Gary Andrew Speed, MBE ( 8 September 1969 – 27 November 2011 ) was a Welsh professional football player and coach. Having played for the Leeds United youth team, he began his professional career with the club in 1988. With Leeds, he won the English First Division championship in 1991–92, and belated played for Everton, Newcastle United, Bolton Wanderers and Sheffield United. He captained the Wales national football team until retiring from international football in 2004. He was the most capped outfield actor for Wales and the moment overall with 85 caps between 1990 and 2004 until being overtaken by Chris Gunter in 2018, [ 4 ] playing chiefly as a left-sided attack midfielder. focal ratio was appointed director of Sheffield United in 2010, but left the cabaret after a few months in December 2010 to manage the Wales national team, remaining in this role until he took his own life 11 months late.
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rarely trouble by injury or suspension, he held the record for the most appearances in the Premier League at 535, until it was surpassed by David James. At the time of his death, only James and Ryan Giggs had played in more Premier League matches than Speed. [ 5 ] Including appearances in the Football League and cup competitions, he made 840 domestic appearances .
early life and career [edit ]
speed was born in Mancot, Flintshire, Wales, [ 6 ] although his parents Roger and Carol, [ 7 ] sister Lesley [ 8 ] and sons Thomas and Edward [ 9 ] were all born in Chester. [ 5 ] He attended Hawarden High School, [ 10 ] ( which Michael Owen would later attend ), and grew up in nearby Aston. [ citation needed ] He supported Everton as a child. [ 11 ] Whilst at school, he was employed as a paperboy and played for Flintshire Schoolboys, a local boy ‘ team, and for Aston Park Rangers. As a child, Speed excelled at cricket and football. [ 12 ]
Club career [edit ]
Leeds United [edit ]
speed began his career with Leeds United as a trainee when he left school in June 1988, [ 5 ] and was Peter Swan ‘s boot male child, [ 13 ] before he signed a professional shrink on 13 June 1988. [ 1 ] Leeds director Howard Wilkinson first noticed Speed in a youth team plot while the player was playing in a entrust back placement. [ 14 ] Under Wilkinson, he made his first team debut aged 19 in a scoreless drawing card against Oldham Athletic in the Football League Second Division. [ 15 ] He would go on to play in nine out of the ten-spot outfield positions, [ which? ] although he was predominantly a left-sided player. [ 14 ] He went on to play a key function, playing 41 of a possible 42 games and scoring seven goals, [ 16 ] as Leeds won the Football League First Division championship title in 1992, [ 17 ] as separate of a midfield that besides comprised Gordon Strachan, Gary McAllister and David Batty – erstwhile Leeds coach Eddie Gray considered it to be one of the greatest midfield line-ups in the modern earned run average. [ 18 ] Wilkinson named Speed as the golf club ‘s player of the season. [ 19 ] In September 1992, Speed was pivotal in Leeds ‘ UEFA Champions League first-round tie against VfB Stuttgart. Stuttgart had won 3–0 at family and looked to be going through already. Speed helped Leeds to a 4–1 victory at Elland Road, scoring one of them with a “ superb left-foot volley ” which he by and by described as his best-ever goal. Although Leeds went out of the marry on the away goals predominate, the club was late reinstated, for Stuttgart had fielded an ineligible player. accelerate was selected in the PFA Team of the year for the 1992–93 season. [ 21 ] On 4 October 1995, Speed scored the winning goal as Leeds beat second division side Notts County in the second gear round of the League Cup. The match had seemed to be going to extra time, but Speed ‘s 90th-minute win finish kept Leeds from needing a replay to overcome their lower-league opponents. [ 22 ] [ 23 ] speed featured in the 1996 Football League Cup Final get the better of by Aston Villa. Before transferring to Everton, Speed played in 312 games for Leeds United, scoring 57 goals. [ 14 ]
Everton [edit ]
