Trevor Francis' tragedies from health woes to wife's death that broke his heart
England football legend Trevor Francis died today from a heart attack at the age of 69, plunging friends, family and fans into mourning.
In a sombre statement, his grief-stricken family confirmed he passed away at his home in Marbella on Monday morning having suffered a heart attack.
A statement from his family said: "Trevor Francis has died at the age of 69. 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."
In later life, the sports star split his time between Spain and Solihull. After suffering a heart attack in 2012, he had been dedicated to keeping fit through power walking.
Trevor Francis with his wife Helen and the European Cup at Munich airport (Bob Thomas Sports Photography vi)Francis had an annual health check through the League Managers' Association and, according to his spokesman, was "enjoying life very much having eventually got over the death of his wife".
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Helen, whom he married in 1974, died in 2017 following a long battle with breast cancer. Speaking to Sportsmail two years later in 2019, he said: "I have been knocked about a bit by it. When you get in the first team as a footballer you don't think football will ever stop.
"In the same way, I didn't think Helen and I would ever stop. She was my best friend and I couldn't have done any of what I did without her. We were married 43 years. You know, every day is difficult. I do get quite lonely. But I am trying to adapt. I have to."
The couple met on holiday in Mallorca in 1972, when the football star - who became British football's first £1million player - was 18. He told the Mail that he had lost her number, but knowing that she was a hairdresser from Llanelli, Wales, called all the salons in the area to track her down.
After 15 attempts, he found her and from that moment on, they were 'inseparable'. Helen would cheer on her husband from the sidelines, always showing her support at each game. In his 2019 autobiography, One in a Million, Francis said of his wife's passing: "Life without her is so difficult."
In recent times, the Blues Hero was working to better his health after considering himself 'lucky to be alive' following his first heart attack in 2012.
Despite having all the classic symptoms including pain across his chest and down his arms, and sweating, it took 11 hours for the heart attack to be diagnosed.
His wife had remained at his bedside at Birmingham Hospital and later helped nurse him back to health. "Sadly, this was not diagnosed. Some would say I was a little fortunate (to survive) and they would not be too far wrong," he told BirminghamMail two years later.
Trevor Francis at home with his wife after signing for Nottingham Forest to become the first £1 million footballer (Popperfoto/Getty images)
The pair married in 1974 and became 'inseparable' (Daily Record)Trevor had a stellar career in football spanning 34 years. But he's not best remembered for scoring in a European Cup final or earning 52 England appearances, but for being the first player traded between British clubs for £1million.
Following a succession of injuries, he took his first step into management with Queens Park Rangers F.C. in 1988. However his short spell sparked controversy when he fined Martin Allen for missing a game to attend the birth of a child.
He went on to become Wednesday's manager but was sacked after the club finished in 13th place in 1995. Francis went on to lead Birmingham FC but later left the club over disagreements with the owners.
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He returned to the game shortly afterwards with Crystal Palace, but was sacked at Selhurst Park in 2003 - which was his final stint in management. Simon Jordon, the former owner of Crystal Palace Football Club, revealed to The Sun that he savagely sacked Francis on his birthday.
"I removed Trevor Francis on his birthday and offered to post his P45 in his birthday card," he said. The Three Lions icon is survived by his son James.
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