Editing Gary Speed (section)

==Club career==
===Leeds United===
Speed began his career with [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] as a trainee when he left school in June 1988,<ref name=guardianobit/> and was [[Peter Swan (footballer, born 1966)|Peter Swan]]'s boot boy,<ref>{{cite book |title=Swanny: Confessions of a Lower-League Legend |first=Peter |last=Swan |year=2008 |publisher=John Blake Publishing |isbn=978-1-84454-660-2 |page=55}}</ref> before he signed a professional contract on 13 June 1988.<ref name=Hugman0910/> Leeds manager [[Howard Wilkinson]] first noticed Speed in a youth team game while the player was playing in a [[defender (association football)#Full-back|left back]] position.<ref name="Goal.com Obituary">{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2882/wales/2011/11/28/2778061/obituary-gary-speed-1969-2011 |title=Obituary: Gary Speed (1969–2011) |first=Wayne |last=Veysey |publisher=Goal.com |date=28 November 2011 |access-date=2 December 2011}}</ref> Under Wilkinson, he made his first team debut aged 19 in a goalless draw against [[Oldham Athletic A.F.C.|Oldham Athletic]] in the [[Football League Second Division]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.minsterfm.com/news/local/564906/tributes-to-leeds-legend-gary-speed/ |title=Tributes to Leeds legend Gary Speed |publisher=104.7 Minster FM |date=28 November 2011 |access-date=2 December 2011 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131203000925/http://www.minsterfm.com/news/local/564906/tributes-to-leeds-legend-gary-speed/ |archive-date=3 December 2013}}</ref> He would go on to play in nine out of the ten outfield positions,{{which|date=November 2011}} although he was predominantly a left-sided player.<ref name="Goal.com Obituary"/>

He went on to play a key role, playing 41 of a possible 42 games and scoring seven goals,<ref name="Rothman">{{cite book |title=Rothman's Football Yearbook 1992–93 |year=1992 |publisher=Headline Book Publishing |location=London |isbn=978-0-7472-7905-1 |pages=282–283}}</ref> as Leeds won the [[Football League First Division]] championship title in 1992,<ref>{{cite news |title=Gary Speed picture gallery |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/wales/9284442.stm |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |date=27 November 2011 |access-date=2 December 2011}}</ref> as part of a midfield that also comprised [[Gordon Strachan]], [[Gary McAllister]] and [[David Batty]]&nbsp;– former Leeds manager [[Eddie Gray (footballer, born 1948)|Eddie Gray]] considered it to be one of the greatest midfield line-ups in the modern era.<ref>{{cite news |last=Robinson |first=Paul |title=Gary Speed: Leeds United mourning a legend |url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/latest-news/central-leeds/gary_speed_leeds_united_mourning_a_legend_updated_1_4009576 |newspaper=Yorkshire Evening Post |date=29 November 2011 |access-date=3 December 2011}}</ref> Wilkinson named Speed as the club's player of the season.<ref>{{cite news |last=Ponting |first=Ivan |title=Gary Speed: Footballer and Wales manager whose playing career spanned 22 years |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/gary-speed-footballer-and-wales-manager-whose-playing-career-spanned-22-years-6268784.html |newspaper=The Independent |date=28 November 2011 |access-date=2 December 2011}}</ref>

In September 1992, Speed was pivotal in Leeds' [[UEFA Champions League]] first-round tie against [[VfB Stuttgart]]. Stuttgart had won 3–0 at home and looked to be going through already. Speed helped Leeds to a 4–1 victory at [[Elland Road]], scoring one of them with a "superb left-foot volley" which he later described as his best-ever goal. Although Leeds went out of the tie on the [[away goals rule]], the club was later reinstated, for Stuttgart had fielded an ineligible player.<ref name="mirror football stats">{{cite news |title=Gary Speed Record breaking Welsh wonder |url=http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/archive/Gary-Speed-Record-breaking-career-of-the-Welsh-wonder-article80968.html |newspaper=Daily Mirror |access-date=3 December 2011}}</ref>

Speed was selected in the [[PFA Team of the Year]] for the 1992–93 season.<ref name=PFATeam9293/>

