MANCHESTER CITY legend Colin Bell has died aged 74.
The previous England worldwide died on Tuesday afternoon after a brief non-Covid associated sickness.
Man Metropolis legend Colin Bell has died aged 74Credit score: Rex Options
Bell performed for Bury and the San Jose Earthquakes both aspect of his iconic 13-year profession at Metropolis, the place he was a star from 1966 to 1979.
He’s broadly thought of one of many membership’s most interesting ever gamers, scoring 152 objectives in 492 appearances.
And he’s notably well-known for his function within the well-known Metropolis trio ‘Bell, Lee and Summerbee’ alongside Francis Lee and Mike Summerbee.
Metropolis’s gamers will stroll out in retro No 8 shirts earlier than their League Cup semi-final in opposition to Manchester United on Wednesday in tribute.
A City assertion on Tuesday learn: “It’s with the deepest disappointment and heaviest of hearts we announce the passing of Manchester Metropolis legend Colin Bell.
“Colin handed away peacefully this afternoon after a brief, non-Covid associated sickness, aged 74. He leaves behind spouse Marie, youngsters Jon and Daybreak and grandchildren, Luke, Mark, Isla and Jack.”
Whereas at Metropolis, Bell received the First Division in 1967-68 and received the 1969 FA Cup the next season.
In addition to touchdown the League Cup in 1970 Bell and Metropolis additionally received the European Cup Winners’ Cup in the identical season.
Bell received 48 England capsCredit score: Getty Pictures – Getty
The midfielder was a star at Metropolis between 1966 and 1979Credit score: PA:Press Affiliation
He received Metropolis’s participant of the 12 months and lead the staff to the title in 1968 and was inducted into their Corridor of Fame in 2004.
Bell received 48 England caps and scored 9 objectives for the Three Lions in that point.
And he as soon as stated: “I used to be placed on this earth to be a footballer.
“I simply thought, behind my thoughts, though I used to be going by way of faculty, I might grow to be an expert footballer.”
Oasis megastar Liam Gallagher led tributes that poured in on-line and tweeted: “COLIN BELL RIP MCFC.”
And Metropolis chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak stated: “Colin Bell will all the time be remembered as one in all Manchester Metropolis’s best gamers and the very unhappy information right now of his passing will have an effect on all people related to our membership.
“I’m lucky to have the ability to converse recurrently to his former supervisor and teammates, and it’s clear to me that Colin was a participant held within the highest regard by all those that had the privilege of taking part in alongside him or seeing him play.
“The passage of time does little to erase the recollections of his genius. The truth that now we have a stand on the Etihad Stadium named after Colin speaks volumes in regards to the significance of his contribution to this membership.
Bell performed for Metropolis for 13 yearsCredit score: PA:Press Affiliation
Bell acquired an MBE from the Queen in 2005Credit score: PA:Press Affiliation
“Colin was extremely humble and a modest and understated man with an apparent internal power of character. He was clearly comfy with who he was and what he had achieved within the recreation.
“For the remainder of us, there may be all the time the considered what might need been if damage had not affected his profession. Undoubtedly extra trophies for Metropolis and way over the 49 England caps to his identify.
“Our membership has misplaced a real nice. Everybody’s ideas and finest needs are with Colin’s household.”
Present Metropolis star Phil Foden paid tribute, as did former gamers Pablo Zabaleta and Paul Dickov.
Dickov wrote: “Devastated to listen to of passing of Colin Bell.
“One of many best if not THE best participant to ever put on the Metropolis shirt and greater than something the nicest and most humble man you can ever meet.
“Ideas, love and prayers to all of the Bell household. RIP Legend.”
Gary Lineker revealed that Bell was one in all his “favorite gamers” rising up.
Foden wrote: “Extraordinarily saddened to listen to Colin Bell has handed away.
“The King Of Kippax was a real legend and somebody I’ve grown up admiring. You will be sorely missed Nijinsky.”
Bell was nicknamed ‘Nijinsky’ after the well-known Derby successful racehorse and ‘The King of Kippax’ regarding the Kippax Road stand at Metropolis’s outdated dwelling Maine Street.
He has a stand named after him on the Etihad given the excessive esteem during which he’s held on the membership.
Different tributes poured in on-line after the information was introduced.
Man Utd tweeted: “All of us at ManUtd are deeply saddened by the passing of Colin Bell, a real footballing legend.
“Condolences to Colin’s family members and everybody at Man Metropolis. #ACityUnited.”
Born in County Durham, Bell’s profession began at Bury in 1963 and the 6ft star didn’t retire till 1980 after a short stint with the Earthquakes within the USA.
Metropolis boss Malcolm Allison dubbed Bell ‘hopeless’ in a crafty ploy to signal him from Bury in 1966.
He struggled with a severe knee damage in the direction of the tip of his Metropolis profession which ultimately pressured him to retire.
Bell acquired an MBE from the Queen in April 2005.
Bell is one in all Metropolis’s best ever gamersCredit score: Getty Pictures – Getty
He was a part of the well-known trio with Francis Lee and Mike SummerbeeCredit score: Getty Pictures – Getty
He has a stand named after him on the EtihadCredit score: Getty Pictures – Getty