A childhood Everton fan, [ 24 ] Speed was signed by Joe Royle before the 1996–97 season, for a fee of £3.5 million. [ 25 ] He made his debut on 17 August 1996, scoring against Newcastle United. [ 26 ] In November of that year, Speed scored a hat-trick – the only one of his career [ 27 ] – as Everton beat Southampton 7–1 at Goodison Park. [ 28 ] Speed finished the season with 11 goals, joint top-scorer with Duncan Ferguson. [ 29 ] Speed was besides vote Everton Player of Year for his performances during his first season at the club. [ 11 ] Howard Kendall succeeded Royle as the coach at the start of the 1997–98 season, and nominated Speed as clubhouse captain. [ 27 ] [ 30 ] [ 31 ] however, by the turn of the year the kinship between Speed and Kendall had soured. Speed played his last game for the club on 18 January 1998, scoring in a 3–1 succeed over Chelsea. [ 32 ] He did not travel for their following game, away to West Ham United, [ 33 ] and was subsequently sold to Newcastle for £5.5 million. [ 25 ] The reasons underlying Speed ‘s departure were never revealed. He told the Liverpool Echo : “ You know why I ‘m leaving, but I ca n’t explain myself publicly because it would damage the good name of Everton Football Club and I ‘m not prepared to do that. ” [ 27 ]
newcastle United [edit ]
amphetamine was signed for Newcastle United on 6 February 1998 by Kenny Dalglish, for a fee of £5.5 million. He made his debut as a crank in a 1–0 home Premier League defeat to West Ham United the future day. His first base goal came in his fifth match, the sixth circle proper of the 1997–98 FA Cup. At home to Barnsley, he scored the second goal of a 3–1 home plate acquire with a 27th-minute hit. His only league goal of the 1997–98 season came in a 3–1 home gain over Chelsea in the penult league match on 2 May, with Newcastle ‘s third in the 59th minute. He finished the season by playing the 1998 FA Cup Final, which Newcastle lost 2–0 to Arsenal on 16 May. [ 34 ] speed featured in the golf club ‘s FA Cup Final get the better of to Manchester United on 22 May 1999. On 19 September 1999, he scored a goal in Newcastle ‘s 8–0 Premier League victory over Sheffield Wednesday in which his teammate Alan Shearer scored a joint-record five times. [ 35 ] He besides played in the UEFA Champions League with Newcastle in the 2002–03 temper, scoring the 58th-minute counterweight in a 2–1 dwelling victory over Dynamo Kyiv in the group stage on 29 October 2002. [ 36 ]
Bolton Wanderers [edit ]
accelerate moved to Bolton Wanderers on a biennial cope in a £750,000 trade from Newcastle United in July 2004. [ 25 ] He became the first player to make 500 Premier League appearances when he played in Bolton ‘s 4–0 victory over West Ham United in December 2006. [ 37 ] On 1 May 2007, Speed was named as the first-team bus for Bolton after Sam Allardyce stepped down from his speculate as director. [ 38 ] however, in October he left the coaching job and returned to being precisely a musician with the golf club. Conflicting reports of the incident claimed that then director Sammy Lee relieved him of his duties to concentrate on act, but Speed, in an interview with the Bolton News, claimed he chose to step down. [ 39 ] travel rapidly scored a header for Bolton against Reading on 25 August 2007, making him, at the time, the only player to have scored in every premiership temper to date. Ryan Giggs late matched this accomplishment on 20 October 2007, and passed it on 8 February 2009. [ 40 ] It had been reported in December 2007 that Speed was a target for Derby County, but it was confirmed on 24 December 2007 that he would join Sheffield United on loan on 1 January 2008, with a see to a permanent move for a fee of about £250,000. [ 41 ]
Sheffield United [edit ]
speed made his debut on the day of his transfer, being named in the start football team for a 0–0 away draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers on New Year ‘s Day 2008. [ 42 ] He played regularly for the pillow of the season and deputised as captain when Chris Morgan was unavailable. Having seen his penalty parried, Speed netted the bounce to score his first goal for United in a victory over Coventry City in March of that year. [ 43 ] He went on to finish the season on three goals for United, scoring both goals in a 2–1 home victory over Bristol City in the penult game of the 2007–08 season. [ 44 ] In an consultation with BBC Wales on 10 May 2008, Speed hinted that the 2008–09 season may be his last play before moving into coaching or management but stated that he had not so far made up his mind. [ 45 ] speed started the future season as a regular repair in the United midfield, but succumbed to a