A swashbuckling campaigner, Joe Jordan spent the early years of his professional football career playing for Greenock Morton before he completed a move south of the border to join Don Revie´s Leeds United side partly into the 1970-71 season. Having not only a good nose for the back of the net, he also became something of a connoisseur of excellent food and fine wines after spending three years in Italian football.
PART ONE
Leeds United’s predecessor, Leeds City, had been established back in 1904 and elected to League membership in 1905, but The Citizens were forcibly disbanded by The Football League in 1919 in response to allegations of illegal payments to players. The newly formed Leeds United Association Football Club were then invited to take over the fixtures of Leeds City Reserves who competed in the Midland League and the brand new club were elected to the Football League the following year. Leeds United, then managed by former Barnsley and Huddersfield Town boss Arthur Fairclough, won promotion out of the Second Division by becoming champions in 1923-24, but they found themselves relegated three years later.
They managed to win promotion back to the First Division in the 1927-28 campaign, only to be relegated after spending three years in the top-flight of English football. Leeds secured promotion at the very first attempt, however, and they would spend the next eight seasons playing in the First Division. In the 1946–47 campaign, Leeds once again suffered relegation and remained in the Second Division until 1955–56 when they climbed back to the First Division under manager Horatio Stratton “Raich” Carter, but were relegated to Division Two at the end of the 1959–60 term. Apparently, Leeds United Football Club looked to be heading nowhere, but then the board appointed a certain Donald George Revie in the second half of the 1960-61 campaign and they would never look back.
Revie, who had previously been playing for Leicester City, Hull City, Manchester City, Sunderland, and Leeds during his active professional career, had taken the club from the darkness of obscurity to the very top of the football world. A master motivator of men and a shrewd tactician who could read the game better than most, he had guided Leeds to the Second Division Championship in 1963-64, and had then navigated them to the First Division title in 1968-69. The Don had also managed to steer Leeds to League Cup glory as well as an Inter-Cities Fairs Cup triumph in the 1967-68 season.
And then came Joe Jordan. Born and brought up in the small mining village of Cleland in North Lanarkshire, Jordan had started out at Scottish Junior Football Association team Blantyre Victoria, based in the town of Blantyre in South Lanarkshire. He was first discovered by Hal Stewart who brought him to Scottish First Division side Greenock Morton, a club well-known for giving young players a chance, and the highly promising prospect stayed two years at Cappielow Park in Inverclyde in West Central Scotland before Don Revie signed him for a ridiculously low transfer fee of only £15,000 at the front end of the 1970-71 campaign.
While at Leeds, Jordan would play alongside major household names such as Allan Clarke, Eddie Gray, Norman Hunter, Peter Lorimer, and Paul Madeley and his greatest achievement with the club was no doubt winning the First Division Championship in the 1973-74 campaign. Revie left nothing to chance and on Jordan´s arrival at Leeds from Greenock Morton, the youth was designated the peg between fellow countrymen Gray and Lorimer in order to learn from their knowledge and experiences. Greatly impressed with the natural born hit-man, Revie would hand him his First Division debut for Leeds in a 2-0 loss to reigning champions and FA Cup holders Arsenal at Highbury on the 11th of September 1971 at the age of 19, but he was not a part of the team that won the FA Cup in 1972 after defeating the Gunners 1-0 in the final.
He was nevertheless regarded as one of the finest talents around and the up-and-coming youngster scored his first Football League goals for The Peacocks on the 26th of August 1972, netting a brace in a 3-3 draw against Ipswich Town at Elland Road. He was left out of the Leeds team which suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Second Division club Sunderland in the FA Cup Final in May 1973, but he was selected for the European Cup-Winners´ Cup Final against Italian Serie A giant Milan in Thessalonica later the same month, a game which also ended in a 1-0 loss. At Kaftanzoglio Stadium, Greek referee Christos Michas, who was later suspended for life by UEFA, made a number of unfair decisions against the English side, but despite vehement protests the result stood.
In the summer of 1973, Revie seriously considered a move to John Moores´ Everton, who had just sacked their long serving and experienced manager Harry Catterick, but he remained at Elland Road after the deal broke down due to a new law introduced in Parliament that prevented wage rises to curb inflation. Now, during a pre-season training session, Revie told his players that he wanted them to go through the forthcoming 1973-74 campaign undefeated as he was sick and tired of coming second.
Building upon the early season successes that saw Leeds secure comfortable victories—such as the emphatic 3–1 win over Everton at Elland Road on 25 August and the resilient 2–1 triumph against Arsenal at Highbury on 28 August—Jordan’s inclusion in the scoring charts was a sign of things to come, and his contributions underscored the deep squad strength that Leeds possessed. Furthermore, as the fixtures progressed and the demands of the First Division mounted, Leeds delivered consistent performances, such as the 3–0 demolition of Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane on 1 September and the clinical 4–1 rout of Wolverhampton Wanderers at Elland Road on 5 September, yet it was the latter part of the campaign when Jordan’s individual brilliance began to shine.
On 15 December 1973, in a crucial away fixture at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea, Leeds edged a 2–1 victory, and it was Jordan’s deft touch that ensured his name was on the scoresheet alongside Jones. This match, in particular, not only demonstrated his composure under pressure but also hinted at a player who was evolving into a crucial cog in the Leeds machine. In addition, on 29 December 1973, despite the bitter winter chill that had settled over the city, the 1–1 draw with Birmingham City at St Andrew´s saw Jordan again find the net, thereby solidifying his status as a reliable forward, and consequently, his contributions began to accumulate in step with Leeds’ relentless drive for the title.
