A landmark photography project
Mancunian footballing legend Brian Kidd (affectionately known as Kiddo) most famously played as a striker for both Manchester United and Manchester City and later held the assistant manager’s post at both clubs. Brian is currently the co-assistant coach at Manchester City.
Born in Collyhurst, Manchester in 1949, Brian joined Manchester United’s youth academy in 1964, becoming a professional player with the club two years later. He memorably scored on his 19th birthday for Manchester United in their 4–1 victory over Benfica in the 1968 European Cup Final. Kiddo scored 52 times in 203 league appearances for Manchester United.
After leaving United in 1974, to join Arsenal, Brian became the top scorer with 19 goals in his first season. 1976, he was sold to Manchester City for a fee of £100,000. In his time at City, Kiddo scored 3 times against his old club United. He played 98 times for Manchester City, netting 44 goals. He then moved to Everton in 1979 and then to Bolton Wanderers in 1980. In 1981 Brian continued his career in the US with a successful stint in the NASL, but retired from the game in 1984. Brian was capped twice for England with both appearances coming in 1970.
Brian with the European Cup, 1968
Brian and Alex Ferguson, 1993
Kiddo and City manager Pep Guardiola.
In 1984, Kidd began his coaching career. He briefly managed Preston North End before being brought back to Manchester United as a youth team coach by Alex Ferguson in 1988. Over the next three years Kiddo was pivotal in the development of the young footballers known as Fergie’s Fledglings including Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Gary and Phil Neville. In 1991, he was promoted to the role of assistant manager. He helped Ferguson guide United to the Premier League title in 1993, the double in 1994 and again in 1996, as well as another Premier League title in 1997.
Kiddo left United to take charge at Blackburn Rovers in 1998, but failed to save them from relegation from the Premier League. After a spell as youth team coach at Leeds United Brian was named as assistant to England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson in 2003. He was forced to end this role the following year just weeks before Euro 2004 due to undergoing surgery for prostate cancer. Brian had recovered by 2006.
After spells in management at Sheffield United and Portsmouth Kiddo became Technical Development Manager at Manchester City in 2009, before becoming assistant manager to new boss Roberto Mancini in the same year. In the 2011 FA Cup Final Manchester City won their first major trophy for 35 years. The following season, City were crowned league champions for the first time since 1968, pipping Manchester United to the title In an extraordinary finale to the season. Brian retired as co-assistant coach to manager Pep Guardiola in 2021, after 12 successful years at the club.
Photography by Reeco Liburd and MJ Smith
THE SHOOT: Collyhurst, North Manchester
Brian's birthplace, a tough working class community produced many sporting heroes including among others, footballers Nobby Stiles, Stan Bowles and Carlo Sartori. Boxers Michael Gomez, Pat Barrett, and Brian Hughes. And was also the birthplace of comedian Les Dawson.
Student reflection: Reeco Liburd
MJ, Brian and Reeco
"Brian’s Greater Mancunian photoshoot took place in Collyhurst where I was able to gain an understanding of his childhood, his hometown and his upbringing. We tried to recreate images which reflect Brian’s early years as a teenager practising his footballing skills on the street. He was extremely easy going and happy to be directed. Brian gladly agreed to have his face painted in both United and City colours to provide one of the stand out images of the shoot. For a young person such as myself it was a stressful but very rewarding experience which hopefully provided some eye-catching images for the project."