On 4 October 1995, Speed scored the winning goal as Leeds beat [[English second division|second division]] side [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]] in the second round of the [[EFL Cup|League Cup]]. The match had seemed to be going to extra time, but Speed's 90th-minute winning goal kept Leeds from needing a replay to overcome their lower-league opponents.<ref>{{cite news |last=Shaw |first=Phil |title=Speed delivers decisive strike |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/speed-delivers-decisive-strike-1575972.html |newspaper=The Independent |date=4 October 1995 |access-date=3 December 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Action replay 1995: Notts County v Leeds United |url=http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/sport/action_replay_1995_notts_county_v_leeds_united_1_2254707 |newspaper=Yorkshire Evening Post |date=30 September 2011 |access-date=3 December 2011}}</ref>

Speed featured in the [[1996 Football League Cup final]] defeat by [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]].<ref name="mirror football stats" /> Before transferring to Everton, Speed played in 312 games for Leeds United, scoring 57 goals.<ref name="Goal.com Obituary"/>

===Everton===
A childhood Everton fan,<ref name="Gary Speed Dies Aged 42">{{cite news |title=Gary Speed Dies Aged 42 |url=http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/2011/11/27/gary-speed-dies-aged-42 |publisher=Everton F.C. |date=27 November 2011 |access-date=2 December 2011 |archive-date=29 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129195848/http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/2011/11/27/gary-speed-dies-aged-42? |url-status=dead }}</ref> Speed was signed by [[Joe Royle]] before the [[1996–97 Everton F.C. season|1996–97 season]], for a fee of £3.5&nbsp;million.<ref name="Speed joins Bolton">{{cite news |title=Speed joins Bolton |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/bolton_wanderers/3904323.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=21 July 2004 |access-date=2 December 2011}}</ref> He made his debut on 17 August 1996, scoring against [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]].<ref>{{cite news |title=19 August 1996 |first=Glen |last=Moore |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/keegan-suffers-through-sloth-1310377.html |newspaper=The Independent |date=19 August 1996 |access-date=2 December 2011}}</ref> In November of that year, Speed scored a [[hat-trick]]&nbsp;– the only one of his career<ref name="Remembering the Gary Speed I knew">
{{cite news |title=Remembering the Gary Speed I knew |first=David |last=Prentice |url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/everton-fc/everton-fc-news/2011/11/27/david-prentice-remembering-the-gary-speed-i-knew-100252-29851117/ |newspaper=Liverpool Echo |date=27 November 2011 |access-date=2 December 2011}}</ref>&nbsp;– as Everton beat [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] 7–1 at [[Goodison Park]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Barmby becomes the catalyst |first=Derrick |last=Whyte |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-barmby-becomes-the-catalyst-1352914.html |newspaper=The Independent |date=18 November 1996 |access-date=2 December 2011}}</ref> Speed finished the season with 11 goals, joint top-scorer with [[Duncan Ferguson]].<ref name="Everton Goalscorers 1996-97">{{cite web |title=Everton Goalscorers, 1996–97 |url=http://www.toffeeweb.com/season/96-97/goalscorers.php |publisher=ToffeeWeb |access-date=2 December 2011}}</ref> Speed was also voted Everton Player of Year for his performances during his first season at the club.<ref name="Gary Speed&nbsp;— Player Profile" />

