image source, Getty Images
Joe Kinnear ends his managerial career with Newcastle United
Former Wimbledon and Newcastle United manager Joe Kinnear has died at the age of 77.
Mr Kinnear, who was also a manager at Luton and Nottingham Forest, was diagnosed with dementia in 2015.
“We are saddened to announce that Joe passed away peacefully this afternoon surrounded by his family,” the family said in a statement.
Dublin-born Kinnear won 26 caps for Ireland during his 11-year playing career.
He began his career at Tottenham, making 258 appearances and scoring two goals in 10 seasons in north London.
Kinnear won the FA Cup, two League Cups and the UEFA Cup with Spurs.
He joined Brighton in 1975, but his career was cut short by a knee injury and he retired after just one season on the south coast.
Kinnear's first management role was with India in 1983, before taking over as Nepal in 1987.
He returned to English football with Doncaster Rovers in March 1989, but left at the end of the season after winning only one of 11 games.
Kinnear's next role will be at Wimbledon in two-and-a-half years, and he will spend more than seven years in south-west London.
Kinnear, who took over the name “The Crazy Gang'' in January 1992, led Wimbledon to a sixth-place finish in his second full season in charge, helping them win the 1994 LMA Manager of the Year award.
He achieved two further top ten finishes in the Premier League, but suffered a heart attack in March 1999 and left the club.
Kinnear returned to manage Luton Town in 2001, spending over two years with the Hatters before enjoying a short spell with Nottingham Forest.
The Irishman ended his managerial career with a short and controversial spell at Newcastle United.
After Kevin Keegan resigned just a month into the 2008-09 season, Kinnear was appointed interim manager after the search for a permanent successor failed.
At his opening press conference, he swore in front of the attending media more than 50 times, but his spell lasted only 18 games before his heart condition worsened and he resigned.
He returned to St James' Park in 2013 as Newcastle's director of football, but resigned after just seven months following criticism of the club's sale of Yohan Cabaye to Paris Saint-Germain.
image source, Getty Images
Joe Kinnear was Wimbledon manager for seven years from 1992 to 1999.
“True legend”
Wimbledon thanked Kinnear on the X program for the “fantastic memories” the “true legend” brought to the club during his time in the capital.
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou told Sky Sports after the Premier League win over Nottingham Forest: “I just heard about it. It's very sad. Our love goes out to his family and friends. He will be remembered by everyone at the football club.” A sad loss but he will not be forgotten at this football club. ”
Jason Ewell, who played under Kinnear for four years at Wimbledon from 1995 to 1999, said: “Thank you for giving me my professional debut and helping me become who I am today and the role I was as a player. I lost it, but I'll never forget it.”
Newcastle said the club's thoughts were “with Joe's family and friends at this difficult time”, with Luton and Tottenham also paying their respects.