back injury in November 2008. [ 46 ] Despite undergoing operating room to correct the trouble he failed to regain his fitness and missed the rest of the season, concentrating alternatively on a coach function at the club. [ 47 ] In June 2009, he was approached by Swansea City with regards to taking on the managerial character left vacant by Roberto Martínez. [ 48 ] He continued education and completed the 2010 London Marathon in care of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, the cancer charity founded by Speed ‘s erstwhile Newcastle director, who had died of the illness in 2009. speed ‘s eat up clock time was 3 hours, 49 minutes and 22 seconds. [ 49 ] Speed ultimately announced his retirement from playing in his 41st year, but agreed to remain at Sheffield United for at least one more temper as a bus. [ 50 ] Despite this he was again registered as a player and was named on the bench for the foremost round League Cup bet on against Hartlepool United at the beginning of the come season. [ 51 ]
International career [edit ]
speed played for Wales at youth level and earned three caps for the under-21 team. [ 1 ] He played 85 times for Wales, making him the second highest capped player only behind goalkeeper Neville Southall who made 92 appearances [ 52 ] until Speed was surpassed by Chris Gunter in 2018. [ 4 ] Speed captained Wales on 44 occasions. His first base appearance for the national side had come on 20 May 1990 in a 1–0 friendly winnings against Costa Rica at Ninian Park as a second-half replacement for Glyn Hodges. [ 53 ] He did not score until his 27th cap, a 3–2 away frustration in Moldova in a Euro 1996 qualifier on 12 October 1994. accelerate ‘s beginning appearance as master was during his 46th cap, a 3–0 aside win in Malta on 3 June 1998. rush broke the record held by Dean Saunders for most caps by a Welsh outfield player when he won his 76th against Finland in a Euro 2004 qualifier on 10 September 2003. He captained the side to a 1–1 draw. accelerate retired from international football in 2004 after the side ‘s 3–2 kill to Poland in a 2006 World Cup modifier. [ 55 ] After his retirement from international football, he was recommended by both the former director Mark Hughes and mate Welsh midfielder Robbie Savage as a future Welsh national team coach. [ citation needed ]
Playing style and reputation [edit ]
travel rapidly was a versatile player who could play in leave midfield, central midfield, and besides at left-back, [ 56 ] but playing chiefly as a left-side assaultive midfielder, with a bent for directing powerful headers towards finish. [ 5 ] He possessed big tactical awareness, and could both create and score goals. [ 56 ] regularly a captain, he was said by his teammates to have been an ‘inspirational figure ‘ who led by exemplar and demanded the best from those around him. [ 57 ] He was well known as a ‘consummate professional ‘ both on and off the field. [ 56 ] Hardworking, honest and self-critical, [ 12 ] he was not blessed with exceeding talent at a new historic period, but rather developed his technique through many hours of hard exploit on the discipline field. [ 57 ] He had a reputation as an highly burst football player who looked after his body. [ 57 ] He had a advanced approach to diet and fitness, a rare choice amongst players of his coevals. [ 56 ] His tied of seaworthiness allowed him to avoid injury and to continue playing until the age of 39 ; he rarely missed a game. [ 58 ] He besides had a repute as a friendly and supportive person, who cared for and took an matter to in the lives of the people around him ; his ‘nice ridicule ‘ persona made him a popular and well respected figure amongst his peers. [ 56 ] [ 57 ]
Managerial career [edit ]
Sheffield United [edit ]
With the 2010–11 season only three games honest-to-god, Sheffield United coach Kevin Blackwell was dismissed with Speed being confirmed as the golf club ‘s new coach on a three-year contract on 17 August 2010. [ 60 ] On 21 October 2010, Speed was given a one-game touchline ban and a £22,000 fine by The Football Association for his cheating demeanor at the home fastness against Watford on 2 October 2010. [ 61 ] On 11 December 2010, Speed was linked with the vacant Wales coach job along with John Hartson, Brian Flynn, Chris Coleman and Lars Lagerbäck. [ 62 ] Sheffield United confirmed that they had given Speed license to talk to the Football Association of Wales over the vacant position. [ 63 ] With fair four months managerial experience, Speed was confirmed as the new Welsh national team director on 14 December 2010 succeeding John Toshack who had stepped down in September 2010. Sheffield United released amphetamine from his contract after recompense was paid by the FAW. [ 64 ] [ 65 ] Former Welsh national team director Mark Hughes supported the move to appoint Speed, saying, “ He ‘s got a strong personality, he ‘s commodity with people, ( the players ) will relate better to Gary than they possibly did to the former coach. ” [ 66 ]
