Gary Speed

Gary Speed: The Man Behind the Smile is the story of one of football's most underrated players - a player who worked harder than most, and gave his all on and off the pitch. It takes us on a journey through Speed's tremendous career playing for the likes of Leeds, Everton and Newcastle - from his boyhood days at Hawarden High School to Champions League nights at St James' Park and managing his beloved Wales. The ultimate professional, Speed was the first player to achieve 500 Premier League appearances, and he notched up 85 Welsh caps. In a managerial career that was just taking off, he laid the foundations for the Wales national team's recent success. When Speed walked into a room, he lit it up with his smile. To help us understand the man behind that radiant smile, football writer Graeme Bell spoke to those who knew him best. Speed's personality shines through in their words, and we are left with a portrait of a man who was professional, caring, determined and endlessly talented. There was only one Gary Speed.