Honours

• As Everton Manager
• Football League Cup Runner Up: 1977


• As Port Vale Manager
• Football League Fourth Division 4th: 1969–70 (promoted)


• As Blackburn Rovers Manager
• Football League Third Division champions: 1974–75


• As Newcastle United Manager
• Football League Cup runner-up: 1976


• As an Aston Villa Player
• Football League Cup winners: 1961
• Football League Cup runners-up: 1963

Gordon Lee - Everton Manager : 1977 - 1981

Gordon Lee joined Everton in January 1977 to replace sacked manager Billy Bingham.

He led the "Toffees" to a ninth-place finish in the First Division in 1976–77, and took them to the League Cup final. It took two replays for the final to be resolved, with Aston Villa eventually winning 3–2 at Old Trafford. Everton also reached the FA Cup semi-finals, losing out 3–0 to rivals Liverpool at Maine Road.

In preparation for the 1977–78 campaign he bought goalkeeper George Wood from Blackpool for £150,000. He also later signed Arsenal midfielder Trevor Ross and gave centre-half Billy Wright his debut. Everton finished third in the table, two points behind Liverpool, and nine points behind champions Nottingham Forest.

He led the club a fourth-place finish in 1978–79, though they ended up some 17 points behind Liverpool. Lee swapped Mickey Walsh to Queens Park Rangers for Peter Eastoe, and also bought midfielder Asa Hartford for £400,000.

However, Everton dropped down to 19th in 1979–80, just one place and four points above relegated Bristol City. He did though lead the club to the FA Cup semi-finals, where they were beaten at Elland Road 2–1 by West Ham United in a replay, Frank Lampard scoring the winning goal in extra time.

Lee handed débuts to midfielders Steve McMahon and Kevin Richardson, and defender Kevin Ratcliffe. He also signed striker Graeme Sharp from Dumbarton and winger Alan Irvine from Queen's Park. Well respected by the players, Lee was sacked by chairman Philip Carter on 6 May 1981, having led the team to a 15th-place finish in 1980–81, five places but only three points above relegated Norwich City.

"People keep on about stars and flair. As far as I'm concerned you find stars in the sky and flair at the bottom of your trousers."

— Lee built his sides on teamwork and hard work rather than individual talent.

Gordon Lee passed away peacefully in his sleep on 8th March 2022.