Gary Speed: A Football Fan's Tribute

That decision, which Sir Bobby Robson didn't take lightly - replacing him with a player, in the shape of Nicky Butt who was brought in as a direct response to the perceived need to replace Speed - was shown to be slightly premature given how important Speed would become at Bolton, where he moved for £750k. There, as a veteran addition to the team, Speed offered a wealth of experience, becoming the first player to make 500 first class appearances and helping to keep an unfancied Bolton team in the Premier League before taking over as first-team-coach in 2007. He returned to playing duties briefly with Bolton before joining Sheffield United initially on loan, before a back injury curtailed his career and forced his retirement after a career that had also seen 87 national caps for Wales. The next few months would see him move onto the other side of touchline, taking on more coaching duties at Sheffield United before ultimately succeeding Kevin Blackwell as manager on a three year contract. Just over four months later, the Welsh playing legend, who sits behind just Neville Southall in the appearance stakes for Wales, would take over as permanent manager of his home nation, leading a fractured team to victory over the Republic of Ireland in his first game. In just a few short months Speed was credited with transforming the fortunes of the Welsh team, taking them from a record low of 117th in Fifa's world rankings up to 45th thanks to some strong performances, including one that almost embarrassed an England team full of egos (had Rob Earnshaw had his shooting boots on). He was building a young national team, with a genuine air of optimism for the future, with shining talents like Aaron Ramsey and Gareth Bale, and you have to wonder how that development will now continue. The world of football has been robbed of a genuine talent, a genuine professional and a genuine gentleman. While the reason for his death remains unclear, the world can and will only speculate, but further discourse will now surely be demanded on the issue of depression in ex-Pros (even if it turns out not to be a factor) which can hopefully help other sufferers not just in the game come forward and seek some help. If one good can come from this devastating situation, it should be that. I had the privilege in a former career of meeting Gary Speed briefly while he was at Newcastle, and found him to be unassuming, genuinely likeable man, and the sentiment seems to be echoed throughout the sporting world in the past few hours, with tributes flooding in. He leaves a wife and two sons.

Gary Speed (1969 - 2011) RIP