Jack Greenwell (1884 – 20th November 1942) was a Durham miner and at the point of writing (2022) he was the longest-serving manager in the history of FC Barcelona.
He played for Crook Town AFC and as a guest player in the West Auckland Town AFC side that won the ‘first world cup’.
Born in Crook in 1884, Jack began his working life alongside his father at the local colliery.
Spotted by legendary FC Barcelona President Joan Gamper, Greenwell signed for the club and move to Catalonia in 1912. He played for Barcelona 88 times, winning two league titles.
Following his retirement from playing, Greenwell was appointed the FC Barcelona manager. He won five league titles and the Copa Del Rey twice in his spell managing Barcelona which lasted from 1917-1923 and again from 1931-1933. In 1996, Bobby Robson, of Langley Park Colliery, became the second Durham miner to manage Barcelona.
While in Spain, Greenwell also managed Valencia C.F, RCD Espanyol de Barcelona, RCD Mallorca and Real Sporting de Gijón winning a further two league championships and a Copa Del Rey
After the Spanish Civil War outbreak, Greenwell moved to South America, coaching Club Universitario de Deportes to the Peruvian championship.
He was appointed manager of the Selección Peruana – FPF, the Peru national team, leading them the 1939 Copa America – beating Uruguay 2-1 in the final.
Greenwell moved to Colombia to manage Independiente Santa Fe. Following a training session in Bogota he had a heart attack and died aged 58 in 1942.