FORMER Blackburn Rovers manager Howard Kendall has been described as a ‘good man who lived life to the full’ after his sudden death aged 69.

Mr Kendall, who managed the club for two seasons and almost achieved consecutive promotions, died on Saturday morning after suffering a heart attack.

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Ex-players and team-mates said he was a great manager, on and off the pitch.

Rovers record appearance holder Derek Fazackerley said: “He was a good man who lived life to the full. He was an excellent manager and coach.

“Not only was the football good, but we had a great time off the field as well, socially.”

Rovers cult hero Glen Keeley said: “For me as a player he was the manager I had been looking for all my life.

“He was tactically astute and very brave with his decisions.

“I always thought he would have made a great England manager. “

Tony Parkes, the legendary Rovers player, coach and caretaker manager, who played alongside Mr Kendall in midfield for the Ewood outfit, said: “He was a good guy.

“You can’t have a love for your manager but you certainly can have a desire to win for them and that’s what the players had.

“I just feel sorry for his wife and family.”

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Simon Garner, Rovers’ all-time record goalscorer, who was nearly sold by Kendall to Halifax Town, tweeted: “Howard Kendall was a breath of fresh air for Rovers. Promotion, great with players, always having a laugh — though he did try to sell me to Halifax!”

A Blackburn Rovers spokesman said: “We would like to offer our sincerest condolences to Howard’s family and friends at this sad time.”

Appointed the club’s player-manager after leaving Stoke City in 1979 Mr Kendall achieved promotion from the Third Division in his first season.

The following year the club missed out on promotion to the First Division to Swansea City only by the narrowest margin of goal difference.

At the end of the 1981 season Mr Kendall, who was regarded as one of the best players never to have won a full England cap, left Rovers to join his beloved Everton and went on to win two First Division titles, an FA Cup and a European Cup Winners’ Cup. He also managed Manchester City, Notts County and Sheffield United.

Mr Kendall played for Preston North End, Everton, Birmingham, Stoke and Rovers.

He died in hospital in Southport surrounded by his family.