Museum exhibition honours football 'legend' Joe Mercer

Joe Mercer led city to four trophies in three years

An exhibition is opening at the National Football Museum marking the centenary of the birth of Manchester City's most successful manager.

Joe Mercer, who led City to Division One, FA Cup and European Cup Winners Cup success in four years is being celebrated at the Manchester museum.

Exhibits include a metal plate and screws inserted into his leg after a serious injury in 1954.

Mercer, who died in 1990, has a road named after him near city's ground.

Ellesmere Port-born Mercer started his career - which was interrupted by the Second World War - with Everton. He moved to Arsenal in the late 1940s and skippered the team to FA Cup Victory with a 2-0 victory over Liverpool in 1950.

As a manager he was boss at Sheffield United and Aston Villa before his appointment at Manchester City, which saw him win the First Division in 1967/68, The FA Cup in 1968/69, the League cup in 1969/70 and the European Cup Winners Cup in the same season.

Mercer lost only one game as England manager

He was also a caretaker manager of the England team in 1974, following the resignation of Sir Alf Ramsey, winning three games, drawing three and losing one.

Among the artefacts donated by his family are an England shirt from 1938, his Arsenal shirt worn during the 1950 FA Cup Final and the match ball from the same game.

National Football Museum director Kevin Moore said: "The word 'legend' is used far too often to describe today's elite football players. There are few who deserve that title but Joe Mercer was very definitely among the ones who do."