He laid the foundations for our excellent early 90's side when he was our manager from 89-91. RIP Don Howe _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Former R's boss passes away, aged 80 IT is with great sadness that the club has learnt of the passing of former QPR manager Don Howe, aged 80. In paying tribute to the ex R's boss, we look back at a snippet from an interview with Howe, conducted in the 2010/11 season ... DON Howe was manager of the Super Hoops from December 1989 to May 1991. His tenure saw 27 wins from 76 matches at the highest level of English football and he had some vivid memories looking back on that period. “I took over from Trevor Francis as R’s boss,” said Howe. “I had been Trevor’s assistant before that and I thought he was doing a good job. But he fell out with the board of directors. Why? I don’t know. And really I didn’t want to know. I couldn’t see what Trevor had done wrong. “Anyway, I inherited a great QPR squad that included Ray Wilkins and Kenny Sansom. I had previously worked with those two lads when I was England coach in Bobby Robson’s reign so I knew how to get the best out of them. “Ray and Kenny had been super in playing really first class international football and they were fantastic for Queens Park Rangers too. They became the backbone of my team and we dished up a lovely passing game. “We brought good times for the club and Loftus Road was packed every week. Our crowd were really close to the pitch so there was always an electric atmosphere. The players enjoyed it and showed their skills so everything seemed right. “We finished mid-table in the old First Division in both seasons I was in the hot seat and reached the FA Cup Quarter-Finals in 1990, narrowly losing 1-0 to Liverpool in a replay. I can still visualise the euphoria amongst Rangers supporters when we beat Arsenal during that Cup run. “Then after 18 months, the club decided I had to be replaced and they brought in Gerry Francis as manager. Fine – but they never really gave me an explanation. Well I believe they said ‘We think you are a little bit old Don.’ So that was as good an excuse as anything else! But I said ‘Why don’t you let me go and tell me I’m too young!" RIP Don. Read more at http://www.qpr.co.uk/news/article/don-howe-qpr-england-rip-2866945.aspx#r1R8koGmz2ldQAbM.99
I always thought he was treated disgracefully by QPR when they sacked him. Thought he laid the foundations of our great early 90s side. RIP Don, the polar opposite of ****house chancers like Redknapp.
Only heard on the way home from work and listening to Bobby Gould, who sounded so upset. Seems one of the good guys......RIP Don !!
The manager when I started supporting the R's (think he took over just days after Trevor Francis oversaw the 3-2 win against Liverpool). One of the best coaches England has produced. please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Roy Hodgson said: "I found myself privileged to say he befriended me and I think it is a great loss and I am very sad. "I think we were very fortunate growing up as young coaches to be able to take inspiration from Don, Sir Bobby Robson and Dave Sexton alongside him. "He was absolutely one of the very best coaches I have ever come across in my life and, certainly in my opinion, one of the very best coaches England ever had." We've had some great managers at our club. RIP
One of the great coaches respected across the leagues. Always sad to hear the greats departing us. RIP.
ANDY SINTON PAYS TRIBUTE TO DON HOWE www.qpr.co.uk. “Where do I start in terms of why? “Well, he ate, slept and breathed the game and as a result, I knew I was learning from someone who cared about football as much as I did. “I always remember him saying to the squad one day ‘once you’re 35, you can do as much as you want’ and that really hit the spot with me. “It was his way of saying, ‘give everything in your career, don’t let anything affect your career – and you’ll reap the rewards after you’ve finished playing.’” Sinton added: “Don was so far ahead of his time as a coach. “He was one of the first, if not the first, to bring in a Sports Psychologist, which was pretty much unheard of in those days. “His coaching methods were very inventive. He was structured and organised. “Some would accuse him of being too cautious as a coach, but he was anything but – he allowed players to express themselves in the attacking third of the pitch and really got the best out of players.” Sinton looks back at his time under Howe with great affection, commenting: “He gave me real freedom to play. “We played with a sweeper at times and that would allow the front players to be fluid, which he demanded. “It was no coincidence when England played with a sweeper a couple of times in Italia 90, because Don was a big believer in the system. “He would also tell me how much he believed in me as a player – and he would say the same to the likes of Bards (Davids Bardsley) and many other during that era. “He was an inspirational guy and someone I loved working with.” In paying tribute to Howe, Sinton concluded: “Don came across with a stern exterior, but he was actually a really funny guy. “He just loved football – and the world of football is a sadder place without him here.” Read more at http://www.qpr.co.uk/news/article/don-howe-qpr-andy-sinton-2867384.aspx#vDJO7Ovep8xI0dq7.99
RIP Don Howe and Jimmy Hill Good interview of the pair of them together after Wimbledon's FA Cup win:- Howe later joined Wimbledon as assistant to Bobby Gould in 1987, and helped them win the FA Cup with a shock win over Liverpool in 1988. His coaching expertise earned him a great deal of credit for Wimbledon's cup triumph.[5] Howe then left Wimbledon to manage QPR between November 1989 and May 1991, with Gould briefly assisting him in the first half of the 1990–91 season. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Howe
I wasn't around when he was an active coach but when I was at primary school he lived down the road from the school next door to a friend of mine. Didn't have a clue who he was at the time apart from being told he was once a football manager but he was always happy to throw the ball back when it went over the fence and for that, RIP.
