A 3-0 defeat wasn’t the way Wales fans wanted to see Gary Speed start his reign as manager, take a look at who was named in Speed’s first ever Wales XI.
After succeeding John Toshack as Wales manager, Speed’s first test as Red Dragons boss was against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in the less memorable Carling Nations Cup.
In the February fixture at the Aviva Stadium, the Boys in Green came out 3-0 winners, with Darron Gibson, Damien Duff and Keith Fahey on the score-sheet, in what was a difficult start to Speed’s tenure.
However, in the following months, Speed took his side from 117th in the FIFA World Rankings to the top 50, before the tragic passing of the Wales manager.
Speed remains highly regarded by Wales fans and the wider football world for his huge contributions to the national team, both as a player and manager and undoubtedly played his part in Wales’ rise to a European Championship semi-final.
We take a look back at Gary Speed’s first XI as Wales manager, and where the squad is now.
Embed from Getty ImagesWayne Hennessey
Taking the goalkeeper’s spot in Gary Speed’s first Wales XI was Wayne Hennessey.
The North-Wales born shot-stopper has since established himself as Wales’ first-choice ‘keeper, and is third in the National Team’s all-time appearance list with 89 caps, behind fellow goalkeeper Neville Southall and Chris Gunter.
Hennessey was one of many star performers at 2016’s European Championship, and replicated his remarkable international form in the 2019 qualifying campaign, notably making a brilliant series of saves against Hungary.
At club level, the loss to the Republic of Ireland was during Hennessey’s time at Wolverhampton Wanderers, but the goalkeeper is now in his sixth season at Premier League club Crystal Palace.
Embed from Getty ImagesNeal Eardley
Neal Eardley was a part of Blackpool’s Premier League side under Ian Holloway when Wales made the trip to Dublin.
The defender was faced with the difficult task of marking former Chelsea winger Damien Duff, who was at Premier League side Fulham at the time.
Eardley left Blackpool for Birmingham City, but found game time hard to come by at St. Andrews.
What followed for Eardley were brief spells at Hibernian and Northampton Town, before the Llandudno-born defender settled at Lincoln City, where he has made over 100 appearances.
Embed from Getty ImagesDanny Collins
Danny Collins started in Gary Speed’s first XI as Wales manager in what turned out to be his final year of international football.
The centre-back was plying his trade for Stoke City, who were in their third year in the Premier League, after gaining promotion in 2008.
Collins went on to have spells at Nottingham Forest and Rotherham United, before making over 100 appearances for his final club, Grimsby Town.
Danny Collins is now retired, having earned 12 caps for Wales.
Embed from Getty ImagesJames Collins
Also playing centre-back in the loss to the Republic of Ireland was James Collins.
The defender was also playing in England’s top flight, regularly featuring for Aston Villa.
Newport-born Collins went on to spend six seasons at West Ham United, before a brief spell at Ipswich Town.
Collins had a good career at international level, as well as his club career, making 51 caps, as well as playing his part in Wales’ Euro 2016 campaign.
The defender is currently without a club, having been released by Ipswich Town at the end of last season.
Embed from Getty ImagesSam Ricketts
Another who had a good career at international level, Sam Ricketts went on to make 52 caps for his country.
The defender was playing for Bolton Wanderers during the February 2011 fixture, for whom he made 96 league appearances.
Ricketts signed for Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2013, where he spent two seasons, before signing for his final club, Coventry City.
The Aylesbury-born defender is now the manager of Shrewsbury Town in League One, after he left Wrexham to join the Shrews in 2018.
Embed from Getty ImagesAndrew Crofts
Operating in a midfield-trio, Andrew Crofts was given a start by Gary Speed in his first game as the Dragons’ boss.
Crofts was in his first season at Norwich City at the time, having signed for the Canaries in May 2010.
Norwich were promoted to the Premier League in Crofts’ first season at the club, before the midfielder fell out of favour and re-joined Brighton, where he spent the following four seasons.
Crofts had recently had brief spells at Scunthorpe United, Newport County and Yeovil Town, before returning to Brighton as a player-coach of the U23’s.
Embed from Getty ImagesDavid Vaughan
Alongside Andrew Crofts in midfield was the industrious David Vaughan.
Perhaps underrated for his contributions at international level, Vaughan made 42 appearances for his country during is career, scoring once.
The midfielder’s experience would have been invaluable at Euro 2016, despite being an unused substitute throughout the tournament.
At club level, Vaughan featured in the same Blackpool side as Neil Eardley, before making the move to Sunderland in 2011.
Most recently, the midfielder featured for Notts County, after leaving Nottingham Forest, but left the former at the end of last season.
