In a statement the club said
It is with huge sadness and the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of former Manchester City captain and manager Tony Book, aged 90.
A true Club legend in every sense of the word, Tony made 315 appearances for City in total between 1966 and 1974, scoring five goals.
He played more than 300 games for City between 1966 and 1974 – the majority as captain – during what was a golden era of achievement, before subsequently becoming manager for five successful years from 1974 to 1979.
He then later became a key figure in City’s youth set-up, helping guide the club to a maiden FA Youth Cup triumph in 1986 with a side featuring several future first team stars.
Born and bred in Bath, having spent of part of his childhood in India where his father served as an officer in the Somerset Light Infantry during the Second World War, Tony and his family returned to England at the end of hostilities.
On completion of his education, Tony became an apprentice bricklayer whilst also playing for local side Peasedown Miners initially as an inside centre forward. Upon being summoned for National Service, Book also played with the Army team where he was converted to the full-back role that would later become his professional calling card.
In 1956, upon completion of his National Service Tony then returned to his bricklaying job and initially furthered his footballing education with Frome Town before joining his hometown team of Bath City.
Despite interest from a number of clubs during his many years at Twerton Park, nothing concrete had ever materialised and as he approached 400 appearances, it seemed Tony was destined to end his career as a non-League footballer.
However, during Malcolm Allison’s time as Bath City manager, Book had impressed the innovative young coach both with his reliability and leadership qualities – not to mention the fact he had continued to be a bricklayer when he wasn’t playing or training for Bath.
He was snapped by City as 32-years-old for just £17,000, though his true age was once more purported to be a couple of years younger in order for the deal to go through and made his debut away to Southampton in August 1966
