The career of Gary Speed - in pictures

Gary Speed (front row, second right) made his professional debut for Leeds United in 1988 and four years later played a key role in their title victory as part of a midfield that also comprised Gordon Strachan, Gary McAllister and David Batty Photograph: Darren Walsh/Action Images

Speed made 312 appearances for Leeds and scored 57 goals Photograph: Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto Ltd

In 1996 Speed moved from Leeds to Everton in a £3.5m transfer. In the two seasons he was on Merseyside he made 65 appearances and scored 17 goals Photograph: Stuart Franklin /Action Images

In February 1998 Speed moved from the north west to the north east when Newcastle United paid Everton £5.5m for their captain and inspirational midfielder. Three months later he was at Wembley taking on Arsenal in the FA Cup final, finishing on the losing side as the Gunners triumphed 2-0 Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Due to Newcastle's top four finishes in the 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 seasons, Speed was able to pit his skills against Europe's top sides in the Champions League. Here Barcelona's Xavi attempts to close him down Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Action Images

Speed played his final game for Wales on 13 October 2004 during their 3-2 World Cup qualifier defeat against Poland in Cardiff. It was his 85th cap, putting him second in the all-time list of Welsh caps behind Neville Southall Photograph: Reuters

On 9 December 2006 Speed became the first player to make 500 Premier League appearances when he features in Bolton's 4-0 win over West Ham Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

On August 25 2007 Speed scorred against Reading to become the only player to have scored in every Premier League season to date. This record was later matched and extended by fellow Welshman Ryan Giggs Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA Archive

Sheffield United took Speed on loan on New Years Day 2008 with a view to a permanent £250,00 move Photograph: PA Archive

In November 2008 a back injury put an end to Speed's season which led him to concentrate on a coaching role under manager Kevin Blackwell. On May 2010 Speed formally announced his retirement as a player Photograph: Neil Tingle/PA Archive

In August 2010 Speed was appointed Sheffield United manager after the departure of Blackwell Photograph: Lee Smith/Action Images

After just four months in the Sheffield United job, the FAW came calling. The day after United gave Speed permission to speak to the Welsh FA, he is announced as the new Wales manager Photograph: David Davies/PA Archive

Just three days later he received an MBE from the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace Photograph: Lewis Whyld/PA Archive

Gary Speed's first game in charge of the national side came against the Republic of Ireland in the Carling Nations Cup ... Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images

... unfortunately it wasn't a victorious debut as Wales lost 3-0 in Dublin Photograph: Scott Heavey/Getty Images

In September 2011 Wales recorded their first victory under Speed, a 2-1 win in Cardiff against Montenegro Photograph: Nick Potts/PA Archive

12 November brought Speed his third win in a row and his fifth in seven matches as Wales beat Norway 4-1 in a friendly in Cardiff Photograph: James Benwell/Action Images

On 27 November 2011 the Welsh FA announced Speed's death. Tributes poured in for the 42-year-old, with his former manager Howard Wilkinson saying: "I've rarely come across a better-balanced, lovely, genuine person." Photograph: Gareth Phillips for the Observer