On This Day – 21st February
Arsenal manager George Graham was sacked on this day in 1995 after it was revealed that he had taken a ‘bung’ from a transfer deal earlier on in the decade.
After an investigation lead by the Premier League, it came to light that Graham had received £425,000 from an agent called Rune Hauge. The payments were as a result of the Arsenal manager signing both Pal Lydersen and John Jensen, who were both on Hauge’s books.
The Arsenal board were given little option and had to sack their manager who had been at the club for just under nine years. In that time, Arsenal won two league championships, two League Cups, an FA Cup and a European Cup Winners Cup.
Arsenal played Nottingham Forest at home later that day at Highbury. Graham’s assistant Stewart Houston took charge of the match and Arsenal won 1-0. The game was played in a very subdued atmosphere as Arsenal fans came to terms with their manager’s dismissal.
Houston took charge of the club for the rest of the season. They ended the season in 12th position in the league and reached the European Cup Winners Cup, only to lose in the last seconds of extra time.
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