Manchester City legend Mike Doyle dies aged 64

28 June 2011 12:49
ShareManchester City legend Mike Doyle has died aged 64 after a long running battle with liver disease, the club have confirmed. [LNB]Doyle enjoyed a highly successful spell with the club, scoring 32 goals in over 550 games for City and won five England caps.[LNB]He won the old Division One title, the FA Cup, the European Cup winners' Cup and the League Cup twice - scoring in the 1970final and captaining them to glory in 1976.[LNB] Legend: Doyle has passed away[LNB]After leaving City in 1978, he had short spells at Stoke, Bolton and Rochdale before becoming a rep for sports equipment company Slazenger. [LNB]Dennis Tueart, who scored the winninggoal for City in the 1976 final, told Sky Sports News: 'It was a great shock this morning - I didn't know he was ill. [LNB]'Asa Hartford, another one of my colleagues in the 1976 team, texted me to give me the news and it is very sad. [LNB]VIDEO: Doyle helps City to European glory...[LNB] [LNB]'Mike was a born winner. He had two periods really as a great player for Manchester City. [LNB]'He was one of the younger players in the Joe Mercer-Malcolm Allison era, but when I came in 1974 he then became my captain and there was no question, he was a fantastic leader on the field.[LNB]'The one thing Mike wanted to do was win games for Manchester City. [LNB]'At the end of the game when the final whistle went he went straight across to the Manchester City supporters to acknowledge their support and (it showed) the feeling he had for the club. [LNB]'I know I got all the praise for the winning goal, but in my mind Mike was our player of the match, without question.'[LNB]Manchester-born Doyle joined City as an apprentice in 1962 and made his first-team debut in March 1964.[LNB] [LNB] Sorely missed: Dolye's passing came as a shock to former team-mates[LNB] Featuring primarily as a defender, Doyle went on to become a key player in the club's hugely successful period with Mercer as manager and Allison as assistant. [LNB] After their departure, he was handed the captain's armband for the first time in 1975 and the following year led City to glory at Wembley with a 2-1 win over Newcastle. [LNB]Tough and uncompromising on the field, Doyle was also famed for his dislike of local rivals Manchester United. He moved to Stoke in 1978 and retired in 1984. [LNB]City ambassador and Doyle's former team-mate Mike Summerbee told the club's official website: 'He was the heart and soul of Manchester City, the club meant everything to him.[LNB]'Mike was somebody you always wanted alongside you when the going got tough. [LNB]'He was a great footballer, a magnificent servant to this club, and he was also a nice bloke into the bargain.'[LNB]Doyle, who had been battling ill health for the past 12 months, was being treated in Tameside Hospital and passed away after suffering liver failure. [LNB]He leaves behind his wife Cheryl, sons Scott and Grant and daughters Stephanie and Natalie. [LNB] City make first signing! Former Rovers chief Williams drafted in... to sell playersMan City dogged in Sanchez pursuit despite Chilean admitting he dreams of BarcaMancini eyes three new signings as City boss plans to start summer spendingAll the latest Manchester City news, features and opinion[LNB]  Explore more:Places: Newcastle, Manchester, United Kingdom

Source: Daily_Mail