Guðjón Þórðarson, the former Stoke City manager who helped guide the club to promotion in 2002, has died aged 71.
Thordarson became Stoke boss in 1999 and oversaw a memorable spell at the club, including victory in the EFL Trophy in 2000. After consecutive play-off semi-final defeats in his first two seasons, Stoke went up through the play-offs in 2002, although Thordarson departed a few days later.
Career across English football
Thordarson also had spells in charge of Barnsley in 2003-04, Notts County in 2005-06 and Crewe Alexandra in 2008-09. In all, he managed three other English clubs after his time at Stoke City.
In recent years, Thordarson had been living with Parkinson's. His death closes the career of a manager remembered most clearly for the success he delivered at Stoke City, where the promotion campaign of 2002 and the EFL Trophy win two years earlier remain the defining moments of his time in English football.
