Gary Speed
{{Short description|Welsh footballer and manager (1969–2011)}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
|name = Gary Speed
{{post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE}}
|image = Gary Speed 2011.jpg
|image_size =
|caption = Speed managing Wales in 2011
|fullname = Gary Andrew Speed{{cite book |editor-first=Barry J. |editor-last=Hugman |title=The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10 |year=2009 |publisher=Mainstream Publishing |location=Edinburgh |isbn=978-1-84596-474-0 |page=386}}
|birth_date = {{birth date|1969|9|8|df=y}}
|birth_place = Mancot, Flintshire, Wales
|death_date = {{death date and age|2011|11|27|1969|9|8|df=y}}
|death_place = Huntington, Cheshire, England
|height = {{convert|1.78|m|order=flip}}{{cite web |url=https://www.11v11.com/players/gary-speed-374/ |title=Gary Speed |website=11v11.com |publisher=AFS Enterprises |access-date=11 October 2018}}
| position = Midfielder
| youthyears1 = 1984–1988
| youthclubs1 = Leeds United
| years1 = 1988–1996
| years2 = 1996–1998
| years3 = 1998–2004
| years4 = 2004–2008
| years5 = 2008–2010
| clubs1 = Leeds United
| clubs2 = Everton
| clubs3 = Newcastle United
| clubs4 = Bolton Wanderers
| clubs5 = Sheffield United
| caps1 = 248
| caps2 = 58
| caps3 = 213
| caps4 = 121
| caps5 = 37
| goals1 = 39
| goals2 = 16
| goals3 = 29
| goals4 = 14
| goals5 = 6
| totalcaps = 677
| totalgoals = 104
|nationalyears1 = 1990–1991
|nationalyears2 = 1990–2004
|nationalteam1 = Wales U21{{cite book|editor1-first=Glenda|editor1-last=Rollin|editor2-first=Jack|editor2-last=Rollin |title=Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2012–2013 |year=2012 |publisher=Headline Publishing Group |location=London |isbn=978-0-7553-6356-8 |page=980 |edition=43rd}}
|nationalteam2 = Wales
|nationalcaps1 = 3
|nationalcaps2 = 85
|nationalgoals1 = 2
|nationalgoals2 = 7
|manageryears1 = 2010
|managerclubs1 = Sheffield United
|manageryears2 = 2010–2011
|managerclubs2 = Wales
}}
Gary Andrew Speed {{post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE}} (8 September 1969 – 27 November 2011) was a Welsh professional footballer and manager. As manager of Wales, Speed is often credited as being the catalyst for the change in fortunes of the national team and as setting the pathway to future successes.{{Cite web |date=27 November 2021 |title='His impact will last forever': Welsh football remembers Gary Speed, 10 years on from his death |url=https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/gary-speed-death-wales-football-legacy-neville-southall-elis-james-1158047 |access-date=20 March 2022 |website=inews.co.uk |language=en}}
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 later 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 player for Wales and the second overall with 85 caps between 1990 and 2004 until being overtaken by Chris Gunter in 2018,{{cite web |title=Wales' Chris Gunter admits China welcome was 'eye-opening' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/wales-china-chris-gunter-welcome-eye-opening-a8272091.html |website=The Independent |date=24 March 2018 |access-date=27 November 2021}} playing mainly as a left-sided attacking midfielder. Speed was appointed manager of Sheffield United in 2010, but left the club after a few months in December 2010 to manage the Wales national team, remaining in this role until his death 11 months later.
Rarely troubled 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.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/nov/27/gary-speed |title=Gary Speed obituary |first=Nick |last=Szczepanik |newspaper=The Guardian |date=27 November 2011 |access-date=2 December 2011}} Including appearances in the Football League and cup competitions, he made 840 domestic appearances.
Early life and career
Speed was born in Mancot, Flintshire, Wales,{{cite book|editor-first = Barry J.|editor-last=Hugman |title=The PFA Premier & Football League Players' Records 1946–2005 |year=2005 |publisher=Queen Anne Press |isbn=978-1-85291-665-7 |page=579}} although his parents Roger and Carol,{{cite news |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/mobile/topsport/2011/12/03/gary-speed-s-wife-louise-to-join-fans-for-pitchside-tributes-at-all-his-former-clubs-115875-23606069/ |title=Gary Speed's wife Louise to join fans for pitchside tributes at all his former clubs |first=Greig |last=Box-Turnbull |newspaper=Daily Mirror |date=3 December 2011 |access-date=3 December 2011}} sister Lesley{{cite news |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/editors-picks/2011/11/30/gary-speed-s-sister-lesley-in-tribute-to-brother-friend-and-inspiration-on-twitter-115875-23598473/ |title=Gary Speed's sister Lesley in tribute to "brother, friend, and inspiration" on Twitter |first1=Martin |last1=Fricker |first2=Paul |last2=Byrne |newspaper=Daily Mirror |date=30 November 2011 |access-date=3 December 2011}} and sons Thomas and Edward{{cite news |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/11/29/heartbroken-widow-of-gary-speed-struggling-to-come-to-terms-with-his-death-115875-23595977/ |title=Gary Speed's wife Louise heartbroken as she starts thinking about funeral plans |first1=Martin |last1=Fricker |first2=Paul |last2=Byrne |newspaper=Daily Mirror |date=29 November 2011 |access-date=3 December 2011}} were all born in Chester. He attended Hawarden High School.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/sport-obituaries/8919038/Gary-Speed.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/sport-obituaries/8919038/Gary-Speed.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Gary Speed |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=27 November 2011 |access-date=2 December 2011}}{{cbignore}}
He supported Everton as a youngster.{{cite web |url=http://www.toffeeweb.com/players/past/Speed.php |title=Gary Speed – Player Profile |publisher=ToffeeWeb |date=27 November 2011 |access-date=2 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201042806/http://www.toffeeweb.com/players/past/Speed.php |archive-date=1 December 2011}} Whilst at school, he was employed as a paperboy and played for Flintshire Schoolboys, a local boys' team, and for Aston Park Rangers. As a youngster, Speed excelled at cricket and football.{{cite web |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/gary-speed |title=Gary Speed |first=Andy |last=Mitten |magazine=FourFourTwo |date=28 November 2011 |access-date=11 October 2018}}
Club career
=Leeds United=
Speed began his career with Leeds United as a trainee when he left school in June 1988, and was Peter Swan's boot boy,{{cite book |title=Swanny: Confessions of a Lower-League Legend |first=Peter |last=Swan |year=2008 |publisher=John Blake Publishing |isbn=978-1-84454-660-2 |page=55}} before he signed a professional contract on 13 June 1988. Leeds manager Howard Wilkinson first noticed Speed in a youth team game while the player was playing in a left back position.{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2882/wales/2011/11/28/2778061/obituary-gary-speed-1969-2011 |title=Obituary: Gary Speed (1969–2011) |first=Wayne |last=Veysey |publisher=Goal.com |date=28 November 2011 |access-date=2 December 2011}} Under Wilkinson, he made his first team debut aged 19 in a goalless draw against Oldham Athletic in the Football League Second Division.{{cite web |url=http://www.minsterfm.com/news/local/564906/tributes-to-leeds-legend-gary-speed/ |title=Tributes to Leeds legend Gary Speed |publisher=104.7 Minster FM |date=28 November 2011 |access-date=2 December 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131203000925/http://www.minsterfm.com/news/local/564906/tributes-to-leeds-legend-gary-speed/ |archive-date=3 December 2013}} He would go on to play in nine out of the ten outfield positions,{{which|date=November 2011}} although he was predominantly a left-sided player.
