Joe Kinnear dies aged 77 after ex-Newcastle and Wimbledon manager’s dementia battle

07 April 2024 , 19:53

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Joe Kinnear dies aged 77 after ex-Newcastle and Wimbledon manager’s dementia battle

The family of ex-Newcastle and Wimbledon manager Joe Kinnear confirmed he passed away on Sunday afternoon at 77 years of age following a battle with dementia

Former Newcastle manager Joe Kinnear has died aged 77 following a battle with dementia.

A statement from his family confirming the sad news read: "We are sad to announce that Joe passed away peacefully this afternoon surrounded by his family."

Kinnear enjoyed a stellar career in football, winning the FA Cup, two League Cups and the UEFA Cup during his time with Tottenham as a player between 1966 and 1975. The Irishman called time on his playing days at 30.

Kinnear’s wife Bonnie shed light on the ex-Magpies boss’ dementia in an interview with the Daily Telegraph back in 2021, six years after he was diagnosed. "He started to get moody - a bit depressed. I thought, ’This isn’t right’," she explained.

"Then he got aggressive in certain situations. It just wasn’t Joe. It was a problem trying to get him to see somebody but we eventually got him to a doctor and he was diagnosed in 2015.

"They classed it as early onset vascular dementia and, since then, he has just deteriorated. He’s in the late stage. It is heartbreaking to see how someone can change. "He was larger than life. He loved people. He’d walk in a pub, buy everyone a drink, tell funny stories and be the life and soul of the party."

Kinnear, who won 26 caps with the Republic of Ireland during his career, joined Tottenham as a teenager in 1963 before making his debut in 1966. He spent the next decade at White Hart Lane, lifting the FA Cup in 1967, the UEFA Cup in 1972 and the League Cup in both 1971 and 1973, making more than 250 appearances for the club before spending the final season of his playing career at Brighton.

Kinnear began his coaching career in Asia, working in the United Arab Emirates and Malaysia, before spells with India and Nepal. He returned to England to become Dave Mackay’s assistant at Doncaster and would be named Wimbledon boss in 1992.

Kinnear led the Dons to a sixth-placed finish in the top flight in the 1993-94 season, and guided them to the semi-finals of both the FA Cup and League Cup in 1997. 

He later went on to manage Luton and Nottingham Forest before taking the reins at St James’ Park in 2008. He returned to Tyneside as Director of Football in 2013 - his last post within the game.

Newcastle have since paid tribute, taking to social media to write: "Newcastle United is saddened to learn of the passing of Joe Kinnear at the age of 77. Joe worked at the club as both Manager and Director of Football. The thoughts of everyone at #NUFC are with Joe’s family and friends at this difficult time."

James Smith