Likewise, the new year heralded further moments of individual excellence when, on 12 January 1974, Leeds hosted Southampton in a game that ended 2–1 in their favour, with Jordan once more making a vital impact by scoring alongside Jones. And just as the team’s momentum continued to build, the season reached one of its most defining chapters on 5 February 1974 at Elland Road when Leeds faced Arsenal; a match that, despite Arsenal’s resilient challenge, ended in a 3–1 victory largely thanks to an own goal by Simpson and two superb strikes from Jordan. His brace not only shifted the balance of the game but also sent a clear message to opposition defences that when Joe Jordan was on form, Leeds were virtually unstoppable.
Moreover, on 9 February 1974, in another high-profile clash, Leeds travelled to Old Trafford to face Manchester United, and in a game where Jones’s goal complemented Jordan’s strike, the 2–0 result was a testament to their collective ambition and tactical superiority; thus, each successive fixture built upon the last, creating an unbroken chain of performances that resonated throughout the campaign. While Leeds continued to secure draws and wins in matches against clubs such as Leicester City, Newcastle United, and Manchester City, the cumulative effect of Jordan’s seven vital goals was not merely in the numbers but in the momentum they provided, underpinning Leeds’ eventual dominance in the First Division, where they finished top with 62 points.
Paradoxically, the successful 1973-74 campaign also represented a turning point in the wrong direction for Leeds. Following Revie’s departure to take over as manager of the England team in the summer of 1974, the once proud club would go into decline and hatred between the players started to bubble over. Revie was replaced by Brian Clough and one of the first things the former Brighton and Hove Albion manager did was to sort out a new contract for Jordan.
Clough had previously led Derby County out of the Second Division in 1969 and then to the First Division Championship just three years later, but alas the North Yorkshire man only lasted 44 days in the hot-seat in West Yorkshire. Bolton Wanderers boss Jimmy Armfield was eventually brought in following the sacking of Clough and the Whites managed to reach the 1975 European Cup Final in Paris where they were disappointingly beaten 2-0 by West German Bundesliga top-dogs Bayern Munich in a contest they should have won by a comfortable margin.
On their march to the final, Leeds United had knocked out Swiss side FC Zurich, Hungarian team Ujpest Dozsa, Belgian club Anderlecht, and Catalan giants FC Barcelona, while reigning European Champions Bayern Munich, who had a walk over in the first round, had dispatched of East German Oberliga Magdeburg, Armenian minnows FC Ararat Yerevan, and French outfit Saint Etienne to get there.
Leeds dominated possession as well as territory throughout, but the highly anticipated game between the two clubs was turned into something of a farce by an incompetent and weak referee. With tempers flaring from the very first whistle, Bayern Munich lost Bjorn Andersson when the defender was carried off the pitch on a stretcher with a leg injury after a tackle from Terry Yorath in the fourth minute, and just a few moments later Paul Reaney was booked for a foul on Uli Hoeness. The Elland Road men enjoyed a string of decent opportunities early on, but they failed to convert any of them into goals. As the final progressed, Leeds increased the attacking pressure even more and they were incorrectly denied a penalty for what they thought was a handball by Franz Beckenbauer inside the area in the 23rd minute. And there was more as they were refused another blatant spot-kick when the same man clearly tripped Clarke from behind inside the box ten minutes ahead of the break.
Some 15 minutes following the resumption of play, Bremner almost scored from just a few yards out, but his close range effort was well saved by Sepp Maier. Then, only a minute later, a long-distance goal from Lorimer was wrongfully disallowed by the short-sighted official for Bremner being offside. To the utter despair of the Leeds United fans, the Bavarians scored in the 71 minute as a ball from Conny Torstensson found Franz Roth whose low shot went past David Stewart and into the back of the net. And with the clock ticking away, Bayern Munich found the net again when dangerman Gerd Muller converted a cross from the right side by Jupp Kapellmann to double the advantage for the Germans with less than ten minutes remaining of normal time.
To top it all, disillusioned Leeds followers ran riot at the Parc de Princes Stadium following the bitter defeat to Bayern Munich, and the club were banned from European competitions for four years. Shortly after the European Cup Final, however, Leeds received a highly lucrative offer for Jordan from Bayern Munich chief Dettmar Cramer, but the Elland Road board of directors refused to let the sought after player leave at the time.
PART TWO
Unfortunately, Leeds´s success came to a sudden and dramatic halt after several years at the very top, and managers started to come and go at an alarming rate of pace. And, as things eventually turned out, Manchester United gaffer Dave Sexton, who had taken over the reigns from larger-than-life manager Tommy Docherty the previous year, was given the go ahead to buy Jordan for a club record-breaking transfer fee of £350,000 in the middle of the 1977-78 season in order to strengthen his attack. Now, to maintain that the highly publicised and controversial transfer deal angered the Leeds supporters would in all probability be the biggest understatement of the entire decade. And just to make things even worse for the Elland Road faithful, Jordan would be joined by Leeds United and Scotland international defender Gordon McQueen who went in the same direction a few weeks later.
Richly blessed with excellent heading ability and a powerful shot too, Joe Jordan went on to become a stalwart central striker for Manchester United and his fresh and fearless approach to the game made him an immediate favourite with the fans of the club. The Scot, who would be playing up front with Jimmy Greenhoff and Stuart Pearson, was given his First Division debut for Manchester United in a spirited 1-1 draw to middle-of-the-table Bristol City witnessed by an attendance of more than 43,000 spectators at Old Trafford on 8 February 1978 and followed up by producing his first goal for his new employers in a hard-fought and well-earned 2-2 draw against relegation candidates Newcastle United at St James´ Park on 15 March.
He registered a consolation in a 3-1 defeat against Terry Neill´s Arsenal at Highbury on 1 April and grabbed a goal in a 3-1 success over Norwich City at Carrow Road a fortnight later to bring his tally to three goals since joining United two months earlier. And although Manchester United could only manage a tenth place finish in First Division, the club looked to the future with a certain amount of optimism.
