CityFormer York City manager Alan Little has died at the age of 69, the club announced.
As a player, Little made over 400 appearances for Aston Villa, Southend, Barnsley, Doncaster, Torquay, Halifax and Hartlepool before retiring in 1986.
He then moved to Hartlepool as a manager before joining York City as assistant manager to John Bird, becoming the club’s first team manager in 1993.
National League club York City said its condolences were with Little’s family and friends at “this sad time”.
In a tribute to his life as a footballer, the club said that in his first year as manager, he led the club into the play-offs in fourth place in the 1992/93 season.
They beat Bury before winning on penalties against Crewe at Wembley in May 1993.
During his tenure, Little gave fans League Cup victories against Manchester United in 1995 and Everton the following year.
After leaving the club in 1999, he held managerial positions at Southend United and Halifax Town between 1999 and 2002.
Alan was the brother of Brian Little, a former Premier League manager at Aston Villa and Leicester City.
Tribute to X, former Aston Villa player Stan Collymore said: Sending all my love and condolences to @brianlittle912 and family upon the news of Alan Little’s passing.
“I am sure everyone at our club, all the fans and the Villa family feel the same.
“Rest in peace, Alan, and boss, we’re thinking of you.”
“Hard as nails”
Former York City striker Iain Dunn was coached by Little before becoming manager of the club.
Speaking to BBC Radio York Sport, Mr Dunn said: “Alan Little will go down in York City legend.
“He achieved a lot as a coach, but some of the highlights he experienced when he became manager are ones we will never forget.”
He added that he was not only a great sports personality, but also “a really good person” and a “nice guy who always had time for you”.
“I hadn’t spoken to Alan for years and contacted him a couple of years ago to talk to him about returning to York and joining the club. He didn’t think twice,” said Dunn.
Regarding his work as a football coach, the former striker said Alan was “very honest and didn’t mince his words”.
“When you were training football with him, you didn’t try to tackle him,” he said.
“The expression ‘tough as nails’ was coined for Alan Little because he never pulled out of a tackle, and that was in training after he had retired from playing!”
With York City kicking off their football season against Southend United on Saturday, Mr Dunn believes Little’s achievements would be recognised by both clubs.
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