RIP Gary Speed

I woke up early this morning to watch the Liverpool v Man City game and shortly after checked the news and found out about the death of Wales football manager and former Newcastle, Everton, Leeds legend, Gary Speed.

It looks like it may the second suicide involving a high-profile sportsman this month - Peter Roebuck being the other one of course.

Even so, Gary Speed's sudden death at age 42 is a tremendous shock to everyone who follows football and for his fellow Welshmen.

By the time I started following football, Gary Speed was pretty much in the autumn of his career at Newcastle United after playing for Leeds & Everton. He eventually moved to Bolton and Sheffield United around the same time the late Sir Bobby Robson left Newcastle. He was the sort of player you'd always have in your starting XI - solid, dependable, industrious and with not a bad foot and head.

When he retired, like most footballers we went into management starting with Sheffield United. It wasn't the most auspicious start but he was quickly offered the Wales manager's role. He took it gleefully and started moulding together a very young but talented side consisting of Gareth Bale, Aaron Ramsey, Wayne Hennessey, etc.

His Wales team had been in very good form recently as qualifying for EURO2012 concluded and pundits were tipping them to have a great shot at qualification for EURO2016 - they had been drawn in quite a tough pool for the 2014 World Cup.

Then came this.

The saddest thing is that Speed had only been on the BBC's Football Focus less than 24 hours before he was found hung in his home. It appears that the circumstances of his death will be a matter of mystery for years to come. Ironic really for a player who you could depend on and never really delivered the unexpected.

A sad day for football. But a horrible one for his family who will not only have to come to terms with the loss of a husband and father but also figuring why this happened out of the blue.

RIP Gary Speed.





Gary Speed's last ever interview on BBC's Football Focus.

Gary Speed's first ever hat-trick for Everton.

Montage of Gary Speed's goals at Newcastle United.