Promotion-winning Stoke City boss Gudjon Thordarson dies at 71

Former Stoke City manager Gudjon Thordarson has died at the age of 71 on Friday morning following health problems related to Parkinson's disease, which he was diagnosed with in 2023. Thordarson famously helped organize an Icelandic consortium takeover of Stoke in November 1999 before taking charge as manager, later leading the club to an Auto Windscreens Shield trophy in 2000 and promotion from the third tier in 2002.

Despite guiding Stoke to promotion with a playoff final victory over Brentford, Thordarson was dismissed days later due to a fractured relationship with the board. Throughout his extensive coaching career, he also managed Barnsley, Notts County, Crewe, and teams in Iceland, mentoring future managers including Alex Neil, Steven Schumacher, and current Iceland boss Arnar Gunnlaugsson.