As the world wakes up today, it will wake up to the news that former England international Ugo Ehiogu has been taken from us, passing away earlier today after suffering a cardiac arrest yesterday.
Many phrases will be bandied around such as ‘the football family’, and it is true that his sad passing will be mourned and thought about by people away from his immediate family. Fans of the clubs that he represented will feel the loss; obviously not as deeply as will his immediate family and loved ones, but they will fee it all the same.
Ehiogu made 429 appearances in his career as a footballer, the majority of these (248) for Aston Villa, for whom he scored 13 goals. He also featured for Middlesbrough (141 appearances – seven goals), Sheffield United (27 appearances – one goal), Rangers (seven appearances – one goal) and Leeds United (six appearances – one goal).
Aston Villa fans remember Ugo Ehiogu
First up is the official response from the club, who say in another tweet that a minute’s applause will be held and both Villa and Birmingham players will wear black armbands of respect.
We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of our former defender Ugo Ehiogu.
Our thoughts are with his family at this terribly sad time. pic.twitter.com/nTk1WBhr1H
— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) April 21, 2017
Fans of the club are quick to remember Ehiogu and pass on their condolences. Players and their performances for a club are often the things that fans remember, long after the player moves on from the club. This is the case here with fans pouring out their memories, thoughts, feelings and condolences.
Many great memories of Ugo at Villa.
Terrible loss, sleep well big man.#AVFC pic.twitter.com/GnuYMLoNr9— Chris Jameson (@Chrisjameson9) April 21, 2017
R.i.p Big Man. Another taken too early. UTV pic.twitter.com/NhwteTLey3
— AVFC a way of life (@MrDAD123) April 21, 2017
So very sad. RIP Ugo #AVFC https://t.co/Ssfz8glZCu
— BlackCountryWoman (@DeepZepSnakes) April 21, 2017
So sad about Ugo. Cracking player taken far too soon. 😔 #avfc #RIPUgo
— Paul Keen (@savwise82) April 21, 2017
Devastated that yet another @AVFCOfficial legend has passed away @UgoEhiogu rest easy big man you'll never ever be forgotten #avfc ❤💙❤💙
— Ol (@1874UTV) April 21, 2017
NO Ugo😭Gutted,V sad, Massive present on the pitch! Villa's equivalent to "you'll never beat Des Walker" ! legend, Condolences 2 ALL his fam
— Mark Guest🦁 (@markyholtend) April 21, 2017
RIP Ugo Ehiogu far too young to leave us. An #AVFC Great Forever
— William Whittaker (@WhittakerWill) April 21, 2017
248 games (13 goals) – 229 of these (12 goals) in the Premier League. 15 UEFA Cup ties (one goal). Three old First Division appearances and one FA Cup appearance. This is the legacy that Ugo Ehiogu leaves in the dusty pages of the football record books when it comes to summarising his time at Villa Park. However, the messages of condolence from Villa fans stretches way and above that, transcending the words and ink on a page. To then=m, the loss of Ugo Ehiogu is, and will remain, personal.
Ugo Ehiogu – Requiescat In Pace