A memorial match, honouring the late Welsh footballer Gary Speed, will be played between Wales and Costa Rica on Friday, at 7:45 p.m. GMT at the Cardiff City Stadium.
Speed, a former manager of the Welsh national team, committed suicide on 27 November, reportedly as a result of personal problems.
Born on 8 September, 1969, Speed started his career with Leeds United, at the age of 15. He played in the club's youth team for 4 years and was promoted to their senior side in 1988.
In a career that spanned more than 20 years, Speed (who played as a midfielder) turned out for five clubs - Leeds United (1988-1996), Everton (1996-1998), Newcastle United (1998-2004), Bolton Wanderers (2004-2008) and Sheffield United (2008-2010). He also represented his country from 1990 to 2004.
After his retirement, Speed was appointed manager of Sheffield United in 2010 and shortly after was asked to take the reigns of the Welsh national team.
Speed was named in the Professional Footballers' Association's (PFA) Team of the Year in 1993 and was made a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 2010.
Check out these photos showing the highlights of Gary Speed's career
An airborne Gary Speed scores Leeds United's first goal against Everton during a Third Round, Rumbelows League Cup game at Goodison Park , Date: 04/12/1991.Press AssociationGARY SPEED, WALES, SCORES THE WINNING GOAL AGAINST MOLDOVA, Date: 06/09/1995.Press AssociationEverton's Gary Speed heads the only goal of the game to secure three points during their Premiership match against Spurs at Goodison Park, Date: 12/04/1997.Press AssociationSoccer - Euro 2000 Qualifier - Group 1 - Denmark v Wales: Wales's Gary Speed celebrates at the end of the match, date: 10/10/1998.Press AssociationNewcastle United's Duncan Ferguson kisses team mates Gary Speed after scoring his frist goal for Newcastle during this afternoon's Saturday November 28, 1998, FA Carling Premiership clash at St. James's Park.Press AssociationChelsea's Ivory Coast forward Didier Drogba, left, competes with Bolton's Gary Speed during an English Premiership soccer match at Stamford Bridge, London, Saturday , Oct 15, 2005. Chelsea won the match 5-1.Press AssociationNewcastle United's Gary Speed scores the first goal despite pressure from Charlton Athletic's Luke Young, Date: 20/04/2002.Press AssociationIn this Oct. 16, 2002 file photo, Italy's Massimo Maccarone, right, tussles with Gary Speed of Wales, during their Euro 2004 Group 9 qualifying soccer match at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.Press AssociationNewcastle United's Gary Speed scores his teams second goal past PSV Eindhoven goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus, Date: 14/04/2004.Press AssociationBolton Wanderers' Gary Speed scores a goal passed Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar, Date: 31/12/2005.Press AssociationBolton Wanderers' Gary Speed scores his team's third goal with overhead kick, during their 4-1 victory over West Ham United during the Barclays Premiership match at the Reebok Stadium, Bolton, Saturday March 11, 2006.Press AssociationBolton Wanderers' Gary Speed scores a goal passed Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar, Date: 17/03/2007.Press AssociationSheffield United's Gary Speed (far right) scores his sides second goal during the Coca-Cola Football Championship match at The Valley, London. Picture date: Saturday November 22, 2008.Press AssociationWales' Manager Gary Speed thanks his players Darcy Blake, Aaron Ramsey and Joe Leadley following their 2-1 win during the European Championship Qualifying match at the Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Date: 02/09/2011.Press AssociationWales' manager Gary Speed gestures from the touchline, Date: 10/08/2011.Press Association
