Ange’s tribute to Joe Kinnear: “He'll never be forgotten at this football club"

Ange Postecoglou paid tribute to Joe Kinnear after our former defender, a four-time trophy winner, sadly passed away on Sunday.

News broke during our 3-1 win against Forest that the former Spurs and Brighton defender and manager of the likes of Wimbledon, Luton and Newcastle United had passed away peacefully at home.

A strong, aggressive full-back, Joe joined us from St Albans City in 1963, turned professional in 1965, made his debut in 1966 and then won the FA Cup aged just 20 in 1967. He went on to win two League Cups in 1971 and 1973 and the UEFA Cup in 1972 before departing for Brighton having made 258 appearances in all competitions – all after recovering from a broken leg in January, 1969.

Joe led Wimbledon to sixth in the Premier League in 1993/94, and to the semi-finals of both the FA Cup and League Cup - we beat his Dons side in the 1998/99 semi-finals on the way to winning the League Cup in 1999.

Asked about Joe afterwards, Ange said: “He's one of those figures who will always be remembered at this football club for his achievements. A distinguished manager and an outstanding player. A sad loss. Obviously, all our love and support go out to his family and friends. From what I understand... I never got the opportunity to meet him... but everyone speaks very highly of him as a person which is always the barometer around these things. A sad loss, particularly to those closest to him, but he'll never be forgotten at this football club.”