Following the summer break, Jordan registered the only goal in a 1-0 triumph against Birmingham City at Old Trafford on the opening day of the 1978-79 campaign. He also netted the winning goal in a 3-2 League Cup Second Round win at home to Fourth Division Stockport County on 30 August and scored yet another winner in a 1-0 home victory over neighbours Manchester City on 30 September. Both teams played a tight game and the match looked to be heading for a goalless stalemate when Jordan managed to hit the target in the very last minute after McQueen´s header from a right-sided corner by Coppell had been parried out by City goalkeeper Joe Corrigan.
Then, on 4 October, he scored a first-half goal in a 2-1 League Cup Third Round defeat against Third Division club Watford at Old Trafford where Luther Blissett silenced the home crowd with two goals in the second half. On the first Saturday of the month, Jordan produced the winning goal in 3-2 success against Middlesbrough at Old Trafford and he lit up the scoreboard again as he netted one of the goals in a tough-fought 4-2 win over Wolverhampton at Molineux three weeks later.
On a perfect Saturday afternoon for football, Manchester United took the lead against Wolverhampton through Jimmy Greenhoff whose deflected shot found the back of the net on 20 minutes, and the evergreen veteran forward scored again when he ran onto a clever header from Jordan and fired home in the 29th minute of the encounter. Kenny Hibbitt reduced the arrears for Wanderers with a low and hard effort which rocketed past Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Paddy Roche and into the far side of the net a couple of minutes later, but Three Lions international Brian Greenhoff restored the two-goal cushion for United as the multifunctional defender blasted a fierce drive from the edge of the box and into the bottom right corner of the net just a minute ahead of the break.
In the second frame, Manchester United continued to control proceedings and they extended their lead further when Jordan effortlessly lobbed the ball over Wolverhampton shot stopper Gary Pierce and into the net in the 52nd minute before midfield playmaker Steve Daley hit the last goal of the meeting six minutes past the hour mark, making the final score 4-2 in favour of the visiting team. But despite beating Wolves, Manchester United remained in sixth place with fifteen points won from twelve matches.
On 11 November, Jordan scored Manchester United´s only goal in an embarrassing and painful 5-1 defeat against relegation battling Birmingham City at St Andrew´s, but a long-term injury would see him sidelined for almost four months. After recovering, he scored one of the goals in a 2-0 FA Cup Quarter-Final Replay win over Spurs at Old Trafford on 14 March and also netted in a 2-2 FA Cup Semi-Final draw with Liverpool at Maine Road on the last day of the month.
The Anfield men went in front in the 17th minute of play when Kenny Dalglish scored after a tremendous individual display, but Manchester United hit back a mere two minutes later as a dangerous high cross from Jimmy Greenhoff found Jordan who headed the ball into the back of the net. Shortly before the half-time break, Liverpool were controversially awarded a penalty-kick by referee David Richardson of Great Harwood following an aerial challenge by Buchan on Dalglish inside the eighteen-yard area, only for Terry McDermott to hit the post from the spot. Then, a few moments later, Jordan almost found the target again, but his volley from just outside the six-yard box was saved by Ray Clemence in the Liverpool goal.
In the second period, Manchester United came out pushing even harder and grabbed the lead for the first time in the game thanks to Brian Greenhoff who beat Clemence with a magnificent close-range volley into the net after 56 minutes of pulsating action. The Merseysiders refused to lie down, though, and levelled the scores through a rare goal from defender Alan Hansen in the 82nd minute of the semi-final.
In the replay at Goodison Park on 4 April, Manchester United nearly took the lead after five minutes as Sammy McIlroy neatly passed the ball to the on-running Lou Macari who hammered a low shot from inside the penalty area, but his attempt was miraculously saved by Clemence. And just a mere two minutes later in the match, Jordan had a great chance to score when he was through on goal with just Clemence left to beat, only to see his effort superbly blocked by the keeper. Manchester United kept launching attacks and Jordan was unfortunate when his header from close range struck the Liverpool crossbar midway through the half. Ten minutes before the interval, however, it was Ray Kennedy´s turn to hit the bar as his powerful header from the edge of the six-yard box rattled the woodwork.
A refreshed Liverpool team created a string of of good opportunities early in the second half, but they managed to squander them all. Manchester United asserted more pressure as the half wore on and got the winning goal when Mickey Thomas delivered a perfect cross to Jimmy Greenhoff who beautifully headed the ball beyond the reach of the arms of Clemence and into the bottom left corner of the net twelve minutes from the end of the replay.
The semi-final triumph was fully deserved and without a doubt a welcome revenge for Manchester United following their horrendous and unimaginable 3-0 defeat against Liverpool at Old Trafford in the First Division some four months earlier. Jordan, for his part, continued his strong scoring form by adding yet another goal to his tally before the end of the season, notching the opener in a 1-1 draw to Nottingham Forest at City Ground on the first Wednesday after Easter. But despite of having invested heavily in new players, Manchester United ended the season ninth in the table.
Although hampered by a persistent injury, Joe Jordan still managed to score a creditable total of 10 goals in 37 games during his first full year with the club and he was also a member of the team that played Arsenal in the 1979 FA Cup Final, only to suffer a heartbreaking 3-2 defeat against the Highbury side.
In front of a crowd of 100,000 at Wembley Stadium, Manchester United looked more dangerous early on and Jordan came close to scoring after eight minutes, but his header from a corner went over the crossbar. Instead it was The Gunners that took lead thanks to Brian Talbot who scored from just outside the six-yard box in the twelfth minute of the contest. And, as the first half wore on, Frank Stapleton made it 2-0 to Arsenal when he beat United custodian Gary Bailey with a well-placed header from a Liam Brady cross only a couple of minutes ahead of the interval.
