Former Newcastle and Wimbledon manager Joe Kinnear dies | UK News

Former Newcastle United and Wimbledon manager Joe Kinnear has died at the age of 77.

His family announced the news in a statement on Sunday evening.

The ex-footballer had been suffering from vascular dementia since 2015.

Dublin-born Kinnear, who won 26 caps with the Republic of Ireland, joined Tottenham as a teenager in 1963 before making his debut in 1966.

He spent the next decade at White Hart Lane, winning the FA Cup in 1967, the UEFA Cup in 1972 and the League Cup in both 1971 and 1973, making more than 250 appearances for the club before spending his final season at Brighton.

The Irishman began his coaching career in Asia, working in the UAE and Malaysia, and then with India and Nepal.

On his return to England, he became Dave Mackay’s assistant at Doncaster and eventually took the top job at Wimbledon 992.

There, he led the Dons to a sixth-placed finish in the top flight in the 1993-94 season, and took them to the semi-finals of the FA Cup and the League Cup in 1997.

After Wimbledon, he went on to manage Luton Town, Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United.

His family’s statement said: “We are sad to announce that Joe passed away peacefully this afternoon surrounded by his family.

“Joe, who was 77, had been suffering from dementia having been diagnosed in 2015.

“He will be remembered fondly by many – both as a player and a manager.

“His Wimbledon team finishing sixth in the 1993-94 Premier League was a phenomenal achievement.”

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.