The football world is mourning the loss of Trevor Francis, who died of a heart attack at his apartment in Spain on Monday morning. He was 69 years old.
Francis was a legendary striker who made history in 1979 when he became the first British player to be transferred for £1 million. He moved from Birmingham City to Nottingham Forest, where he played under the iconic manager Brian Clough and won two European Cups.
Trevor Francis Biography Profile
| Field | Information |
|---|---|
| Name | Trevor John Francis |
| Nick Name | None |
| Date of Birth | 19 April 1954 |
| Birth Place | Plymouth, England |
| Age (as of 2023) | 69 (deceased) |
| Gender | Male |
| Zodiac sign | Aries |
| Profession | Footballer and manager |
| Nationality | English |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Home Town/State | Birmingham, England |
| School | Plymouth’s Public Secondary School for Boys |
| College | None |
| Educational Qualification | None |
| Religion | Unknown |
| Hobbies | Unknown |
| Marital Status | Married to Helen Francis (1979-2023) |
| Boyfriend | None |
| Net Worth | Unknown |
He scored the winning goal in the 1979 final against Malmo, heading in a cross from John Robertson. He also helped Forest retain the trophy in 1980, beating Hamburg in the final.
Francis played for England 52 times, scoring 12 goals. He represented his country at the 1982 World Cup in Spain, where he scored twice in the group stage. He also played for clubs such as Manchester City, Sampdoria, Atalanta, Rangers and Sheffield Wednesday.
He later became a manager, leading QPR, Sheffield Wednesday, Birmingham City and Crystal Palace to various cup finals and promotions. He was known for his tactical acumen and his ability to spot talent.
He was also a respected pundit and commentator, working for various media outlets such as Sky Sports and BT Sport. He was admired for his insight and his gentlemanly manner.
His family released a statement on Monday, confirming his death and expressing their shock and sadness. They said he was a “legendary footballer but he was also an extremely nice person”.
Tributes have been pouring in from across the football community, with former teammates, opponents, managers and fans paying their respects to Francis.
Peter Shilton, who played with Francis at Forest and England, said he was “absolutely devastated” by the news and described him as a “wonderful gentleman” and a “great player”.
Gary Lineker, who played with Francis for England, said he was “deeply saddened” by the news and praised him as a “wonderful footballer and lovely man”.
Viv Anderson, another Forest and England teammate, said he was “shocked and saddened” by the news and called him a “fabulous teammate”.
Nottingham Forest posted a picture of Francis holding the European Cup on their official Twitter account, saying: “A true Forest legend who will never be forgotten. Thank you for everything, Trevor.”
Birmingham City also paid tribute to their former star on their website, saying: “Trevor Francis will always be remembered as one of the greatest players to ever wear the royal blue of Birmingham City. Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this very sad time.”
Francis is survived by his two sons, James and Matthew, who both followed him into football. His wife Helen died of cancer in 2017.