Slideshow: This is a loss to the world we live in, says Wilkinson of Gary Speed’s death at 42
The Wales manager, who leaves behind wife Louise and two sons, was found dead at his Cheshire home by police.
News of Speed’s death left the world of football stunned, a minute’s silence being hastily arranged ahead of the Swansea City v Aston Villa fixture.
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Hide AdLiverpool already had a similar tribute planned ahead of the game with Manchester City for the son of reserve goalkeeper Brad Jones, who died of leukaemia last week, and it became a shared appreciation for Speed’s life.
Famous figures from the game queued up to pay their own tribute to the former Leeds, Newcastle and Everton midfielder.
Wilkinson, the manager who gave Speed his professional debut as a teenager, led the way by describing his former player’s death as “a genuine loss to the world that we live in”.
The ex-Leeds chief said: “It is tragic, unbelievable and such a loss. He was such a great, great bloke.
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Hide Ad“I have met a lot of people and sportsmen in my time but Gary had none of those things that sometimes we associate with sportsmen.
“He was ordinary, as a bloke. He was a very, very nice and genuine bloke. He was also hard-working and committed.
“Yes, we talk about a loss to the football world but this is a genuine loss to the world that we all live in.”
Speed spent the first eight years of his career at Elland Road, helping Leeds win promotion from the old Second Division in 1990 and then the league title just two years later.
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Hide AdWilkinson, who was in charge of United for every one of Speed’s 312 appearances in the first team, added: “Gary was a joy to manage. I can’t think of one instance when he ever complained.
“I think I played Gary in every position bar goalkeeper at one time or another and never once did his face change or anything like that.
“Can you imagine that these days?
“In my experience, he was never anything other than a great bloke with a terrific sense of loyalty and commitment to the people around him.
“I can’t try to understand what his parents are going through at this time. I knew his mum and dad, and in particular his dad, very well.”
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Hide AdAs a mark of respect to Speed, the flags at Elland Road were yesterday lowered to half-mast. A tribute is also planned for Saturday’s home game against Millwall.
Manager Simon Grayson, who signed apprentice forms at Elland Road on the same day as Speed when the pair were just 14 years old, said: “It is an unbelievably sad day.
“Speedo was a true friend and a very, very popular man. Our sympathies are with Louise, his children, his dad, and all his family.
“We signed on the same day and played in the youth and reserve teams together.
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Hide Ad“We also did all our coaching badges together. He was a good friend and this is a very sad day.
“Gary was such a popular person and this is a hard time for everyone.”
After leaving Leeds to join boyhood favourites Everton in the summer of 1996, Speed subsequently moved on to Newcastle.
In six years at St James’ Park, he captained the club in two FA Cup finals. He was also a key member of the team who competed in the Champions League.
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Hide AdFour more years followed with Bolton in the Premier League, during which time he became the first player to make 500 appearances in the competition.
A move to Sheffield United then brought the curtain down on a fine playing career before he moved into management with the Blades.
Supporters laid tributes and messages in the Bramall Lane car park from yesterday lunchtime.
Former Blades team-mate Chris Morgan said: “I just cannot believe that Gary has died. He was extremely popular at Bramall Lane both as a player and in a managerial capacity with all the lads. His death is a very sad loss.”
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Hide AdKevin Blackwell, who handed Speed his first coaching role at the Lane, added: “He was terrific to work with. He had the respect of the players and wanted to learn.
“Gary had such a way about him that he never left anything to chance. The fact he had an illustrious playing career meant nothing to him as a coach.
“We would come in at 8am and Gary would be in already. Then, when we left at 6pm, he would be still there. He was not someone to take shortcuts.”
Across South Yorkshire, Speed’s death left Doncaster Rovers manager Dean Saunders distraught.
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Hide AdSaunders and Speed roomed together on international duty with Wales and struck up a strong friendship. The Rovers manager learned the news of Speed’s sad passing from Peter Reid.
Saunders said: “The whole of Wales are proud of him, they knew he was a reliable man.
“He was doing so well with Wales and for this to happen to somebody so young...”
The former Welsh international added: “Peter Reid rang me and asked, ‘What about Gary Speed?’ I thought he had quit as Wales manager but this felt like a slap in the face.
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Hide Ad“I still cannot get my head around it. I spoke to Gary last week. He never seemed down in the dumps or over excited.
“Even when he played golf he never got too down or too excited. He was just a determined, reliable man who would do well with any team.
“He turned Wales around as manager but that is irrelevant compared to what has happened What was going through his mind, I don’t know. I will miss speaking to him, I will just miss him. I will miss him as a friend first, and a footballer second.”
On what it was like to play alongside Speed, Saunders added: “As a player he played with a determination. Managers would pick players around him. But most of all he was a level-headed man.
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Hide Ad“I roomed with him all the way through my Wales career. He wouldn’t go to sleep without doing his sit-ups and his press-ups and that carried him through to the end of his career.
“I coached his son (when manager) at Wrexham, I saw (his wife) Louise a lot and I cannot begin to think what they are going through.”
See Main paper: Pages 1 and 5.