Editing Gary Speed (section)

===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>