Tributes pour in for Gary Speed

Monday 28 Nov 2011
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Figures from across the world of football have paid tribute to Wales national team manager Gary Speed after he was found dead at his Chester home yesterday morning (27 November).

Cheshire Police found him dead at 0708 GMT at his home in Huntington. A statement said there were no suspicious circumstances and the death is now being dealt with by a coroner.

Alan Shearer said he would “miss him dreadfully” and Ryan Giggs said he was “one of the nicest men in football”. Welsh and English politicians also paid tribute, with First Minister Carwyn Jones saying he was “deeply saddened”.

Within minutes of the news of his death emerging, colleagues and public figures began to pay tribute to Speed.

Former Wales teammate Giggs said: “I am totally devastated. Gary Speed was one of the nicest men in football and someone I am honoured to call a team-mate and friend. It goes without saying my thoughts are with his family at this tremendously sad time.”

Another of Speed’s former Wales teammate, Robbie Savage, tweeted: “The world has lost a great man in Gary speed I’m devastated spoke to him yesterday morning why ! Why. Why !! I’ll miss him so much x

“He come to watch strictly [Strictly Come Dancing] 3/4 weeks ago I high fived him in the front row he loved the show ,he loved life he loved his family ! Devastated”.

Shearer, who played alongside Speed at Newcastle for six years between 1998 and 2004, said: “Gary was a magnificent person, bright, fun and a wonderful family man. He lit up every room he walked into. I am proud to have been his friend and will miss him dreadfully.”

Cheshire Police were informed of a sudden death early on Sunday morning and found Speed dead at the property. The force said Speed’s next-of-kin confirmed his identity and that his family wanted to be “left in peace to grieve at this difficult time”.

Speed, born in Mancot, Flintshire, had appeared on BBC1’s Football Focus show on Saturday afternoon, just hours before his death.

He began his playing career at Leeds United after coming through the trainee ranks, and was part of the side that won the last Football League title in 1992, before the introduction of the Premier League.

A Leeds spokesman said the club was “stunned and saddened” by the news. He left Leeds in 1996 after 312 appearances to join Everton – whom he went on to captain – in a £3.5m move.

Newcastle followed, in a £5.5m switch in 1998. During his six years with the Magpies, he suffered two FA Cup final defeats, but enjoyed a taste of Champions League football.

He then spent four years with Bolton Wanderers after agreeing a £750,000 move and finished his playing career at Sheffield United, retiring at the end of the 2009-2010 season.

Speed, who was the first player to reach 500 Premier League appearances, also won 85 caps for his country – a record for an outfield player.

He made his international debut as a 20-year-old in the 1-0 friendly win over Costa Rica in May 1990 and his final appearance for Wales was in a 3-2 World Cup qualifying defeat against Poland in October 2004. He captained his country 44 times and scored seven goals.

He took over the Wales job in December 2010, despite having just four months’ managerial experience, but the team had started to make impressive progress under his stewardship.

A 4-1 friendly win over Norway earlier this month represented a third successive win for Wales, and Speed’s fifth in 10 games as manager.

At the time, he said: “We’ve progressed further than I’d have thought in this space of time but we’ve still got a lot of work to do.”

In the 2010 Birthday Honours list, Speed was awarded the MBE. He leaves a wife and two children.

From BBC News

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