He went on to play a key role, playing 41 of a possible 42 games and scoring seven goals,{{cite book |title=Rothman's Football Yearbook 1992–93 |year=1992 |publisher=Headline Book Publishing |location=London |isbn=978-0-7472-7905-1 |pages=282–283}} as Leeds won the Football League First Division championship title in 1992,{{cite news |title=Gary Speed picture gallery |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/wales/9284442.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=27 November 2011 |access-date=2 December 2011}} as part of a midfield that also comprised Gordon Strachan, Gary McAllister and David Batty – former Leeds manager Eddie Gray considered it to be one of the greatest midfield line-ups in the modern era.{{cite news |last=Robinson |first=Paul |title=Gary Speed: Leeds United mourning a legend |url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/central-leeds/gary_speed_leeds_united_mourning_a_legend_updated_1_4009576 |newspaper=Yorkshire Evening Post |date=29 November 2011 |access-date=3 December 2011}} Wilkinson named Speed as the club's player of the season.{{cite news |last=Ponting |first=Ivan |title=Gary Speed: Footballer and Wales manager whose playing career spanned 22 years |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/gary-speed-footballer-and-wales-manager-whose-playing-career-spanned-22-years-6268784.html |newspaper=The Independent |date=28 November 2011 |access-date=2 December 2011}}
In September 1992, Speed was pivotal in Leeds' UEFA Champions League first-round tie against VfB Stuttgart. Stuttgart had won 3–0 at home 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 later described as his best-ever goal. Although Leeds went out of the tie on the away goals rule, the club was later reinstated, for Stuttgart had fielded an ineligible player.{{cite news |title=Gary Speed Record breaking Welsh wonder |url=http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/archive/Gary-Speed-Record-breaking-career-of-the-Welsh-wonder-article80968.html |newspaper=Daily Mirror |access-date=3 December 2011}}
Speed was selected in the PFA Team of the Year for the 1992–93 season.
On 4 October 1995, Speed scored the winning goal as Leeds beat second division side Notts County in the second round of the League Cup. The match had seemed to be going to extra time, but Speed's 90th-minute winning goal kept Leeds from needing a replay to overcome their lower-league opponents.{{cite news |last=Shaw |first=Phil |title=Speed delivers decisive strike |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/speed-delivers-decisive-strike-1575972.html |newspaper=The Independent |date=4 October 1995 |access-date=3 December 2011}}{{cite news |title=Action replay 1995: Notts County v Leeds United |url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/action_replay_1995_notts_county_v_leeds_united_1_2254707 |newspaper=Yorkshire Evening Post |date=30 September 2011 |access-date=3 December 2011}}
Speed featured in the 1996 Football League Cup final defeat by Aston Villa. Before transferring to Everton, Speed played in 312 games for Leeds United, scoring 57 goals.
=Everton=
A childhood Everton fan,{{cite news |title=Gary Speed Dies Aged 42 |url=http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/2011/11/27/gary-speed-dies-aged-42 |publisher=Everton F.C. |date=27 November 2011 |access-date=2 December 2011 |archive-date=29 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129195848/http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/2011/11/27/gary-speed-dies-aged-42? |url-status=dead }} Speed was signed by Joe Royle before the 1996–97 season, for a fee of £3.5 million.{{cite news |title=Speed joins Bolton |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/bolton_wanderers/3904323.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=21 July 2004 |access-date=2 December 2011}} He made his debut on 17 August 1996, scoring against Newcastle United.{{cite news |title=19 August 1996 |first=Glen |last=Moore |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/keegan-suffers-through-sloth-1310377.html |newspaper=The Independent |date=19 August 1996 |access-date=2 December 2011}} In November of that year, Speed scored a hat-trick – the only one of his career
{{cite news |title=Remembering the Gary Speed I knew |first=David |last=Prentice |url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/everton-fc/everton-fc-news/2011/11/27/david-prentice-remembering-the-gary-speed-i-knew-100252-29851117/ |newspaper=Liverpool Echo |date=27 November 2011 |access-date=2 December 2011}} – as Everton beat Southampton 7–1 at Goodison Park.{{cite news |title=Barmby becomes the catalyst |first=Derrick |last=Whyte |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-barmby-becomes-the-catalyst-1352914.html |newspaper=The Independent |date=18 November 1996 |access-date=2 December 2011}} Speed finished the season with 11 goals, joint top-scorer with Duncan Ferguson.{{cite web |title=Everton Goalscorers, 1996–97 |url=http://www.toffeeweb.com/season/96-97/goalscorers.php |publisher=ToffeeWeb |access-date=2 December 2011}} Speed was also voted Everton Player of Year for his performances during his first season at the club.
