The World Of

The world of has paid tribute to former defender Ugo Ehiogu following news of his death this morning, after he suffered a heart attack at Tottenham's training ground.
The Spurs Under 23s coach collapsed on the club's academy training pitches on Thursday and received immediate attention from the medical staff, but after paramedics rushed him it hospital he passed away in the early hours of this morning at the age of just 44.
He leaves behind his wife Gemma, whom he married in 2005, and a son, Obi Jackson. Ehiogu also had a daughter, Jodie. 

Former Tottenham striker and Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker led the tributes as he described the former defender as 'such a lovely guy' while former Aston Villa team-mate Paul Merson broke down while remembering his friend on television this morning.
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Former Tottenham Under 23 coach Ugo Ehiogu has died after suffering a heart attack
The former centre back passed away at the age of just 44 after collapsing on the training pitch
Ehiogu won four caps for England, scoring against Spain in a friendly in 2001
The former Aston Villa star is survived by wife Gemma as well as a son and a daughter
Paul Merson fought back the tears as he gave an emotional tribute to his former team-mate
Ehiogu celebrates his goal against Leicester in 1998 with former team-mate Merson
Ehiogu holds the League Cup trophy after victory with Aston Villa at Wembley in 1996
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Merson, was fighting back tears while  on Sky Sports News, as he remembered a 'top bloke, a man mountain and a good friend'.
'He was such a top bloke, it's unbelievable,' he said.

'He was a man mountain. Billy Joel has a song - Only the Good Die Young - and that is him. He was a top player, a top bloke and a good friend.' 
His former club Aston Villa devoted the electronic displays outside Villa Park to the player as a mark of respect.
Both Tottenham and Chelsea will wear black armbands during their FA Cup semi-final at Wembley on Saturday. 
Aston Villa displayed a tribute to their former player on the billboard outside their stadium 
Ehiogu was at the heart of the defence at Villa Park during his nine-year stint at the club
Tottenham announced the news of Ehiogu's passing this morning, issuing a statement: 'It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of Ugo Ehiogu, our Under-23 coach'.
'Ugo received immediate treatment after suffering a cardiac arrest at the training centre yesterday before being transferred to hospital, where he passed away in the early hours of this morning.
'The club sends its deepest condolences to Ugo's family.

Gemma has specifically asked that the family are given privacy at this difficult time.'
Tottenham's head of coaching and player development John McDermott said: 'Words cannot express the shock and sadness that we all feel at the club.

Ugo's immense presence will be irreplaceable. Our heartfelt sympathies go out to his wife Gemma and his family.' 
It is with immense s Ehiogu and wife Gemma, pictured on the beach in Barbados during a family holiday in 2015
His wife Gemma has asked for the family to be given privacy as they deal with their loss
Following news of Ehiogu's death, Tottenham's planned Premier League 2 game against Manchester United on Monday has been postponed while Spurs have also cancelled all of their academy matches this weekend. 



The club's manager Mauricio Pochettino paid his respects to Ehiogu, saying: 'Ugo was a lovely man and we had a very good relationship from the first day we arrived at the club.
'He was always a person who helped us a lot and we will miss him greatly.

I send all my love to his family and friends at such a difficult time.
'It's a huge loss both personally and for all the Tottenham Hotspur family.'
Spurs striker Harry Kane added: 'He was a big part of our development team at Spurs and a great character around the place, full of life, always laughing and joking, always in good spirits.
'He was a great coach and an inspiration to the younger players, he'd been there and done it at the very highest level and played for England. 

Stan Collymore posted this picture of him alongside Ehiogu at a bar in San Francisco
Ehiogu, pictured on England duty with former Liverpool and West Ham defender Neil Ruddock




'All our thoughts from myself and the players go out to his family and friends.

It's a sad moment for everyone at the club. 
As tributes began to pour in, the official account of the England football team sent their condolences to Ehiogu's family. A tweet said: 'We're devastated to hear the news that Ugo Ehiogu has passed away.

Our thoughts and sympathies are with all lucky enough to know him.' 
Another former Villa team-mate, Lee Hendrie, said: 'Ugo was such a character. He has always been that bubbly character. He was just a great guy to have around.' 
Stan Collymore shared how Ehiogu had been the one to welcome him to the club following his transfer from Liverpool in 1997, insisting his mountainous stature yet calm demeanor meant he was a man who commanded respect. 
Collymore posted: 'A true man mountain but someone who never used his size or stature to intimidate, far from it, he was the opposite, always calming, always the one who eased any tensions between big names and a man who commanded respect not by what he said but very much by what he did. 