Manchester United threw everything forward in the second frame and were rewarded as McQueen, now operating as a makeshift centre-forward, netted from close range with only five minutes remaining on the watch of referee Ron Challis of Tonbridge. The Old Trafford men kept up the attacking pressure and a mere three minutes later they had their equaliser when McIlroy found the back of the net after a stunning individual effort, but with the match poised for extra-time former Wolves striker Alan Sunderland headed home a brilliant cross by Graham Rix to make it 3-2 to Arsenal with just a few seconds left on the scoreboard.
Jordan hit his first goal of the 1979-80 campaign in an evenly contested 1-1 draw at home to Terry Venables´s Crystal Palace on 17 November and scored a second-half double in a comprehensive and morale-boosting 5-0 home victory over Norwich City the following week. He notched up another brace in a convincing 3-0 triumph at home against reigning European Champions Nottingham Forest on 22 December and bagged the second goal of a 3-0 revenge home win over bitter adversaries Arsenal seven days later.
At a snow-covered Old Trafford, Manchester United took the lead in the seventh minute of the fixture when a well-delivered corner-kick from McIlroy found McQueen who rose high to head the ball into the back of the goal. The Old Trafford outfit seemed to cope better with the conditions than the visitors and doubled their advantage six minutes ahead of the interval as away goalkeeper Pat Jennings could only parry a shot by Mickey Thomas and Jordan was there to put in the rebound in trademark opportunistic fashion. Manchester United kept on dominating following the restart and had their third goal of the afternoon when McIlroy confidently beat Jennings from the penalty spot with twenty minutes remaining on the clock.
As the calendar switched to 1980, Jordan was involved in a heat-of-the-moment incident where he dislocated the jaw of Milja Aleksic during a 1-0 FA Cup Third Round Replay defeat against Tottenham at Old Trafford on 9 January, but in fairness the former had been clearly provoked throughout the game by the latter. With the new year unfolding, Jordan´s performances started to dip slightly, but his goal scoring form soon picked up and he recorded his third brace of the season in a 4-0 demolition of relegation threatened Bristol City at Old Trafford on 23 February.
Manchester United, who were sitting second in the table, started on the front foot and took the advantage in the sixth minute when Jordan headed home a flicked-on corner from the right. Spurred on by the early goal, United doubled their lead shortly afterwards as McIlroy beat Bristol City shot stopper Raymond Cashley with an unstoppable effort from inside the six-yard box after a header from Macari had struck the left upright and they extended their advantage further moments later through an own goal from long serving Ashton Gate defender Geoff Merrick. Manchester United eventually had their fourth goal with the second half well under way when the omni-present Macari nodded on a left-sided cross from versatile midfielder Ashley Grimes and Jordan calmly headed the ball into the net at the far post.
As the race for the title heated up, Jordan registered the opening goal in a 2-0 triumph over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on 29 March and then found the net twice in a 2-1 victory against Norwich City at Carrow Road on 19 April. He registered yet another brace in a 2-1 success against Aston Villa at Old Trafford four days later and would end up as top scorer with thirteen goals to his name in a campaign where Manchester United came agonisingly close to winning the title, finishing only two points behind eventual champions Liverpool.
After missing several fixtures early in the 1980-81 season for medical reasons, Big Joe grabbed his first goal of the term in a 2-1 triumph against Stoke City at Victoria Ground on 22 October and confirmed his form by netting one of the goals in a 2-0 win over Everton at Old Trafford three days later. On 15 November, he scored a goal in a battling 1-1 draw against Middlesbrough at Ayresome Park and bagged himself a brace in a clinical and resounding 4-1 victory over relegation strugglers Brighton and Hove Albion at Goldstone Ground the following Saturday.
Manchester United dominated from the beginning against Brighton and went ahead twelve minutes into the first half when Jordan beat Albion goaltender Graham Moseley, formerly with Blackburn Rovers and Derby County, with a bullet header from a left-sided cross by Arthur Albiston. United carried on their attacking endeavours and doubled their lead in the 38th minute as Thomas served the ball on a silver plate for Jordan to tap home from close range before McIlroy added a third goal for the red shirts four minutes later.
Ex-Manchester United forward Andy Ritchie reduced the arrears for The Seagulls eight minutes past the hour mark when he put the ball into the roof of the net following a corner, only for Mike Duxbury to hit a fourth goal for the visiting outfit in the 84th minute, effectively putting the game out of reach for the hosts. Proving his consistency, Jordan notched a late equaliser in a 1-1 draw with Southampton on home ground one week later and netted again in a 2-2 home draw to Stoke City on the 13th of December.
With no signs of his form dropping, Jordan found the net for the first time in 1981 when he picked up the opening goal in an eventual 2-0 triumph over Birmingham City at Old Trafford on 31 January and then scored a brace in a remarkable 3-3 draw against First Division title chasers Aston Villa at Villa Park on 14 March. Aston Villa, who were sitting second in the table, started the better of the two sides and went into the lead within the first minute of the encounter thanks to a trademark close-range header from ex-Newcastle United marksman Peter Withe. Villa continued going forward and doubled their advantage on 28 minutes when a flag-kick taken by Trevor Morley ended up in the path of Withe who struck the ball past Bailey and into the net from a few yards out to score his second goal of the afternoon.
After the break, Manchester United managed to reduce the deficit in the 46th minute as a ferocious header from McIlroy was only parried by Jimmy Rimmer and Jordan was there to head home the rebound, and twenty minutes later the very same man netted again when the number nine beat the goalkeeper with an unstoppable header from a right-sided cross delivered by Steve Coppell. Aston Villa then took the lead for the second time in the contest through a fine finish by Birmingham born striker Gary Shaw eight minutes past the hour mark, only for the visitors to equalise courtesy of an expertly converted penalty from McIlroy with just a couple of minutes remaining of normal time.