Howard Kendall succeeded Royle as the manager at the start of the 1997–98 season, and nominated Speed as club captain.{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=942&teamTabs=managers |title=Everton: Managers |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |access-date=11 October 2018}}{{cite news |title=Lombardo and Palace are birds of a feather |first=Michael |last=Staniforth |url=http://www.toffeeweb.com/season/97-98/reports/crystal-palace_h.htm#ET |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=11 August 1997 |access-date=2 December 2011}} However, by the turn of the year the relationship between Speed and Kendall had soured. Speed played his last game for the club on 18 January 1998, scoring in a 3–1 win over Chelsea.{{cite news |url=http://www.toffeeweb.com/season/97-98/reports/chelsea_h.htm#ET |title=Ferguson's power punishes careless Chelsea |first=Guy |last=Hodgson |newspaper=The Independent |date=19 January 1998 |access-date=2 December 2011}} He did not travel for their next game, away to West Ham United,{{cite news |title=Madar spoils Sinclair's day |first=Steve |last=Curry |url=http://www.toffeeweb.com/season/97-98/reports/west-ham_a.htm#ET |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=2 February 1998 |access-date=2 December 2011}} and was subsequently sold to Newcastle for £5.5 million. The reasons underlying Speed's departure were never revealed. He told the Liverpool Echo: "You know why I'm leaving, but I can't explain myself publicly because it would damage the good name of Everton Football Club and I'm not prepared to do that."
=Newcastle United=
Speed 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 starter in a 1–0 home Premier League defeat to West Ham United the next day. His first goal came in his fifth match, the sixth round proper of the 1997–98 FA Cup. At home to Barnsley, he scored the second goal of a 3–1 home win with a 27th-minute strike. His only league goal of the 1997–98 season came in a 3–1 home win over Chelsea in the penultimate 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.
Speed featured in the club's FA Cup Final defeat 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. He also played in the UEFA Champions League with Newcastle in the 2002–03 season, scoring the 58th-minute equaliser in a 2–1 home victory over Dynamo Kyiv in the group stage on 29 October 2002.{{cite news |last1=Rockwood |first1=Dan |title=Newcastle United 2 – 1 Dynamo Kiev |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2002/oct/29/minutebyminute.sport |access-date=5 November 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=29 October 2002}}
=Bolton Wanderers=
Speed moved to Bolton Wanderers on a two-year deal in a £750,000 switch from Newcastle United in July 2004. 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.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/bolton_wanderers/6167279.stm |title=Shearer lauds record-making Speed |publisher=BBC Sport |date=11 December 2006 |access-date=3 December 2011}}
On 1 May 2007, Speed was named as the first-team coach for Bolton after Sam Allardyce stepped down from his job as manager.{{cite web |url=http://www.bwfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,1004~1019045,00.html |title=Speed Appointed As First Team Coach |publisher=Bolton Wanderers |access-date=3 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070704073207/http://www.bwfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C1004~1019045%2C00.html |archive-date=4 July 2007}} However, in October he left the coaching job and returned to being just a player with the club. Conflicting reports of the incident claimed that then manager Sammy Lee relieved him of his duties to concentrate on playing, but Speed, in an interview with the Bolton News, claimed he chose to step down.{{cite news |title=West Ham 0–1 Man Utd |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/bolton_wanderers/7039158.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=11 October 2007 |access-date=2 December 2011}}
Speed 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 season to date. Ryan Giggs later matched this achievement on 20 October 2007, and passed it on 8 February 2009.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/7867122.stm |title=West Ham 0–1 Man Utd |first=Mandeep |last=Sanghera |publisher=BBC Sport |date=8 February 2009 |access-date=2 December 2011}} 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 view to a permanent move for a fee of about £250,000.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_utd/7158844.stm |title=Blades agree deal to sign Speed |publisher=BBC Sport |date=24 December 2007|access-date=3 December 2011}}
=Sheffield United=
Speed made his debut on the day of his transfer, being named in the starting eleven for a 0–0 away draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers on New Year's Day 2008.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/7163905.stm |title=Wolves 0–0 Sheff Utd |publisher=BBC Sport |date=1 January 2008 |access-date=3 December 2011}} He played regularly for the rest of the season and deputised as captain when Chris Morgan was unavailable. Having seen his penalty parried, Speed netted the rebound to score his first goal for United in a victory over Coventry City in March of that year.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/7285092.stm |title=Sheff Utd 2–1 Coventry |publisher=BBC Sport |date=11 March 2008 |access-date=3 December 2011}} 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 penultimate game of the 2007–08 season.{{cite news |title=Sheff Utd 2–1 Bristol City |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/7356056.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 April 2008 |access-date=3 December 2011}} In an interview with BBC Wales on 10 May 2008, Speed hinted that the 2008–09 season may be his last playing before moving into coaching or management but stated that he had not yet made up his mind.{{cite news |title=Speed gives retirement plan hint |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_of_wales/7393811.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=10 June 2008 |access-date=3 December 2011}}
