Former West Ham manager Glenn Roeder has died at the age of 65 after a lengthy battle with a brain tumour, the League Manager’s Association have confirmed.
The LMA posted on their website: “The LMA is so very deeply saddened following the death of member Glenn Roeder, at the age of 65, after a long battle with a brain tumour. “Glenn was a highly respected and much loved member of the coaching fraternity, having managed Gillingham, Watford, West Ham United, Newcastle United and Norwich City, and having served as a coach under Glenn Hoddle for the England national team.”
LMA Chairman Howard Wilkinson said in a statement: “A cultured defender as a player, he managed with a studious style and was always generous with his time and ideas. Glenn was such an unassuming, kind gentleman who demonstrated lifelong dedication to the game. Not one to court headlines, his commitment and application to his work at all levels warrants special mention.
“Football has lost a great servant today and our sincere condolences go to Glenn’s family and friends.”
Born in Woodford, Essex, Glenn Roeder joined Arsenal as a schoolboy before enjoying a successful playing career as a full-back with Leyton Orient, Queens Park Rangers, Newcastle United and Watford. After captaining QPR in the 1982 FA Cup final and being capped seven times by England at ‘B’ level, the full-back was appointed as player-manager at Division Three club Gillingham in 1992.
The following year, Roeder moved to Watford, spending nearly three seasons in charge at Vicarage Road before departing in February 1996. After serving as his former Newcastle team-mate Chris Waddle’s assistant at Burnley for a single season in 1996/97, Roeder worked as a coach under England manager Glenn Hoddle.
In 1999, Harry Redknapp offered him a return to club football with West Ham – the team he supported as a child and cheered on from the famous ‘Chicken Run’.
After two seasons on Redknapp’s staff, Roeder was appointed as manager in the summer of 2001. He guided the Hammers to seventh in the Premier League in his first season in charge.
However, the 2002/03 season proved more difficult as West Ham struggled for consistency, despite possessing a talented squad that contained Paolo Di Canio, Frederic Kanoute, Tomas Repka, David James and a number of outstanding Academy graduates including Michael Carrick and Joe Cole.
In April 2003, Roeder was diagnosed with a brain tumour and had to take a break from his role to undergo surgery and a recovery process.
Despite finishing the season with a flourish under caretaker boss Trevor Brooking, West Ham were relegated on the final day of the season at Birmingham City with a record-high 42 points. Roeder returned to the dugout in July 2003 but, following a defeat at Rotherham United in Division One, he was relieved of his duties on 24 August of the same year.
Appointed 9 May 2001
Departed 24 August 2003*
Games Managed 86
Games Won 27
Games Drawn 23
Games Lost 36
Win Percentage 32.53%
*Roeder took a break from management due to health reasons between 24 April-1 July 2003
Such sad news. No age at all. RIP Glenn Roeder.
Rip you legend hammers are playing for hour
R I p Glenn Roader once a hammer always a hammer you were taken far to early god bless your family ⚒️⚒️⚒️⚒️⚒️
R.I.P Glenn Roeder………. Gone too soon. My thoughts and wishes go out to Glenn’s family & friends.
I am so sad to hear of the passing of Glenn, He was such a great man who was so compassionate to me and my family. My son was at the academy between 1996 and 2004 when he was hit by a car in 2004 and in a coma for 12 weeks Glenn out of the blue turned up at the hospital and sat at his bedside for hours talking football to him. Glenn continued the visits until my son came out from the coma. He said to me he was convinced he would survive. Glenn kept in touch with us and invited us to his home for visits and helped us through difficult times. I will never forget the man and my thoughts are with Faith Will Joe and Holly RIP Glenn
Very sad news RIP Glenn Roeder