Man City legend Tony Book dies aged 90 (Image: Getty)
Former Manchester City captain, manager and vice-chairman Tony Book has died aged 90, the club has confirmed.
Somerset-born Book won four major trophies as City skipper, including the 1967/68 First Division title and an FA Cup the following season, which helped him win the Footballer of the Year award. FWA year.
The former right-back spent decades as the most decorated captain in Blues history and racked up over 300 games for the club.
City paid tribute to Book in a statement posted on their official X account, which read: “It is with immense sadness and the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of former Manchester City captain and manager Tony Book, aged 90.
“A true club legend in every sense of the word, Tony made 315 appearances for City in total between 1966 and 1974, scoring five goals.”
Book took on coaching responsibilities for a year before hanging up his boots in 1974 and was appointed caretaker manager of City shortly after his retirement. He was named permanently after just one game and spent the next five years as the leader of the dugout.
Tony Book was inducted into the Man City Hall of Fame in 2004. (Image: Getty)
A League Cup victory in 1976 made Book the first person to win the competition as a player and manager – a remarkable feat in what proved to be a successful tenure.
Book went on to serve in various other roles at City, including another spell as caretaker manager in 1993. Upon retiring from coaching, he was made honorary president of the club and life president of the Official Manchester City Supporters' Club .
The Blues hero racked up almost 400 appearances for Bath City during the early part of his career, and two years at Plymouth Argyle preceded his move to Maine Road aged 31.
Book would continue to perform until the age of 39. Nicknamed “Skip” since taking the captain's armband, he is still remembered as a club legend and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2004.
City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said: “For almost 60 years, Tony helped shape Manchester City. Not just in what he brought as a player, captain and manager, but also in the way he with which he behaved.
“His hopes and ambitions for his club were matched only by his incredible humility about his own significant achievements. Our supporters will forever remember him as a man who helped lay the foundations for which an unprecedented success could be built.”
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/2000217/tony-book-dead-man-city-dies-aged-90