Don Howe: Former Arsenal and England coach dies aged 80

Former England international and coach Don Howe has died at the age of 80.

The full-back played for West Brom and Arsenal, earning 23 England caps, before establishing himself as a renowned coach for club and country.

Howe helped Arsenal to a league and FA Cup double in 1971 and spent four years as West Brom boss before returning to the Gunners as coach and manager. He also coached under former England managers Ron Greenwood, Sir Bobby Robson and Terry Venables.

Arsenal chairman Sir Chips Keswick said Howe had been "enduring a long battle with illness", but added it was still a "shock to learn the news".

Howe played every game in the 1958 World Cup and was then a key part of Robson's coaching staff as England reached the semi-finals of the 1990 World Cup, before also supporting Venables as his side made it to the last four of Euro 96.

Former Gunners goalkeeper Bob Wilson said Howe was "a fine player but truly he was one of the greatest ever coaches in football".

FA chairman Greg Dyke described his death as a "great loss for English football".

Dyke added: "He is widely regarded as being in the vanguard of coaching in England, and I know that his loss will be keenly felt amongst the coaching fraternity in particular and not least by [current England boss] Roy Hodgson, who was close to Don."

Hodgson said: "I found myself privileged to say he befriended me and I think it is a great loss and I am very sad.

"I think we were very fortunate growing up as young coaches to be able to take inspiration from Don, Sir Bobby Robson and Dave Sexton alongside him.

"He was absolutely one of the very best coaches I have ever come across in my life and, certainly in my opinion, one of the very best coaches England ever had."

Some former England players also expressed their thoughts on Twitter;