England and Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham has paid tribute to “trailblazer” Trevor Francis following his dying on the age of 69.
Bellingham, who spent his adolescence at Birmingham the place Francis additionally made his title as a teen, thanked him for the steerage he had supplied.
In a submit on his official Twitter account, the 20-year-old mentioned: “A really unhappy day for @BCFC and all of soccer. Beyond legendary, a trailblazer, an important and an icon of the sport.
A really unhappy day for @BCFC and all of soccer. Beyond legendary, a trailblazer, an important and an icon of the sport. The solely factor that would exceed his high quality and accolades on the pitch was his class off it. Thank you for all of the steerage and the benchmarks you set. Rest in peace,… pic.twitter.com/pQaXG9rh04
— Jude Bellingham (@BellinghamJude) July 24, 2023
“The only thing that could exceed his quality and accolades on the pitch was his class off it. Thank you for all the guidance and the benchmarks you set. Rest in peace, King Trevor!”
Bellingham was one among a sequence of present and former gamers to pay their respects to Francis after a spokesman for the household confirmed on Monday the previous Birmingham, Nottingham Forest and England striker had died following a coronary heart assault.
He turned Britain’s first £1million participant when he joined Forest in 1979 and he went on to rating the membership’s winner within the European Cup last later that yr.
John McGovern, who lifted the trophy as Forest captain, mentioned in a video interview tweeted by the membership: “I’d be describing him as a footballer, absolute high class, however as an individual he would in all probability be up there as effectively.
“My condolences certainly go out to his family because this is one of the game’s nice guys.”
Another former team-mate at Forest, Martin O’Neill, mentioned on social media: “Really devastated to hear the tragic news that Trevor Francis has passed away. A phenomenal player, superb team-mate and a great friend. Football has lost a true great of the game.”
Francis earned 52 England caps and later led Sheffield Wednesday and Birmingham to main finals as a supervisor.
A submit on England’s official Twitter account mentioned: “We are deeply saddened by the information that Trevor Francis has handed away aged 69.
I’m completely devastated to hear about my outdated crew mate Trevor Francis such an exquisite gentleman a pal and a horrible loss pic.twitter.com/tSRjM7sSBB
— Peter Shilton (@Peter_Shilton) July 24, 2023
“He gained 52 caps and scored 12 targets – together with two on the 1982 @FIFAWorldCup for the #ThreeLions between 1977 and 1986.
“All of our thoughts are with his family, friends and former clubs.”
Former Forest and England goalkeeper Peter Shilton tweeted: “I’m absolutely devastated to hear about my old team-mate Trevor Francis. Such a wonderful gentleman a friend and a terrible loss.”
Francis former membership’s Birmingham, Forest, Sheffield Wednesday, Sampdoria, Atalanta, Rangers, QPR and Manchester City supplied their condolences, with the Genoa membership writing merely: “Rest in peace, Trevor #Francis.”
Deeply saddened to hear that Trevor Francis has died. An exquisite footballer and wonderful man. Was a pleasure to work alongside him each on the pitch and on the telly. RIP Trevor.
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) July 24, 2023
Former England striker turned TV presenter Gary Lineker wrote: “Deeply saddened to hear that Trevor Francis has died.
“A wonderful footballer and lovely man. Was a pleasure to work alongside him both on the pitch and on the telly. RIP Trevor.”
Former England team-mate Peter Reid mentioned: “Great fella, played against him, England team-mate. He signed me for QPR from Everton. RIP Trev.”
Chris Waddle, who was a member of Francis’ Owls aspect that reached the League Cup and FA Cup finals of 1993, tweeted: “So sorry to hear the sad news that Trevor Francis has passed away, he was a lovely man and such great player and thank you so much for bringing me to SWFC..RIP legend.”
Oh no, simply heard Trevor Francis has handed away. What a participant he was & what a gentleman. Got to know him effectively when Trevor was doing his Co Commentary’s for Sky a job he beloved. RIP Trevor the primary Million pound participant who at all times regarded one million {dollars} pic.twitter.com/CgwzScZiHB
— Chris Kamara (@chris_kammy) July 24, 2023
Mark Bright, one other member of that Wednesday aspect, added: “RIP, Trevor Francis. Trev signed me when he was participant/supervisor at SWFC.
“The club experienced some great times in the early 90’s, both Trev his wife Helen were very kind in helping me to settle in at the club. I greatly appreciated it then & now. Love to sons Matthew & James.”
Chris Kamara, the previous Brentford and Swindon midfielder who later turned a media colleague of Francis’, additionally supplied his condolences.
He wrote: “Oh no, simply heard Trevor Francis has handed away. What a participant he was & what a gentleman. Got to know him effectively when Trevor was doing his co-commentary’s for Sky, a job he beloved.
Gutted in regards to the passing of Trevor Francis, he was by no means the identical after the passing of his beloved spouse Helen 6yrs in the past. One of the loveliest {couples} you would meet who took me underneath their wing while engaged on a World Cup approach again, dinners, lunches & even meet-ups again in London pic.twitter.com/Cc2ydm1FqN
— HAYLEY MCQUEEN (@HayleyMcQueen) July 24, 2023
“RIP Trevor the first million pound player who always looked a million dollars.”
Another media colleague, Hayley McQueen, daughter of former Leeds and Manchester United defender Gordon McQueen, mentioned: “Gutted in regards to the passing of Trevor Francis, he was by no means the identical after the passing of his beloved spouse Helen six years in the past.
“One of the loveliest couples you could meet who took me under their wing whilst working on a World Cup way back, dinners, lunches & even meet-ups back in London.”
Francis broke into the Birmingham crew on the age of simply 16 and his fame went past the sport.
Trevor Francis RIP unhappy new in regards to the sudden dying of Trevor he performed in an period after I watched Match of the day avidly one other legend gone too quickly we met a couple of occasions particularly after I did occasions in and across the Midlands pic.twitter.com/NMIOyDI4aX
— Frank Bruno MBE (@frankbrunoboxer) July 24, 2023
Former heavyweight world boxing champion Frank Bruno tweeted: “Trevor Francis RIP. Sad news about the sudden death of Trevor, he played in an era when I watched Match of the day avidly, another legend gone too soon. We met a few times, especially when I did events in and around the midlands.”
Journalist and TV presenter Piers Morgan wrote: “RIP Trevor Francis, 69. Britain’s first £1m footballer who had 52 caps for England and gained back-to-back European Cups with Nottingham Forest.
“Then became a superb TV pundit and was by all accounts a lovely man. Sad news. RIP.”
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