Macclesfield Town manager Keith Alexander collapses and dies
Macclesfield Town manager Keith Alexander collapses and dies at age of 53 just hours after match against Notts County
Wednesday, 03, Mar 2010 02:31
By Matthew Champion.
Tributes have poured in for Macclesfield Town manager Keith Alexander after he collapsed and died last night aged 53, just hours after his team played Notts Country.
Silkmen chairman Mike Rance said everyone at the League Two club was "absolutely devastated" over Alexander's death.
The former Lincoln and Peterborough manager, who suffered a brain aneurysm in 2003, arrived home after his side's 1-0 loss at Notts Country last night where he collapsed and died.
"I spoke to Keith last night at about 23:15 GMT 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," Rance told the club's website.
"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."
Also paying tribute, Steff Wright, chairman of Lincoln City, said: "Over and above being the absolute professional in everything he did, Keith was one of the nicest guys you could ever wish to meet. It goes without saying that our thoughts are with Helen and the family at this extremely difficult time."
With Alexander's death the Football League has lost one of its two black managers, with MK Dons boss Paul Ince now the only black manager working at England's top 92 clubs.