Ian Michael Hamilton (31 October 1950 – 19 May 2024) was an English professional footballer who played as a midfielder. He made more than 300 appearances in the Football League playing for Chelsea, Southend United, Aston Villa and Sheffield United,[1] and more than 100 in the North American Soccer League for the Minnesota Kicks and the San Jose Earthquakes.[2] He was nicknamed "Chico" after the jazz drummer Chico Hamilton.

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Ian Hamilton
Personal information
Full name Ian Michael Hamilton
Date of birth (1950-10-31)31 October 1950
Place of birth Streatham, London, England
Date of death 19 May 2024(2024-05-19) (aged 73)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Chelsea
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1966–1968 Chelsea 5 (2)
1968–1969 Southend United 36 (11)
1969–1976 Aston Villa 208 (40)
1976–1978 Sheffield United 60 (13)
1978–1981 Minnesota Kicks 101 (22)
1979–1981 Minnesota Kicks (indoor) 25 (19)
1982 San Jose Earthquakes 18 (1)
Total 453 (108)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
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Career

Hamilton joined Chelsea as a junior and became the Stamford Bridge club's youngest ever player and goalscorer at 16 years, 138 days when he scored against Tottenham Hotspur on his debut,[3] on 18 March 1967, a feat which earned comparisons with another famous Chelsea striker who also scored on his debut against Spurs – Jimmy Greaves.[4] Thereafter he played only four more first-team games for Chelsea, spending the 1968–69 season with Southend United before moving to Aston Villa in 1968.[1]

At Villa he carved out a long career as a midfielder, helping the club win the Third Division title in 1972, and playing in two League Cup finals – they lost in 1971 and won in 1975.[5] After two seasons with Sheffield United, Hamilton became one of many British footballers who ended their careers in the North American Soccer League, where he played for Minnesota Kicks and San Jose Earthquakes.[2]

After he finished his professional career, he spent 17 years as boys' soccer coach at Thomas Worthington High School, in Worthington, Ohio,[6][7] returning after a seven-year gap to coach girls' soccer.[8]

Death

Hamilton died in May 2024, at the age of 73.[9]

References

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