I was asked to write a piece on the loss of Gary Speed, a great football player in his generation and also probably one of the best up-and-coming managers in the game of soccer. A man that was starting to change the fortunes of his national soccer team, Gary Speed, first came to prominence in 1991 when he was part of a four man midfield (including Strachan, Batty and McAllister) that fired Leeds United to its first title since the glory days of Bremner, Charlton, Giles and Revie. This young Welsh lad caught the eye of many a player, pundit and fan with a cavalier approach that helped his Leeds team become a force in English football in the early 90’s.
Being a Manchester United fan, he wasn’t really one of my favorite players (due to his affiliation with Leeds), but being a soccer fan you could see that this young lad was what the new emerging EPL needed. He could score with his left foot, his right foot and he could almost break the net with a header. He wasn’t all about attacking, he would always help his defense out whenever they needed him. I used to buy SHOOT, MATCH and FOUR FOUR TWO and they would always go missing. Next thing you know I see pictures of Gary Speed up on my little sister’s wall. She loved Gary Speed, not for his soccer skills, but for his dashing good looks. I am sure that there is a picture of Speed in his Leeds United kit still adorning the inside of our Gemma’s wardrobe. She loved the man.
Being a Manchester United fan, he wasn’t really one of my favorite players (due to his affiliation with Leeds), but being a soccer fan you could see that this young lad was what the new emerging EPL needed. He could score with his left foot, his right foot and he could almost break the net with a header. He wasn’t all about attacking, he would always help his defense out whenever they needed him. I used to buy SHOOT, MATCH and FOUR FOUR TWO and they would always go missing. Next thing you know I see pictures of Gary Speed up on my little sister’s wall. She loved Gary Speed, not for his soccer skills, but for his dashing good looks. I am sure that there is a picture of Speed in his Leeds United kit still adorning the inside of our Gemma’s wardrobe. She loved the man.
After a successful playing career, Speed became a coach at his last club Sheffield United, where he went on to become manager and then abruptly left once his country of Wales came calling. Gary Speed not only touched the hearts of the Welsh fans, but also the young developing players and even the older players that played alongside him with what he was doing for his country. He was seemingly turning things around before tragedy struck early on Sunday morning. Players such as Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey were experiencing a new lease of life under Speed’s tutelage. Ryan Giggs and Robbie Savage who played alongside Speed were shocked and devastated with the loss of their friend. Craig Bellamy had to be withdrawn from the Liverpool match against Man.City after hearing the news.
Gary Speed seemed to be changing the fortunes of a nation living in the shadow of England, who they outplayed at Wembley only to go down by a solitary goal. His last game in charge was a 4-1 win against Norway, who is no Faroe Islands. He was on the up and was regarded as one of the best young coaches in the game. He not only had a rapport with soccer fans, but I saw an incident tonight on Sky Sports involving one of their presenters, Bryn Law, a friend of Gary Speed’s. Law broke down on national television as he recalled the last conversation with a man he called his friend. This was the mark of the man Gary Speed, a man well liked throughout football.
Now he leaves a void in the game of soccer, but mainly for the people of Wales and the Welsh National Team Players. He also leaves behind a wife and two young teenage boys, who will find it harder than anyone to cope without a person they saw as a husband, a father and of course a friend. We may not find out the reason why Gary Speed left this world, but the question will always be WHY?
Football and the world have lost a good man, and we may never see the like of Gary Speed again.
Rest in Peace – Gary Speed
Gary Speed seemed to be changing the fortunes of a nation living in the shadow of England, who they outplayed at Wembley only to go down by a solitary goal. His last game in charge was a 4-1 win against Norway, who is no Faroe Islands. He was on the up and was regarded as one of the best young coaches in the game. He not only had a rapport with soccer fans, but I saw an incident tonight on Sky Sports involving one of their presenters, Bryn Law, a friend of Gary Speed’s. Law broke down on national television as he recalled the last conversation with a man he called his friend. This was the mark of the man Gary Speed, a man well liked throughout football.
Now he leaves a void in the game of soccer, but mainly for the people of Wales and the Welsh National Team Players. He also leaves behind a wife and two young teenage boys, who will find it harder than anyone to cope without a person they saw as a husband, a father and of course a friend. We may not find out the reason why Gary Speed left this world, but the question will always be WHY?
Football and the world have lost a good man, and we may never see the like of Gary Speed again.
Rest in Peace – Gary Speed
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