Spain Former Nottingham Forest and England striker Trevor Francis - the first player to earn a million-dollar transfer fee - has died aged 69 after suffering a heart attack.
"Francis suffered a heart attack and died at his apartment in Marbella, Spain this morning," the family said in a statement on ITV on July 24. "This is a huge shock to everyone. Francis was a football legend and a kind man."
Francis began his career in Birmingham City's youth team and was promoted to the first team between 1970 and 1979. In 1979, he became the first English player to cost £1 million ($1.68 million) when he moved from Birmingham City to Nottingham Forest. At the time, Nottingham manager Brian Clough said the fee was £999,999. He later revealed the actual transfer fee was £1.15 million, wanting to ease the pressure on Francis. More than four decades after Francis broke the £1 million mark, the transfer record for an English player increased 100-fold when Arsenal spent £100 million plus £5 million in add-ons to sign Declan Rice from West Ham this summer.
Playing for Nottingham Forest, Francis scored 37 goals in 93 games, helping the club win two consecutive European Cups in 1979 and 1980, as well as the European Super Cup in 1979.
Francis lifts the European Cup - the precursor to the Champions League - in a Nottingham Forest shirt in 1979. Photo: nottinghamforest.co.uk
In 1981, he joined Man City for £1.2 million and then played for Sampdoria, Atalanta, Rangers, QPR, Wollongong City, and retired with Sheffield Wednesday in 1994. Francis was a player-coach at QPR, Sheffield Wednesday, and then led Birmingham City and Crystal Palace.
For England, Francis scored 12 goals in 52 matches between 1977 and 1986, including two at the 1982 World Cup.
Legend Gary Lineker was among the first to pay tribute to Francis. "Deeply saddened to hear of Francis' passing," Lineker wrote on Twitter . "A great footballer and a lovely man. It was an honour to work with Francis both on and off the pitch."
Viv Anderson, the first black player to represent England, wrote on Instagram: "Just heard the unbelievable news about Francis. He was a great person and a great team-mate who will be missed. My deepest condolences to his family and friends."
Francis' talent at his peak.
Close friend and ITV sports presenter Gary Newbon said Francis had been in good health since having a stent fitted for a heart attack 12 years ago. The England international walked every day and barely drank alcohol, so Newbon was shocked by the news of his friend's death.
The official England Twitter account also paid tribute to Francis, posting his international statistics. Francis' former clubs - Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest - also sent their condolences to the former striker's family.
Off the pitch, Francis married Helen in 1974 and had two children. In his autobiography "One In A Million", the former England striker said life was difficult after Helen's death in 2017 and he had to seek help from a psychologist.
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