Embed from Getty ImagesAndy King
Another loyal servant to Wales’ midfield is Andy King.
King has 50 caps for his country, and played his part in the national team’s success under Chris Coleman, reaching the semi-final of Euro 2016.
The midfielder under contract at Leicester City, having joined the Foxes in 2005, despite recently having loan spells at Swansea City, Derby County, Rangers and Huddersfield Town.
King is currently on loan with the Championship side Huddersfield.
Embed from Getty ImagesHal Robson-Kanu
Hal Robson-Kanu is another who has gone on to have a glittering international career and was a key part in the Euro 2016 squad.
Robson-Kanu scored the winner in the opening game against Slovakia, before making the headlines for his sublime goal against Belgium in the quarter-final.
The versatile attacker has since retired from international football, but came out of retirement and made himself available to Ryan Giggs for selection.
Robson-Kanu has been in fine form this season for Championship high-flyers West Bromwich Albion, with his goals tally reaching double figures.
Embed from Getty ImagesSimon Church
Church was in his fourth season at Reading during Speed’s first game as Wales manager.
The striker has since played a part for the national team, featuring in a Euro 2016 squad that will go down in the nation’s history.
After leaving Reading in 2013, what followed was a two-year stint at Charlton Athletic, before brief spells at MK Dons, Roda JC, Scunthorpe United and Plymouth Argyle, along with a loan spell at Aberdeen.
Church’s playing career was cruelly brought to a halt in May 2018, after a hip injury sustained at Plymouth Argyle.
Embed from Getty ImagesRobert Earnshaw
Alongside Hal Robson-Kanu and Simon Church in attack was Robert Earnshaw.
The striker was in his final season at Nottingham Forest when Wales made the trip to face the Republic of Ireland.
Earnshaw scored 35 times for Forest in 98 appearances, before returning to Cardiff City.
A series of short spells at clubs followed, with Earnshaw featuring for the likes of Maccabi Tel Aviv, Toronto FC, Blackpool, Chicago Fire and Vancouver Whitecaps.
Earnshaw is now retired and is beginning his career in coaching.
Substitutes:
Embed from Getty ImagesChris Gunter
The first substitute in Gary Speed’s first squad, Chris Gunter has gone on to have a remarkable international career.
The right-back played a huge part ar Euro 2016, memorably crossing for Sam Vokes to head home in the quarter-final against Belgium.
Gunter is now Wales’ all-time leading appearance-maker, with 96 caps to his name, breaking Neville Southall’s record in a loss to Albania last year.
The Newport-born defender joined Reading in 2012 and is still with the club, who now play in the Championship.
Embed from Getty ImagesLewin Nyatanga
Another defensive option on Speed’s bench was Lewin Nyatanga.
The Nations Cup loss to the Republic of Ireland turned out to be Nyatanga’s final appearance for Wales, making a total of 34 caps.
At club level, Nyatanga played most of his careers appearances for Bristol City and Barnsley, but most recently featured for Northampton Town.
In February 2018, it was reported that Nyatanga had retired from football to focus on family life and is now a personal trainer.
Joe Ledley
In similar vein to the likes of Wayne Hennessey, Chris Gunter and Hal Robson-Kanu, Joe Ledley went on to star at Euro 2016.
Ledley did a fantastic job throughout the tournament of partnering Joe Allen in midfield and protecting the back four.
The midfielder has 77 international caps to his name, along with successful spells with Cardiff City and Celtic at club level.
Ledley spent three seasons at Crystal Palace, before a two-year stint at Derby County and a short spell at Charlton Athletic.
The Cardiff-born midfielder is currently contracted to Newcastle Jets in the A-League.
Embed from Getty ImagesFreddy Eastwood
The penultimate selection in Gary Speed’s first Wales selection was Freddy Eastwood.
The striker was at Coventry City at the time, but also featured for the likes of Wolverhampton Wanderers and Southend United.
Eastwood came on in the loss to the Republic of Ireland, in what turned out to be his last appearance for Wales.
Freddy Eastwood left his final club, Southend United, in 2014 and was described in a club statement as a “Southend legend”.
Embed from Getty ImagesJermaine Easter
The final player in Speed’s selection was Jermaine Easter, who was plying his trade for MK Dons.
The striker went on to make 12 caps for his country between 2007 and 2014.
Easter played for twelve different clubs during his career, making most of his appearances for Wycombe Wanderers, MK Dons, Crystal Palace and Bristol Rovers.
In August 2017, Easter announced his retirement from playing, following his release by Bristol Rovers.
(Featured Image: Biser Todorov)
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