Irish football icon & Wimbledon coach Joe Kinnear passes away at 77

Celebrated sports coach Joe Kinnear is no more. The former Tottenham Hotspur defender and Wimbledon manager has passed away. He was 77. The news of his demise was shared by his family on Saturday (April 13).

“We are sad to announce that Joe passed away peacefully this afternoon surrounded by his family," a statement read. In an interview with ESPN in 2021, Kinnear’s wife Bonnie revealed the sports icon was suffering from dementia since 2015.

“Everyone connected with Wimbledon was deeply saddened to hear the news that our former manager, Joe Kinnear, has passed away,” AFC Wimbledon said on X. “A true legend of the club, Joe gave us some amazing memories that we treasure.”


Luton Town football club said on X: “We are saddened to learn that our former manager Joe Kinnear has passed away at the age of 77. Our thoughts are with Joe’s friends and family at this time.” Newcastle United tweeted, “The thoughts of everyone at NUFC are with Joe’s family and friends at this difficult time.”

Who Was Joe Kinnear?

A highly esteemed figure in Irish football, Kinnear earned 26 caps with the Republic of Ireland throughout his career. He began his journey with Tottenham as a teenager in 1963 and made his debut in 1966. His accomplishments include lifting the FA Cup in 1967, securing the UEFA Cup in 1972, and claiming the League Cup titles in both 1971 and 1973. Kinnear made his mark with over 250 appearances for Spurs.

In 1992, he assumed the role of Wimbledon manager, steering the club to a commendable sixth-place finish in the top flight during the 1993-94 season. Under his guidance, Wimbledon reached the semifinals of both the FA Cup and League Cup in 1997. Prior to his tenure with Wimbledon, Kinnear embarked on his coaching journey in Asia, where he worked in the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia before taking on roles in India and Nepal. He later returned to England to serve as Dave Mackay’s assistant at Doncaster before ultimately being appointed as Wimbledon's manager in 1992.