Former Crystal Palace goalkeeper Kevin Miller has died at the age of 57. The news was confirmed on Tuesday, with tributes paid by the clubs he served as a player and a coach.
Miller joined Crystal Palace in 1997 for a fee of £1.5 million. He made 38 Premier League appearances for the Eagles, serving as first-choice goalkeeper during their relegation season in 1998, when the team finished 14th in Division One. His professional career spanned over 18 years and 738 appearances across several clubs.
He began his career at Exeter City in 1989, playing a key role in their fourth division championship-winning team that season. Miller made over 250 appearances for the Grecians across two spells, later returning as goalkeeping coach in December 2022. He also played for Watford from 1994 to 1997, where he was named player of the season twice, and had a spell with Barnsley. At the time of his passing, he was working as the goalkeeping coach for Wigan Athletic.
Tributes from clubs
Exeter City Football Club led the tributes, describing Miller as a club legend. "We are deeply saddened to hear of the sudden passing of club legend Kevin Miller at the age of 57," the club said. Wigan Athletic also paid their respects, stating: "Although Kevin's time with Latics was far too short, he quickly became a much-loved and respected member of our first team staff."
Miller's death comes as the current Crystal Palace side prepares for a challenging fixture away to third-placed Leeds this weekend. The Eagles sit 16th in the Premier League standings with three points from their opening four matches, a record of one win and three losses. Their recent form has been mixed, with three wins and two defeats in their last five outings, including a 4-0 victory over Lech Poznan last Thursday.
He is survived by his wife and children. The funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.
The report in full is at BBC Sport Football
