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Don Howe, one of English football’s best ever coaches, has died at the age of 80.

Former England international Howe, who won 23 caps and played in the 1958 World Cup, was regarded as a great tactical innovator and he worked with Sir Bobby Robson at Italia 90 and also assisted Terry Venables during Euro 96.

Howe was Bertie Mee’s No2 during Arsenal’s 1971 Double success and later went on to manage the Gunners during the 1980s.

He later returned to Arsenal as a youth coach and helped bring through the likes of David Rocastle and Martin Keown.

Ex-West Brom boss Howe also enjoyed a remarkable swan song as former Wimbledon manager Bobby Gould’s assistant in one of the biggest FA Cup upsets of all time as they beat mighty Liverpool in the 1988 final.

Gould has described Howe as the “greatest coach of all time” and his death after a long illness has brought a host of tributes.

Arsenal chairman Sir Chips Keswick said: “Don possessed a marvellous ability to get the very best out of players with his coaching techniques and provide them with the perfect preparation for matches.

"He was the very best at what he did - and he did it with us, at Arsenal, for decade after decade.

“He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew him and his name will live on in the history books as one of the most influential footballing figures in the history of the club.”

Along with his time at Arsenal, Howe managed Queens Park Rangers, Coventry City and Galatasaray.

FA chairman Greg Dyke said: “He is widely regarded as being in the vanguard of coaching in England, and I know that his loss will be keenly felt amongst the coaching fraternity in particular and not least by [current England boss] Roy Hodgson, who was close to Don.”

Former England striker Gary Lineker, who played under him at Italia 90, said: “It was a privilege to have known and been trained by him. A great coach and a lovely man.”