Sadly, through injury not lack of endeavour or effort, Bell was only a shadow of his former greatness as the power and athleticism was reduced, but nothing could ever dim the devotion or admiration City’s fans felt to the man who had brought them so much joy.
Bell had a short spell in the United States playing for San Jose Earthquakes, but the injury he suffered in 1975 deprived him of so many more peak years.
He was also a key part of England’s set-up under Sir Alf Ramsey and Don Revie. Bell won 48 caps and was part of the 1970 World Cup squad in Mexico, playing an unwitting role in one of the most infamous substitutions of the time.
He was sent on as a replacement for the tiring Bobby Charlton with England leading 2-1 against West Germany in the quarter-final in Leon.
At the time, it seemed to make sense to rest the older player and replace him with the man regarded as the fittest player in the squad in such searing heat, but it backfired as West Germany turned that deficit into a 3-2 win to dethrone the reigning world champions.
England were betrayed in other areas and Bell was blameless, but fingers were still pointed at Ramsey for making the change.
Bell was part of England’s team that failed to qualify for the 1974 World Cup and that injury deprived him of any further chances to reach the showpiece.
He later returned to his spiritual home of Manchester City to work with the club’s young players, then as a club ambassador, and enjoyed glorious successes as the Premier League and the big domestic trophies returned under their Abu Dhabi-based owners.
The sign of the esteem in which Bell was regarded was confirmed in 2004 when Manchester City’s fans voted to name one of the stands at Etihad Stadium in his honour.
There have been many greats at Manchester City, in the past and in the present, but Bell is the player those supporters will always call “the King”.