Trevor Francis, England's first
million-pound footballer and a mainstay at Sampdoria alongside
Graeme Souness in the early 80s after his double European
success at Nottingham Forest after his headline 1979 move from
Birmingham City, died of a heart attack in Marbella on Monday at
the age of 69.
The mazy dribbling goal poacher Francis, who also played for
Atalanta during his five-year stint in Italy from 1982 to 1987,
was rated by Fabio Capello as the best British player to ever
play in Italy - better than the likes of David Beckham, Paul
Ince, Paul Gascoigne, Denis Law, Jimmy Greaves and John Charles.
In an injury-marred career - Don Revie once said he was so
fragile he could break his foot getting out of bed - Francis
played 52 times for his country and scored 16 goals including
two in the 1982 World Cup in Spain, the only one he took part
in.
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