Speed started the next season as a regular fixture in the United midfield, but succumbed to a back injury in November 2008.{{cite news |url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheffield-united/Speed-career-under-threat.4808408.jp |title=Speed career under threat |newspaper=The Star |date=16 December 2008 |access-date=2 December 2011}} Despite undergoing surgery to correct the problem he failed to regain his fitness and missed the rest of the season, concentrating instead on a coaching role at the club.{{cite news |url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/football/Lessons-learned.5283484.jp |title=Lessons learned |newspaper=The Star |date=20 May 2009 |access-date=2 December 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130114054738/http://www.thestar.co.uk/football/Lessons-learned.5283484.jp |archive-date=14 January 2013 |url-status=dead}} In June 2009, he was approached by Swansea City with regards to taking on the managerial role left vacant by Roberto Martínez.{{cite news |last=Dulin |first=David |title=Six on Swansea manager shortlist |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swansea_city/8101986.stm |access-date=11 March 2018 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=16 June 2009}} He continued training and completed the 2010 London Marathon in aid of the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation, the cancer charity founded by Speed's former Newcastle manager, who had died of the illness in 2009. Speed's finishing time was 3 hours, 49 minutes and 22 seconds.{{cite news |last1=Ashdown |first1=John |last2=Turner |first2=Georgina |title=Which player has run the fastest marathon? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/oct/24/player-fastest-distance-race |access-date=11 March 2018 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=24 October 2012}}
Speed finally announced his retirement from playing in his 41st year, but agreed to remain at Sheffield United for at least one more season as a coach.{{cite news |url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/other-clubs/playing_days_finally_over_for_sheffield_united_s_speed_1_2573244 |title=Former Playing days finally over for Sheffield United's Speed |newspaper=The Yorkshire Post |date=6 May 2010 |access-date=3 December 2011}} Despite this he was again registered as a player and was named on the bench for the first round League Cup game against Hartlepool United at the outset of the following season.{{cite web |url=http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/Previews/0,,10418~2118999,00.html |title=Match Preview |publisher=Sheffield United F.C. |date=11 August 2010 |access-date=2 December 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805150916/http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/Previews/0,,10418~2118999,00.html |archive-date=5 August 2012}}
International career
Speed played for Wales at youth level and earned three caps for the under-21 team. He played 85 times for Wales, making him the second highest capped player only behind goalkeeper Neville Southall who made 92 appearances{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/wal-recintlp.html |title=Wales – Record International Players |first=Luis Fernando Passo |last=Alpuin |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |date=20 February 2009 |access-date=3 December 2011}} until Speed was surpassed by Chris Gunter in 2018. Speed captained Wales on 44 occasions. His first appearance for the national side had come on 20 May 1990 in a 1–0 friendly win against Costa Rica at Ninian Park as a second-half replacement for Glyn Hodges.{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesw/wal-intres90.html |title=Wales – International Results 1990–1999 – Details |first=Barrie |last=Courtney |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |date=20 May 2004 |access-date=11 October 2018}} He did not score until his 27th cap, a 3–2 away defeat in Moldova in a Euro 1996 qualifier on 12 October 1994. Speed's first appearance as captain was during his 46th cap, a 3–0 away win in Malta on 3 June 1998.{{cite web |url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=19810 |title=Football player: Gary Speed |website=EU-Football.info |access-date=11 October 2018}}
Speed 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. Speed retired from international football in 2004 after the side's 3–2 defeat to Poland in a 2006 World Cup qualifier.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/3741366.stm |title=Speed retires from Wales |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 October 2004 |access-date=3 December 2011}}
Playing style and reputation
Speed was a versatile player who could play in left midfield, central midfield, and also at left-back,{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/philmcnulty/2011/11/gary_speed_tribute.html |title=Speed the model professional on and off the pitch |last=McNulty |first=Phil |access-date=3 December 2011 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=27 November 2011}} but playing mainly as a left-side attacking midfielder, with a knack for directing powerful headers towards goal. He possessed great tactical awareness, and could both create and score goals. Regularly a captain, he was said by his teammates to have been an 'inspirational figure' who led by example and demanded the best from those around him.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/15908380.stm |title=Gary Speed: Tributes pour in for Wales manager who has died aged 42 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=27 November 2011 |access-date=2 December 2011}}
He was well known as a 'consummate professional' both on and off the field. Hardworking, honest and self-critical, he was not blessed with exceptional talent at a young age, but instead developed his technique through many hours of hard work on the training field. He had a reputation as an extremely fit footballer who looked after his body. He had a modern approach to diet and fitness, a rare quality amongst players of his generation. His level of fitness allowed him to avoid injury and to continue playing until the age of 39; he rarely missed a game.{{cite news |last=Williams |first=Aled |title=Gary Speed – player and manager |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/15910218.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=27 November 2011 |access-date=3 December 2011}}
He also had a reputation as a friendly and supportive person, who cared for and took an interest in the lives of the people around him;{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/danwalker/2011/11/gary_speed_leaves_a_huge_whole.html |title=Gary Speed leaves a huge hole in football |first=Dan |last=Walker |publisher=BBC Sport |date=27 November 2011 |access-date=3 December 2011}} his 'nice guy' persona made him a popular and well respected figure amongst his peers.
