Friends, family and former team-mates have gathered in Marbella to pay their final respects to Trevor Francis at the former footballer's funeral.
Francis, the first English footballer to move for a £1m fee, died at his home in the Spanish city at the age of 69. The Birmingham City and Nottingham Forest star - who won two European Cups with the latter - scored 12 times in 52 appearances for England, playing and scoring at the 1982 World Cup.
Among those in attendance was Graeme Souness. The broadcaster and former Liverpool star was a good friend of Francis, and made the trip to Spain to pay his respects.
"Trevor Francis has died at the age of 69," a family statement on Monday read. "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."
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Francis turned out for clubs in England, Scotland, Italy, Australia and the United States in a career spanning more than two decades. He also had a 15-year managerial career with spells in charge of QPR, Sheffield Wednesday, Birmingham City and Crystal Palace.
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Graeme Souness arriving at Trevor Francis' funeral (MEGA)
The ex-footballer's son James was among those in attendance in Marbella (MEGA)Birmingham City, where Francis started his career, confirmed there will also be a dedicated area near the ticket office at the club's St Andrew's Stadium for fans to pay their respects. Francis left the club in 1979 in the landmark £1m move, and would later return as manager.
"Birmingham City Football Club is deeply saddened and shocked to learn of the passing of club legend Trevor Francis, at the age of 69 on Monday 24 July 2023," a statement from the Championship side read. "Trevor will forever be revered as a giant of the Club, the player everyone wanted to see.
"He represented Blues on 330 occasions, scoring 133 goals. Birmingham City sends its thoughts and deepest sympathies to Trevor’s family and friends."
Guests arrived to pay their respects (MEGA)
Francis' friends and former clubs have paid tribute this week (MEGA)“I was staggered when I heard the news," Francis' friend and TV presenter Gary Newbon told the Nottingham Post. "I’ve known Trevor since he was a nervous 16-year-old. He was the boy they all wanted to sign and he signed for Birmingham in the end.
“Ron Atkinson marked him in his home debut when he was 16 against Oxford at St Andrew’s and he scored the goal. I’ve known him all his life and followed him up here by coincidence when I joined ITV.
“He was quite a private guy. Great footballer, a good sense of humour, mad on his music. The last time I saw him we had dinner at San Carlo and went to see Rod Stewart at the Utilita Arena.”
Trevor Francis died at his home in Marbella at the age of 69 (Birmingham Mail)A number of players, past and present, have paid their respects. They include Real Madrid and England star Jude Bellingham, who - like Francis - started out at Birmingham City.
"A very sad day for @BCFC and all of football," Bellingham wrote on Twitter. "Beyond legendary, a trailblazer, a great and an icon of the game.
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"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!"
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