Don Howe: Tributes pour in as England legend dies at 80

A highly respected coach, Howe was an England international full back and played for both Arsenal and West Brom

Tributes are pouring for England football legend Don Howe who died on Wednesday, December 23 at the age of 80.

A highly respected coach, Howe was an England international full back and played for both Arsenal and West Brom.

Howe’s death after a long illness was announced in a statement released by West Brom where he made 379 appearances and was voted among the club’s 16 greatest players of all time.

 

He had 74 appearances for Arsenal during a two-year-spell at the end of his career.

 

He  was coach, assistant manager and manager at Arsenal and was involved there through five decades

He won 23 England caps and played at the 1958 World Cup before going on to coach England as an assistant to the likes of Ron Greenwood, Sir Bobby Robson and Terry Venables.

 

He managed Queens Park Rangers, Coventry and Galatasaray.

Tributes have been pouring in from English football personalities in honour of the great man.

“He was absolutely one of the very best coaches I have ever come across in my life and, certainly in my opinion, one of the very best coaches England ever had.

“I shall miss him and he will always be remembered by people within the game as one of the true greats, one of the true legendary coaches. He was ahead of his time.

“I found myself privileged to say he befriended me and I think it is a great loss and I am very sad,” England manager Roy Hodgson said.

FA chairman Greg Dyke added: “He is widely regarded as being in the vanguard of coaching in England and I know his loss will be keenly felt among the coaching fraternity in particular.

“It is a great loss for English football, especially following on so soon after the sad passing of Jimmy Hill. Our thoughts are with Don’s family.”

He returned to The Hawthorns as manager in the early 1970s but was more recently associated with Arsenal, where he finished his playing career and coached under Bertie Mee and Terry Neill, whom he succeeded as manager.

 

Howe returned to Highbury as youth team coach in 1997 before retiring in 2003.

Arsenal are planning a tribute for him at Monday’s Premier League game against Bournemouth. Arsenal chairman Sir Chips Keswick said he had been ‘a remarkable influence’.

“Don possessed a marvellous ability to get the very best out of players with his coaching techniques and provide them with the perfect preparation for matches.

“He was the very best at what he did. His name will live on as one of the most influential footballing figures in the history of the club.”

 

Ex-Arsenal manager George Graham said: “He was a lovely man. Quiet in company but he could lose his temper as well. Certainly one of the best coaches I have worked for.”

Bobby Gould who he worked as an assistant for at Wimbledon said: “The loss of Jimmy Hill, then another soul mate Don Howe passes away. To Pauline & Family our thoughts are with U love Gouldy x.”

Ex Arsenal goalkeeper Bob Wilson said: “Instrumental and inspirational for us as a club. Made us believe. Should be remembered forever for contribution to coaching in England.

Paul Merson, ex-Arsenal midfielder added: He was the best coach in the world of football — not just in England, in the world of football. He was one of the nicest blokes I have ever met.