Managerial career
=Sheffield United=
With the 2010–11 season only three games old, Sheffield United manager Kevin Blackwell was dismissed with Speed being confirmed as the club's new manager on a three-year contract on 17 August 2010.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_utd/8918047.stm |title=Sheffield United announce Gary Speed as new manager |publisher=BBC Sport |date=17 August 2010 |access-date=3 December 2011}} On 21 October 2010, Speed was given a one-game touchline ban and a £22,000 fine by The Football Association for his unsporting behaviour at the home fixture against Watford on 2 October 2010.{{cite web |url=http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2192286,00.html |title=Speed gets one game |date=21 October 2010 |publisher=Sheffield United F.C. |access-date=2 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101024083227/http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10418~2192286%2C00.html |archive-date=24 October 2010}} On 11 December 2010, Speed was linked with the vacant Wales manager job along with John Hartson, Brian Flynn, Chris Coleman and Lars Lagerbäck.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_of_wales/9277884.stm |title=Mark Hughes backs Gary Speed for Wales managerial job |date=10 December 2010 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=3 December 2011}} Sheffield United confirmed that they had given Speed permission to talk to the Football Association of Wales over the vacant position.{{cite news |title=Gary Speed set to leave Sheffield United to take charge of Wales |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/dec/13/gary-speed-sheffield-united-permission-wales |newspaper=The Guardian |date=10 December 2010 |access-date=3 December 2011}} With just four months managerial experience, Speed was confirmed as the new Welsh national team manager on 14 December 2010 succeeding John Toshack who had stepped down in September 2010. Sheffield United released Speed from his contract after compensation was paid by the FAW.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/league_of_wales/9274410.stm |title=Wales unveil ex-captain Gary Speed as new manager |publisher=BBC Sport |date=14 December 2010 |access-date=11 October 2018}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/dec/14/gary-speed-new-wales-manager |title=Gary Speed confirmed as new Wales manager |newspaper=The Guardian |date=14 December 2010 |access-date=3 December 2011}} Former Welsh national team manager Mark Hughes supported the move to appoint Speed, saying, "He's got a strong personality, he's good with people, (the players) will relate better to Gary than they perhaps did to the previous manager."{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/hughes-pleased-with-speed-choice-2162484.html |title=Hughes pleased with Speed choice |newspaper=The Independent |date=17 December 2010 |access-date=3 December 2011}}
=Wales=
File:Gary Speed.jpg in 2011]]
Speed's first game as Wales manager was 8 February 2011 in the inaugural Nations Cup, which the Republic of Ireland won 3–0.{{cite news |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2011/0208/ireland_wales_carlingnationscup.html |title=Republic of Ireland 3–0 Wales |publisher=RTÉ Sport |date=8 February 2011 |access-date=3 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211022530/http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2011/0208/ireland_wales_carlingnationscup.html |archive-date=11 February 2011}} Speed's first competitive match was the Euro 2012 qualifier at home to England 26 March 2011 and Speed appointed twenty-year-old Aaron Ramsey captain, making Ramsey the youngest ever Wales captain. Wales lost to England 2–0, and in August 2011 Wales attained their lowest ever FIFA ranking of 117th.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/14650204.stm |title=Wales drop below Haiti to 117th in latest Fifa ranking |publisher=BBC Sport |date=24 August 2011 |access-date=3 December 2011}} This was followed by a 2–1 home win against Montenegro, a 1–0 away loss to England, a 2–0 home win against Switzerland and a 1–0 away win against Bulgaria. Consequently, in October 2011, Wales were ranked 45th in the world by FIFA.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/15365996.stm |title=Wales rise in world rankings 45 places to 45th |publisher=BBC Sport |date=19 October 2011 |access-date=3 December 2011}} Speed's last game as manager of Wales was on 12 November 2011, a 4–1 home win in a friendly match against Norway.{{cite news |last=Hughes |first=Dewi |title=International friendly: Wales 4–1 Norway |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/15589976.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=12 November 2011 |access-date=3 December 2011}} On 21 December 2011, the day of the final FIFA rankings of the year, Wales were awarded the title of 'Best Movers' of the year having gained more ranking points than any other nation in 2011.{{cite news |title=Gary Speed's Wales named 2011's best climbers in Fifa world rankings |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/dec/21/gary-speed-wales-fifa-rankings?newsfeed=true |access-date=22 December 2011 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=21 December 2011}}
Personal life
Speed married his fiancée Louise in 1996; the couple had two children, Thomas and Edward.{{cite news |last1=Rimmer |first1=Joe |title=Gary Speed's team-mates and friends talk about his death |url=https://www.cheshire-live.co.uk/news/chester-cheshire-news/gary-speeds-team-mates-friends-15171625 |access-date=8 November 2020 |work=Cheshire Live |date=19 September 2018 |language=en}}
Outside his football career, Speed was known by friends as a humble and modest person,{{Cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/hate-mob-can-learn-a-lesson-from-death-of-popular-gary-speed-6373512.html|title = Hate mob can learn a lesson from death of popular Gary Speed|date = 11 April 2012}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/9387987.gary-speed---life-times-football-great/|title=Gary Speed – the life and times of a football great}} also echoed by David Moyes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/tributes-pour-former-everton-fc-3361303|title = Tributes pour in to former Everton FC captain Gary Speed from across the Merseyside footballing divide|date = 28 November 2011}} He also took part in charitable works and fighting for footballers' rights.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/gary-speeds-apparent-suicide-stuns-195300146--sow.html|title=Gary Speed's apparent suicide stuns soccer world}}
Speed was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2010 Birthday Honours for services to football.{{London Gazette |issue = 59446 |date = 12 June 2010 |page=22 |supp=y}}
In March 2012, Speed's elder son, Edward, was selected for the Wales Under-16 squad.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/17299600 |title=Gary Speed's son Edward picked for Wales Under-16s |date=8 March 2012 |publisher=BBC Sport}}
In 2018, seven years after his death, an old letter written by Speed in which he noted 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 old.{{cite web |title=Gary Speed's heartbreaking letter to wife Louise which revealed hidden agony |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/gary-speeds-heartbreaking-letter-sent-13257758 |website=Daily Mirror |date=17 September 2018}}
Death and legacy
On 26 November 2011, Speed appeared as a guest on the BBC One television programme Football Focus;{{cite news |title=Footballing world pays tribute to Gary Speed |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-15911321 |publisher=BBC News |date=28 November 2011 |access-date=11 October 2018}} presenter Dan Walker later described him as being in "fine form". After the programme finished at 1 pm, Speed chatted to various 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.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/wales/8919251/Gary-Speed-died-hours-after-joking-with-colleagues-on-Football-Focus.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/wales/8919251/Gary-Speed-died-hours-after-joking-with-colleagues-on-Football-Focus.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Gary Speed died hours after joking with colleagues on Football Focus |first=Mark |last=Hughes |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=27 November 2011 |access-date=3 December 2011}}{{cbignore}} At 5 pm, Speed drove home to Huntington, Cheshire, slightly over an hour's drive from Old Trafford.
