Everton's greatest manager Howard Kendall passes away at the age of 69

Everton's most successful manager, Howard Kendall, has died at the age of just 69.

Kendall guided the club to two league titles, the FA Cup and the European Cup Winners' Cup during a glorious four-year spell in the mid 1980s.

He also won the league title as a player in 1970, forming one third of the ‘Holy Trinity’ in the Toffees midfield along with Colin Harvey and Alan Ball.

Really really sorry to have to say that the greatest manager in Everton's history and a lovely lovely lovely man has passed away. RIP Howard

— David Prentice (@prenno) October 17, 2015

Kendall, frustrated with the European ban imposed on English teams in the wake of the Heysel Stadium disaster in 1985, left Everton for Athletic Bilbao in 1987.

Everton have yet to scale the heights achieved under his stewardship since.

Kendall would make a dramatic return to Goodison Park in 1990, replacing his former teammate Harvey. He was unable to arrest Everton’s decline however and he left in November 1993 with the club languishing in the lower reaches of the table.

Kendall couldn’t resist the lure of Everton though and he returned for a third spell in 1997 that nearly ended in disaster, the club only staying in the Premier League on the final day of the season.

Kendall left the club for a third and final time in the summer of 1998 and soon left management altogether after a brief spell in Greece.

Kendall has since been a regular presence at Goodison watching his beloved Blues as well as writing a column in the Liverpool Echo.

His death will send shockwaves through the club and everyone associated with it. He represented the club both as a player and manager with distinction, truly living up to the club’s motto of Nil Satis Nisi Optimum – nothing but the best is good enough.

He will be sorely missed but never forgotten. Rest in peace Howard.