Howard Kendall dead: Former Everton manager and club legend dies aged 69

Everton have confirmed that Kendall died at Southport Hospital this morning

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Former Everton and Manchester City manager Howard Kendall has died at the age of 69, it has been announced.

Everton released a statement on Saturday to confirm the sad news ahead of their Premier League clash with Manchester United.

The statement read: “It is with great sadness that Everton Football Club has learned opf the passing of Howard Kendall.

“The most successful manager in the history of the club and one of the greatest players to pull on the Everton jersey. He passed away in hospital in Southport this morning at the age of 69, surrounded by loved ones.

The thoughts of everyone associated with the club are with Howard’s family at this difficult time

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“The thoughts of everyone associated with the club are with Howard’s family at this difficult time and it would be appreciated if everyone could respect their request for privacy.”

Kendall has a hero’s status at Goodison Park after playing for and managing the club. He spent seven years with Everton between 1967 and 1974 after starting his career at Preston North End, and returned to the Merseyside club for a second spell in 1981 as player-manager.

During his time on the pitch, Kendall helped Prston reach the FA Cup in 1964, before he repeated the feat with the Toffees in 1968. While he was not able to boast a winners’ medal, Kendall was part of the Everton side that won the First Division in 1969-70.

He also spent time with Birmingham City, Stoke City and Blackburn Rovers – where he first experienced the role of management – before returning to Goodison Park where he remained in the dugout for six years until 1987.

Kendall’s crowning success came with the Toffees. He led Everton to two league titles in 1984/85 and 1986/87, while they finished second in the intervening season. Kendall also won the FA Cup that alluded him as a player in 1984, as well as two further final appearances in 1985 and 1986, but due to England’s ban from Europe Kendall was never able to challenge for the European Cup when the club were at their peak.

He did lead Everton to the European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1984/85 though, and he was named the English Manager of the Year on two occasions in 1985 and 1987.

Spells with Spanish side Athletic Bilbao and Manchester City followed, before he returned to Everton once again in 1990 until his departure in 1993.

Kendall then took charge of Greek side Xanthi, before returning to England to manager Notts County and later a fourth spell with the Toffees for the 1997-98 season where he managed to keep Everton safe from Premier League relegation on the final day of the season. It was decided that he would leave the club by mutual consent that summer, and he ended his managing career in Greece with Piraeus.

Liverpool Echo’s David Prentice broke the news on Saturday.

He wrote on Twitter: “Really really sorry to have to say that the greatest manager in Everton's history and a lovely lovely lovely man has passed away. RIP Howard.”

A number of clubs including Arsenal and Crystal Palace tweeted their condolences to the Kendall family, while leading names in football such as former England striker Gary Lineker and Liverpool pair Jamie Carragher and Kenny Dalglish also sent tributes to the former footballer.

To this day, Kendall remains the last English manager to have won a European competition with an English club.