Jimmy Gabriel

After winning the First Division title (1963) and the FA Cup (1966) with Everton, Gabriel moved to the South Coast to join Southampton in 1967. In July 1972, he made the move to Bournemouth, joining the club as a seasoned veteran at the age of 31. Gabriel signed for Bournemouth on the exact same day as another future legend, Harry Redknapp. The two became close friends, living on the same estate in Purewell and carpooling to training every day at Dean Court. Gabriel brought immense top-flight experience to the Third Division side. He made 53 appearances and scored 4 goals during his two-year playing stint. His role was primarily as a defensive midfielder, though his versatility occasionally saw him play in the back four. As a former Scotland international, he served as a vital mentor to the younger players in the squad, helping stabilize a team that was transitioning under various managers. After a legendary spell in the United States with the Seattle Sounders (where he also recruited Harry Redknapp to play), Gabriel returned to Bournemouth in 1986 to join Redknapp’s coaching staff. Gabriel was a key architect behind the scenes during Bournemouth's historic 1986–87 season. Working as a first-team coach, he helped the club win the Third Division title with a then-record 97 points, earning promotion to the second tier for the first time in their history. Gabriel's tactical intelligence and steely Scottish determination complimented Redknapp's more expressive management style. He remained at the club for four years until 1990, when he returned to Everton as an assistant manager. Jimmy Gabriel passed away in July 2021 at the age of 80.