Gudjon Thordarson, ex-Stoke City manager, dies aged 71
The Icelander guided Stoke to promotion via the play-offs in 2002 and later managed Barnsley, Notts County and Crewe Alexandra.
Gudjon Thordarson, the former Stoke City manager who took the club up from the third tier in 2002, has died aged 71, BBC Sport reports.
The broadcaster said Thordarson had been living with Parkinson's in recent years. Its report does not say where or how he died, and it carries no reaction from Stoke or from his family.
From Iceland to the Potters
Thordarson had managed his native Iceland before he became Stoke boss in 1999. He was in the dugout when the club won the EFL Trophy in 2000.
His first two seasons at Stoke ended in consecutive play-off semi-final defeats. Third time lucky came in 2002, when the Potters went up through the play-offs. Thordarson left the club a few days later, according to BBC Sport.
A career beyond Stoke
He went on to manage Barnsley (2003-04), Notts County (2005-06) and Crewe Alexandra (2008-09). The report gives no further detail on his time at any of the three clubs.
