Trevor Francis was a retired English footballer who is widely regarded as one of the finest footballers of his generation. He was born on April 19, 1954 in Plymouth, England. Francis was known for his prolific goalscoring ability, speed and skill on the pitch.
His professional playing career began at Birmingham City, where he made his debut aged 16 in 1970. He quickly rose to prominence and became the first English footballer to transfer for over £1million when he moved to Nottingham Forest in 1979. During his time at Nottingham Forest under Brian Clough, Francis enjoyed enormous success.
One of the most memorable moments of his career came in the 1979 European Cup final when he scored the winning goal against Malmo FF, helping Nottingham Forest win their second consecutive European Cup title.
Francis went on to play for several other clubs, including Manchester City, Sampdoria, Atalanta, Rangers and Queens Park Rangers, before retiring as a player in 1994. He also earned 52 caps for the England national team, scoring 12 goals.
After retiring from playing, Trevor Francis ventured into coaching and management, taking charge of various clubs including Sheffield Wednesday and Crystal Palace.
Throughout his career, Trevor Francis has been admired for his technical ability, footballing intelligence and goalscoring prowess. He remains an influential figure in English football, both as a player and a manager.
He died of a heart attack at his home near Marbella, Spain on July 24, 2023. He was 69. In 2012, Francis was recovering in hospital from a suspected heart attack.
His wife was a woman named Helen. They married in 1974. They had two children. Helen passed away on April 5, 2017.
Wife of Trevor Francis: Who was Helen Francis?
The couple spent 45 years together before Helen tragically died in 2017, leaving Francis heartbroken after his passing.
Following the devastating loss, Francis recounted how life without Helen had been “so difficult” in his autobiography, One In A Million.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Francis admitted he hadn’t been able to talk about his wife for two years – because he didn’t feel ready.
Along with opening up about the pain of losing his wife, it seems the late star preferred to keep his family life private, with little else known about their marriage.
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