[[Howard Kendall]] succeeded Royle as the manager at the start of the [[1997–98 Everton F.C. season|1997–98 season]], and nominated Speed as club captain.<ref name="Remembering the Gary Speed I knew" /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.soccerbase.com/teams/team.sd?team_id=942&teamTabs=managers |title=Everton: Managers |website=Soccerbase |publisher=Centurycomm |access-date=11 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Lombardo and Palace are birds of a feather |first=Michael |last=Staniforth |url=http://www.toffeeweb.com/season/97-98/reports/crystal-palace_h.htm#ET |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=11 August 1997 |access-date=2 December 2011}}</ref> However, by the turn of the year the relationship between Speed and Kendall had soured. Speed played his last game for the club on 18 January 1998, scoring in a 3–1 win over [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.toffeeweb.com/season/97-98/reports/chelsea_h.htm#ET |title=Ferguson's power punishes careless Chelsea |first=Guy |last=Hodgson |newspaper=The Independent |date=19 January 1998 |access-date=2 December 2011}}</ref> He did not travel for their next game, away to [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Madar spoils Sinclair's day |first=Steve |last=Curry |url=http://www.toffeeweb.com/season/97-98/reports/west-ham_a.htm#ET |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=2 February 1998 |access-date=2 December 2011}}</ref> and was subsequently sold to Newcastle for £5.5&nbsp;million.<ref name="Speed joins Bolton" /> The reasons underlying Speed's departure were never revealed. He told the ''[[Liverpool Echo]]'': "You know why I'm leaving, but I can't explain myself publicly because it would damage the good name of Everton Football Club and I'm not prepared to do that."<ref name="Remembering the Gary Speed I knew" />

===Newcastle United===
Speed was signed for Newcastle United on 6 February 1998 by [[Kenny Dalglish]], for a fee of £5.5&nbsp;million. He made his debut as a starter in a 1–0 home Premier League defeat to West Ham United the next day. His first goal came in his fifth match, the sixth round proper of the [[1997–98 FA Cup]]. At home to [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]], he scored the second goal of a 3–1 home win with a 27th-minute strike. His only league goal of the 1997–98 season came in a 3–1 home win over Chelsea in the penultimate league match on 2 May, with Newcastle's third in the 59th minute. He finished the season by playing the [[1998 FA Cup Final]], which Newcastle lost 2–0 to Arsenal on 16 May.<ref name=sb9798/>

Speed featured in the club's [[FA Cup Final]] defeat to [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] on 22 May 1999. On 19 September 1999, he scored a goal in Newcastle's [[1999–2000 Newcastle United F.C. season#NEWvsSHW|8–0 Premier League victory]] over [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]] in which his teammate [[Alan Shearer]] scored a joint-record five times.<ref name=sb9900/> He also played in the UEFA Champions League with Newcastle in the 2002–03 season, scoring the 58th-minute equaliser in a 2–1 home victory over [[FC Dynamo Kyiv|Dynamo Kyiv]] in the group stage on 29 October 2002.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Rockwood |first1=Dan |title=Newcastle United 2 – 1 Dynamo Kiev |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2002/oct/29/minutebyminute.sport |access-date=5 November 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=29 October 2002}}</ref>

===Bolton Wanderers===
Speed moved to Bolton Wanderers on a two-year deal in a £750,000 switch from Newcastle United in July 2004.<ref name="Speed joins Bolton" /> He became the first player to make 500 [[Premier League]] appearances when he played in Bolton's 4–0 victory over West Ham United in December 2006.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/bolton_wanderers/6167279.stm |title=Shearer lauds record-making Speed |publisher=BBC Sport |date=11 December 2006 |access-date=3 December 2011}}</ref>

On 1 May 2007, Speed was named as the first-team coach for Bolton after Sam Allardyce stepped down from his job as manager.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bwfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,1004~1019045,00.html |title=Speed Appointed As First Team Coach |publisher=Bolton Wanderers |access-date=3 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070704073207/http://www.bwfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C1004~1019045%2C00.html |archive-date=4 July 2007}}</ref> However, in October he left the coaching job and returned to being just a player with the club. Conflicting reports of the incident claimed that then manager [[Sammy Lee (footballer)|Sammy Lee]] relieved him of his duties to concentrate on playing, but Speed, in an interview with the ''[[Bolton News]]'', claimed he chose to step down.<ref>{{cite news |title=West Ham 0–1 Man Utd |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/bolton_wanderers/7039158.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=11 October 2007 |access-date=2 December 2011}}</ref>