Wales [edit ]
speed managing Wales in 2011 speed ‘s first game as Wales director was 8 February 2011 in the inaugural Nations Cup, which the Republic of Ireland won 3–0. [ 67 ] Speed ‘s first competitive catch was the Euro 2012 modifier at home to England 26 March 2011 and Speed appointed twenty-year-old Aaron Ramsey master, making Ramsey the youngest ever Wales master. Wales lost to England 2–0, and in August 2011 Wales attained their lowest ever FIFA ranking of 117th. [ 68 ] This was followed by a 2–1 base win against Montenegro, a 1–0 away loss to England, a 2–0 home succeed against Switzerland and a 1–0 away win against Bulgaria. consequently, in October 2011, Wales were ranked 45th in the world by FIFA. [ 69 ] Speed ‘s concluding plot as coach of Wales was on 12 November 2011, a 4–1 family gain in a friendly catch against Norway. [ 70 ] On 21 December 2011, the day of the final examination FIFA rankings of the year, Wales were awarded the deed of ‘Best Movers ‘ of the year having gained more rank points than any other nation in 2011. [ 71 ]
personal life sentence [edit ]
accelerate married his fiancée Louise in 1996 ; the couple had two children, Thomas and Edward. [ 72 ] Outside his football career, Speed was known by friends as a humble and modest person, [ 73 ] [ 74 ] besides echo by David Moyes. [ 75 ] He besides took separate in charitable works and fighting for footballers ‘s rights. [ 76 ] focal ratio was appointed a Member of the Order of the british Empire ( MBE ) in the 2010 Birthday Honours for services to football. [ 77 ] In March 2012, Speed ‘s elder son, Edward, was selected for the Wales Under-16 police squad. [ 78 ] In 2018, 7 years after his death, an honest-to-god letter written by Speed in which he noted of being depressed and wishing to sleep and “ never wake up ” was uncovered by his widow Louise. The letter was addressed to Louise and it was written when Speed was 17 years honest-to-god. [ 79 ]
end [edit ]
On 26 November 2011, Speed appeared as a guest on the BBC One television course of study Football Focus ; [ 80 ] donor Dan Walker late described him as being in “ finely form ”. After the broadcast finished at 1 prime minister, Speed chatted to assorted other pundits at the MediaCity studios in Salford before joining former Newcastle United teammate Alan Shearer to watch their old club play against Manchester United at Old Trafford, a short walk from the studios across the Manchester Ship Canal. [ 81 ] After the match ended, at 5 prime minister, Speed drove home to Huntington, Cheshire, about an hour ‘s drive from Old Trafford. [ 81 ] The adopt dawn, just before 7 am, his wife Louise found his body hanging in the garage of his dwelling. She telephoned the ambulance service at 7:08 ante meridiem and the patrol were besides informed. They confirmed that he was dead, and announced that they were not treating his death as fishy. Although the facts were not fully established, it was reported that Speed ‘s death had been a suicide. [ 82 ] [ 83 ] [ 84 ] His death was announced to the public by the Football Association of Wales a few hours later. [ 85 ] An inquest into Speed ‘s death convened on 29 November 2011 ; it was adjourned until 30 January 2012. [ 84 ]