The following morning, just before 7 am, his wife Louise found his body in the garage of his home. She telephoned the ambulance service at 7:08 a.m. and the police were also informed. They confirmed that he was dead, and announced that they were not treating his death as suspicious. Although the facts were not fully established, it was reported that Speed's death had been a suicide.{{cite news |last=Carter |first=Helen |title=Gary Speed's body found in garage of family home, inquest told |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/nov/29/gary-speed-inquest-not-suspicious?newsfeed=true |newspaper=The Guardian |date=29 November 2011 |access-date=3 December 2011}}{{cite news |last=Hughes |first=Mark |title=Wales boss Gary Speed found dead |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/8918628/Wales-boss-Gary-Speed-found-dead.html |url-status=dead |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=27 November 2011 |access-date=2 December 2011 |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20111127205717/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/8918628/Wales-manager-Gary-Speed-found-dead.html |archive-date=27 November 2011}}{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-15928380 |title=Gary Speed death: Warrington inquest adjourned |publisher=BBC News |date=29 November 2011 |access-date=2 December 2011}} His death was announced to the public by the Football Association of Wales a few hours later.{{cite web |title=Gary Speed dies aged 42 |url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/989128/wales-boss-gary-speed-dies-aged-42?cc=5739 |publisher=ESPN |access-date=3 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111130022420/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/989128/wales-boss-gary-speed-dies-aged-42?cc=5739 |archive-date=30 November 2011}} An inquest into Speed's death convened on 29 November 2011; it was adjourned until 30 January 2012.
The coroner at the inquest reached a narrative verdict, 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". The inquest heard that the pressure of management had put some strain on his marriage and that he and Louise had argued the night before his death.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-16760925 |title=Gary Speed narrative verdict after wife tells inquest of marriage strain |publisher=BBC News |date=30 January 2012 |access-date=30 January 2012}} However, family friend Alan Shearer had told Speed that such arguments were normal within a long-term relationship, and Louise told the inquest how recent conversations between her and her husband "went on about our future together and how excited he was about our journey together".
Speed left most of his £1.2 million estate to his wife and the rest to his sons.{{cite news |title=Gary Speed leaves £1m to wife who found him hanged |url=http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/325804/Gary-Speed-leaves-1m-to-wife-who-found-him-hanged |newspaper=Daily Express |date=11 June 2012 |access-date=27 November 2021}}
As a boy, Speed was coached by Barry Bennell, who was later convicted as a serial child sex offender. In February 2018, after Bennell's conviction, an anonymous victim of the coach told Al Jazeera that he had witnessed Speed being abused.{{cite news |title=Barry Bennell 'sexually abused' Gary Speed, victims say |url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/02/barry-bennell-sexually-abused-gary-speed-victims-180208075105455.html |publisher=Al Jazeera |date=15 February 2018 |access-date=15 February 2018}} However, police twice interviewed Speed during earlier investigations into Bennell's behaviour, and he said that he was never harmed by him; the inquest into Speed's death found no links to Bennell.{{cite news |last=Rose |first=Diane |title=Ex-Wales boss Gary Speed was interviewed twice during police probes into paedophile coach |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/ex-wales-boss-gary-speed-14296745 |access-date=15 February 2018 |publisher=Wales Online |date=15 February 2018}}
=Tributes=
File:Tributes to Gary Speed at Elland Road stadium (geograph 2719291).jpg.]]
News of Speed's death was first announced by the Football Association of Wales, who extended their sympathies and condolences to Speed's family. Throughout the day similar messages were released from many people within football, as 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2011/11/27/devastated-john-hartson-speaks-of-shock-over-gary-speed-death-91466-29851973/ |title=Devastated John Hartson speaks of shock over Gary Speed death |first=Simon |last=Gaskell |publisher=Wales Online |date=27 November 2011 |access-date=3 December 2011}}{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/wales/8918884/Gary-Speed-found-dead-football-unites-in-grief-and-to-pay-tribute-to-Wales-manager.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/wales/8918884/Gary-Speed-found-dead-football-unites-in-grief-and-to-pay-tribute-to-Wales-manager.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Gary Speed found dead: football unites in grief and to pay tribute to Wales manager |first=Chris |last=Bascombe |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=27 November 2011 |access-date=11 October 2018}}{{cbignore}}{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/nov/27/tributes-wales-manager-gary-speed1 |title=Tributes pour in for Gary Speed as football mourns 'a great man' |first=Dominic |last=Fifield |newspaper=The Guardian |date=27 November 2011 |access-date=3 December 2011}}{{cite news |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2011/11/27/gary-speed-1969-2011-my-hero-is-dead-writes-robbie-savage-115875-23593232/ |title=Gary Speed 1969–2011: My hero is dead, writes Robbie Savage |first=Robbie |last=Savage |newspaper=Daily Mirror |date=27 November 2011 |access-date=3 December 2011}} 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.{{cite news |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/256600/20111127/gary-speed-s-death-mourned-david-cameron.htm |title=Gary Speed's Death Mourned by David Cameron, Welsh Leaders |newspaper=International Business Times |date=27 November 2011 |access-date=3 December 2011}} Among the international figures to pay tribute to Speed was UEFA President Michel Platini.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/wales/8920576/Gary-Speed-death-tremendous-shock-to-us-all-says-Welsh-FA-president-as-book-of-condolence-opened-at-FAW-HQ.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/wales/8920576/Gary-Speed-death-tremendous-shock-to-us-all-says-Welsh-FA-president-as-book-of-condolence-opened-at-FAW-HQ.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Gary Speed death 'tremendous shock to us all', says Welsh FA president, as book of condolence opened at FAW HQ |first=Graham |last=Clutton |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=28 November 2011 |access-date=3 December 2011}}{{cbignore}} FIFA President Sepp Blatter described Speed as "a model professional and a fantastic ambassador for the game". Both the FIFA and Welsh flags at FIFA's headquarters were at half mast as a mark of respect.{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=1548598.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129235430/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=1548598.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 November 2011 |title=FAW announces death of Gary Speed |publisher=FIFA |date=27 November 2011 |access-date=2 December 2011}}
