Joe never lost that sparkle in his eyes
Spurs glory years, Ireland caps and Dons’ dugout miracle worker, the game has lost one of its larger-than-life characters
JOE KINNEAR has died at the age of 77. The exTottenham defender, who led Wimbledon to sixth in the Premier League in 1993-94, was surrounded by family as he passed away peacefully yesterday afternoon.
Dublin-born Kinnear, who also managed Newcastle, Nottingham Forest and Luton, had been suffering from dementia, having been diagnosed in 2015.
A short statement from his family read: ‘We are sad to announce that Joe passed away peacefully this afternoon surrounded by his family.’
Friends say Kinnear dealt with his diagnosis with bravery. Despite his declining health, he was known to be much-loved by staff at the north London care home where he spent his final years and retained ‘a sparkle in his eyes’.
In earlier times he would regale staff with tales from his time as a player in Tottenham’s glory years and from the dugout, where he would become known as one of the game’s larger-than-life characters.
Kinnear crossed the Irish Sea at the age of seven following the death of his father. He was then raised as one of five on a council estate in Watford and remained true to his roots.
A spell at St Alban’s City saw him spotted by Spurs and he moved to White Hart Lane aged 17, where he would go on to become an attacking full back under Bill Nicholson. He delivered a man-of-the-match outing in the 1967 FA Cup final victory over Chelsea.
He would also lift the League Cup twice, the UEFA Cup in 1972 and win 26 caps for Ireland, playing on the team that rocked the USSR 3-0 at Dalymount Park in 1974. However, his career as a player was curtailed at the age of 30 when he suffered a severe knee injury.
After initially owning a pub, The Stag, Kinnear took his coaching badges and had short stints in India, Nepal and Dubai before joining Doncaster Rovers.
His managerial career, however, began in earnest at Wimbledon in 1992. With their stunning FA Cup victory over Liverpool in 1988 fresh in the memory, he would go on to bring more success to the unfashionable club, who were playing home matches at Selhurst Park after leaving Plough Lane a year before his arrival.
Against that tricky backdrop, the sixth-placed finish — which saw Kinnear named Manager of the Year — is the highest in Wimbledon’s history and unlikely ever to be bettered. During his seven seasons in charge, his Dons sides continually upset the odds. The group would famously eat with staff at a transport cafe after training and Kinnear was a popular figure with many fans.
In 1999, with Wimbledon in the top six having reached three domestic semi-finals in two years, he collapsed with a heart attack before a match against Sheffield Wednesday. His family believed he was saved only by the fact the team had reached Hillsborough, where medical staff gave him immediate attention.
Following a bypass operation, Kinnear returned to the dugout with Luton and Forest before his surprise appointment at Newcastle in 2008 which kicked off with a memorable, ferocious and expletive-laden press conference. Had it happened in the social media era, it would have gone viral within minutes.
In difficult circumstances, Kinnear’s Magpies were sitting in 15th before he again suffered with illness. Following a triple heart bypass operation he would not manage again, but did return to Newcastle as director of football in 2013.
Kinnear leaves behind wife Bonnie and stepdaughter Russ, who he raised from the age of three. Tragically, son Elliot passed away from cancer. He was also grandfather to Nick and Dan.
Kinnear and Bonnie had been together for 53 years after meeting through a mutual friend while he played for Spurs. The family have
previously spoken about football’s link to dementia and recalled Joe’s tales about repeatedly heading a ball at the end of a rope while training at Tottenham.
In a 2008 interview, former Luton player Marvin Johnson summed his ex-manager up well.
‘He always ranted and raved and swore a lot, but never bore a grudge,’ he said. ‘He was a player’s man who loved being one of the lads and joining us on outings. A day out at the races was one of his favourites. He was always one of us.’
He was no ordinary Joe.