Former England star Trevor Francis – Britain’s first £1m football player – has died aged 69.
The striker, who rose through the youth ranks at Birmingham City, signed for Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest in 1979 for a then record £1,150,000.
He was instrumental in helping Brian Clough’s side to win the European Cup in Munich later that year, scoring the winning goal against Swedish side Malmo.
Close friend and former TV presenter Gary Newbon said in a statement: “Trevor Francis has died at the age of 69.
“He had a heart attack at his apartment in Spain this morning.
“On behalf of the family, this has come as a huge shock to everybody. We are all very upset.
“He was a legendary footballer, but he was also an extremely nice person.”
Up to 10,000 Britons on wildfire-hit Rhodes – as flights rescue stranded tourists
British tourist escapes ‘scene from Dante’s inferno’ as helicopter dowses path through Rhodes wildfire
BBC newsreader George Alagiah has died
Francis, who was born in Plymouth, Devon, in 1954 and signed for Birmingham City as a schoolboy.
A skilful and athletic striker, he impressed in the youth ranks at Birmingham, before making his debut with the first team, aged 16.
