The club confirmed the tragic news on Saturday afternoon, with heartfelt tributes landing across social media
Former Stoke City manager Gudjon Thordarson has died at the age of 71.
A statement from the club read: “We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of the Potters’ 2000 Auto Windscreen Shield and 2001/02 promotion-winning manager, Gudjon Thordarson, aged 71.
“The Icelandic boss, who arrived in the Potteries in 1999 after a successful period in charge of his country’s national team, went on to lead City on more than 150 occasions in three-and-a-half years at the then Britannia Stadium.
“Thordarson’s time in ST4 brought some of the most dramatic, heartbreaking and joyous occasions in the Club’s history, stemming from Wembley success, double play-off semi-final sorrow and two clashes in Cardiff which went down as defining days of the era.
“He had been in charge for just five months when goals from Graham Kavanagh and Peter Thorne secured the Auto Windscreens Shield against Bristol City at a sold-out national stadium with over 75,000 in attendance.
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“A month later, a painful defeat in the play-off semi-final second leg at Gillingham ended dreams of a debut season double. In 2000/01, it was Walsall that put paid to the Potters’ promotion playoff hopes at the semi-final stage.
“Then, despite losing the linchpin duo of Thorne and Kavanagh to rivals Cardiff City that summer, at the third time of asking, Gudjon was not-to-be denied. After going two goals down against Sam Hammam’s Bluebirds at home in the playoff semi-final first leg, Deon Burton’s late strike gave the lads in red and white hope.
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“In the return fixture, played at Cardiff’s inhospitable Ninian Park home, James O’Connor’s late equaliser and a famous inadvertent extra-time winner from Souleymane Oulare took the Potters back to the Welsh capital for a Millennium Stadium match-up with Brentford.
“The Potters eased to a 2-0 triumph, the late Peter Handyside lifted the trophy, and Thordarson’s mark on the history of Stoke City was secure. He enjoyed a further 20 years in the game including spells with Barnsley, Notts County and Crewe Alexandra.
“In 2024, City’s former boss announced that he was living with Parkinson’s disease. The condolences of everyone at the Club go to former Potters Bjarni and Thordur, and all of Gudjon’s family and friends.”
Thordarson enjoyed an illustrious managerial career between 1987 and 2022, mainly managing in his home nation but also enjoying stints with Barnsley, Notts County and Crewe Alexandra in the 2000s. County have also paid tribute to the Akranes-born manager on social media.
They wrote: “We’re saddened to learn of the passing of our former manager, Gudjon Thordarson. Our thoughts are with his loved ones.”
Crewe, meanwhile, said: “Crewe Alexandra is saddened to learn of the death of Gudjon Thordarson, aged 71. Everyone at Crewe Alexandra sends their heartfelt condolences to Gudjon’s family and friends at this sad time.”
Former Stoke captain Clive Clarke also paid tribute to his former manager on BBC Radio Stoke Sport. He said: “Really sad to be fair. Graham Kavanagh rang me last night.
“He had a phone call from one of Gudjon’s sons last night who informed us of the passing. So really sad news and makes you think about some of the times we had together. I played under him for quite a number of years, and if nothing else, he was quite the character.”