Football mourns shock death of former EPL star at age 37

Tributes are pouring in for former English Premier League player Jlloyd Samuel, who died at age 37 on Wednesday.

The former Trinidad and Tobago defender who played for Aston Villa and Bolton, died in a car accident, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association has announced.

Samuel, a fullback, represented England at under-21 level before going on to play for Trinidad and Tobago’s senior team.

He is reported to have been involved in a collision with a truck in Cheshire, northwest England on Tuesday morning.

Samuel was capped by England from Under-18 to Under-21 level and was an unused substitute for a senior international against Sweden in 2004.

He attempted to switch international allegiance before Trinidad and Tobago played at the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

Although his application was rejected by FIFA because he was over 21 at the time, he later represented the country of his birth.

The TTFA said “the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association and his former national teammates at this time extends deepest condolences to his family members both in the UK. and here in Trinidad and Tobago.”

Aston Villa paid tribute to Samuel as the home home side wore black armbands for their English Championship play-off second leg against Middlesbrough at Villa Park.

There was also a minute’s applause before the game while fans chanted the defender’s name ahead of kick off.

During the applause Villa’s big screens showed Samuel’s two league goals for the club – both against Charlton during the 2003-04 season.