Trevor Francis: Legendary England Striker Passes Away at 69, Leaving Football Fans Heartbroken

Former England striker and first British £1m player Trevor Francis has died aged 69.

Francis died at his home near Marbella in Spain on Monday morning, a spokesman for the family has confirmed.

Trevor Francis, the legendary footballer, has passed away at the age of 69. This morning, he suffered a heart attack in his apartment in Spain, leaving his family and all those who knew him in shock. Beyond his outstanding contributions to the world of football, Trevor Francis was known for his kind and warm-hearted nature.

Born in Plymouth in 1954, Francis started his career at Birmingham City before becoming Britain's first £1m player when he joined Nottingham Forest in 1979.

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Francis was Britain's first £1m player

During an interview in 2019, Francis spoke about being the initial player to receive a £1 million transfer fee, expressing his lack of awareness regarding its significance at the time. He highlighted how he shattered the previous transfer record, doubling its value. The magical allure of reaching the million-pound mark was unparalleled, unlike the extravagant £200 million that Paris Saint-Germain spent on Neymar, which lacked the same enchanting charm.

"Do I take pride in being the inaugural player to earn £1 million? Without a doubt."

Francis proceeded to secure the decisive goal in the 1979 European Cup final, propelling Forest to a 1-0 victory over Malmo. Moreover, he contributed to the squad's triumph in the tournament the subsequent year.

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He left Forest for Manchester City in 1981 before having spells in Italy with Sampdoria and Atalanta.

He subsequently joined Rangers, Queens Park Rangers, and Sheffield Wednesday, ultimately retiring in 1994. During his career, Francis represented England in 52 matches, scoring 12 goals between 1977 and 1986. He also participated in the 1982 World Cup held in Spain.

After his career as a player, he transitioned into the role of a manager, overseeing QPR, Sheffield Wednesday, Birmingham City, and Crystal Palace during different periods.

Under his guidance, Sheffield Wednesday and Birmingham achieved remarkable milestones, reaching major finals.

'One of the best English players of all time'

"I was lucky enough to witness his remarkable skills on display during the latter part of his career, when he represented Queens Park Rangers. It was truly awe-inspiring to observe his seamless touch, exceptional vision, and fluid movement. Even now, people still reminisce about the incredible goals he scored for QPR.

"On a few occasions, I had the privilege of crossing paths with him at Sky Studios. During our last encounter, I took the opportunity to express my admiration by informing him that he was one of the finest players I had ever witnessed. I believe my words genuinely touched him."

The transfer to Nottingham Forest was remarkable, not only due to the substantial amount of £1m - an extraordinary sum of money in 1979 - but also because of Forest's achievements. Having ascended from the Second Division, they clinched the top-flight title in their inaugural season back. Moreover, they went on to claim victory in the European Cup in the subsequent season. It was during their championship reign that Brian Clough, the manager, signed him. As Clough presented him to the press, he appeared in his squash attire, holding a racquet, as he had plans to play afterwards.

Trevor Francis achieved fame in English football when he scored the winning goal in the prestigious 1979 European Cup final - a remarkable header.

"He possessed exceptional skills as a player and was an outstanding individual."