Glenn Roeder dead: Ex-West Ham and Newcastle boss dies aged 65 after brain tumour battle

Former Watford, West Ham and Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder has died aged 65 after a lengthy battle with a brain tumour.

Posted Monday, March 01, 2021 by Express.co.uk

Former Watford, West Ham and Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder has tragically 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 on Sunday afternoon: "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."

Glenn Roeder dead: Ex-Watford, West Ham and Newcastle boss dies aged 65 after brain tumour

While LMA Chief Executive Richard Bevan added: "Glenn achieved so much throughout his lifelong career in the game.

"After retiring as a player, he became one of the country's most respected coaches, working across all levels of the professional game, in senior and academy football, and acting as a trusted advisor to many coaches and players.

"At every club, he chose to develop new talent and to give opportunities to the younger players in his charge.

"He will be sorely missed by all of the LMA's members and his colleagues from across the game.

"Our heartfelt thoughts are with Glenn's wife Faith, his daughter Holly, his sons Will and Joe and all of Glenn's family and friends at this difficult time."

Roeder enjoyed a 20-year professional career as a player after coming through the academy of Arsenal.

He started out with Leyton Orient and enjoyed a five-year spell with the club before spending five years at Queens Park Rangers.

A six-year stint with Newcastle followed for the Woodford-born defender before he moved to Watford.

He returned to Leyton Orient in 1992 for a brief spell before seeing out his career with Gillingham, where he became a player-manager.

Roeder spent three years as the manager of Watford but was eventually sacked in February 1996 and replaced by Graham Taylor.

He worked as Chris Waddle's assistant at Burnley and and as a coach under Glenn Hoddle for the England national team, working at the 1998 World Cup in France.

After that, he went West Ham, first as a coach before he eventually replaced Harry Redknapp as boss in 2001.

Roeder worked with the Hammers for two seasons but had to be replaced by Trevor Brooking for the final few games of his last campaign due to a brain tumour, having been named Premier League Manager of the Month in March that year.

He returned to health in order to get back to the dugout but was eventually sacked by West Ham in August 2003.

Following that, after almost two years out of the game he took over at Newcastle where he won the Intertoto Cup and oversaw 72 games at St James' Park before leaving the Magpies in May 2007.

He then enjoyed two years with Norwich between October 2007 and January 2009 but did not return to permanent management after that, serving in advisory roles for Sheffield Wednesday and Stevenage, whom he left in March 2018.