Club

Ex-Hammers pay tribute to 'real gentleman' Glenn Roeder

Glenn Roeder was appointed manager in 2001

 

Tributes have been paid to former West Ham United manager Glenn Roeder, who passed away on Sunday, aged 65.

Roeder joined the Hammers as a coach under Harry Redknapp in 1999 before being appointed manager in the summer of 2001.

Under his management, the Irons finished seventh in the Premier League in his first season in charge, 2001/02, with an exciting team led by Paolo Di Canio, Frederic Kanoute, Trevor Sinclair, Don Hutchison and David James.

A widely respected coach, Roeder also developed a young Michael Carrick, Joe Cole, Glen Johnson and Jermain Defoe, all of whom played their part before going on to enjoy exceptional careers with club and country.

I remember a genuine caring person, a real gentleman! My heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones

Frederic Kanoute

A month after winning the Premier League Manager of the Month award, he was diagnosed with a brain tumour in April 2003 and, after receiving emergency treatment, returned to work in July of the same year before departing the Boleyn Ground the following month.

A popular figure and considered to be one of the nicest and most genuine men in the game, there has been an outpouring of affection for Roeder, who also played for Orient, Queens Park Rangers and Watford, coached England and managed Gillingham, Watford, Newcastle United and Norwich City.

Midfielder Hutchison, who Roeder signed for a record fee in August 2001, tweeted: “Terrible news today that my old gaffa has passed away today. My thoughts are with his family. The nicest manager/human I’ve ever met. Sleeep well boss x”

Goalkeeper James, who played alongside Roeder at Watford and under him at West Ham, tweeted: “So saddened to hear that Glenn Roeder has passed away aged 65. My teammate at Watford and my manager at West Ham, a wonderful human that will be greatly missed. RIP.”

Forward Kanoute, who scored 12 goals in that impressive 2001/02 season, tweeted: “Sad to hear the passing of my ex-coach Glenn Roeder. I remember a genuine caring person, a real gentleman! My heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones.”

 

 

Two full-backs from the 2002/03 squad, Rufus Brevett and Scott Minto, also tweeted tributes.

Brevett, who Roeder signed from Fulham, tweeted: “So saddened to hear that Glenn Roeder has died, he signed me for West ham and was brilliant coach and just a very nice man R.I.P Gaffer.”

Minto tweeted: “Terrible terrible news to hear of Glenn Roeder passing away. An excellent coach and even better guy. Thoughts with his family.”

Another Roeder signing, England midfielder and childhood West Ham supporter Robert Lee, tweeted: “Sad to hear the news of Glenn Roeder......nice guy and lovely family! Never forget he gave me the opportunity to play for my boyhood club even at the ripe old age of 38!”

Another lifelong Hammer, Northern Ireland midfielder Kevin Horlock, tweeted: “Devastated to hear the news about Glenn Roeder. I will always be eternally grateful to him for giving me the chance to play for my boyhood team. Thoughts and love to his family. Rest in peace.”

 

 

Tony Cottee, who enjoyed many duels with Glenn as a player, tweeted: “Sad to hear about the passing of Glenn Roeder. He was a good player and a nice guy and my thoughts are with his family at this difficult time...”

Roeder was also popular with the media, for whom his openness and willingness to engage in interviews and press conferences was hugely appreciated.

West Ham fan and talkSPORT presenter Ian ‘Moose’ Abrahams first met Roeder as a young man reporting on Gillingham. He said: “Really sad to hear of the passing at 65 of Glenn Roeder. I obviously watched Glenn as a player, but in 1992 as Sports Editor of a Radio Station in Kent, got to know the man. Always brilliant to talk to about Football, I know he’ll be missed at all his former clubs. RIP my friend.”