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The coroner at the inquest reached a narrative verdict and stated that causal agent of death was by “ self pause ”, but that there was insufficient evidence to determine whether it was intentional as he may have intended to make a “ dramatic gesture ” and then “ nodded off to sleep ”. [ 86 ] The inquest hear that the press of management had put some tenor on his marriage and that he and Louise had argued the night before his end. [ 86 ] however, family friend Alan Shearer had told Speed that such arguments were normal within a long-run relationship, and Louise told the inquest how late conversations between her and her conserve “ went on about our future together and how excited he was about our travel together ”. [ 86 ] His mother, Carol Speed, described him as a “ glass half-empty person “, and Louise said that he was “ a slightly shut quality ” and that she had viewed his last television receiver appearance after his death and thought that “ his smile did not appear genuine … it did not reach his eyes. “ [ citation needed ] Though he never discussed any possible mental health issues with anyone, four days before his death he did text Louise about the possibility of suicide, but he besides dismissed such an action because of the importance of his wife and two children. [ citation needed ] amphetamine left most of his £1.2 million estate of the realm to his wife and the pillow to his sons. [ 87 ] As a boy, Speed was coached by Barry Bennell, who was late convicted as a serial child arouse wrongdoer. In February 2018, after Bennell ‘s conviction, an anonymous victim of the bus told Al Jazeera that he had witnessed Speed being abused. [ 88 ] however, police twice interviewed Speed during earlier investigations into Bennell ‘s behavior, and he said that he was never harmed by him ; the inquest into Speed ‘s death found no links to Bennell. [ 89 ]
Tributes [edit ]
news program of Speed ‘s death was beginning announced by the Football Association of Wales, who extended their sympathies and condolences to Speed ‘s family. Throughout the day alike messages were released from many people within football, a well as national figures in Wales and the rest of the United Kingdom. Close friends and former teammates such as Robbie Savage, Ryan Giggs, Simon Grayson, Alan Shearer, Craig Bellamy and John Hartson all expressed their deep sorrow at his death. [ 90 ] [ 92 ] [ 93 ] Many British politicians expressed sadness at Speed ‘s death and sent condolences to his family, including Prime Minister David Cameron and Leader of the Opposition Ed Miliband. [ 94 ] Among the international figures to pay tribute to Speed was UEFA President Michel Platini. [ 95 ] FIFA President Sepp Blatter described Speed as “ a model master and a fantastic ambassador for the game ”. Both the FIFA and Welsh flags at FIFA ‘s headquarters were at one-half mast as a score of deference. [ 96 ] The peer between Swansea City and Aston Villa at the Liberty Stadium, held alone hours after Speed ‘s death was announced, was dedicated to his memory. A minute ‘s muteness was to be held before the couple. however, the fans applauded rather and sang Speed ‘s name. [ 97 ] several players who played in the match were sternly affected by the news. Four Welsh internationals played in the match ; [ 97 ] Ashley Williams, Neil Taylor and Joe Allen, of Swansea, all played under Speed for Wales, and Allen in detail was said to be struggling with the news. James Collins was the other Welsh external, and he had besides played with Speed at international level. Collins ‘ Villa teammates Shay Given and Jermaine Jenas had both played with Speed at Newcastle United, and both were badly affected by the newsworthiness. Given openly wept during and after the minute ‘s applause. [ 97 ] Both managers, Alex McLeish and Brendan Rodgers, paid protection to Speed. Rodgers, who had spoken to Speed a batch since he had become Wales coach, said that the game had lost a legend, while Neil Taylor said that he hoped Wales could qualify for the 2014 World Cup to honour him. [ 98 ] Along with this match, several others saw tributes toward Speed. The only other Premier League peer played that day was between Liverpool and Manchester City. Craig Bellamy of Liverpool was withdrawn from Liverpool ‘s squad by his director Kenny Dalglish, as he was besides affected by the news program to play. Bellamy played with Speed for Newcastle United and Wales, where accelerate had besides been his coach. [ 99 ] Dalglish himself had signed Speed for Newcastle, and expressed his gloominess at the newsworthiness, saying that he thought Speed was not only a great football player but besides a great person. Another of Speed ‘s former teammates, Hugo Viana, besides paid tribute to him. Viana, a portuguese international played aboard Speed at Newcastle from 2002 to 2004. After his team Braga had lost 3–2 to Porto, Viana displayed a shirt reading “ Gary Rest in Peace ”. [ 100 ] Gareth