Glenn Roeder 'a football man and a people person' who 'made my dreams come true at West Ham' - Anton Ferdinand's tribute to late manager

The ex-defender has joined the chorus of tributes that have been paid to Roeder following the sad news of his passing at the age of just 65.

The League Managers Association announced Roeder's death on Sunday, with the ex-West Ham and Newcastle boss passing away after a long battle with a brain tumour.

Roeder, a former ball-playing centre-back, began his playing career as a youth player at Arsenal, before moving on to Leyton Orient, Queens Park Rangers and Newcastle.

He ended his playing career at Gillingham and then had his first managerial role as player-manager of the club, before spells at Watford, West Ham, Newcastle and Norwich.

But it was at West Ham where his health issues first emerged, having led the Hammers to a seventh-place finish in the Premier League in 2002 before he was diagnosed with a brain tumour in April 2003.

Whilst managing the Hammers in the 2002/03 season, Roeder was temporarily replaced by Sir Trevor Brooking after collapsing following complaints of chest pains.

Scans revealed he had suffered a blocked blood vessel in his brain, which resulted in a stroke.

He had to have surgery and a period of recovery before returning to the dugout in July the same year, and went on to enjoy spells at St James' Park and Carrow Road, but did not take another job after leaving Norwich in 2009.

Much has been said about Roeder's gentlemanly character as tributes have flooded in from former teammates, opponents, players and colleagues.

And Ferdinand joined Monday's talkSPORT Breakfas t to add his own tribute to his former manager, saying Roeder made his dreams come true at Upton Park.

"The tributes coming out are all saying the same thing, and it shows what a genuinely great man he was," began the former defender, who says Roeder had a huge impact on his career and life outside of football.

"For me personally, he gave me my debut at West Ham and allowed me to live out my dream of playing for the club I supported.

"And not just that, but the valuable advice he gave me, the valuable lessons he taught me, I kept with me throughout my career and now I use in my job as a mentor.

"I've also seen a lot of players who were in my youth team have posted their condolences; people who didn't make it as footballers and who were nowhere near the first team at that time, but the gaffer spoke to everybody in the same way.

"The effect he had on the people around him, even those young players, as a human being that's what you want to be known for.

"I made my debut against Preston away, and it was my fault for their first goal, but at half-time he put his arm around me and said, 'Anton, the best players make mistakes, you're going to go on an have a great career, all you have to do is make sure you play well in the second-half', and he just gave me that confidence.

We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of our former manager Glenn Roeder at the age of 65. The thoughts of everyone at the Club are with Glenn's family and friends.

Rest in peace, Glenn ⚒❤️ pic.twitter.com/hmlnzYkWtI

— West Ham United (@WestHam) February 28, 2021

"Making a mistake like that in your first game can be really damaging to a player's confidence, but he gave me the belief in myself again and gave me the platform to have the career I had.

"He was someone who loved the game, he was a real football man, but he was a people person too, he cared about people's feelings.

"He was someone who wanted other people to do well and be okay, and that really shone through in his personality.

"As a manager he didn't have a great time at West Ham; they got relegated when he was in charge and then he had the first horrific dealing with a brain tumour.

"But the fans will look at him and know he was a good man in terms of us speaking about him. I don't know a player who doesn't speak highly of him and that's what would have mattered to him more than anything."

Anton Ferninand says former West Ham manager Glenn Roeder will be remembered as a gentleman, who cared as much about his players as people as their performances and results on the pitch.