Biography:

Tony Book signed for Manchester City  from Plymouth Argyle in 1966 for a fee of £17,000. Tony was an apprentice bricklayer when he completed his national service in 1952 and he played as full back for the army team. He also had a trial for Chelsea but was not taken on. In January 1956 he signed for Bath City where Malcolm Allison was the manager. Tony followed Malcolm to  Plymouth Argyle, where Allison advised   him to doctor his birth certificate to show he was 28 instead of 30.

He became Captain of City at the beginning of the 1967/68 season and was nicknamed “Skip” by the rest of the team. He led City to their second league championship playing in every game that season. The first four months of the 1968/69 season saw Tony out of action with an Achilles injury but he was back for the start of the FA Cup competition. City reached the final of the FA Cup going on to beat Leicester City 1 0. The week before the FA Cup final Tony had been named the joint winner, along with Dave Mackay, of the Football Writers Association Player of the Year.

The following season, 1969/70, Manchester City became the first English club to win European and domestic honours in the same season, winning the European Cup Winners Cup and the League Cup. In November 1973 Tony became temporary manager of Manchester City then became  Assistant to Ron Saunders. This arrangement lasted until April 1974 when Saunders left the club and Tony was appointed manager on a permanent basis. Tony retired from playing in 1974.

In 1979 Malcolm Allison returned to the club working alongside Tony. However, the partnership failed to produce the necessary results and in 1980 Tony moved to another role within the club where he remained in various capacities for the next 16 years. In 1986 working with another City legend, Glyn Pardoe, they coached a young City side that eventually won the FA Youth Cup.

Notable facts/stories:

One of many memorable games under Tony’s management was City’s 1 0 win over rivals Manchester United, famous for the back-heel goal from Denis Law.

In 1976 City won the League Cup and Book became the first person to win the trophy as both player and manager.

Non-City career (briefly):

Tony retired from Manchester City in 2002.  Today he is Honorary President of the club  and Life President of the Manchester City  Official Supporters Club.