Sir Alfred Ernest Ramsey (born January 22, 1920 in Dagenham, Essex; died April 28, 1999) was a footballer and manager of the English national football team from 1963 to 1974. His greatest achievement was winning the 1966 World Cup with England on July 30, 1966. They also reached the quarter-final stage in the 1970 World Cup under his management. He was knighted in 1970.

Having been a gifted amateur as a pupil and as a player for his army regiment, he played for Southampton 1943-1949 (since 1944 as a professional) and Tottenham Hotspur after that. He was very successful with the Spurs (right-back in more than 250 cup and league games) and in 1953 became player of the English national team which he captained three times. His coolness and capability for analysis earned him the nickname The General. He retired from playing in 1955 to become manager of Ipswich Town, which he managed very successfully leading it from Third Division South to Football League champions.

He was made England manager in 1963, predicting that England would win the 1966 World Cup which it did by beating West Germany 4-2 in the finals. England lost to the same opponent at the next World Cup in the quarter-final after having led 2-0 with twenty minutes remaining. Part of the blame was put on Sir Alf's cautious tactics. He was sacked in 1974, after England failed to qualify for the World Cup tournament of that year.

The last stages of his career were caretaker manager with Birmingham City F.C. and technical advisor to Panathinaikos 1979-1980.

Quotes

• "Never change a winning team."
• "Our best football will come against the right type of opposition - a team who come to play football, and not act as animals." - Ramsey's indignant opinion of Argentina after England beat them 1-0 in a bruising quarter final in the 1966 World Cup.
• "You've won it once. Now you'll have to go out there and win it again." - Ramsey's brief team talk prior to the extra-time period in the 1966 final.