Don Howe: The greatest coach of his generation

A COMMON theme ran through football last night when news broke of the death of Don Howe.

 

Former England coach Don Howe died yesterday aged 80

 

First it was Paul Merson, then Gary Lineker. Next came George Graham, Bob Wilson and Gary Neville.

Together, they spoke and wrote of the brilliance and attention to detail of arguably the best coach the English game has produced.

Howe, 80, was an integral part of some of English football’s finest moments, domestically and internationally, over the past five decades.

He was Arsenal’s coach when they won the Double in 1971 and he was alongside Bobby Gould when Wimbledon beat Liverpool in the 1988 FA Cup final.

 

Howe worked with Sir Bobby Robson in the England set-up during the early 1980s

 

He was also side-by-side with Sir Bobby Robson as England reached the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup in Italy, a similar role he took with Terry Venables for Euro 1996, when the team were beaten on penalties in the semi-finals at Wembley by Germany.

“He was so far ahead of his time it was scary,” said Merson, the former England and Arsenal attacking midfielder.

“He gave me a contract when a lot of people wouldn’t.

“You talk about the Wengers and people like that, he was the best coach in the world of football – not just in England – but in the world of football. He was a phenomenal, phenomenal coach.”

 

Howe was part of the coaching staff that helped Wimbledon win the 1988 FA Cup

 

Gary Neville, who played in Euro 1996, tweeted: “Just heard the sad news about Don Howe. An education being coached by him. Amazing attention to detail and knowledge of the game. RIP.”

Gary Lineker wrote: “Sad to see that Don Howe has passed away. It was a privilege to have known and been trained by him. A great coach and a lovely man. RIP."

Wolverhampton- born Howe, a right- back, made his debut for West Brom in 1955. He made 379 appearances, during which time he played for England at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, and then in 1964 began an association with Arsenal that saw him play 74 times before becoming a coach, helping

to inspire Bertie Mee’s team to the League and Cup Double in 1971. Wilson, the legendary goalkeeper of that side, said Howe was “a fine player but truly he was one of the greatest ever coaches in football”.

He added: “He was innovative and for us as a club he was instrumental and really inspirational. He made us believe as a team. He should be remembered forever for his contribution to coaching in England.”

  

Howe (right) was Terry Venables' assistant at England in the mid-1990s

 

Another member of that side, George Graham, succeeded Howe Arsenal manager, agreed.

Graham said: “He was a lovely man. Quiet in company but he could lose his temper as well. Certainly one of the best coaches I have worked for.”

After leaving Arsenal as manager in 1986, he joined Wimbledon as assistant to Gould, and helped them produce one of the greatest FA Cup shocks when they beat Liverpool to lift the trophy in 1988.

Howe also figured in the England backroom coaching teams of Ron Greenwood, Bobby Robson and Venables.

FA chairman Greg Dyke said: “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.”

Arsenal chairman Sir Chips Keswick said: “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 best at what he did.”