Gordon Jago

Who is Gordon Jago?

Gordon Harold Jago MBE is a former English association football player and manager.

Born in Poplar, London, Jago began his career in the Football League with Charlton Athletic, whom he joined in the 1954–55 season from non-league team Dulwich Hamlet. He made a total of 147 appearances, scoring one goal, at The Valley. His final season with the Addicks was 1961–62 before he moved back to non-league football, managing Eastbourne United. He started his coaching career with a spell at Fulham.

In 1967 he was appointed coach of North American Soccer League side Baltimore Bays. After two years Jago was named coach of the United States national team but ended this role after suffering two defeats in his only games in charge. In 1970 Jago joined Queens Park Rangers as a coach and became manager in January 1971. It was under his guidance that the basis of the QPR team which in 1975–76 would come within a point of the League title was assembled. He signed pivotal players such as Stan Bowles, Don Givens, Dave Thomas and Frank McLintock and led the club to promotion to the First Division in 1972/3. Jago left the club in October 1974 and was later appointed manager of Millwall where he remained until 1977. In 1976 Jago took Millwall from the Third to the Second Division.