It has been announced that former Coventry City manager John Sillett, who guided the club to FA Cup victory in 1987, has died. He managed the Sky Blues between 1986-90 and was at the helm when the club beat Tottenham 3-2 in the final at Wembley for their first major trophy.

As a full-back, he began his career as a player at Chelsea and made more than 100 appearances for the club, winning the First Division title in 1954-55, before playing for Coventry and Plymouth Argyle.

 

A statement from Sillett's family said: "Obviously the family are really saddened by dad's passing but we are all so proud of him and what he achieved.

"His ability to spot things tactically, change them during a game and enhance the abilities of players was top class, the respect he had from top people in the game and the kind words we have already received already underline the high regard in which he was held by the football world."

Southampton-born Sillett became Jimmy Hill's first signing at Coventry in 1962 for £3,000, making 128 appearances for the Sky Blues and being part of the team that won promotion to Division Two in 1962-63. He left Coventry three years later for Plymouth, where he ended his playing career, before being appointed a youth coach at Bristol City, then moving into management with Hereford in 1974, where he won the Third Division title, and returned to the club in 1991-2 after his time at Coventry came to an end.

He was 85.