Legendary Everton FC manager Howard Kendall dies
Legendary former Everton player and manager Howard Kendall has died at the age of 69.
Kendall, who became revered by Blues fans for his endeavours both on and off the pitch, passed away peacefully in a Southport hospital this morning, surrounded by his family, following a short illness.
The County Durham native initially rose to prominence at Goodison Park as a tentative midfielder, forming a legendary partnership with Colin Harvey and Alan Ball – dubbed the ‘Holy Trinity’, that fired Everton to the league championship in the 1969-70 season.
But it was in the dugout that that cemented his legacy as the club’s most successful manager, leading them to the championship twice and lifting both the FA Cup and the European Cup Winners’ Cup in the mid-1980s.
Everton reached the FA Cup final on three consecutive occasions during that time, losing to Manchester United and Liverpool, as well as the 1984 League Cup final – the first all-Merseyside affair.
He went on to manage the club on two further occasions, interspersed with spells at Athletic Bilbao, Manchester City, Sheffield United and Notts County.
A minute’s applause is set to be held in Kendall’s memory ahead of today’s clash with Manchester United while both sets of players will wear black armbands during the encounter.
Tributes have poured in from the footballing world, including from a number of former players that worked under Kendall across three spells at Everton.
Ex-England international and current Match of the Day host Gary Lineker, who won European football’s Golden Boot during the 1085-86 season at Everton, said: ‘Saddened to hear that Howard Kendall has passed away. Brilliantly managed the best club side I ever played for at Everton. Great bloke’
Stalwarts of the triumphant Cup Winners Cup side of 30 years ago also offered their condolences. Kevin Sheedy, who scored in the final against Rapid Vienna, said: ‘So privileged to have played for Everton’s most successful manager. Absolutely devastated at this sad news. RIP Boss’
He was echoed in his heartfelt tribute by legendary goalkeeper Neville Southall who hailed Kendall as ‘a great manager, an even greater man. What ever I did was solely down to him. Gentleman , friend, mentor.’
Tough-tackling midfielder Peter Reid, simply wrote ‘Devestated. RIP Howard’, while Michael Ball, who featured in Kendall’s final Everton side which avoided Premier League relegation on the final day of the 1997-98 season, described his former manager as ‘a perfect gentleman’ and ‘the best player/manger ever to grace the heart of Everton football club’.
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