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Former England boss Graham Taylor dies aged 72

Former England manager Graham Taylor has died today, aged 72.

Taylor also managed Aston Villa and led them to runners-up in Division One in the late 1980s.

A family statement said: “With the greatest sadness, we have to announce that Graham passed away at his home early this morning of a suspected heart attack.

“The family are devastated by this sudden and totally unexpected loss.”

He also managed Wolves, Watford and Villa after splitting his ten year playing career – notching more than 300 appearances – between Grimsby Town and Lincoln City in 1962-1972.

He also had two successful spells at Watford, taking them from the fourth division to the first in five years during a 10-year spell from 1977 until 1987. He returned in 1996 and stayed as manager until 2001.

After taking England to the 1992 European Championship in Sweden, the team did not make it past the group stages. He resigned in 1993 after England failed to qualify for the 1994 World Cup in the United States.

Former Villa chairman Sir Doug Ellis, who brought Taylor to the club on both occasions, said: “I enjoyed working with him. We chased him for a long time before he finally conceded and agreed to work for me.

“We had five years working together very well. I am shocked, absolutely shocked.

“He died in his sleep, apparently. I wasn’t aware he had any illness.”

Taylor’s footballing career

As player:

1962–1968 Grimsby Town 189 games

1968–1972 Lincoln City 150 games

As manager:

1972–1977 Lincoln City

1977–1987 Watford

1987–1990 Aston Villa

1990–1993 England

1994–1995 Wolverhampton Wanderers

1996–2001 Watford

2002–2003 Aston Villa

More to come.

Tributes paid to former England boss Graham Taylor