Rangers midfielder and the first player to earn $1 million in Britain died

Former Rangers midfielder and the first player to earn $1 million in Britain Trevor Francis died at age 69.

Under Graeme Souness, Britain’s first $1 million player played for Ibrox for a season.

Trevor Francis, a former Rangers midfielder, passed away at the age of 69.

The Englishman played at Ibrox for the 1987–88 season and was instrumental in their victory over Aberdeen in the Scottish League Cup Final shootout. Francis was Graeme Souness’ teammate at Italian Serie A club Sampdoria before being signed by the then-Rangers manager. He only cost the Light Blues £75,000 and left after one season to join Queens Park Rangers, where he eventually rose to the position of player-manager.

Francis, who earned 52 England caps, made sports history in 1979 when he transferred from Birmingham City to Nottingham Forest and became the country’s first player to earn $1 million. His assistance in helping Brian Clough’s team win back-to-back European Cups proved to be money well spent. Before concluding his playing career at Sheffield Wednesday, he also spent time at Manchester City and Atalanta. Later, he took over as manager of the Owls, Birmingham City, and Crystal Palace.

 

“Trevor Francis has passed away at the age of 69,” his family said in a statement. This morning, he suffered a heart attack in his Spanish flat. This has been a complete shock to the family as a whole. We’re all furious. He was a renowned football player who was also incredibly kind.