Arsenal have confirmed that former player and manager, Don Howe, has passed away after a long battle with illness.
Howe joined Arsenal from West Brom in 1964 and went on to play 74 times for the Gunners and 23 times for England. On his retirement in 1967, brought about by a broken leg, he took on a first team coaching role and helped plot the 1970/71 ‘Double triumph’ alongside manager Bertie Mee [pictured on the left with Howe].
Howe rejoined West Brom as manager in July 1971 but returned to Arsenal as chief coach during Terry Neill’s tenure and managed the Gunners between December 1983 and March 1986.
After various coaching and management posts, he was Arsenal’s Head Youth Coach leading the young Gunners to FA Youth Cup wins in 2000 and 2001. He retired at the end of the 2002/03 season.
A statement from Arsenal chairman, Sir Chips Keswick, reads: “We were aware Don had been enduring a long battle with illness, but it was still a shock to learn the news about someone who was loved by so many people at the club, and who had such a remarkable influence as a player, coach and manager here.
“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 – and he did it with us, at Arsenal, for decade after decade.
“He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him and his name will live on in the history books as one of the most influential footballing figures in the history of the club.”
The FA also paid tribute to a man who helped coach the England national team during the eighties. Chairman, Greg Dyke, said: “It is terribly sad news and our thoughts are with Don’s family at this time.
“He is widely regarded as being in the vanguard of coaching in England, and I know that his loss will be keenly felt amongst the coaching fraternity in particular and not least by Roy Hodgson, who was close to Don.
“He was a fine player – named as one of West Bromwich Albion’s finest – and, of course, he went on to play an integral part in Arsenal’s history as a coach and later as manager.
“For his country, he not only appeared in a World Cup, but he was instrumental in both Sir Bobby Robson’s management team for Italia ’90 and Euro ‘96 where he assisted Terry Venables.
“Even in his latter years I understand he continued to pass on his knowledge and advice to aspiring young coaches. It is a great loss for English football, especially following on so soon after the sad passing of Jimmy Hill.”
The thoughts of everyone at Arseblog News are with his family.
RIP. Brings a tear to the eye. An absoulte Arsenal legend. Gone but never forgotten.
The person who gave the comment a thumbs down can go fu#k themselves.
Not me but sometimes, touch phones make you hit many times until you get thumb dowm instead of thumb up or other away around.
Legend…
My “first” Arsenal-manager. Very sad to hear this…
Very, very sad news….
Worth remembering how Don resigned on principle as the club sounded out Terry Venables behind his back about becoming the new Arsenal manager. Don loved Arsenal so much he returned to work as a coach at the club despite the way he was treated.
Top Gun.
X
A Great Arsenal man. We wouldn’t have done that first Double or indeed won the ICFC the year before without Don. He was Peter Taylor to Berties, Cloughie. He also did remarkable coaching work with England after his spell as our full time Manager in the ’80s.
He was responsible for several wonderful chapter in our Club’s History. I can see him now sitting in that ‘cage’ on the half way line at Highbury and bursting out of it occasionally to urge the players on.
Thanks Don. You were a top man.
Rest in peace, Don. Proper Arsenal legend.
I can remember chanting his name after we beat Liverpool at Wembley to claim our first double. We were all so happy and the fans recognised his part in winning both trophies! Excellent coach and a bloody good bloke.
Top man. Watched the club while he managed. Not a great era in the history but a proper Arsenal man through and through.
very sad news indeed and my condolences to his family
a great man and an arsenal legend
RIP
Had the privilege of chatting to him on more than one occasion, what a decent guy he was. Rip Don.
How sad. Always remember singing “Donnie Howies red and white army!”
RIP.
Manager when I saw my first game at Highbury in 1984. Very sad to hear of his passing.
Very sad news. Don was an Arsenal legend.
Sad news. Don Howe in his tracksuit was an absolute fixture in all the team posters on by bedroom wall throughout my childhood, along with Terry Neil, Wilf Dixon and Fred Street.
*my
Sad news, a great servant to the club, I was always proud to hear how respected he was by al the players he coached during his time at Arsenal and England, rip Don
A true gent. No nonsense from Don. An integral part of the club through the lean eighties but I was always proud of saying we had Don howe on our team. Legend gets thrown out a lot. Don howe was a proper legend.
A sad day. Gone but never forgotten.
Very sad news.
R.I.P Don.
That he always referred to this club with a preceding definite article shows he esteemed it above all others – even when he was working for West Brom. The Arsenal. The Don Howe.
Thank you Don RIP.
I remember meeting him in 1983 when Arsenal came to Hong Kong for a friendly game. I remember him being very nice to me, an impressionable young Arsenal supporter. Very sad news. We have many great men of the game in our history and Don was one of them.