Football News : Coroner probes Speed death

Gary Speed started his career at Leeds United, where he was part of the team which won the English First Division in 1992.

Speed then moved to Everton, the team he supported as a boy, making over 50 English Premier League appearances across two seasons with the Goodison Park outfit.

Speed played in two FA Cup finals for Newcastle, against Arenal in 1998 and Manchester United in 1999, losing both.

Under the late Bobby Robson, Speed played in the European Champions League for Newcastle, congratulating Alan Shearer here on his goal against Inter Milan. Shearer said he was "proud to call Gary Speed a friend."

Speed remains Wales' most capped outfield player. He represented his country 85 times over a 14-year period but never reached a major tournament.

Speed moved from Newcastle to Bolton in July 2004, becoming the first player to make 500 Premier League appearances during his four years at the Reebok Stadium.

Speed dropped down to the second tier of English football with Sheffield United in January 2008 and later became manager of the club.

Speed became manager of Wales in Decemebr 2010. One of his first games was against Fabio Capello's England, a game Wales lost 2-0. After dropping to a record low of 117th in the FIFA rankings, Speed's side then won three games in a row to climb to a ranking of 45th.

Tributes to Speed appeared at all the clubs he represented, like here at Everton's Goodison Park stadium in Liverpool.

Tributes swamped Leeds United's Elland Road ground as fans struggled to take in news of his death.

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STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Speed was found dead on Sunday


• He was 42


• He took charge of the Welsh national side last year and was credited with a recent revival

London (CNN) -- An inquest into the death of Wales football manager Gary Speed will begin Tuesday, the Cheshire coroner's office said.

Speed was found dead on Sunday. He was 42.

He was capped 85 times by Wales and helped Leeds United to the English Championship title during an illustrious playing career.

He took charge of the Welsh national side last year and was credited with a recent revival in their fortunes as they enjoyed a run of three straight wins for the first time since 2008.

Speed was also honored as a Member of the British Empire (MBE) by Queen Elizabeth II last year.

Speed, who was married with two children, lived in north-west England.

Cheshire police issued a statement about the death Sunday.

"The police were called to a residence in Huntingdon in Chester at 7:08 a.m where a body of a 42-year-old was found.

"The identity was confirmed to be that of Gary Speed. There were no suspicious circumstances."

News of Speed's untimely death stunned the sporting community across Britain and players at the English Premier League between Swansea and Aston Villa observed a minute's silence.