By Daniel Jackson
The football world mourns as news sinks in of Gary Speed’s suicide. The ex footballer and then current Wales manager hanged himself on Sunday November 27 at his home in Cheshire.
The midfielder began his professional career at Leeds United where he won the Football League Title in 1992. He then moved to Everton in 1996 before going on to Newcastle United in 1998 where he had a spell playing in the Champions League. Speed finally went on to Bolton in 2004 where he played for four years.
He is the most capped outfield player for Wales ever with 85 caps to his name, an international career that saw him score seven goals and captain his country for the majority of his appearances. In December 2010 he was appointed as the manger of Wales and with recent promising results and a group of exciting young players coming through he had the potential to go on to great things.
The circumstances are understandably shocking and has left many fans, players and managers in the football world grieving. There is an overwhelming sense of disbelief surrounding the whole tragedy. Speed appeared on BBC football talk show Football Focus just the day before and spoke of his passion for football and his excitement at taking on the challenge of leading Wales to the 2014 World Cup. According to Football Focus host Dan Walker backstage Speed was laughing and joking and there was absolutely nothing to suggest that there was any discontent deep within him. It may never be known just what exactly was going on inside Gary Speed’s head but the reality is that the world has lost a true gentleman, in football and in life and he will be sadly missed.