Bale, who played for Speed with Wales, besides gave Speed a last tribute. After scoring Tottenham ‘s open goal in a 3–0 acquire at home plate to Bolton, Bale took off his left bang and held it up to reveal the sew words “ RIP Gary Speed ”. [ citation needed ] At Sheffield United there were tributes for the erstwhile player, coach and coach before the team ‘s home repair against Torquay United in the FA Cup. Former teammates and colleagues were invited to the match ; there was a moment ‘s applause before the match ; players warmed up in particularly designed shirts ; players and coaches wore black armbands ; the match day program was dedicated to Speed ; Sheffield United captain Chris Morgan and early Sheffield United and Welsh external Rob Page laid wreaths on pitch side merely before kick-off. [ 101 ] Sheffield United striker Ched Evans, the lone player to be managed by speed at both club and international level, paid tribute to Speed during the match ; Evans revealed a message under his shirt after scoring his beginning goal which read : “ Rest in peace Speedo. ” Evans stated after the match “ I was a valet on a mission. I had a message on my top for Gary Speed which I wanted to show. I ‘m grateful I got the goal … The crowd started singing [ Speed ‘s name ], it gave me fathead pimples. ” [ 102 ] During the postdate week, tributes were paid to Speed from across the football temper. A minute ‘s applause was held before the League Cup quarter-final ties, american samoa good as across the Football League wednesday matches. like events were staged at every Premier League match on the weekend of 4 December, equally well as Wales ‘s rugby match against Australia at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. Speed ‘s wife Louise and his two children attended the Football League Championship game at Elland Road between Speed ‘s early cabaret Leeds and Millwall, which Leeds won 2–0, and again held a moment ‘s applause. Speed ‘s mate midfielders from the 1991–92 title-winning side Gary McAllister, David Batty and Gordon Strachan laid wreaths in his memory. [ 103 ] Speed ‘s church father, Roger, besides led a infinitesimal ‘s protection at Goodison Park, where amphetamine ‘s former club Everton lost 1–0 to Stoke City. [ 104 ] Speed ‘s father and sons were again salute a week late at the Reebok Stadium, as another of his son ‘s former teams Bolton Wanderers lost 2–1 to Aston Villa. [ 105 ] On 4 January, the Football Association of Wales announced that a match in Speed ‘s memory would be played on 29 February at Cardiff City Stadium. [ 106 ] The friendly external, against Costa Rica, commemorated Speed ‘s debut for Wales, where his team won against the same country 1–0, the memorial see Costa Rica win by the same score. [ 107 ] On 25 September 2012, Everton visited Leeds United in the League Cup. Starting from the 11th moment of the fixture, both sets of supporters chanted Speed ‘s name for 11 minutes. [ 108 ]
funeral [edit ]
speed ‘s funeral, attended by around 250 members of his family and close friends took place in the greenwich village of Hawarden on 9 December 2011. In keeping with his wife Louise ‘s wishes, only little crowds gathered on the main road outside St Deiniol ‘s Church and no members of the crusade were admitted. travel rapidly was late cremated in Pentre Bychan Crematorium, Wrexham. [ 109 ]
career statistics [edit ]
club [edit ]
International [edit ]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wales | 1990 | 3 | 0 |
| 1991 | 6 | 0 | |
| 1992 | 8 | 0 | |
| 1993 | 6 | 0 | |
| 1994 | 6 | 1 | |
| 1995 | 4 | 1 | |
| 1996 | 6 | 0 | |
| 1997 | 5 | 1 | |
| 1998 | 5 | 0 | |
| 1999 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2000 | 7 | 1 | |
| 2001 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2002 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2003 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2004 | 6 | 1 | |
| Total | 85 | 7 | |
- Scores and results list Wales’ goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Speed goal.[53][132]
managerial statistics [edit ]
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| Sheffield United | 17 August 2010 | 14 December 2010 | 18 | 6 | 3 | 9 | 0 33.3 |
| Wales | 14 December 2010 | 27 November 2011 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 50.0 |
| Total | 28 | 11 | 3 | 14 | 0 39.3 | ||
Honours [edit ]
Leeds United
Newcastle United
Individual