Jaws earned his place in football history while Leeds pal Billy lived by own rules
was a bonus.” Bremner, a team-mate of Jordan with both Scotland and Leeds in the 1970s, collected 54 caps.
Although skilful, determined and an inspirational captain for club and cou ntr y, he was involved in too many controversial episodes both on and off the field to be universally admired.
Opponents were often riled when the midfielder’s will- to- win boiled over into villainy. None more so than fellow Scot Dave Mackay, whose contempt was captured in one of football ’s most famous photographs as he grabs his compatriot angrily by the shirt.
Mackay hated the image because he felt it portrayed him wrongly as a bully and said: “I’m not a bully and I don’t like bullies. He [Bremner] was a brilliant player but a dirty little b******. He kicked me in the leg I’d just come back from breaking twice. I could have killed him that day.”
Spurs striker Jimmy Greaves backed Mackay. “When Dave grabbed Billy it was probably the only time this nasty little player ever looked frightened in his career.
“I remember Bremner kicking me in the tunnel before a Spurs match. I asked: ‘What did you do that for, Bill?’ and a he said: ‘ Just cos I f*****g f felt like it.’”
Bremner lived up to the imimage of fiery redhead aagain and again, most nnotably when he was sent ooff for fighting with Kevin KKeegan during the 1974 CCharity Shield match wwith Liverpool.
Having won two league ttitles, an FA Cup and two EuropeanE trophies with Leeds and captained Scotland at the 1974 World Cup – although he nearly wasn’t picked after breaking a curfew – Bremner’s story is one of success.
But for some he will be remembered best as a master of the dark arts.