Ugo Ehiogu dies from cardiac arrest

The ex-England international defender, Ugo Ehiogu, has died after suffering cardiac arrest on Thursday.

Ehiogu collapsed on the training pitch of Tottenham Hotspur, where he was managing the U-23 team, on Thursday after suffering cardiac arrest. He was 44 years old.

Ehiogu was born in Homerton, England on November 3, 1972 to Nigerian parents. Despite attempts by the Nigeria Football Federation to recruit him to play for the Super Eagles, he chose to play for the English national team, where he manned the defensive position.

Ehiogu featured in over 200 games for Aston Villa from 1991 to 2000. He joined Middlesbrough in 200 and spent seven seasons there.

During his time in Aston Villa, Eghiogu won three league cups, both in 1994 and 1996. He won an additional cup while at Middlesbrough in 2004 by defeating fellow Nigerian, Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha’s Bolton Wanderers in the final.

Ehiogu also had brief stints with West Brom, Leeds, Rangers, and Sheffield United before he retired from professional football in 2009.