Man City greats pay tribute to title-winner Tony Book after his death aged 90

Mike Summerbee has paid tribute to “one of the best defenders” in Manchester City’s history – and George Best’s “most difficult opponent” – following the death of former captain and manager Tony Book.

The Premier League club announced on Tuesday that Book, skipper for four major trophy successes in the late 1960s and early 70s as well as a League Cup-winning boss, had died at the age of 90.

A right-back, Book made 315 appearances for the club and scored five goals after signing from Plymouth at the relatively late age of 32 in 1966.

Affectionately known as ‘Skip’, he led the team to the First Division title in 1968, the FA Cup the following year and both the League Cup and European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1970.

He began a five-year spell as the team’s manager in 1974, of which the highlights were another League Cup triumph in 1976 and a league runners-up finish in 1977.

Summerbee, a team-mate during that golden era, told the club’s website: “I think he was one of the best defenders the club has ever signed – and that’s not being disrespectful to our other great defenders – he was just an exceptional player and a terrific reader of the game.

“He was also a very modest person, and he found it difficult to accept the praise heaped on his shoulders, sometimes because he didn’t think he deserved it.

“I was close friends with George Best, and he always said Tony was his most difficult opponent, which is quite a compliment given George’s talent.

“He was a superb man. Very humble, kind and he will be sadly missed.”

Book began his football career with part-time Bath City, his hometown club, before belatedly moving into the fully-professional ranks, as a 30-year-old, with Second Division Plymouth in 1964.

He later revealed Pilgrims