With his form intact, Jordan remained a threat to opposing teams and he registered his third brace of the season in a routine 2-0 win against a rather lacklustre Coventry City team at Highfield Road on 11 April, and as the month moved on he also found the target in a 2-1 home triumph over West Bromwich seven days later before scoring the winner in a 1-0 victory at home to Norwich City on the final day of the campaign.
All in all, Joe Jordan, whose attacking partnership with new arrival Garry Birtles never worked out as it should have done, notched up 15 goals in 37 outings in all competitions for Manchester United that season, but The Reds could only manage a disappointing eighth-placed finish in the First Division standings and when the increasingly criticised Dave Sexton finally put his letter of resignation on the table at the end of the campaign and was replaced by flamboyant West Bromwich Albion head coach Ron Atkinson, he decided that his time at Old Trafford was up and he would leave the half-awake giant during the long and hot summer of 1981.
PART THREE
Whilst at Manchester United, the ferocious frontman managed to clock up 41 first class goals in 126 appearances for the side and he will always be remembered by the club´s supporters for his awesome fighting spirit and strong will to win. He also has a place alongside Manchester United greats like David Herd, Denis Law, Billy Meredith, Sandy Turnbull, and Albert Quixall, just to name a few.
At the beginning of the 1981–82 campaign, Jordan joined Italian Serie A side Milan. In his debut season, he was entrusted with significant responsibility as he featured in 22 league games, and although he managed to score two league goals, his overall contributions in all competitions saw him finish as joint top-scorer for the club with six goals alongside Roberto Antonelli. However, the 1981-82 season was not kind to Milan, as a series of disheartening results led to a dismal campaign that culminated in the club’s relegation to Serie B; indeed, they finished third from bottom in Serie A, and notably, they ended the campaign just one point adrift of Genoa. This relegation, as painful as it was, underscored the volatile nature of football, where a single point could mean the difference between survival and descent, and it set the stage for what was to come.
Moreover, the disappointment of the first year served as a catalyst for change, and Milan’s subsequent campaign in the 1982–83 Serie B season witnessed Jordan embracing the challenge with renewed vigor. In a striking contrast to the previous year, he found his scoring boots and notched up 10 league goals in 30 appearances, and as a result, Milan not only stabilized but also reclaimed its pride by winning the Serie B championship, finishing a comfortable eight points ahead of rivals Lazio. The triumphant promotion was a testament to the team’s collective resilience and a vindication of Jordan’s personal development, which, combined with his scoring prowess, helped transform the club’s fortunes.
In addition, it is noteworthy that in all competitions during the second season, Jordan’s performance was once again highlighted by his joint top-scorer status, this time netting 14 goals alongside Aldo Serena. His ability to score crucial goals and maintain consistency under pressure was emblematic of his character and work ethic, and it provided Milan with a much-needed spark in an environment that demanded both tactical intelligence and raw determination. Furthermore, his evolution from a player whose initial season was marked by a handful of goals to a prolific contributor in Serie B illustrated the unpredictable yet fascinating dynamics of player development and adaptation to different competitive environments.
Correspondingly, while the statistics themselves—2 league goals in 22 appearances in Serie A followed by 10 league goals in 30 appearances in Serie B—might suggest a modest trajectory, the broader context of Milan’s fluctuating fortunes and the intense pressure of Italian football combined to elevate Jordan’s contributions to a crucial level. Yet, despite the setbacks of relegation and the bitter taste of defeat in the top flight, his subsequent form in Serie B brought with it an air of optimism and the promise of re-establishing Milan as a formidable force in Italian football, and his performance was pivotal in steering the club back to the elite division.
After two seasons with Milan, instead of remaining in the familiar environs of Serie A with his former club—even though Milan had been languishing in Serie B during his final season there—Jordan’s decision to join Hellas Verona marked not only a geographical shift to the northern city of Verona but also a tactical gamble by a club eager to capitalize on his combative style.
Moreover, Verona had just experienced a period of promise, having finished fourth in the 1982–83 Serie A season and thereby securing a coveted berth in the UEFA Cup, which, in addition, reflected their ambition and desire to reassert themselves on the continental stage. In addition, the stage was set for a season of dramatic contrasts, as both Milan and Verona would eventually finish the 1983–84 Serie A campaign in equal sixth place, underscoring the fine margins that separate clubs striving for greatness.
From the outset, it was clear that Hellas Verona had taken notice of Jordan’s bravery and strength—attributes that had been amply displayed during his combative performances in Serie B for Milan. Besides his notable physical presence, his robust style of play made him an attractive prospect for a Verona side that was keen to experiment with an unconventional forward partnership. The plan was to deploy Jordan alongside emerging talents Maurizio Iorio and Giuseppe Galderisi, two players renowned for their pace and agility but lacking the physical heft that Jordan brought to the table. Consequently, this trio was dubbed by some as an “odd-couple,” an arrangement that was met with both cautious optimism and inherent skepticism.
Furthermore, in his debut season with the Veronese outfit, Jordan was given a run of 24 appearances—12 in the league and the remainder in other competitions—which initially suggested that the coach had high hopes for his ability to anchor a forward line that combined raw strength with youthful exuberance. However, despite the enthusiasm surrounding his arrival, Jordan managed to score only two goals during his tenure: one in the league and the other in the Italian Cup. This meager return, which could be partly attributed to the difficulties in harmonizing with his more nimble teammates, eventually led Verona to reassess their tactical approach.
