Wales national team manager Gary Speed tragically ended his own life this weekend at the age of 42.
Speed’s body was found by his distraught wife in their Cheshire home early on Sunday morning after he had committed suicide by hanging himself.
From the outside it seemed like Speed was a man who had it all. On the field he was a retired Premier League legend who was in the process of leading Wales to their best run of results in decades. Off the field he had a beautiful wife and two young children, sadly for reasons not known to the public he decided to commit the harrowing act of ending his own life.
Speed had a status within the game unmatched by many former players. He performed consistently well for Leeds United, Everton, Newcastle United, Bolton Wanders and Sheffield United. Midfield workhorse Speed also had an impressive international career for Wales.
Welsh icon Speed won the League title with Leeds United in 1992, and was the first player to rack up 500 appearances in the Premier League.
The loss of Speed has had a profound effect on many figures in the game, illustrating what a well-liked colleague and opponent he had become throughout his career.
United striker Owen had admired Speed from a young age, and lived close to the Welsh national team manager. Owen reminisced today about how Speed had appeared as a youth tournament guest and presented Owen with his first ever trophy.
Owen’s children went to the same school as Speed’s two young son’s, and the loss of Speed has hurt Owen and many other players and managers within the game.
“Just cannot believe the news regarding Gary Speed. We waved at each other a couple of days ago dropping our kids off at school. I’m numb,” Owen wrote on Twitter. “He has died aged 42, So sad. He lived local to me and we knew his family. He leaves behind 2 sons. Tragic.”
Owen was joined by some of Speed’s former teammates in sharing sadness of the Welsh manager’s death. Former Wales teammate Robbie Savage broke down in tears on BBC while speaking of his close friend, and Alan Shearer also shared his thoughts.
“Gary was a magnificent person, bright, fun and a wonderful family man – he lit up every room he walked into. I am proud to have been his friend and will miss him dreadfully,” Shearer told BBC Sport.
The death of Speed has left a void in Welsh football and also a tragic void for his wife and children to live with. It can only be hoped that they draw some solace from the positive impact Gary Speed made on the world.
The video below shows Michael Owen on MOTD3 sharing his thoughts and experiences of the late Gary Speed, and also some highlights from Speed's career;
From the outside it seemed like Speed was a man who had it all. On the field he was a retired Premier League legend who was in the process of leading Wales to their best run of results in decades. Off the field he had a beautiful wife and two young children, sadly for reasons not known to the public he decided to commit the harrowing act of ending his own life.
Speed had a status within the game unmatched by many former players. He performed consistently well for Leeds United, Everton, Newcastle United, Bolton Wanders and Sheffield United. Midfield workhorse Speed also had an impressive international career for Wales.
Welsh icon Speed won the League title with Leeds United in 1992, and was the first player to rack up 500 appearances in the Premier League.
The loss of Speed has had a profound effect on many figures in the game, illustrating what a well-liked colleague and opponent he had become throughout his career.
United striker Owen had admired Speed from a young age, and lived close to the Welsh national team manager. Owen reminisced today about how Speed had appeared as a youth tournament guest and presented Owen with his first ever trophy.
Owen’s children went to the same school as Speed’s two young son’s, and the loss of Speed has hurt Owen and many other players and managers within the game.
“Just cannot believe the news regarding Gary Speed. We waved at each other a couple of days ago dropping our kids off at school. I’m numb,” Owen wrote on Twitter. “He has died aged 42, So sad. He lived local to me and we knew his family. He leaves behind 2 sons. Tragic.”
Owen was joined by some of Speed’s former teammates in sharing sadness of the Welsh manager’s death. Former Wales teammate Robbie Savage broke down in tears on BBC while speaking of his close friend, and Alan Shearer also shared his thoughts.
“Gary was a magnificent person, bright, fun and a wonderful family man – he lit up every room he walked into. I am proud to have been his friend and will miss him dreadfully,” Shearer told BBC Sport.
The death of Speed has left a void in Welsh football and also a tragic void for his wife and children to live with. It can only be hoped that they draw some solace from the positive impact Gary Speed made on the world.
The video below shows Michael Owen on MOTD3 sharing his thoughts and experiences of the late Gary Speed, and also some highlights from Speed's career;
