He led Everton to a League Cup Final, two FA Cup Semi-Finals and two top-four finishes in the First Division. He also won promotion from the Fourth Division with Port Vale, the Third Division title at Blackburn Rovers and reached the League Cup Final at Newcastle United.
Following the departure of Pleat, at a time when Leicester City were fighting relegation to the Third Division, Gordon was promoted to manager in January 1991, initially on a caretaker basis.
Although his side avoided relegation by defeating Oxford United 1-0 on the last day of the season, Gordon left Filbert Street shortly afterwards to be replaced by Brian Little.
Gordon sadly died at the age of 87 on 8 March, 2022.