Ehiogu pictured marking George Weah during the 2000 FA Cup final, which Chelsea won
'Proud to have known you Brother, find a happy place up there and i know i will see you again someday soon.'
Collymore also posted an image of the two together in San Francisco in 1997, with the caption: 'One of the good guys.

Truly broken'.
Villa, for whom Ehiogu played more than 300 games, will hold a minute's silence prior to their clash with rivals Birmingham at the weekend and will wear black armbands as a mark of respect.
Villa manager Steve Bruce said: 'Everyone here is devastated by the news, especially of someone so young who very quietly was making his way as a talented coach.
'When you consider he came here under Big Ron for £45,000, what a bargain that is.

Being a fellow centre half, he was uncompromising and quick and all of the football world will be shocked and saddened.'  
Following his spell at Villa he moved on to Middlesbrough in 2000 for https://pinfaves.com/jamie-park-weight-loss/ a fee of £8million, with chairman Steve Gibson paying tribute to his side's former defender, who he described as a 'great man'. 

In his final tweet on March 29, Ehiogu revealed he had given a homeless girl money in London and discussed how the impulsive act left him feeling good
The defender, pictured tackling Ian Wright in 1997, was a stalwart for Villa for nearly a decade
'Ugo and Gareth Southgate were the rock on which Steve McClaren brought the club its best period in its history.

He wasn't just a good footballer, he was a great man.'
Andy Townsend played with Ehiogu at Villa and saw his former team-mate just six weeks ago, after which he was left impressed by how he had kept in shape despite being eight years removed from his football career.
'I last saw Ugo maybe six weeks ago and he was an absolute picture of health,' Townsend said.

'He's on the training field at Spurs and very active. 
'He was always a magnificent physical specimen. He was in fantastic shape post playing career. He had hardly changed at all from when he was playing. He had not put an ounce of weight on. He looked incredibly fit.

Which makes it all the more shocking.' 
Ehiogu tweeted for the final time on March 29, where he revealed he had given £10 to a homeless girl in Dalston, London and how it left him feeling good.
Former team-mates and opponents took to social media to pay their own tributes to the former defender, with the likes of ex-Villa team-mate Paul McGrath, Rio Ferdinand and one of his young players at Tottenham all speaking of their shock at his death. 

Shayon Harrison was one of Ehiogu's young players at Tottenham and is currently at Yeovil

 Ferdinand, wrote on Instagram: 'Honestly can't believe I just woke to the news that one of my former England teammates Ugo Ehiogu has passed away. 
'My heart goes out to his family and those closest to him.

Always a calm & warming vibe when ever in his company. RIP Ugo x'
'Devestated (sic) for Ugo, a great friend,' tweeted McGrath, who was Ehiogu's first real defensive partner at Villa. 'Heart goes out to his family and friends. RIP #villahero'.
Former Tottenham and England defender Sol Campbell tweeted: 'One of my East London mates of old.
Ugo Ehiogu true defender my heart goes out to his family. I just can't believe it!' 
Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker, who also played for Tottenham, was another to share his feelings after the death of a man he described as 'a lovely guy.'
Past and present Tottenham players including Erik Lamela, Josh Onomah and Ryan Mason also tweeted following the news, with Onomah vowing to make his former coach proud. 

Ehiogu scored this stunning goal against bitter rivals Celtic, during his short spell with Rangers

Andros Townsend, now at Crystal Palace, worked with Ehiogu when he was at Spurs
 Rangers, another of Ehiogu's former clubs, said in a statement: 'Rangers Football Club is shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of former defender Ugo Ehiogu.
'The 44-year-old Englishman joined the Light Blues when Walter Smith returned as manager in 2007 and made a huge impact in his short time in Glasgow - notably his winning goal at Celtic Park in the derby.
'He died after suffering a heart attack at Tottenham's training ground and everyone associated with the club sends their sincere condolences to Ugo's family and friends at this difficult time.'
Stoke manager Mark Hughes played against Ehiogu and remembered what it was like to face the defender on the pitch.
Hughes said: 'He was a big strong guy, a big athlete, and you knew when you went up against him it was always going to be a difficult game.

That is why, when these things happen, it is even more shocking, because you remember them in their prime. It is a real shame.'  

Ehiogu played long spells of his career alongside current England boss Gareth Southgate
<div class="art-ins mol-factbox floatRHS news" data-version="2" id="mol-611ef4d0-2674-11e7-ae81-eb62df0ede62" website Ehiogu dies after suffering heart attack at Tottenham base