LONDON, Nov 30 (Reuters) - Billy Bonds, West Ham United's all-time record appearance-maker and a key figure in the club's history as a player and manager, has died at the age of 79, his family said on Sunday.
Bonds played 799 times for West Ham during a 21-year spell between 1967-88, captaining the East London side to FA Cup victories in 1975 and 1980.
He managed the team from 1990 to 1994, twice leading them to promotion to England's top division.
"We are heartbroken to announce that we lost our beloved Dad today. He was devoted to his family and was the most kind, loyal, selfless, and loving person," the Bonds family said in a statement on West Ham's website.
"Dad loved West Ham United and its wonderful supporters with all his heart and treasured every moment of his time at the Club."
West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen told Sky Sports before Sunday's Premier League home game against Liverpool that Bonds was "probably going to go down as West Ham's biggest legend (and) the best club captain that they have had as well".
Both sets of players and fans had a period of applause before kickoff, with Bowen placing a West Ham shirt with "Bonds 4" on the back at the side of the pitch.
Boss Nuno Espirito Santo said the atmosphere at the London Stadium may have been affected by the news of Bonds' death, after West Ham lost 2-0 to end a three-game unbeaten streak.
"I don't quite believe that (it) affected the team, but affected the mood, the general mood, we felt it," he said.
"We wanted to do other things that can honour the memory of Billy Bonds in a better way, but unfortunately it was not to be."
(Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru and Sam Tobin in London; editing by Ed Osmond and Toby Davis)
