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Wales football manager Gary Speed dies aged 42

Nov. 28, 2011 - 10:40 By

LONDON (AP) _ Gary Speed, who took over as Wales football coach just 11 months ago after playing for his country a record 85 times, has died. He was 42.

Gary Speed (AP)

The Football Association of Wales announced Speed's death Sunday without giving the cause.

Local police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Speed's death.

Speed is survived by his wife and two children.

``We extend our sympathies and condolences to the family,'' the FAW said in a statement. ``We ask that everyone respects the family's privacy at this very sad time.''

Speed, whose 85 caps is a Welsh record for an outfield player, had become Wales coach in December in a move long predicted by former teammates and commentators. Only goalkeeper Neville Southall, with 92 appearances, played more games for Wales.

The youngest member of Leeds' 1991-92 title-winning midfield and the first player to reach 500 Premier League appearances, Speed was renowned as a dedicated professional and had just coached his native Wales to three straight wins.

Speed began his career as a skillful, speedy wide midfielder before maturing into a canny central player able to find space for his shots and headers with a well-timed late run into the area. He scored more than 100 goals across spells with Leeds, boyhood club Everton, Newcastle, Bolton and Sheffield United.

Speed became the first player to play in 500 Premier League games and held the all-time record with 535 until it was surpassed by goalkeeper David James in 2009. Ryan Giggs has also since passed the mark.

The midfielder also scored in every topflight season in which he played until dropping out of the Premier League in 2008 when he joined Sheffield United.

Last year, Queen Elizabeth II gave Speed the Member of the British Empire award in her annual Birthday Honors list for his services to football.

``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,'' Manchester United striker Michael 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.''

Admired for his dedication, fitness and consistency in a 20-year playing career _ as well as a knack for goals _ Speed started out with Leeds and won the English league with the club in 1992.

With injuries finally beginning to affect him, Speed became a coach at Sheffield United and formally retired from playing at the end of the 2009-10 season. He became Blades manager early in the following campaign but was soon approached by Wales after John Toshack resigned as coach.

Speed led the team to five wins from 10 matches, including a 4-1 win over Norway two weeks ago, earning plaudits for the side's style of play and emphasis on youth.

``We've got talent in abundance and I'm fortunate to be in that position,'' Speed said after the Nov. 12 win in Cardiff. ``We are building for the future. There is still a lot of improving to be done but we are going in the right direction.''

Arsenal's Aaron Ramsey, Tottenham's Gareth Bale and Celtic's Joe Ledley were among those prominent in Speed's squad, which was expected to challenge more strongly than usual in qualifying for the 2014 World Cup. Wales is in the same qualifying group as Croatia, Serbia, Belgium, Scotland and Macedonia.

<한글 기사>

웨일스 축구대표팀 감독 자살

영국 웨일스 축구 대표팀 감독 게리 스피드(42)가 숨진 채 발견됐다고 BBC 등 영국 언론들이 27일 보도했다.

체셔주 경찰은 발표문에서 이날 오전 7시8분 체스터 헌팅턴 자택에 출동해 보니 스피드 감독이 숨져 있었으며 의심스런 정황은 발견되지 않았다고 밝혔다.

웨일스 축구협회도 스피드 감독이 숨진 사실을 확인한 뒤 유족들을 위로했다.

경찰은 그가 자살한 것으로 보고 있다.

스피드 감독은 14년 동안 웨일스 대표팀 선수와 주장 등을 지냈고 잉글랜드 프리미어리그(EPL) 리즈, 에버튼, 뉴캐슬, 볼튼에서 미드필더로 활약했다.

그는 잉글랜드 프리미어리그에서 최초로 500회 출장 기록을 세우기도 했다.

스피드는 지난해 12월부터 웨일스 축구대표팀 감독을 맡아왔다.

영국은 잉글랜드, 스코틀랜드, 웨일스, 북아일랜드 4개 자치정부별로 축구협회를 두고 있으며, 월드컵 등 국제대회에 협회별로 참가한다.