FORMER LIVERPOOL AND Everton defender Gary Ablett has died at the age of 46, having battled non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma for 16 months.
Ablett made more than 100 appearances for both Merseyside clubs and Birmingham City in a successful playing career, and went on to manage Stockport County.
“Respected throughout the game by players, coaches and managers alike Gary will be sadly missed,” the League Managers’ Association said.
“Our thoughts and condolences are with Gary’s wife Jacqueline and children.”
Ablett won two First Division titles with Liverpool in 1988 and 1990, as well as the 1989 FA Cup, before being sold to Everton in 1992 and going on to lift the Cup with them in 1995.
He spent a loan spell with Sheffield United before making 104 appearances for Birmingham.
He moved into coaching in 2002 with Everton’s youth academy and took over as Liverpool’s reserve team coach in 2006 under Rafael Benitez. He became Stockport manager in 2009 but left the club in June 2010.
Former Reds boss Roy Evans told Sky Sports News: “It’s a big shock. Obviously we know Gary’s been ill for a while. It’s a really sad day.
“He was good at everything he did as a player.
“He went into coaching and stamped his personality onto that and was doing a very good job, certainly at youth level. I remember he had bit of a difficult first spell at Stockport, but overall he’s had a great career in football, he’s a big loss to the sport.
“He made a big contribution to the game.”
