John Todd, probably the most influential figures in WA soccer historical past, has died on the age of 86.
Todd, who coached the West Coast Eagles for the 1988 and 1989 seasons, made his identify within the Western Australian Soccer League (WAFL), first as a star participant and later as a profitable coach.
He burst onto the scene, debuting for South Fremantle’s senior aspect as a 16-year-old in 1955.
He loved a magical first 12 months, taking out the Sandover Medal for the league’s finest and fairest participant.
Tragically, he was simply 17 when a severe knee harm severely curtailed what may have been one of many biggest careers of all time.
Regardless of the harm, he managed to go on to play 132 video games for South Fremantle and 9 for Western Australia.
In 1961, he was a part of a WA aspect that received the Australian championships and was judged an All Australian.
He started teaching South Fremantle as participant coach in 1959, on the age of 20, and by the point his teaching profession had resulted in 2001 he had coached six premierships.
These had been for East Fremantle (1974), South Fremantle (1997) and 4 for Swan Districts (1982, 1983, 1984 and 1990).
He additionally coached the West Coast Eagles to their first finals look, in 1988, after they had been crushed in a thriller by Melbourne.
He was sacked as coach of West Coast on the finish of 1989, however returned to Swan Districts the next 12 months the place he received the WAFL premiership.
His last premiership got here in 1997 with the membership the place all of it started, South Fremantle.
Todd was inducted into the AFL’s Corridor of Fame in 2003, and in 2004 was elevated to legend standing within the WAFL Corridor of Fame.
In 2011 he was inducted into South Fremantle’s Corridor of Fame as an inaugural legend, and was identify Swan Districts’ coach of the century.
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