Manchester City legend Colin Bell dies age 74 from ‘non-Covid related illness’, with club to wear retro No 8 shirts against rivals United tomorrow night in honour of England midfielder who won the title and FA Cup in blue
- Colin Bell has died at the age of 74 following a short, non-Covid related illness
- The Man City legend, dubbed the King of the Kippax, has a stand in his name
- Bell was part of the team to lift the 1970 European Cup Winners’ Cup
- City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak has paid tribute to Bell after his passing
Manchester City legend Colin Bell, the King of the Kippax, has died aged 74.
Bell, regarded as one of the finest players ever to pull on the City shirt, passed away on Tuesday afternoon after a long-term illness.
The midfielder won all three major domestic trophies at Maine Road and was part of the team to lift the 1970 European Cup Winners’ Cup.
Manchester City legend Colin Bell has passed away at the age of 74, the club have confirmed
Bell spent 13 years as a player at Maine Road, winning both the first and second division titles
Pep Guardiola’s squad will pay tribute to Bell at Manchester United on Wednesday night by walking out in retro kits from his era, all adorning the No 8.
Bell remained a regular at the Etihad Stadium in an ambassadorial role on matchdays and charmed supporters with tales of his 13-year stay at the club.
The club named a stand after the 48-cap England international in 2004 after he scored 152 goals in 492 appearances.
‘Colin Bell will always be remembered as one of Manchester City’s greatest players and the very sad news today of his passing will affect everybody connected to our club,’ chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said.
Left: Bell seen in 1972 posing in City’s famous sky blue shirt. Right: Receiving his MBE in 2005
Bell (left), pictured with Francis Lee pose with their Ford Cortina’s, given to them for a year
‘I am fortunate to be able to speak regularly to his former manager and teammates, and it’s clear to me that Colin was a player held in the highest regard by all those who had the privilege of playing alongside him or seeing him play.
‘The passage of time does little to erase the memories of his genius. The fact that we have a stand at the Etihad Stadium named after Colin speaks volumes about the importance of his contribution to this club.’
Bell suffered a cruel knee injury in a derby against United in 1975 and revealed regret last year that he could have gone on to eclipse 100 international appearances.
Starting his career at Bury and ending with San Jose Earthquakes, he was a shy individual who actively removed himself from the limelight.
‘Colin was incredibly humble and a modest and understated man with an obvious inner strength of character,’ Al Mubarak added.
Bell, dubbed the King of the Kippax, seen playing in the 1972 Charity Shield versus Aston Villa
‘He was clearly comfortable with who he was and what he had achieved in the game. For the rest of us, there is always the thought of what might have been if injury had not affected his career.
‘Our club has lost a true great. Everyone’s thoughts and best wishes are with Colin’s family.’
In all competitions Bell made 492 appearances and scored 152 goals for City during his 13-year stay after joining from Bury in 1966.
Aside from City and Bury, Bell also represented San Jose Eathquakes during a brief spell in the American soccer league after leaving English football.