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the
manager
WINTER 2011
OBITUARY
Speed made almost 700 appearances
for five clubs – Leeds United
(where he was an integral part of
the Championship winning side of
1991/92), Everton, Newcastle United,
Bolton Wanderers and Sheffield
United – and represented Wales on
85 occasions. He was the first player
to make 500 Barclays Premier League
appearances and is his country’s most
capped outfield player.
Although his management career
had only just begun, Speed had
already shown signs of enormous
potential; having taken charge of the
Welsh national side in December
2010, he had inspired significant
improvement to its fortunes. Wales
won their last three internationals
“He was a lad that I never, ever
heard anybody say a bad word
about... everybody loved him.”
Harry Redknapp
under Speed and the country’s football
fans had begun to believe that they
might now have a real chance of
qualifying for a major tournament.
“He changed the way we play and
the whole mentality of our game,”
said Wales winger Gareth Bale. “It’s a
massive loss – but we will try to carry
on the best we can in his honour.”
The Football Association of Wales
has announced that the national
team’s game on February 29th 2012
will be a celebration of Speed’s life.
The LMa, like the rest
of the
world of football, was shocked by the
news of the tragic death of Gary Speed
on Sunday, November 27th.
LMA chairman Howard Wilkinson,
who gave Speed his first team début
as a 19 year-old at Leeds United when
he took charge of the club in October
1988, paid this tribute: “I am shocked
and distraught at this terrible news.
I knew Gary as a player, coach and
manager and he was one of the nicest
people I have met. He had so much to
offer as a person and as a sportsman.
I just find it unbelievable. For him to
leave us at 42 is such a tragic loss. I
cannot start to try to understand what
his family are going through.”
In a distinguished playing career,
Gary Speed
September 8th 1969 – November 27th 2011
Gary Speed
, born September
8th 1969, died November 27th
2011. Survived by his wife,
Louise, and their two sons
Edward and Thomas.
“His life was about standards,
he had a high standard for
everything that he did.”
Sam Allardyce
“He became part of our football
family after settling in these parts
as manager of Wales, following a
fine career as a true and honest
professional. Our sympathies go
to his family.”
Sir Alex Ferguson