Colin Bell

Bell began his career at Bury where he was swiftly made club captain. In total, Bell made 82 league appearances for Bury (in three seasons) and scored 25 goals. In 1966, he moved to Manchester City (who were managed by Joe Mercer) for £45,000. When trying to sign him for Manchester City, assistant manager Malcolm Allison misled other clubs interested in Bell (including Leicester City) by claiming that the player was "hopeless". Allison's stratagem succeeded as Bell ultimately signed for City. In the 1965–66 season, Bell helped City finish first in the Second Division, earning the team promotion to the First Division. Bell scored the only goal (via a header) in a 1–0 victory against Rotherham which ensured promotion. In the 1966–67 season, Bell was City's top scorer with 14 league goals, and the team finished in 15th place in the First Division. Bell scored a hat trick in a 3–1 victory against Stoke City in April that season. In the 1967–68 season, Bell helped City win their second League Championship (they had won their first in 1937). Bell scored 14 league goals that season. One of his goals came in the famous 4–1 victory against Tottenham Hotspur, at Maine Road, which was dubbed the "Ballet on Ice" due to the snowy conditions in which the game was played. Mike Summerbee, Tony Coleman and Neil Young scored City's other goals while Jimmy Greaves scored the goal for Spurs. After the game, legendary centre forward Dixie Dean informed Allison that the City team which had beaten…

Bell played twice for the England Under 23 team in 1968. He played in a 2–1 victory against Scotland Under 23 team in which Martin Chivers and Rodney Marsh scored for the England Under 23 team. He also played in a 4–0 victory against the Hungary Under 23 team. Bell scored one of the four goals. The other scorers were Chivers, Marsh and Joe Royle. In the same year, Bell was selected for the senior England squad for a match against Spain, in May, but was forced to withdraw from the squad due to injury. Bell was replaced by Peter Thompson. Later in the same month, Bell won his first cap for the senior England team against Sweden, where he helped inspire goals from Martin Peters, Bobby Charlton and Roger Hunt in a 3–1 victory. One journalist stated that Bell 'revealed high promise and fitted in splendidly'. Bell won his second cap in a 1–0 defeat to West Germany in which Brian Labone scored an own goal. Bell was part of the England squad for UEFA Euro 1968, which was ultimately won by Italy. England finished third in the tournament after defeating the Soviet Union in the third-place match. In 1969, Bell distinguished himself in the national team, scoring England's only goal in a 1–0 victory over the Netherlands in an "all-action display". Bell was part of the England squad which toured South America in 1969. Brian Glanville contended that both Bell and Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Alan Mullery excelled on the tour. Bell gave England an early lead in a game against Brazil, but…

Bell subsequently became a coach for the youth and reserve teams of Manchester City, as well as one of its club ambassadors. He was awarded an MBE in 2004 for services to the community. Bell was diagnosed with bowel cancer shortly after his autobiography, Reluctant Hero, was released in 2005. He detailed how his mother died from that same disease and was encouraged to have it examined himself. He was operated on within three weeks of the diagnosis. He died on 5 January 2021 at the age of 74. He suffered from a short illness in the time leading up to his death. On 6 January 2021, Manchester City's players walked out in retro shirts bearing Bell's No 8 for a Carabao Cup semi-final against Manchester United. City won the game 2–0 with goals from John Stones and Fernandinho. Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola dedicated the victory to Bell, stating that 'it's an honour to dedicate this victory to Colin Bell and his family'. Guardiola also stated that 'when Colin Bell has a stand at the Etihad, when his name is the King [of the Kippax], it's because he was something special'. Stones also dedicated the victory to Bell stating that 'how we played in this match was a reflection of him'. On 9 January 2021, the actor Timothy Dalton narrated a tribute to Bell on the BBC programme Football Focus. In May 2022, Manchester City unveiled a new home kit inspired by Bell.

Bell is regarded as one of England's finest-ever midfield players, being described by one commentator as "the most finished article in the modern game". Bell has been inducted into both the English Football Hall of Fame and the Manchester City Hall of Fame. In 1998 he was selected as one of the Football League 100 Legends. In his foreword to Colin Bell's autobiography, Bobby Charlton has stated that "Colin Bell was unquestionably a great player". Alan Mullery, another of Bell's former England teammates stated that Bell would "still be a star in today's football" and "would fit into any team". Another England teammate of Bell's, Kevin Keegan, has stated that Bell "had it all". England legend Tom Finney stated that "Colin Bell was as good as anything I've ever seen". George Best described Bell as a "brilliant player". Joe Royle described Bell as a "phenomenal natural athlete" and "a wonderful footballer". Steven Gerrard has been compared to Bell. Journalist Dave Maddock described Bell as "possibly the greatest midfield talent England has ever unearthed". In 2003, Manchester City moved into the new City of Manchester Stadium, and in February 2004, one of the ends, the west stand, was named after Bell as a tribute. Only four players have scored more goals than Bell for Manchester City in all competitions: Sergio Agüero with 260 goals, Eric Brook with 177 goals, Tommy Johnson with 166 goals and Erling Haaland with 154 goals. Bell scored 152 goals for Manchester City in all…