Ugo Ehiogu: Former England defender dies after collapsing at Tottenham’s training ground

Former Aston Villa and England defender Ugo Ehiogu has died after suffering a cardiac arrest.

Ehiogu, who worked as under-23 coach for Tottenham Hotspur, had been taken to hospital after suffering a cardiac arrest at the club’s training ground on Thursday.

On Friday morning, Tottenham wrote on Twitter: “It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of Ugo Ehiogu, our Under-23 coach.”

The former Aston Villa and Middlesbrough defender collapsed and was treated at the scene before being taken to hospital by ambulance.

His wife Gemma and young son had rushed to the hospital to be with him.

However, the 44-year-old passed away in the early hours of Friday morning.

John McDermott, Tottenham’s head of coaching and player development, described Ehiogu as “irreplaceable”.

Tottenham midfielder Joshua Onomah wrote: “Way more than just a coach, a father figure as well! Done so much for all of us boys. RIP Ugo. See you soon.”

Ehiogu had been at Spurs since 2014, but began his career as a trainee at West Bromwich Albion before moving to Aston Villa in 1991
.
He went on to feature in more than 300 matches for Villa over a nine-year spell, winning the League Cup in 1996.

After joining Middlesbrough for a then club-record £8m fee, he won the same trophy with the northeast club in 2004.

Capped four times by England, he also played for Leeds, Rangers and Sheffield United before retiring in 2009.