Speed scored a header for Bolton against [[Reading F.C.|Reading]] on 25 August 2007, making him, at the time, the only player to have scored in every Premiership season to date. [[Ryan Giggs]] later matched this achievement on 20 October 2007, and passed it on 8 February 2009.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/7867122.stm |title=West Ham 0–1 Man Utd |first=Mandeep |last=Sanghera |publisher=BBC Sport |date=8 February 2009 |access-date=2 December 2011}}</ref> It had been reported in December 2007 that Speed was a target for [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]], but it was confirmed on 24 December 2007 that he would join [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] on loan on 1 January 2008, with a view to a permanent move for a fee of about £250,000.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_utd/7158844.stm |title=Blades agree deal to sign Speed |publisher=BBC Sport |date=24 December 2007|access-date=3 December 2011}}</ref>

===Sheffield United===
Speed made his debut on the day of his transfer, being named in the starting eleven for a 0–0 away draw against [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] on New Year's Day 2008.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/7163905.stm |title=Wolves 0–0 Sheff Utd |publisher=BBC Sport |date=1 January 2008 |access-date=3 December 2011}}</ref> He played regularly for the rest of the season and deputised as captain when [[Chris Morgan (footballer)|Chris Morgan]] was unavailable. Having seen his penalty parried, Speed netted the rebound to score his first goal for United in a victory over [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]] in March of that year.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/7285092.stm |title=Sheff Utd 2–1 Coventry |publisher=BBC Sport |date=11 March 2008 |access-date=3 December 2011}}</ref> He went on to finish the season on three goals for United, scoring both goals in a 2–1 home victory over Bristol City in the penultimate game of the 2007–08 season.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sheff Utd 2–1 Bristol City |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/7356056.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 April 2008 |access-date=3 December 2011}}</ref> In an interview with [[BBC Wales]] on 10 May 2008, Speed hinted that the [[2008–09 Sheffield United F.C. season|2008–09 season]] may be his last playing before moving into coaching or management but stated that he had not yet made up his mind.<ref>{{cite news |title=Speed gives retirement plan hint |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_of_wales/7393811.stm |publisher=BBC Sport |date=10 June 2008 |access-date=3 December 2011}}</ref>

Speed started the next season as a regular fixture in the United midfield, but succumbed to a back injury in November 2008.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheffield-united/Speed-career-under-threat.4808408.jp |title=Speed career under threat |newspaper=The Star |date=16 December 2008 |access-date=2 December 2011}}</ref> Despite undergoing surgery to correct the problem he failed to regain his fitness and missed the rest of the season, concentrating instead on a coaching role at the club.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/football/Lessons-learned.5283484.jp |title=Lessons learned |newspaper=The Star |date=20 May 2009 |access-date=2 December 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130114054738/http://www.thestar.co.uk/football/Lessons-learned.5283484.jp |archive-date=14 January 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In June 2009, he was approached by [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]] with regards to taking on the managerial role left vacant by [[Roberto Martínez]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Dulin |first=David |title=Six on Swansea manager shortlist |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/swansea_city/8101986.stm |access-date=11 March 2018 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=16 June 2009}}</ref> He continued training and completed the 2010 [[London Marathon]] in aid of the [[Sir Bobby Robson Foundation]], the cancer charity founded by Speed's former Newcastle manager, who had died of the illness in 2009. Speed's finishing time was 3 hours, 49 minutes and 22 seconds.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ashdown |first1=John |last2=Turner |first2=Georgina |title=Which player has run the fastest marathon? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/oct/24/player-fastest-distance-race |access-date=11 March 2018 |newspaper=The Guardian |date=24 October 2012}}</ref>

Speed finally announced his retirement from playing in his 41st year, but agreed to remain at Sheffield United for at least one more season as a coach.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/sport/football/other-clubs/playing_days_finally_over_for_sheffield_united_s_speed_1_2573244 |title=Former Playing days finally over for Sheffield United's Speed |newspaper=The Yorkshire Post |date=6 May 2010 |access-date=3 December 2011}}</ref> Despite this he was again registered as a player and was named on the bench for the first round League Cup game against [[Hartlepool United F.C.|Hartlepool United]] at the outset of the following season.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/Previews/0,,10418~2118999,00.html |title=Match Preview |publisher=Sheffield United F.C. |date=11 August 2010 |access-date=2 December 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120805150916/http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/Previews/0,,10418~2118999,00.html |archive-date=5 August 2012}}</ref>