Former Manchester City and England midfielder Colin Bell has died at the age of a brief illness, the club announced on Tuesday.
Former Manchester City and England midfielder Colin Bell died at the age of a brief illness, the club announced tuesday.
Bell scored 152 goals in 492 appearances for City in a 13-year career with the club after joining Bury.
“Colin died peacefully this afternoon (Tuesday) after a brief illness unrelated to Covid, at the age of 74,” a club said.
“Leave his wife Marie, their children Jon and Dawn and their grandchildren, Luke, Mark, Island and Jack. “
Bell, a member of the city team that won the former First Division name in 1967/68 and the FA Cup in 1969.
He helped City win two trophies in the 1969/70 season: the English League Cup and the European Cup Winners’ Cup.
In addition to his City honours, Bell won 48 games in England and was on the team for the 1970 World Cup in Mexico, a race interrupted by a knee injury.
City said “few have left such an indelible mark” at the club as Bell, nicknamed “The King of Kippax” for one of the terraces of his former home on Maine Road.
The bell of respect remained at the club, as City enthusiasts voted to convene a grandstand at Etihad Stadium after him in 2004.
The city’s president, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, said on the club’s website: “Colin Bell will be remembered as one of Manchester City’s most important players and today’s very sad news of his death will have an effect on everyone who is connected to our club. “
“I am fortunate to be able to communicate with his former coach and teammates, and I find it transparent that Colin was a player highly appreciated by everyone who had the privilege of betting with him or seeing him. “Touch.
“The passage of time does little to erase the character of his genius. “
Meanwhile, his former City teammate Mike Summerbee paid tribute to “a humble man. “
“He was calm, unpretentious and still never knew how smart he was,” Summerbee told the club’s website.
“He’s the biggest footballer we’ve ever had.
“Kevin De Bruyne reminds me a lot of Colin in what he plays and he’s like a person. “
Summerbee, a former foreigner from England, added: “I loved City enthusiasts and our enthusiasts say it’s the most productive they’ve ever seen, you don’t get a compliment greater than that, do you?”
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