Football loses one of the best as Keith Alexander sadly passes away

Keith Alexander

Illness

Alexander, who suffered a brain aneurysm in November 2003, had only recently returned to work after having a short while off due to illness. He died after arriving home from Macclesfield’s 1-0 defeat at Notts County on Tuesday evening.

A club statement from Macclesfield read,

“Keith was a splendid man. He will be sorely missed at the Moss Rose and by everyone involved in football. Our thoughts and sympathies are with his family at this very difficult time.”

Alexander has had a long career in the lower leagues of English football and has been regarded as something of a role model, as one of very few black managers in the English game. As a player he played up front for Barnet, Grimsby, Stockport, Lincoln and Mansfield .

He began his managerial career with Lincoln in 1993. He then moved on to non-league sides Ilkeston and Northwich Victoria before returning to Lincoln in 2002. At that time Lincoln were in a dire financial situation and came close to going out of business. Despite that, Alexander took them to the League Two play-offs four seasons in a row.

His illness blew up in 2003 when he suffered a double brain aneurysm and very nearly lost his life.

Consent

Alexander left his post at Lincoln by mutual consent just after defeat in the 2006 play-offs. He moved to Peterborough for a short spell but left in January 2007 after things didn’t work out.

After Peterborough he was director of football at Bury before being appointed Macclesfield manager in February 2008. He agreed a two-year contract extension just over a month ago.

Macclesfield Chairman Mike Rance was clearly in shock at the news,

“We’re all absolutely devastated. I spoke to Keith last night at about 11.15pm after our game at Notts County and he was in good spirits because, although we lost, we had given a team chasing promotion a good game. We were chatting about an FA hearing after he had a row with a referee at Bournemouth, which just shows how passionate he was about the game. It was perhaps fitting that the last conversation we had was about football He went home after the game last night and collapsed. Tragically, he never recovered. Keith was the perfect manager for a club like ours. He was totally pragmatic about managing in League Two and the constraints involved. He was a splendid man, a real gentleman and an absolute privilege to work with. He was strong, sensible, commanded respect throughout the game and was unique in many ways.”

Alexander’s assistant manager at Macclesfield, Gary Simpson said,

“He was a larger than life character. An honest man, a splendid man and will be missed by not only football people but people in all walks of life. He was an absolutely superb human being.”

Lincoln Chairman Steff Wright told the BBC,

“I’m absolutely numbed. To think everything Keith has done in football has gone is a massive shock. Keith was an absolute professional, a gentleman, but more than anything else Keith was a great guy.”

Barry Fry, who knew Keith Alexander at Barnet and at Peterborough, said,

“I really can’t believe it. I’d been worried lately about his health but he assured me he was fine. He recently had a bout of hiccups that he couldn’t get rid of and he went into hospital for that, but he wasn’t feeling ill when I spoke to him last, he was bubbly. He’d had a few days off but he couldn’t wait to get back on the training pitch. You won’t find a more dedicated man at any club, he always gave 150%. I feel so sad for his family.”

A spokesperson from Bury said,

“Keith Alexander was one of the most genuine people you could work with, to know and to have the pleasure to meet. There are a lot of heavy hearts around Gigg Lane this afternoon and as a club, we wish to pass our condolences to Keith’s immediate family, his friends and all supporters, players and officials at Macclesfield Town Football Club.”

Many other tributes poured in for Keith Alexander and it is clear that football, and the world, has lost one of the good guys.

SoccerNews sends condolences and best wishes to the friends, family and colleagues who have lost one of the best.