Soccer: Ex-Samp star Trevor Francis dies of heart attack

(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 24 - Trevor Francis, England's first million-pound footballer and a mainstay at Sampdoria alongside Graeme Souness in the early 80s after his double European success at Nottingham Forest after his headline 1979 move from Birmingham City, died of a heart attack in Marbella on Monday at the age of 69.
    The mazy dribbling goal poacher Francis, who also played for Atalanta during his five-year stint in Italy from 1982 to 1987, was rated by Fabio Capello as the best British player to ever play in Italy - better than the likes of David Beckham, Paul Ince, Paul Gascoigne, Denis Law, Jimmy Greaves and John Charles.
    In an injury-marred career - Don Revie once said he was so fragile he could break his foot getting out of bed - Francis played 52 times for his country and scored 16 goals including two in the 1982 World Cup in Spain, the only one he took part in. (ANSA).