Gary made Wales contenders

Posted Monday, November 28, 2011 by The Sun

Gary made Wales contenders
A TRUE GREAT ... Gary Speed

THE word 'great' is used far too often in football.

But Gary Speed was not only a great player, he was also a great man.

A midfielder who became a manager, he was the model professional and you will never hear a player, past or present, say a bad word about Speed.

The late Sir Bobby Robson famously described Speed as one of his 'blue chip' players. That in a team which included the likes of Alan Shearer, Craig Bellamy and Shay Given.

Speed — born in Mancot, Wales — was at Newcastle by that time in 2000, having already sparkled for Everton and Leeds.

It was at Elland Road, after making his debut aged 19 in 1988, that the tireless midfielder established himself.

Speed was part of a midfield that included Gary McAllister, Gordon Strachan and David Batty — and 'Speedo' was the exciting one. He was the pace, the cut 'n thrust.

By the age of 22, he was an integral part of the Leeds side that lifted the 1992 First Division title, the last before the Premier League began.

It says much that McAllister, Strachan and Speed all played beyond their 40th birthdays.

Unfortunately and incredibly, Speed did not add to his medal haul.

Leeds' title-winning boss Howard Wilkinson said: "He was ordinary as a bloke, very nice, very genuine, very honest, very hard working. He was a joy to manage. What a player."

Speed loved playing for his country and had the honour of playing 85 times — still the record for a Wales outfield player.

He captained them 44 times and was a star even among legends Ian Rush, Ryan Giggs and Neville Southall.

Former Wales boss Bobby Gould hailed Speed the player and man.

He said: "He would play anywhere for you — left-back, left wing, centre of midfield, wide left. It's such a tragedy."

Supporters and former players were laying flowers and shirts at his clubs Leeds, Everton, Newcastle and Bolton yesterday in tribute.

Speed signed for his boyhood club Everton in 1996 for a then healthy £3.5million under boss Joe Royle.

New manager Howard Kendall made him club captain but his time at Goodison reached an unhappy end two years later.

Speed never revealed the circumstances behind his exit, preferring to maintain his dignity after a £5.5m switch to the North-East.

He said: "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."

Speed then went on a Champions League adventure with Newcastle in 2002 and Sir Bobby but missed out on an FA Cup winners' medal, losing back-to-back finals to Arsenal and Manchester United in 1998 and 1999. In four years at Bolton, Speed summed up an era under Sam Allardyce which got the best out of players many had written off.