Wales manager and former Newcastle and Leeds midfielder Gary Speed was tragically found dead earlier this week at the age of 42. We look back at his life and career [GALLO/GETTY]
Published On 29 Nov 201129 Nov 2011
Speed began his playing career at Leeds United in 1988, working his way through the trainee ranks and making his professional debut at the age of 19 [GALLO/GETTY]
Advertisement
Leeds won the First Division title in 1992 before the comp was rebranded as the Premier League. Speed made 312 appearances for the northerners and scored 57 goals [GALLO/GETTY]
In 1996 Speed joined Everton, eventually becoming captain, notching up 65 appearances and scoring over 17 goals [GALLO/GETTY]
Staying in the north of England, Speed switched to Newcastle in 1998, spending six years, losing two FA Cup final defeats and playing in the Champions League in 2002 [GALLO/GETTY]
In 2002 Speed debuted for Wales as a 20-year-old in a 1-0 friendly over Costa Rica. He went on to make 85 caps for his country before retiring from international duty in 2004 [GALLO/GETTY]
In 2004 he moved to Bolton Wanderers, and in 2006 became the first player to make 500 Premier League appearances in a 4-0 win over West Ham [GALLO/GETTY]
Advertisement
In 2010, having played with Sheffield United on loan, and having coaching stints at both Sheffield and Bolton, Speed officially retired [GALLO/GETTY]
In December 2010 he takes the top job in Welsh football. In his first match in charge Wales beat the Republic of Ireland 3-0 in a friendly. Speed then loses his first competitive match 2-0 to England and wins 2-1 at home to Montenegro in the Euro 2012 qualifers [GALLO/GETTY]
On November 12 2011 Speed wins his third match in a row in his last game in charge – a 4-1 friendly victory over Norway [GALLO/GETTY]
Less than two weeks later, Gary Speed was found dead at his home, with reports saying he was found hanged. An outpouring from the footballing community followed as players, fans and administrators lined up to pay tribute [GALLO/GETTY]