As a result, the club gradually moved away from relying on Jordan’s style of play, instead opting to settle on the pairing of Maurizio Iorio and Giuseppe Galderisi for the remainder of the season—a decision that reflected both the high stakes of Serie A football and the pragmatic need for immediate results. Yet, despite the lack of prolific goal-scoring, Jordan’s season in Verona was not without its redeeming qualities, for his presence, his willingness to engage in physically demanding duels, and his experience in a tough league provided invaluable lessons to his younger teammates, who would later go on to develop their own reputations in Italian football.
Following memorable three-year spell in Italy, Jordan eventually made his return to the United Kingdom where the classic goal plunderer teamed up with First Division outfit Southampton at the start of the 1984-85 term and he quickly settled down at The Dell as he found himself surrounded by men of the calibre of Alan Curtis, Ivan Golac, Mick Mills, Peter Shilton, Steve Williams, and Mark Wright.
After making his First Division debut for Southampton in a 3-1 defeat against Sunderland at Roker Park on the 25th of August 1984, he scored his first Football League goal for the South Coasters in a 3-2 loss to West Ham United at The Dell on the 1st of September and hit another one in a 2-1 defeat to recently promoted Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough three days later. Jordan then netted one of the goals in a 2-1 Division One victory over Norwich City at The Dell on the 15th of September and scored again in a 3-2 League Cup Second Round First Leg win at home to Third Division outfit Hull City on the 25th of the same month.
He bagged his fifth goal of the season in a 2-0 League Cup Third Round Replay win against Second Division Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux on the 6th of November and scored his sixth in a hard-earned and deserved 1-1 First Division draw with defending Football League Champions Liverpool at Anfield on the 10th of the same month.
After a goalless first half where Liverpool struggled to get into their rhytm and Southampton defended well, the home side pushed themselves into the lead in the 46th minute when Ian Rush unleashed an effort that gave Peter Shilton in the Soton goal no chance to save, but the visitors grabbed the equaliser with five minutes left as Ian Wallace won the ball and laid it off for Alan Curtis to cross into the goalmouth where the unmarked Jordan had no problems beating Liverpool and Zimbabwe netminder Bruce Grobbelaar with a header.
Following a second-half brace in a 2-2 draw to Graham Turner´s Aston Villa at Villa Park on the 17th November, he maintained his scoring rate and contributed a consolation goal in a 2-1 defeat against relegation struggling Coventry City at Highfield Road on the 15th of December before he found the onion bag yet again in an inspirational 3-2 victory over mid-table West Ham United at Boleyn Ground the following Saturday.
Under the glare of floodlights in East London, Tony Cottee slotted home the opener for The Hammers just six minutes into the encounter, but Southampton managed to equalise through an own-goal by Steve Walford on the quarter-hour mark. In the second half, Soton gradually took over command and the away side turned the match around when Jordan beat West Ham custodian Tom McAlister with a merciless header from an accurate cross by Mark Dennis in the 59th minute of the meeting. And as the half progressed, Wallace registered a third goal for Lawrie McMenemy´s team after 74 minutes of spirited action before Cottee got a consolation for the East Londoners a minute later in the game.
The Lanarkshire man continued his excellent scoring form during the second half of the 1984-85 campaign and the old school no-nonsense battler would help The Saints to a highly respectable fifth place finish in the First Division table. An age defying athlete, Jordan proceeded to hit 17 goals in 48 outings in all competitions for Southampton before he ultimately finished off his playing occupation with Third Division Bristol City three years later. In total, he accumulated close to 500 first team appearances for his various clubs during a highly fulfilling professional career which lasted from 1968 to 1988.
PART FOUR
Wearing the famous dark blue shirt of Scotland on 52 occasions, Joe Jordan also made his mark on the international scene after making his senior debut for his native country in a 1-0 British Home Championship defeat to England at Wembley on the 19th of May 1973, and he registered his first goal for his homeland in a dramatic 2-1 win over the Republic of Czechoslovakia at Hampden Park on the 26th of September 1973, helping his nation qualify for the 1974 UEFA World Cup in West Germany.
On a dark autumn night in Glasgow, Scotland found themselves a goal down four minutes past the half-hour mark as Ally Hunter, who was making his fourth and final international appearance, allowed a long shot from Zdenek Nehoda to slip though his hands and into the far side of the net, but to the relief of the 95,000 strong home crowd Jim Holton equalised for the hosts in the 41st minute of the World Cup Qualifier when the massive central defender beat away goalkeeper Ivo Viktor with a perfectly placed header from close range.
Then, in the 64th minute of the fixture, Scotland manager Willie Ormond, who had been appointed only eight months earlier, decided to replace Kenny Dalglish with Jordan, and it was something that would prove to be a game changer for the dark blue shirts. With fifteen minutes remaining of normal time, a low shot from Bremner struck the left post before the ball somehow found its way to Willie Morgan who crossed it for Jordan to nod home to make it 2-1 to the Scots.
A consistent supplier of goals for The Tartan Terriers, Jordan is the only Scottish player to score in three World Cups, in West Germany in 1974, in Argentina in 1978, and in Spain in 1982. During the 1974 World Cup in West Germany, he scored for Scotland in the 2-0 triumph over the Republic of Zaire at Westfalenstadion in Dortmund on the 14th of June, and he also netted in the frustrating 1-1 draw with the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia at Waldstadion in Frankfurt am Main on the 22nd of June.
In the 1978 World Cup in Argentina, he hit the opening goal in Scotland´s self-inflicted 3-1 loss to Peru at Estadio Olimpico Chateau Carreras in Cordoba on the 3rd of June. And at the age of 30 years, he scored his last international goal in his final match for Scotland, a 2-2 draw with the Soviet Union at Estadio La Rosaleda in Malaga on the 22nd of June in the 1982 World Cup in Spain.
