Tottenham Hotspur's academy players, along with the football community, have been rocked by the news that Ugo Ehiogu has died at the age of 44.

The retired defender, who played for Aston Villa and Middlesbrough during his playing career, passed away in the early hours of Friday morning.

Ehiogu worked as Tottenham's Under-23 coach for the past three years, and during a training session on Thursday he had a cardiac arrest and collapsed.

After receiving treatment at the training base, he was transferred to hospital, but devastatingly was unable to recover.

Emotional tributes have been paid by many figures and football fans, but some of the most heartfelt have come from the players that had been taught or were currently learning from Ehiogu.

Anton Walkes, Charlie Owens, Keanan Bennetts, Samuel Shashoua, Shayon Harrison, Kyle Walker-Peters, Joshua Onomah and Luke Amos were among those to pay their respects.

Ehiogu played for West Bromwich, Rangers and Sheffield United in his career, but he spent most of it representing Aston Villa and Middlesbrough.

The defender made more than 350 appearances, and won the League Cup twice with Villa and again on Teesside.

Ehiogu, who won four England caps, leaves behind a wife and two children.

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