London (AFP) — West Ham’s legendary former captain and manager Billy Bonds has died aged 79, the Premier League club announced on Sunday.

Bonds is West Ham’s longest-serving player after making 799 appearances across a 21-year career with the east Londoners.

He lifted the FA Cup twice in 1975 and 1980, also reaching the 1976 European Cup Winners’ Cup final, as well as winning the old Second Division with the Hammers.

After moving into coaching, initially with the West Ham youth team, Bonds was appointed manager in February 1990.

He secured promotion from the Second Division in 1991 and, after relegation from the top flight in 1992, he led the club to promotion again a year later.

“We are heartbroken to announce that we lost our beloved Dad today. He was devoted to his family and was t

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