According to former ex-Partick Thistle, Liverpool, and Scotland defender Alan Hansen, Jordan was a rough, tough and aggressive kind of player, but he was always fair. Along with extraordinary gifted footballers like Charles Campbell, Alex James, Bobby Lennox, Alan Morton, Jim McLean, Alex McLeish, Lawrie Reilly, and Willie Waddell, he was inducted into the Scottish Football Hall of Fame in 2005, and was named the 34th hardest man in the history of international soccer in 2007.
A fast and fearsome performer constantly being a menace to most defences around the world, he was in a lot of ways the archetypal centre-forward of his era and would create opportunities for his team-mates as well as scoring himself.
PART FIVE
Jordan moved into football management as head of coach of Bristol City in 1988 and steered the club to the semi-finals of the Football League Cup, known as the Littlewoods Cup for sponsorship reasons, in the 1988-89 season. The Robins started their League Cup adventure with a 2-0 aggregate win against Exeter City, now managed by former Ashton Gate supremo Terry Cooper, in the first round of the competition. Bristol City then defeated Oxford United 6-2 on aggregate before trashing Steve Coppell´s Crystal Palace to the tune of a 4-1 scoreline in front of a boisterous home crowd of more than 12,000 spectators.
Following a 1-0 home victory over Tranmere Rovers in the fourth round, Jordan´s men proceeded to beat Bradford City by the same score away to reach the semi-finals of the tournament, only to lose 2-1 on aggregate against two-times League Cup winners Nottingham Forest, a side that included players of the likes of Nigel Clough, Stuart Pearce, Neil Webb, and Des Walker. The West Country team continued to make progress under Jordan´s disciplined and energetic leadership, however, and there was even more to come their way the following term as they managed to regain their Second Division status after having spent nine seasons in the third or fourth tiers.
Bristol City started the 1989-90 campaign with a 1-1 draw with Bury at Gigg Lane on 19 August before edging out Birmingham City by 1-0 at Ashton Gate the following Saturday. The Bristolians then suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Northampton Town at County Ground on 2 September, but the results quickly picked up and they were third in the table before Christmas.
And after outclassing Birmingham City by a 4-0 score at St Andrew´s on 13 January, they climbed to the top of the standings with 44 points gained from 23 matches played, one point ahead of Notts County in second position and two points above neighbouring Bristol Rovers in third spot. Following a sticky patch in late February and early March, City went undefeated in fourteen games until they succumbed to a narrow 1-0 loss against fellow promotion hunters Bolton Wanderers at Burnden Park on 28 April. Then, on 2 May, Bristol City rounded off their away fixtures with a 3-0 defeat to second placed Bristol Rovers at Twerton Park that cost them the title, but they clinched promotion by beating already relegated Walsall 4-0 at Ashton Gate three days later.
After leading Bristol City back to the Second Division in his sophomore year as manager, Joe Jordan inherited the managerial reigns at Heart of Midlothian at the front end of the 1990-91 campaign. Jordan’s first game in charge saw Hearts dispatch their city rivals Hibernian with a commanding 3-0 victory at Easter Road on 15 September. It was a dream start, the kind of result that instantly wins over a fanbase, and one that suggested Hearts might yet emerge as dark horses in the title race. However, football is rarely so simple. Just a week later, Hearts were brought crashing back to earth with a humbling 3-0 defeat at Celtic Park, a stark reminder of the inconsistency that would plague their season.
Nevertheless, there were signs of resilience. A narrow 1-0 win over Dundee United at Tynecastle on 29 September kept spirits high, and a hard-fought 1-1 draw at Fir Park against Motherwell on 6 October demonstrated Jordan’s ability to steady the ship. Yet, as the autumn leaves fell, so too did Hearts’ form. A gut-wrenching 2-3 home loss to newly promoted St Johnstone on 13 October was followed by a dispiriting 3-0 hammering at Aberdeen a week later. The lack of cutting edge in attack and defensive frailties were becoming all too apparent.
What’s more, Hearts struggled for momentum, lurching from respectable draws – a 1-1 against Dunfermline on 3 November – to euphoric highs, such as the gritty 1-0 home victory over Celtic on 10 November. Jordan’s side exhibited glimpses of their potential, but those moments were fleeting, punctuated by bruising defeats, such as the 4-0 thumping at Ibrox on 1 December. The festive period brought mixed fortunes: a dogged 1-1 draw at Celtic Park on 29 December was soon overshadowed by a narrow 0-1 loss to Rangers at Tynecastle on 5 January.
Yet, Jordan’s men were capable of stirring performances, none more so than the stunning 4-1 demolition of Hibs at Easter Road on 2 January. It was a performance brimming with attacking verve and local pride, reinforcing the notion that, on their day, Hearts could go toe-to-toe with anyone. Unfortunately, those days weren’t frequent enough. A humiliating 5-0 capitulation at Aberdeen on 2 February reinforced the gulf between Hearts and the league’s top sides.
Despite this, the team rallied in the spring, stringing together a series of positive results, including a crucial 3-1 victory over Hibs at Tynecastle on 23 March and an emphatic 4-1 win against Dunfermline on 6 April. However, any lingering hopes of European qualification were extinguished with a 1-4 home defeat to Aberdeen on 13 April, and Hearts would ultimately finish the season outside the top three.
The 1991-92 season kicked off at East End Park with a spirited 2–1 victory over Dunfermline on 10 August, and this early triumph set the tone for a side that would combine disciplined defensive work with sudden bursts of attacking brilliance. Moreover, just three days later on 13 August, Hearts secured a 3–2 win against Airdrieonians at Broomfield Park, a result that not only boosted confidence but also underscored Jordan’s ability to extract wins from tightly contested fixtures. In addition, the campaign gathered momentum on 17 August when the Tynecastle faithful witnessed a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Rangers, a result that, despite its narrow margin, resonated deeply in the hearts of the supporters and highlighted the tactical astuteness of Jordan’s approach.