The match between Swansea City and Aston Villa at the Liberty Stadium, held only hours after Speed's death was announced, was dedicated to his memory. A minute's silence was to be held before the match. However, the fans applauded instead and sang Speed's name.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/8918628/Wales-manager-Gary-Speed-found-dead.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/8918628/Wales-manager-Gary-Speed-found-dead.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Wales manager Gary Speed found dead |first=Mark |last=Hughes |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=27 November 2011 |access-date=11 October 2018}}{{cbignore}} Several players who played in the match were severely affected by the news. Four Welsh internationals played in the match; Ashley Williams, Neil Taylor and Joe Allen, of Swansea, all played under Speed for Wales, and Allen in particular was said to be struggling with the news. James Collins was the other Welsh international, and he had also 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 news. Given openly wept during and after the minute's applause. Both managers, Alex McLeish and Brendan Rodgers, paid tribute to Speed. Rodgers, who had spoken to Speed a lot since he had become Wales manager, 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.{{cite web |url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/footballnation/football-news/2011/11/27/swansea-city-manager-brendan-rogers-pays-tribute-to-gary-speed-91466-29852003/ |title=Swansea City manager Brendan Rogers pays tribute to Gary Speed |publisher=Wales Online |date=27 November 2011 |access-date=3 December 2011}}
Along with this match, several others saw tributes toward Speed. The only other Premier League match played that day was between Liverpool and Manchester City. Craig Bellamy of Liverpool was withdrawn from Liverpool's squad by his manager Kenny Dalglish, as he was too affected by the news to play. Bellamy played with Speed for Newcastle United and Wales, where Speed had also been his manager.{{cite news |url=https://vancouversun.com/sports/Liverpool+hold+City+soccer+mourns+Speed+death/5774751/story.html |title=Liverpool hold Man City as soccer mourns Speed's death |first=Mike |last=Collett |newspaper=Vancouver Sun |date=27 November 2011 |access-date=3 December 2011}}{{dead link|date=December 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Dalglish himself had signed Speed for Newcastle, and expressed his sadness at the news, saying that he thought Speed was not only a great footballer but also a great person. Hugo Viana, a Portuguese international who played alongside Speed at Newcastle between 2002 and 2004, also paid tribute to him. After his team Braga had lost 3–2 to Porto, he displayed a shirt reading "Gary, Rest in Peace".{{cite web |url=https://diariodigital.sapo.pt/news.asp?section_id=125&id_news=544702 |title=Hugo Viana chocado com morte de Gary Speed |publisher=Diario Digital |date=27 November 2011 |access-date=2 December 2011 |language=pt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111203195726/http://diariodigital.sapo.pt/news.asp?section_id=125&id_news=544702 |archive-date=3 December 2011 |url-status=dead}}
At Sheffield United there were tributes for the former player, coach and manager before the team's home fixture against Torquay United in the FA Cup. Former teammates and colleagues were invited to the match; there was a minute's applause before the match; players warmed up in specially designed shirts; players and coaches wore black armbands; the match day programme was dedicated to Speed; Sheffield United captain Chris Morgan and former Sheffield United and Welsh international Rob Page laid wreaths on pitch side just before kick-off.{{cite news |title=Gary Speed's former clubs to pay their respects at this weekend's games |url=http://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport-news/everton-fc/2011/12/01/gary-speed-s-former-clubs-to-pay-their-respects-at-this-weekend-s-games-55578-29878891/ |access-date=15 January 2012 |newspaper=Daily Post |date=1 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107121558/http://www.dailypost.co.uk/sport-news/everton-fc/2011/12/01/gary-speed-s-former-clubs-to-pay-their-respects-at-this-weekend-s-games-55578-29878891/ |archive-date=7 November 2012}} Sheffield United striker Ched Evans, the only 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 first goal which read: "Rest in peace Speedo." Evans stated after the match "I was a man on a mission. I had a message on my top for Gary Speed which I wanted to show. I'm thankful I got the goal ... The crowd started singing [Speed's name], it gave me goose pimples."{{cite news |title=Ched Evans was 'man on a mission' to pay Gary Speed tribute |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16037310.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=5 December 2011 |access-date=15 January 2012}}
During the following week, tributes were paid to Speed from across the football season. A minute's applause was held before the League Cup quarter-final ties, as well as across the Football League midweek matches. Similar events were staged at every Premier League match on the weekend of 4 December, as 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 former club Leeds and Millwall, which Leeds won 2–0, and again held a minute's applause. Speed's fellow midfielders from the 1991–92 title-winning side Gary McAllister, David Batty and Gordon Strachan laid wreaths in his memory.{{cite news |title=Gary Speed: Football and rugby tribute to Wales manager |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-16012781 |publisher=BBC News |date=3 December 2011 |access-date=4 December 2011}} Speed's father, Roger, also led a minute's tribute at Goodison Park, where Speed's former club Everton lost 1–0 to Stoke City.{{cite news |title=Everton 0–1 Stoke |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/15908075 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=4 December 2011}} Speed's father and sons were again present a week later at the Reebok Stadium, as another of his son's former teams Bolton Wanderers lost 2–1 to Aston Villa.{{cite news |title=Reebok pays respects to Speed |url=http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/sport/wanderers/wanderersnews/9413709.Reebok_pays_respects_to_Speed/ |newspaper=The Bolton News |date=12 December 2011 |access-date=12 December 2011}}
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.{{cite news |url=http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/293646 |title=WALES ARRANGE GARY SPEED TRIBUTE |newspaper=Daily Express |date=5 January 2012 |access-date=31 January 2012}} The friendly international against Costa Rica commemorated Speed's debut for Wales, in which Costa Rica were beaten 1–0. The memorial match saw Costa Rica win by the same score.{{cite news |url=http://www.faw.org.uk/news/FAW81990.ink/ |title=Wales vs Costa Rica – Gary Speed Memorial Match |publisher=The Football Association of Wales |date=4 January 2012 |access-date=31 January 2012 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115021913/http://www.faw.org.uk/news/FAW81990.ink |archive-date=15 January 2012}}
On 25 September 2012, Everton visited Leeds United in the League Cup. Starting from the 11th minute of the fixture, both sets of supporters chanted Speed's name for 11 minutes.{{cite web |title=Gary Speed Tribute - Leeds 2 Everton 1 by Lifestyle Uncut |url=http://www.lifestyleuncut.com/sport/gary-speed-tribute-leeds-2-everton-1.html |access-date=21 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121028091840/http://www.lifestyleuncut.com/sport/gary-speed-tribute-leeds-2-everton-1.html |archive-date=28 October 2012}}
