Gary Speed commits suicide at 42
The English Premier League and Wales were in a state of shock and disbelief after it was learned that Gary Speed had been found dead at home. The body of the 42-year-old Wales manager was found early yesterday in the garage of the home he shared with wife Louise and their two teenage sons.
Hours earlier the ex-Everton, Leeds, Newcastle and Bolton midfielder appeared on BBC1′s Football Focus, seemingly in good spirits. He was watched by soccer fans, sitting alongside ex team-mate Gary McAllister – who today spoke of his “nightmare” after hearing of his friend’s death just hours later on Sunday.
McAllister said: “I got a phone call on Sunday morning from Alan Shearer. He broke the news to me, and it just turned me to jelly.
“I couldn’t believe what he was saying. Obviously it’s not something that anyone would joke about, it wasn’t a hoax call or anything. It just shook me to the bone. I was in shock for most of the day.
“I couldn’t have predicted what would happen just ten or 12 hours after I saw him. I still can’t believe it’s happened, I still think it’s a nightmare.”
Wales and Manchester United star Ryan Giggs said that he couldn’t believe or understand what he was hearing, Gary Speed was his captain in a number of matches when he played for Wales.
Teams playing on Sunday, when the news first broke, paid tribute his life before kickoff.
Gary Andrew Speed, MBE (8 September 1969 – 27 November 2011) was a Welsh football player and manager. He was captain of the Wales national football team until he retired from international football in 2004 and he remains the most capped outfield player for Wales and the second overall, having appeared 85 times at senior level between 1990 and 2004.
Speed played professionally for Leeds United, Everton, Newcastle United, Bolton Wanderers and Sheffield United. Rarely troubled by injury or suspension, he held the record for the most appearances in the FA Premier League at 535, until it was surpassed by David James. Including his appearances in The Football League and cup competitions he made 840 domestic appearances, in addition to 85 full caps at international level.
Speed was appointed manager of Sheffield United in 2010, but he left the club after a few months in December 2010 to manage the Wales national team. — Staff reporter, SportsCentral