Building upon this promising start, the following weeks saw the team continue to grind out results. On 24 August, Hearts clinched a solitary but significant 1–0 win over St Johnstone at McDiarmid Park, and the subsequent 0–0 stalemate against Hibs on 31 August at Tynecastle Stadium demonstrated the side’s growing defensive solidity. Furthermore, the early September fixtures proved equally eventful: on 7 September, a commanding 2–0 triumph over Motherwell reinforced the team’s attacking intent, while a pulsating 3–2 victory against St Mirren on 14 September at Love Street added another vibrant chapter to the season’s unfolding drama.
Notwithstanding these positive results, the campaign was punctuated by unexpected challenges and contrasting fortunes. For instance, on 21 September, Hearts played out a hard-fought 1–1 draw against Dundee United at Tynecastle Stadium, and later on 28 September, a narrow 2–1 win over Falkirk at Brockville Park underscored the constant battle for every point in the fiercely competitive Scottish Premier Division. Similarly, the encounter on 5 October 1991 at Celtic Park, where Hearts succumbed to a 3–1 defeat against Celtic, signified not only the high stakes of facing established rivals but also the inherent unpredictability that defined much of Jordan’s tenure.
In particular, the second half of October and November witnessed a series of dramatic encounters. On 9 October, Hearts managed a tight 1–0 victory over Aberdeen at Tynecastle, and this was swiftly followed by another 1–0 win against Dunfermline on 12 October. However, the momentum was halted on 19 October when Rangers inflicted a 2–0 defeat at Ibrox Stadium, a setback that was met with resolve as the side rebounded on 26 October by overcoming Motherwell 1–0 at Fir Park. Additionally, fixtures such as the 0–0 draw with St Mirren on 30 October and the 1–1 stalemate against Hibs on 2 November further exemplified the razor-thin margins that defined the season.
Correspondingly, November offered moments of redemption and drama: the 2–1 victory over St Johnstone on 9 November and the emphatic 3–1 triumph over Celtic on 16 November at Tynecastle demonstrated Jordan’s tactical evolution, while subsequent wins—like the 2–0 away success over Aberdeen on 20 November at Pittodrie and the slender 1–0 victory at Tannadice Park against Dundee United on 23 November—reinforced the belief that the team could challenge any opponent. The run continued with a 1–0 win over Airdrieonians on 30 November, further consolidating their position.
As the season progressed into December and the New Year, Hearts continued to produce compelling performances. The 1–1 draw with Falkirk on 4 December was quickly followed by a resolute 2–0 triumph over Dunfermline on 7 December, and on 14 December, a well-earned 3–1 victory over Motherwell reaffirmed their attacking prowess. The festive period delivered more fireworks, particularly on 28 December when Hearts dismantled St Johnstone 5–0 at McDiarmid Park, a result that provided a strong psychological boost heading into 1992. Yet, not all was smooth sailing, for on 11 January, a humbling 0–4 defeat at home to Aberdeen served as a stark reminder of the challenges inherent in competing at the highest level.
Nevertheless, the season’s narrative was defined by its contrasts and its ability to inspire resilience. The early losses were counterbalanced by a string of vital wins, such as the 2–1 victory over Celtic on 4 January at Celtic Park, and even though setbacks like the 2–1 defeat to Airdrieonians on 18 January and the 0–1 loss to Rangers on 1 February tested the squad’s mettle, Hearts rebounded on 8 February with a crucial 1–0 win over Dundee United. In consequence, the narrative of February and March became a testament to the unpredictable rhythms of the league, with losses such as the 1–2 defeat to Celtic on 29 February intermingled with pivotal wins like the 2–0 success over St Johnstone on 14 March and the 1–0 win over Dunfermline on 28 March.
Finally, as April unfolded, the campaign’s denouement was marked by a series of tense encounters—ranging from a goalless draw with St Mirren on 11 April, a setback against Dundee United on 18 April, to a dramatic 2–2 draw with Airdrieonians on 25 April, and a 1–1 stalemate with Rangers on 28 April—before culminating in a confident 2–0 victory over Falkirk on 2 May at Tynecastle Stadium. This final win not only punctuated the season with a flourish but also secured Hearts a respectable second place in the final table, finishing behind the dominant Rangers who had amassed 72 points.
After guiding the Jambos to second place in the Scottish Premier Division in 1992, Jordan was surprisingly given the sack by the board at Tynecastle Park at the back end of the 1992-93 season and subsequently joined forces with Old Firm giants Glasgow Celtic to become assistant manager under previous Arsenal star Liam Brady just a few weeks later, but his stay at Parkhead was short lived and he moved on again; this time to manage Stoke City.
Following a ten-month spell at Victoria Ground, he enjoyed a second managerial stint with Bristol City after which he worked for two years as assistant manager for Northern Ireland under ex-Southampton gaffer Lawrie McMenemy. He then became assistant to former Manchester United and Scotland team-mate Lou Macari at Huddersfield Town in late 2000 and spent almost two years at Leeds Road until his departure in the summer of 2002.
Answering a call from Portsmouth chief Harry Redknapp, he joined the coaching staff at Fratton Park in 2004 and later held the same positions at Spurs and Queens Park Rangers between 2008 and 2015. He also had a brief spell as assistant manager under caretaker boss Steve Agnew at Middlesbrough in 2017 and an equally short stint as coach at newly demoted Championship club AFC Bournemouth in 2021.