Former Everton manager Howard Kendall has died at the age of 69.
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Kendall guided Everton to the First Division title again in 1986/87, but with English clubs banned from Europe, he chose to leave, moving to Athletic Bilbao.
Premier League executive chairman Richard Scudamore said: “Everyone at the Premier League was deeply saddened to hear that Howard Kendall had passed away this morning”.
Within four years he had won the First Division championship, repeating the feat in 1987, while also winning the FA Cup and European Cup-Winners’ Cup in the club’s most successful era.
Kendall began his playing career at Preston North End before being sold to Everton in 1967.
Everton confirmed the news on Saturday morning and hailed him as their “most successful manager”.
He was a member of Everton’s “Holy Trinity” trio of himself, Alan Ball and Colin Harvey, as they went on to win the league title in 1970.
“The thoughts of everyone associated with the club are with Howard’s family at this hard time and it would be appreciated if everyone could respect their request for privacy”.
As well as Everton, Kendall also played for Birmingham City, Stoke City and Blackburn Rovers – as player-manager – before hanging up his boots back at his beloved Everton while he started his first stint as boss.
Supporters, players and officials from across the football world paid tribute to the legendary manager upon hearing news of his death.
He also managed Athletic Bilbao in Spain, Manchester City, Greek side Xanthi as well as Notts County and Sheffield United, and ended his career with a return to Greece at Ethnikos Piraeus. Total respect for him as a player manager and person.
Later spells at Everton between 1990 and 1993 and 1997 and 1998 did not prove as successful and he left the club for the final time after they avoided relegation on the final day of the 1997-98 season. Fantastic character. Be sadly missed.
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Gary Lineker, who played under Kendall during his spell on Merseyside in the mid-’80s, led the tributes on Twitter. Brilliantly managed the best club side I ever played for at Everton.
