[2] He is widely regarded as being the most successful manager in the history of Tranmere Rovers and had a stand at Prenton Park named in his honour in 2002.
He then had successful spells in charge at non-League clubs Northwich Victoria (winning the FA Trophy in 1984) and Caernarfon Town, before making his return to Tranmere Rovers in 1987.
He further took them to the Associate Members' Cup title in 1990, the Football League Trophy final in 1991, as well as promotion out of the Third Division as winners of the play-offs.
Despite these achievements, he was not immune to being replaced when the team's form dipped, and he was "moved upstairs" to become Director of football in April 1996.
He then moved on to Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic, playing 21 Third Division games under Don Welsh, before he joined Tranmere Rovers and being signed by Walter Galbraith.
[1] He left on a free transfer to Northern Premier League side Wigan Athletic in May 1971,[1] making 12 appearances in the 1971–72 campaign, his only season at Springfield Park.
King was sacked in September 1980,[5] but new boss Bryan Hamilton could not prevent Tranmere from finishing in the re-election zone in 1980–81.
[6] King was appointed manager of Tranmere for a second time by Peter Johnson towards the end of the 1986–87 season, with the club fighting to avoid relegation out of the Football League.
Tranmere then finished fourth in the Third Division in 1989–90, missing out on a second successive promotion after losing 2–0 to Notts County in the play-off final.
They played at Wembley four times in two years, winning the Associate Members' Cup in 1990 with a 2–1 victory over Bristol Rovers.
King brought such big-name signings as John Aldridge, Pat Nevin and Gary Stevens to Prenton Park, but their crowds did not increase much.
In April 1996, with Rovers struggling for form in the league, chairman Frank Corfe appointed John Aldridge as player-manager, and King was "moved upstairs" to become Director of football.
A loyal servant as both player and manager, the unparalleled success and style of football played by his teams as we rose from near oblivion to the verge of the Premier League will always be fondly remembered at Prenton Park.