–1972 Falkirk
1973–1974 St Mirren
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Born in County Antrim but raised in Scotland from a young age, he signed for St Mirren in 1950 and played there until 1954 when he left for Leicester City. He joined Dunfermline Athletic in 1960 and was a member of the Scottish Cup-winning team which beat Celtic 2–0 in 1961. After retiring from playing, he went into management with Dunfermline Athletic and Falkirk.[2] He returned to manage St Mirren in 1972, but resigned in 1974 for personal reasons. Before leaving, he recommended Alex Ferguson as his successor.

He rejected an approach from the Scottish FA to become the Scotland national team manager in 1971.[3]

He played 30 matches for Northern Ireland, and was a member of their 1958 FIFA World Cup team.

He died, aged 77, on 31 August 2007.

Honours
Falkirk

References
  1. "Willie Cunningham". Barry Hugman's Footballers. Retrieved 5 April 2017.
  2. Falkirk FC Managers
  3. "CUNNINGHAM SAYS NO TO SCOTLAND JOB". Press and Journal. 8 September 1971. Retrieved 4 June 2022 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  • Willie Cunningham at Post War English & Scottish Football League A–Z Player's Database
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