Howard Kendall, former Everton player and manager, passed away at the age of 69.
Howard Kendall, former Everton manager and Goodison Park legend has died at the age of 69.
On Saturday, the club’s official Twitter account announced Kendall’s death, calling him “the most successful manager in Everton’s history” for his role in the club’s growth throughout the 1980s:
Kendall won the First Division title with the Toffees in 1969-70 before taking over as manager for a total of 10 years during three distinct tenures, bringing the team to the top tier twice. His accomplishments were quantified by Bleacher Report UK:
Kendall’s passing has prompted a flood of condolences from around the English football world, with Match of the Day pundit and former Toffees striker Gary Lineker among those paying tribute to a club icon:
In England, the County Durham-born midfielder also managed Blackburn Rovers, Manchester City, Notts County, and Sheffield United, as well as Athletic Bilbao for two years.
Kendall’s greatest victory, though, came at Goodison Park, where former Liverpool stalwart Jamie Carragher offered his fondest recollection of the strategist as a gesture of Merseyside support:
Broadcaster Richard Keys spoke on how Kendall inspired his career, while Liverpool writer Jim Boardman discussed how his influence ushered in the greatest era of the Merseyside rivalry:
Kendall is still the last English manager to win a European trophy while in charge of an English club, a record that does not appear likely to be broken in the near future.
That performance alone demonstrates Kendall’s skill as a manager, and the English Football Hall of Fame inductee will be remembered as one of the greatest personalities ever to have led in England.
