Laurie Cunningham
Laurence Paul Cunningham was an English professional footballer. A left winger, he notably played in England, France and Spain, where he became the first ever Englishman to play for Real Madrid. Cunningham received his first international call-up to the England U21 side in 1977 while playing for West Brom. He later earned 6 caps for the full national team between 1979 and 1980.
About Laurie Cunningham in brief
Laurence Paul Cunningham was an English professional footballer. A left winger, he notably played in England, France and Spain, where he became the first ever Englishman to play for Real Madrid. Cunningham received his first international call-up to the England U21 side in 1977 while playing for West Brom, becoming the first black footballer to represent an England international team. He later earned 6 caps for the full national team between 1979 and 1980. Cunningham was killed in a car crash in Madrid on the morning of 15 July 1989, at the age of 33. He was the son of a former Jamaican race-horse jockey. Cunningham started in schoolboy football and was turned down by Arsenal before joining Leyton Orient in 1974. He joined West Bromwich Albion in 1977, where, under manager Johnny Giles, he teamed up with another black player, Cyrille Regis, and the following year with Brendon Batson.
This was the second time an English top-flight team simultaneously fielded three black players and Atkinson collectively referred to Cunningham, Batson and Regis as “The Three Degrees” after the U.S. soul singing trio. In the summer of 1979, he made a historic move as the first British player to transfer to Real Madrid for a fee of £950,000. He scored twice on his debut and helped Real win the league and cup double. Despite this club success, Cunningham was overlooked by England manager Ron Greenwood for a place in the England squad for Euro 1980. After a spell in France with Olympique Marseille, he returned to England with Leicester City in 1985, followed by a return to Spain with Rayo Vallecano.
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