Manchester United icon Bryan Robson pays tribute to ex-Man City player Trevor Francis

The former Nottingham Forest and Manchester City man passed away on Monday, aged 69

Manchester United icon Bryan Robson has paid tribute to Trevor Francis, who passed away aged 69 on Monday.

The former Manchester City player was most famed for being Britain's first £1million player and scoring the winning goal in the 1979 European Cup final for Nottingham Forest.

Francis earned 52 caps for England, where he played alongside Robson for the Three Lions. His death has led to an outpour of emotion from the football community, with Robson the latest to pay his respects.

“As a person, he was a great lad, a fantastic player,” Robson told manutd.com. “I had the privilege of playing with Trevor for England, but we became close families as well because, in 1981 when I moved to United, Trevor had just moved to Man City.

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“We were in the same apartment block until we bought a house to live in the area. We stayed friends with Helen his wife as well, who unfortunately passed away a few years ago.

“Condolences to James and Matthew, the two boys, and their family. Trevor will be sadly missed, because he’s a great lad.”

“He was a fabulous player, a fitness fanatic, really quick,” he added. “He could score great goals and when he played for Sampdoria over in Italy, he was one of the fans’ favourites, because he was so good.

“He wasn’t afraid to take on challenges and that’s why he played in so many countries and why he was so successful.”

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