=Funeral=
Speed's funeral, attended by around 250 members of his family and close friends, took place in the village of Hawarden on 9 December 2011. In keeping with his wife Louise's wishes, only small crowds gathered on the main road outside St Deiniol's Church and no members of the press were admitted. Speed was later cremated in Pentre Bychan Crematorium, Wrexham.{{cite news |title=Gary Speed's private funeral in home area of Hawarden |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-16092474 |publisher=BBC News |date=9 December 2011 |access-date=5 March 2018}}
=Impact on Welsh football=
Speed's work to improve the professional standard of the Football Association of Wales, including improvements to training facilities, team culture, and its national visibility, was credited as a major contributor to the success that Wales would enjoy in the decade after his death, beginning with their qualification for Euro 2016 and culminating in their appearance at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, bringing to an end a 64-year drought at the World Cup.{{cite news |title=How Gary Speed kickstarted Wales football revolution before tragic death aged 42 |url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/how-gary-speed-kickstarted-wales-25571966 |last=Sands |first=Katie |website=Wales Online |date=21 November 2022 |access-date=22 November 2022}} His memory became part of "the sense of collective purpose" of the organization.{{cite news |title=Wales and its long-suffering fans give Canadians a dress-rehearsal of what's to come at men's World Cup |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/worldcup/fifa-world-cup-us-wales-chris-jonesnov21-1.6658630 |last=Jones |first=Chris |website=CBC Sports |date=21 November 2022 |access-date=22 November 2022}} On the eve of the Qatar World Cup, Speed's former teammate Neville Southall wrote that the biggest difference between the Welsh squad that had qualified and those that came before started "with a single word: belief," and that "for the initial source of the belief, though, you have to go back to my old mate Gary Speed. Gary had a burning ambition to take Wales into a tournament and, in his time as manager, he made players believe in themselves."{{cite news |title=Belief has elevated this Wales squad and ensured Gary Speed's burning ambition lives on at this World Cup |url=https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/wales-world-cup-2022-gary-speed-rob-page-1979671 |last=Southall |first=Neville |website=iNews |date=18 November 2022 |access-date=22 November 2022}} Wales captain Gareth Bale paid tribute to Speed on the occasion, saying "Gary Speed's vision was to grow the FAW, not just the football, but the infrastructure: building a training base, having a high-performance centre and recovery centre, just like a top club," adding "I'm sure he's looking down on us with a big smile and happy that Welsh football is in a great place."{{cite news |title=Gareth Bale's moving TV tribute to Gary Speed on the eve of Wales' first World Cup for 64 years|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/gareth-bales-moving-tv-tribute-25490379 |last=Doel |first=Jon |website=Wales Online |date=11 November 2022 |access-date=22 November 2022}}
Career statistics
=Club=
{{notelist}}
=International=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year{{NFT player|7294|name=Speed, Gary|access-date=11 October 2018}} | |||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan="15"|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 | |
| colspan="2"|Total | 85 | 7 |
:Scores and results list Wales' goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Speed goal.{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesw/wal-intres00.html |title=Wales – International Results 2000–2005 – Details |first=Barrie |last=Courtney |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |date=2 March 2005 |access-date=11 October 2018}}
Managerial statistics
| class=wikitable style=text-align:center
|+ Managerial record by team and tenure | ||||
| rowspan=2|Team
!rowspan=2|From !rowspan=2|To !colspan=5|Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| {{abbr|P|Matches played}} | {{abbr|W|Matches won}} | {{abbr|D|Matches drawn}} | {{abbr|L|Matches lost}} | {{abbr|Win %|Win percentage}} |
| align=left|Sheffield United
|align=left|17 August 2010 |align=left|14 December 2010 {{WDL|18|6|3|9|decimals=1}} | ||||
| align=left|Wales
|align=left|14 December 2010 |align=left|27 November 2011 {{WDL|10|5|0|5|decimals=1}} | ||||
| colspan=3|Total
{{WDLtot|28|11|3|14|decimals=1}} |
Honours
=Player=
Leeds United
- Football League First Division: 1991–92{{cite book |editor-last=Rollin |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook 1992–93 |pages=282–283, 594}}
- Football League Second Division: 1989–90{{cite book |editor-last=Rollin |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook 1990–91 |pages=302–303, 614}}
- FA Charity Shield: 1992{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-charity-shield-cantona-offers-no-charity-1539220.html |title=Football / Charity Shield: Cantona offers no charity |first=Norman |last=Fox |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=9 August 1992 |access-date=22 October 2018}}
- Football League Cup runner-up: 1995–96{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/milosevic-gives-villa-a-touch-of-magic-1343925.html |title=Milosevic gives; Villa a touch of magic |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=25 March 1996 |access-date=11 October 2018}}
Newcastle United
- FA Cup runner-up: 1997–98,{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-gunners-train-sights-on-european-glory-1158983.html |title=Football: Gunners train sights on European glory |first=Glenn |last=Moore |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=18 May 1998 |access-date=11 October 2018}} 1998–99{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-gullit-salutes-the-true-united-1095554.html |title=Football: Gullit salutes the true United |first=Glenn |last=Moore |newspaper=The Independent |location=London |date=24 May 1999 |access-date=11 October 2018}}
Individual
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- {{Soccerbase}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| list1 =
{{1992–93 FA Premier League PFA Team of the Year}}
{{English Football Hall of Fame}}
{{Newcastle United F.C. Hall of Fame}}
}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Managerial positions
| list1 =
{{Sheffield United F.C. managers}}
{{Wales national football team managers}}
}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Speed, Gary}}
Category:Men's association football midfielders
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Category:Bolton Wanderers F.C. non-playing staff
Category:Bolton Wanderers F.C. players
Category:English Football Hall of Fame inductees
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Category:Leeds United F.C. players
Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire
Category:Newcastle United F.C. players
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Category:Sheffield United F.C. players
Category:Wales men's international footballers
Category:Wales national football team managers
Category:Wales men's under-21 international footballers
Category:Wales men's youth international footballers